I was curious about the current pricing of new firearms. Is there a diffrence between MSRP that you see on a gun maker's website and what you can get it for on the street, or is it even possible to get a new firearm for less than what you see it advertised for on their site?

As an example, the basic Ruger 10/22 is listed on the Ruger site for $261 - is it possible to find it brand new for less than that?

Also, are there any good sources too check for used guns? I've never actually purchased a firearm - all of the ones I have I inherited, so I'm not even sure of the process, but I'm going to have to know because I have plans to purchase a few more....er....maybe a few more than just a few more. ;)

As always, thanks in advance.

MSRP stands for Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price, and in general you'll pay a lower price in a store than the MSRP.

I'd look around gun stores and pawn shops for used firearms, that way you could probably handle the firearm yourself and hopefully have a return policy or something similar. For relevant prices you could check out an online gun auction site like Gunbroker and see what prices things are going at.

Almost always lower. I think it was Federal legislation that created the MSRP. It was to discourage sellers from marking products up excessively if demand is high. Wholesale price is almost always low enough that a seller can set a decent product margin (from 5% to 15% on guns, usually) and still make a profit while staying under the MSRP.

If a manufacturer has dealers but also sells direct to the public (such as Decot shooting glasses) they always charge full MSRP so as to not undercut their own dealer network. Doing so would be business stupidity because they'd soon have no dealers. Companies that don't sell direct (like guns companies) will set an MSRP, but it's only an estimation of what fair value would be for that product.

If you know what you want, and have a general idea about conditions and what you want to pay, the internet has some good sources for used and even new guns. The obvious solution is this or other forum "classified" sections.

Other sites are internet auctions like Gunbroker.com and auctionarms.com as well as GunsAmerica which is not auction formatted. Of course, there is probably some fraud out there, so caution is warranted, just like with eBay or any other internet trade site. I've had very good results with internet sites. Federal laws still apply to conducting the transfers. Even if you aren't comfortable buying here, you can research the values folks are setting for the guns they are selling.

Pawn brokers can have good deals on guns, but again require that you have an idea of what you want and what you're willing to pay.

If you are less certain of what you want, gun stores are clearly your bet. If nothing else, do the research there before going online.

Good luck, and be cautious.

Chris

Thanks guys. I want to expand my gun collection in the next few years to fill some "gaps" in what I currently have, but I don't particularly feel like paying full MSRP. I'm not opposed to buying a used gun either, but while I know how to use and treat a firearm to keep it in good, working order, I don't have the same confidence in my fellow average Joe gun owner, which is one thing that keeps me a touch leery of the gun sites. For instance, I came across a decent used Ruger 10/22 for $165 on GunsAmerica...or was it decent? Prices range pretty high and low for those things and while everything seemed to be ok with the Ruger, I have no way of knowing if there is anything wrong with it for one reason or other.

But, it's good to know that I can still go out and buy some things brand new and know that I'll get a bit of a markdown from MSRP.

Heck, I don't know what I'm worried about though - I think that the newest of all of the guns I own is around 25 years old, and that was one I got brand new as a teenager. The others are all early 70s and older, and I'm more than happy with them, in spite of their age.

I just purchased my first brand new handgun last week and that is one of 9 that I own. All of my rifles and shotguns are used/passed down. I found it at a local gun shop for $170 UNDER MSRP. So just look around.

I would have no problem buying a new gun off of the internet, as long as I had held/used the gun or a similar model before, note that I haven't yet though. A couple of the lowest price places that I have found are
www.rrarms.com
and
www.galleryofguns.com

I am a huge fan of used guns, as long as I can look at them over very carefully and have the ability to bring my gunsmith to look at it too. I have found some great deals in the used market, especially in some retailer's "bargain racks."

Good luck in your search.

I bought a Ruger M77 Hawkeye a couple weeks ago from a shop in Idaho (found them on Gunbroker).

MSRP on it was $779

I paid $555 + $25 shipping and $20 for FFL transfer.

AVIV - those links are what I was looking for. RR Arms has much better prices than some of the things that i have seen in the last few weeks.

One of the guns I want to "replace" is the 4.5" Colt SAA that we let get away at the sale for my Dad's guns. While the Colt on RR Arms wasn't made in 1910, I think it would do - that's as low as I've seen a real Colt SAA yet.

A lot of pawn shops or dealers will order new firearms for you if they do not have it in stock with a minimum of markup if you pay up front. My dealer will usually order a new gun for me and charge wholesale plus a flat $35 dollar fee. That isn't such a good deal on low end guns but if it is an expensive item it saves me a lot. Since they are not having to invest any money and stock the gun they are willing to for go a large markup.

my dealer tells me the markup is %25/30.:confused:----;)---:D

I have been through quit a bit of guns in my life both new and used. Very few times have I had any real problems with a used gun. Many guns are traded in because they aren't the latest greatest caliber, they have a badly fouled barrel that just needs a good cleaning, they need a simple repair such as ejector, extractor, they have been sitting in a closet unused, stock repair/bedding or a refinish or maybe its just in a caliber that has more recoil than the previous owner can handle.