How will the firearm marketplace look in 2016?

[Kang Colby]

Any predictions? Do you think 2016 will see sales continue to soar, or do you think 2015 was simply an exceptional year for gun sales? Once all the cream from SHOT Show rises to the top of the blogosphere over the coming weeks, I think we will have a better idea. People are starting to get excited about belt-fed ARs, ARES has one out now. I also think the U.S. made AKs we saw last year will start to really pick up sales in 2016. I credit the recent Saiga import ban for the U.S. AK factory we have now. Funny how the pesky supply and demand works.

What about ammo? It looks like the Mexican rimfire factories are really starting to put .22LR back on the store shelves which is a good thing. Overall I'm glad to see .22LR retail stocks continue to improve.

I'm excited about the upcoming year. 2015 sales will be hard to top, but we are going to try.

[krispos42]

1. Either Hillary or Bernie will win the election

So prepare for four more years of excellent sales.

[ileus]

2. My 12 22LRs will be happy to see ammo show up again.

The kids have been using 223 and 9mm for plinking during family fun range days.


As for our pesonal purchases, I'd like to buy a 10mm for a woods gun, and find my 11yo son a 300win mag for deer.

[Kang Colby]

7. Nice. I own a Glock 20, Gen 4.

10mm is a lot of fun to shoot.

[ileus]

8. I had a gen 2 g20 several years ago...

at the time I didn't reload or cast so I just couldn't keep her around....Now that I do both, I need a 40....but a 20 SF would be okay also.



Worst part was my G20 was a FDE edition...sold it to my Boss, so I get to shoot it often.

[Kang Colby]

10. I understand.

10mm is expensive to shoot if you don't reload.

[Lizzie Poppet]

12. "300win mag for deer"

Yikes! Seems like a whole lot of gun for deer (even mule deer). If you guys go for elk, need to borrow my .338 Lapua Mag?

Then again, I'm not a hunter, so what do I know?

[Lurks Often]

3. Steady until the conventions

then a spike in sales until the election. If Clinton wins an additional spike in sales; if Sanders wins, also a spike in sales, just not as high. If a Republican wins, a drop in sales.

[bolus]

4. home made

I've been happy with the increasing selection of 80% receivers that one can finish at home. 80% finished receivers are not considered firearms and they are legal for individuals to finish them for personal use. Polymer80 is coming out with a 80% glock 17 compatible pistol receiver. There now multiple options for 1911 pistol 80% receivers and 2 companies making tools to finish them that dont require a machine shop. There are also multiple options for metal and polymer AR15 and AR10 80% receivers.

Its a good time for the home hobbyist who also does not want to have a government registered firearm that will just be made illegal and confiscated down the line.

December was the highest NICS month ever recorded. If Hillary wins, Im sure even gun store in the country will sell out overnight.

[Eleanors38]

5. Apart from the politics, sales will depend on the cultural changes started...

by the "gun community." There is a continuing expansion of women and minority shooters, and some indication that younger folks are taking interest in shooting sports. How much is tied to self-defense considerations or hunting is up in the air. These cultural trends will, I believe, be more important for the solidification of the RKBA than the culture war dynamic established by gun-controllers as they would expand the base of the gun-owning public to include new people who have a direct stake in Constitutional rights.

[jmg257]

6. Similiar - will depend on politics, mass shooting(s)(re: politics), and terrorist attacks. nt

[benEzra]

9. Depends on whether the prohibitionists keep pushing for "assault weapon" and magazine bans.

If the ban talk keeps escalating, and ever-more ridiculous proposals keep getting introduced in state legislatures, then gun sales will keep going up and up.

If bans were taken off the table, I think you'd see some slowdown in sales of guns and more sales of optics, other accessories, and target ammo.

[shadowrider]

11. My stocks love the current atmosphere