Rememeber - this is the survival gear forum!

As a guy that was old enough to be into guns before the original crime bill I figured it might be a good idea to share from the experience and make a few predictions based on that experience.  First, please be clear that many of us back then really didn't think the crime bill would become law and I really was not all that interested in AR-15s, AKs, FALs, UZIs, etc before the proposed ban but funny how the government telling people how they can't have something that all of a sudden I want it!

I bought my first AR-15 the month the original crime bill was passed.  It was a Colt R6600 AR-15A2 HBAR Green Label and I still have that gun to this day.  I also scrambled and panic purchased magazines for mt Glock 17 and new AR-15 and I did have to pay a premium to get those magazines as prices climbed quickly.  It took a few months before the supply of "pre-ban" guns and magazines really dried up in the shops as there were plenty of people out there sitting on extra guns and magazines that they were glad to sell for a profit.  The world went a bit crazy in 1999 just before Y2K and at the extreme preban ARs were selling for as much as $2000 and Glock 20 mags that were originally say $14 were selling for $120 or more.  Very uncommon guns like FAL PARA rifles hit prices of $3000 or more.

In general, the guns that went up in value most were the less common ones.  Guns that were available in sizable numbers did go up in value but the relative increase in price was notable.  The same applied for magazines where magazines for guns like a Glock 17 didn't climb anywhere near as crazy as say the Glock 20 magazines.  Once thing that seemed to work well during the last crime bill was trading what you have for what you need.

My prediction is the people that have put off buying are going to buy up everything and anything.  We see it happening already and the more people get worked up the quicker the shelves will get emptied.  This round I am glad to say I really don't need to buy anything and honestly I will be selling some extra stuff.  If a new law was to prevent future sale or transfer of some of these items I expect a thriving black market trade but prices will be painful beyond belief.

There are a handful of guns that I could not imagine not having.  Thes big three including the AR-15 carbine, Glock 19, and Ruger 10/22 are all guns that are at serious risk if a new gun ban were to be put into effect.  Those that have sat back and didn't get something they had always wanted for any reason really sould not ignore the risks we are facing.  We all need to work together to try to fight any upcomming ban but don't assume that a new law may not really affect purchase options in the future!  I would encourage everybody to look at your collection and evaluate if there is something that you really wanted .  If so, I would suggest that while it is no fun being a sheep this time the risk of new restrictions are so great that I would  suggest that buying is a good idea.  Just don't go crazy with your wants as going into a huge debt is not smart as a new law may not allow you to later sell or transfer your stuff.  Just look at your needs and wants and prepare from there.

As for myself. the only thing I don't have is some of the new Ruger 25-rd 10/22 mags.  I want to get say 5 - 10 of these as supposedly they work well but  otherwise I am sitting back for the most part and watching the show as I am prepared for this day after preparing for it for the past 18 or so years,  It's going to be an interesting ride for the next few months and supply and demand is going to make the gun industry profitable for the short term.  I personally welcome the panic buying as it means more guns, magazines, ammo, etc are going into the hands of civilians who are the real army of a free society.

I welcome feedback or oppinions...  Also, to mirror the advice posted below, consider joining the NRA and send an extra donation if you are a member.  We need to fight this hard and up front as removing a law is harder then preventing it in the first place!

Me too.  The panic is strong this time and  I've seen people that never expressed any interest in guns run out and buy several just in case they may want an AR-15 or semiauto pistol in the future.  Like I said above, I think it's good to see people buying and it's too bad it takes a threat like this to get people motivated to at least cover their basic self defense needs.

It does feel good to be looking at what I can sell as opposed to deciding what I should buy!  Hell, I considered selling ammo too but better judgement tells me that is a bad idea!  I think I should buy a couple 5,000 rd cases of 22lr ammo as that may be all I can afford to shoot/replace by the time the libs get a look at how they can make shooting more expensive.

I plead guilty on semi-panic buying 4 Ruger 25-rd 10-22 mags, 4 std Ruger 10-rd mags, and 2 10-rd mag couplers.  Got the 25 rounders on sale at least.

I have been more-or-less constantly been yammering about the need for every firearms owner to stock their own spare parts, even if it is necessary to send the firearm to the mfr to have them fitted.  With some exceptions, these parts usually are springs, extractors and ejectors.

I don't know what form the new, proposed Ban will take, even if it is enacted.  However, prudence alone dictates a reasonable supply of spare parts kept on hand.  Magazines wear out springs with use, so take that into consideration.

I would buy any spare parts that one needed first.  Next, anything that one needed to complete uncompleted projects. Next, any Want-to-Have stuff that will probably be banned, but which one can live without.

As mentioned above, the BEST thing one can do is to write letters (not e-mails) to one's local, staate, and fed legislators telling them that so-called gun control is not an effective answer to the violence problem.

I stopped in one of my favorite shops tonight and all their ARs, H&Ks, UZIs etc were sold.  I have never seen anything like this before.  I expected mags to be gone but whole empty shelves of guns was not expected.

I picked up 3,000 primers as I will always use them and I figure the will be the second phase of buying of the panic shoppers.

Listen to this man, folks.  Becoming active, politically, is the only way we will mitigate or eliminate the threat of a new Ban.

Well said QB!  and batmanacw I feel the exact same way.

I was at a gunshow yesterday with a buddy who realized he needed a second AR but was shocked at the prices.  There were plenty of magazines to be had - but at a price.  I have more than enough for my rifles and G19, but I still feel as if I could use more.

 Dude you are an inspiration!

I'm already having a hard time finding 55gr FMJ bullets.  I'm down to my last 500.

I've got 1000s of pulled 855 projectiles, but I'm finding they are not the most accurate.