Someone private messaged gunbroker, and that was pretty much what i was looking for. Gives a good idea of price of shit i will never own(yay for dream shopping). I would absolutely love an AR10 daniel defence dd5 v4, or something similar. Also fun to just look at other shit i wouldn't think about.
I went to a gun show in SC this weekend, and was absolutely stunned at how expensive shit has gotten. I was casually interested in an M1 Garand, and couldn't find a single one for less than $1k. Am I hallucinating, or didn't those use to be a dime a dozen? I was shocked to see the sticker prices. What gives?
YouTube gun content makers. Nobody wanted them until channels like Garand Thumb started making videos about them.
Say a fella was thinking about the times we're in and wanted to have a home arsenal.... I'm in NoVA, and want to get a few firearms for y'know...shiggles. Mostly recreational shooting at a range nearby, and teaching every trans person I meet how to shoot. What would be some good newb-friendly guns for teaching new shooters on? I'm thinking I want a pair of 9mm handguns, a bolt-action hunting rifle, any sort of historic oddity (an M1 would be cool), an AR and a 12 gauge shotgun. Willing to throw up to $5k on the whole kit, but that has to include a safe and all the accessories. Given that I'm re-entering the space, I'll probably start cheap and swap my way around to what I enjoy and what's not overly finicky. I'm experienced with a Beretta Parabellum 9mm, and would prefer something in the style of the Beretta. Also....buying stuff online, and having it shipped? Any beginner's guide to this realm y'all can recommend?
Stop going to gun shows and you won't be gouged as hard. The boomers there will mark up easily found classic guns 200-300 more than you can find online and not budge. Last time I was interested in buying a gun at a show boomer was charging 1000 for a Russian SKS that could be found for 850$ online. They make up for the lack of gun sales with cheap Chinese accessories. Gunbroker and Arms list is where you find everything. State laws can vary so widly it's hard to recommend anything specific. Ohio lets you do private sales without a background check so both those sites are good for older stuff. Arms list doesnt the best local variety Ive found. I was patient on a few guns I wanted on Gunbroker and found people in Ohio that I could pay face to face in cash. More of an ease of transaction more than anything. I did find an M1A out of state and had it shipped to my FFL. Fairly easy except the boomer wanted a check mailed to him so I had to get a cashiers check from the bank and had it FedExed to him. I don't think teaching a population 4 times as likely to commit suicide about guns is a good idea but thats just me. Id be devastated if someone I helped got their first gun killed themselves with it.
As far as teaching someone, I suggest .22lr for both rifle & pistol. With little to no recoil, and a moderate noise it's easier to focus on fundamentals and they're less likely to pick up bad habits like flinching, anticipating, etc. Otherwise, I recommend staying within common calibers as it's easier to find ammo. As far as safes, do a search on this thread, years ago I posted a link to a safe reviews and selection guide. Depending what you want, a jobsite box may fit your needs and be significantly cheaper. For NoVA: Don't bother with the Dulles Expo gun show, it's like what Kubla described, boomers wanting 30%+ over what the item is worth. Virginia Arms in Manassas, has limited selection and I'm not a fan of that shop for other reasons. As far as ranges, check out your nearest Isaak Walton League, they usually have a decent range setup and the yearly membership fees/requirements are reasonable. The indoor range I used to go to closed, I can't speak to the other indoor ranges in the area.
Some safes can be opened in seconds, there are videos showing how to do it. You can correct some of the deficiencies and make the harder to open with minor modifications. A jobsite box, bolted to the floor or wall, would be at least as good as some of the cheap safes. If you're just trying to keep guns out of kid's hands and protect against a smash and grab robbery, a cheaper safe will probably do. I'm in this category, I have relatively cheap safes. But, I also have big dogs, good deadbolts, an alarm system, cameras covering all doors, and I live well off the beaten path. So, my main concern, right now, is keeping my 10 year old kid and my guns separated. Just about any metal box does that well enough. If you're really trying to protect against fire and more skilled thieves, you'll need to spend more. If you really plan on teaching people you've just met, I'd spend good money on a decent safe. I certainly agree with the .22. Get an AR in .22, or ruger 10-22, or something nice to look at, like a Henry. Glock 44 is probably a good starter, that will make transitioning to bigger semi auto pistols easier.
If you’re really wanting to prepare for troubling times, you have to seek out expert opinions. Have you heard of a guy named Tucker Max?
I love how with the passage of time, each year that name sounds more and more redneck and less and less like a real person. In 2025, Tucker Max is more likely to be the name of an F-150 with all the fittings Advance Auto could muster than a celebrity.
I will second with Fiveslide. If you are going to be teaching 22lr is the way to go. I think a ruger 10/22 is the best choice as it is well priced and anything is available for it. A person can literally build a 10/22 just from the aftermarket parts made.
Then get a Ruger model 44, and pull a switcheroo in them. See if the pupil us actually paying attention to weight and feel, like a test. Its a lesson, after all. And it's funny to watch someone shoot the .44 that was expecting a .22 pop.
Look at the Civilian Marksmanship Program. They aren't much cheaper if at all, but they go through an armory style rebuild if necessary.