Questions about the 1st AWB? Me too...

I wasn't really into firearms during the last AWB. I had my first G22 then, but nothing else, and wasn't worried about much other than the SH1TTY side of town I lived on. Times have changed, and I don't want to be caught off guard this time. So... I'd love a quick n dirty history lesson, and a few specific questions are below.

Did 7.62x39 dry up? Did .223 dry up? I'd be OK giving up one caliber to either stockpile or commit to the more potentially stable caliber. Stockpiling both to the level of 'Oh well, can't buy anymore EVER.' Isn't in the cards right now.
No ammo dried up during 1st AWB, but DID dry up during 1st Obama election. Another's recollection on the matter: Russian stopped being imported for a time, Chicom was no longer available. ALL AMMO went up over 50-75% based on 8/94 pricing. .223 seemed to be available. 7.62x39 and .308 took inventory hits. Y2K nonsense sounds like it took more ammunition and firearms out of the marketplace than The Ban.

.308? I don't shoot this caliber, but maybe THIS is the more stable caliber and I should let go of both the commie rounds and .223...

What about pistol calibers? .40 .45 9mm? No issues during 1st AWB.

I'm assuming .22lr will never go away. Am I an ass for making this assumption? No issues during 1st AWB.

Muzzleloader supplies? OK, OK, I realize what AWB stands for, but I'd like to know if these types of things were affected last go around. No issues during 1st AWB.

Reloading equipment and supplies? No issues during 1st AWB, but seen as a good economic investment if your spare time is worth less than your current ammunition budget.

Anything else I should know besides: Better get any more rifles I want NOW and not LATER? During the 1st AWB, prices of rifles went UP UP UP, but inventory did not seem to deminish.

Were any other restrictions implemented in regards to magazine sales/use/ownership? Manufactured after 94 > 10 rds. Manufacture before 94 > $$$

Any non-sense about rifle or magazine build dates I should know. No flash hider, no bayonet lugs, no folding stocks, and limited to 10 round Magazines.

What about 922r compliant rifles?

Other changes to manufacturers and post-ban FFL sales? No flash hider, no bayonet lugs, no folding stocks, and limited to 10 round Magazines.

Thanks a lot for educating me. I think a lot of people will be able to glean useful information from this thread. Please add any more questions you may have here, I'll edit everything, questions and concise answers to this first post for posterity's sake. Please be honest with your answers about the difference between speculation and history. I can speculate with the best of 'em, and that don't look good!

Keep your powder dry,

loudbay

EDIT: Here's the other thread that is referred to other members below, it's a fine thread, with lots of good information that I tried to incorporate here without being too repetitive. http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=68115

Ammo and reloading supplies were unaffected by the previous AWB.

"Pre-Ban" guns shot up in price.
"Pre-Ban" full capacity magazines shot up in price.

That's it.

Ironically I think the AWB revived interest in .45acp, 10mm and 1911 style pistols (not that any of those were ever going away, but people lost interest in "high capacity wonder 9s" and started buying 1911s in more powerful calibers). I also think the combination of AWB and the growth of right to carry laws at the same time pushed the gun industry into making smaller and smaller guns in 9x19 and .40.

I also think the AWB helped explode (no pun intended) the interest in .40S&W since the biggest advantage 9x19 had over .40 (and .45 for that matter) was greater magazine capacity.

I often joked during the AWB that a big backfire of the AWB was that people started carrying more powerful calibers. Stupid antis.


As for the coming AWB panic I say don't worry about it. Gun control (and the previous AWB specifically) is the reason we never had a President Gore. Even if Obama wins (which I don't think he will) he may want a new AWB but as long as GOP is in control of house and/or senate it ain't happening. If through some insane series of events we end up with a new AWB, looking at the old one is useless as a new one will be written with the loopholes of the old one in mind.


Seriously folks the UN Arms Trade Treaty is a much greater threat to our liberty than the rumors of an AWB.

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Originally Posted by loudbay

I wasn't really into firearms during the last AWB. I had my first G22 then, but nothing else, and wasn't worried about much other than the SH1TTY side of town I lived on. Times have changed, and I don't want to be caught off guard this time. So... I'd love a quick n dirty history lesson, and a few specific questions are below.

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already a thread on this

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Originally Posted by loudbay

Did 7.62x39 dry up? Did .223 dry up? I'd be OK giving up one caliber to either stockpile or commit to the more potentially stable caliber. Stockpiling both to the level of 'Oh well, can't buy anymore EVER.' Isn't in the cards right now.

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No ammo dried up at all.

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Originally Posted by loudbay

.308? I don't shoot this caliber, but maybe THIS is the more stable caliber and I should let go of both the commie rounds and .223...

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Not sure, but its never a bad idea to have a .308

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Originally Posted by loudbay

What about pistol calibers? .40 .45 9mm?

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No issues during the last ban.

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Originally Posted by loudbay

I'm assuming .22lr will never go away. Am I an ass for making this assumption?

Muzzleloader supplies? OK, OK, I realize what AWB stands for, but I'd like to know if these types of things were affected last go around.

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Huh? Neither of these have anything to do with anything.

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Originally Posted by loudbay

Reloading equipment and supplies? Another mandatory hobby, exactly what we all need...

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Not really, I mean if you shoot alot its pretty mandatory for you to need to reload or go broke. If your an occasional shooter then reload if you want- a Lee Loader hand press setup for a single caliber is what, like 30 bucks these days?

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Originally Posted by loudbay

Anything else I should know besides: Better get any more rifles I want NOW and not LATER?

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there are always going to be rifles available, the question is in what form and for how much.

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Originally Posted by loudbay

Were any other restrictions implemented in regards to magazine sales/use/ownership?

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Yes, check the other thread

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Originally Posted by loudbay

Any non-sense about rifle or magazine build dates I should know.

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Yes, read the other thread

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Originally Posted by loudbay

What about 922r compliant rifles?

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What about them?

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Originally Posted by loudbay

Thanks a lot for educating me. I think a lot of people will be able to glean useful information from this thread. Please add any more questions you may have here, I'll edit everything, questions and concise answers to this first post for posterity's sake. Please be honest with your answers about the difference between speculation and history. I can speculate with the best of 'em, and that don't look good!

Keep your powder dry,

loudbay

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The biggest thing the last AWB meant to me was the three AR's I had build for myself from gov't surplu parts kits went from being worth maybe $500 to over $1200 overnight, and the gun stores that rarely had cool stuff like HK91's, AR's, etc suddenly had them stacked everywhere selling for huge profits.
It also meant that I did not buy a new handgun other than a 1911 during that period, as they only came with 10rd mags and you had to go out and buy hi-cap ones from your cop "buddy" or at a gunshow for a painful amount.

Not about the AWB-1, but I can guarantee that that IF Obummer is re-elected, the ammo hoarding and shortages that happened after his first election will look like a small bump in the road compared to what will happen after 11/04/12.
Reloading for any military type of cartridge will probably be the only option.
Horders will go ape shit and supplies will dry up. And I can see Da Man enacting legislation to prohibit those calibers of ammunition along with the weapons..........[Rant1]

I appreciate the first round of insight. With regard to the other thread: it is marginally informative; at best...

Dwalker460: We MUST be calling different threads 'the other thread'. Is it "Next AWB?" I'd say there is ZERO bits of pertinent information in that thread. Could you please link me, I'll happily do some more reading?

To clarify on 922r rifles: This seems it would be an easy rule to modify and cause a major headache for any of these owners. Do you think this could be changed as in: "We've redacted portions of the outdated 922r laws... Rifles of foreign manufacture shall be required to be unmodified AND meet current restrictions."

Cheers,
m.

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Originally Posted by Tor Larson

Marginally informative? Wow, questions and insulting members all in one package. Nice.

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I'm not trying to insult anyone... Let's be clear. I'm referring to the thread titled Next AWB: http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthrea...t=68001&page=6

I don't think there is very much more than rumors and speculation in that thread, I didn't say anything about the members posting in it. I've read it twice now. I have a great deal of respect for most everyone on this board, and a great deal of respect for anyone trying to educate another. Thanks for your time.

Cheers,
m.

Edit: You guys must be talking about this thread: "So what actually happened during the last AWB". I'm reading it now.

Zundfolge: Do you have some good reading on the ins-n-outs of the UNATT you could share with us?

I think this is the thread being referenced
http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=68115

Honestly, just going through the answers here and in the other thread, I don't see a new AWB being anything like the 1st AWB. I'm sure they're smart enough to 'get it right' this time around.

A lot of the feedback points to it being more of an investment opportunity than anything else. Maybe cashing in the 401k for 33rd glock mags and TAPCO mags is the smart investment here, or maybe a case or two from WASR...

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Originally Posted by Mazin

I think this is the thread being referenced
http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=68115

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Roger that. I linked it in the first post as well... Sorry I missed it.

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Originally Posted by Mazin

I think this is the thread being referenced
http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=68115

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read #27, my response. If that is marginal we must be on 2 different web sites.


Did 7.62x39 dry up? Did .223 dry up? I'd be OK giving up one caliber to either stockpile or commit to the more potentially stable caliber. Stockpiling both to the level of 'Oh well, can't buy anymore EVER.' Isn't in the cards right now.
No ammo dried up during 1st AWB, but DID dry up during 1st Obama election.

Where were you guys?? Russian stopped being imported for a time, Chicom was no longer available.
$89 per case delivers Russian white boxed 122 jhp lacquer coated, 1440 per case went to over $400 a case based on per box pricing.
.223 was available
SA sealed packs of 223 & 308 all but disappeared. We saw Hirtenberger come and go, same for Cavim, and Portuguese.

ALL AMMO went up over 50-75% based on 8/94 pricing. It then went out of this world from say 7/99-12/99. Y2K saw the price of guns & ammo go ballistic. Every gun owner was on a buying frenzy, as their state law regarding assault weapons changed starting 1/2000
AR mfg's couldn't keep up with the demand and BM ran 24/7 shifts. They has horrendous QC issues with over torqued bbls causing sights to be way left of center. CS from most mfg's was non-existent, as they were too busy filling vendor orders.

In today's environment , for some of us always. You should have a minimum of 1K per firearm, 10 magazines and spare parts like firing pin's, and misc springs.
We are fortunate that we have so many vendors in business unlike the 1st 2-3 years after 9/94 producing everything you need to repair or replace on a gun.

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Originally Posted by loudbay

Honestly, just going through the answers here and in the other thread, I don't see a new AWB being anything like the 1st AWB. I'm sure they're smart enough to 'get it right' this time around.

A lot of the feedback points to it being more of an investment opportunity than anything else. Maybe cashing in the 401k for 33rd glock mags and TAPCO mags is the smart investment here, or maybe a case or two from WASR...

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I'd hold on to your money, have a few guns on hand. At least 1 hand gun, 1 long gun and 1 shot gun. If you feel the need for more try and have rifles that utilize the same caliber and magazines. Same for hand guns. Spending all your money hedging against O being re-elected may back fire , when R takes office. Then you will have expensive paper weights like everyone else who panicked purchased, Again, that you paid way to much for and be lucky to get back 1/2-3/4 of what you paid.

Hi Jim, I missed the first thread and only read a 'speculation' thread. This thread was much much better and I probably could have skipped starting another one. Can't win (read) 'em all right? A link to this thread was added to the first post as well.

Thanks for information on the ammo availability during the ban. I suspected other recollections would surface regarding this.

As to R taking office... Let's not count our chickens before they hatch. My comments on 'investments' were merely poor attempts at humor, not financial advice requests. Thanks again.

Cheers,
m.

In the months leading up to the first AWB going into effect the cost of a new Colt exceeded that of a used (but in great shape) M16, which gave me the excuse to "save money" on an M16 back then. Fortunately I had become aware of NFA firearms a year or so before, but the general population had no idea that they were available, hence the upside down pricing.

O2

Why do folks wait until a new threat of an AWB to think about stocking up ?
I'm with Jim on what as a gun owner you should already have especially with the political climate we've had for at least the last 4 years.

I'm not just starting to stock up, if that's your implication. I've been at it for 5 or 6 years now. I'm too young to know the lessons of the first ban first hand, and I was curious as to the affects of the first AWB on the market. That's it really. I'm sure I'm not as well stocked or overstocked as some people here, but I feel my cache is adequate and (I'd like to think) well thought out. I am considering ditching 7.62x39 entirely in order to focus more on .223. I do love that commie cartridge though, something about it...

Cheers,
m.

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Originally Posted by loudbay

I'm not just starting to stock up, if that's your implication. I've been at it for 5 or 6 years now. I'm too young to know the lessons of the first ban first hand, and I was curious as to the affects of the first AWB on the market. That's it really. I'm sure I'm not as well stocked or overstocked as some people here, but I feel my cache is adequate and (I'd like to think) well thought out. I am considering ditching 7.62x39 entirely in order to focus more on .223. I do love that commie cartridge though, something about it...

Cheers,
m.

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Sell the 7.62x39 reinvest it in reloading equipment, buy a 300blk upper and run a 30 cal unit on your AR, or another lower. Hurry b4 it's too late............

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Originally Posted by jim

Sell the 7.62x39 reinvest it in reloading equipment, buy a 300blk upper and run a 30 cal unit on your AR, or another lower. Hurry b4 it's too late............

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Now we're talking! A reloading setup has been in the back of my mind for a couple years, but I always tell myself I won't commit the time.

Family>work>play>reload2play>sleep...

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Originally Posted by SideShow Bob

but I can guarantee that that IF Obummer is re-elected

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You lost me....