Mega Rad Gun Thread

Mini 14s are getting really expensive recently for some reason. On the main Ruger site they're listed as like 1200+. Even when I check on places like Gunbroker for bids, I rarely see them below 800 on starting bid. Which is just bonkers. I did see one recently that got like sold for as low as 580, and stupid me didn't jump on it while I had the chance. I've seen a few in the 650-700 range to, but the majority are pushing 900 or well over a thousand. What's up with these all over the place prices? Does Ruger just not produce enough of them or something?

EDIT, Apparently I'm a dumbo, I'm seeing them in the 500 ranges for now. Just bid on one, wish me luck.
 
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Mini 14s are getting really expensive recently for some reason. On the main Ruger site they're listed as like 1200+. Even when I check on places like Gunbroker for bids, I rarely see them below 800 on starting bid. Which is just bonkers. I did see one recently that got like sold for as low as 580, and stupid me didn't jump on it while I had the chance. I've seen a few in the 650-700 range to, but the majority are pushing 900 or well over a thousand. What's up with these all over the place prices? Does Ruger just not produce enough of them or something?

EDIT, Apparently I'm a dumbo, I'm seeing them in the 500 ranges for now. Just bid on one, wish me luck.
I'd imagine that the ubiquity (and overall superiority) of the AR-15 has made the Mini-14 a niche purchase for most buyers.
 
I'd imagine that the ubiquity (and overall superiority) of the AR-15 has made the Mini-14 a niche purchase for most buyers.
I'd totally get an AR-15 if I could. However, at the risk of self doxing myself, I sadly live in one of the "People's Republic states." And I can't bring myself to spend money on a neutered AR-15 with either a fixed magazine, or one of those ungodly hideous stock modifications.
 
I'd totally get an AR-15 if I could. However, at the risk of self doxing myself, I sadly live in one of the "People's Republic states." And I can't bring myself to spend money on a neutered AR-15 with either a fixed magazine, or one of those ungodly hideous stock modifications.
You have my condolences, man
 
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but seriously, she was asked what a barrel shroud was and that was her response.
 
The best part is that nobody actually uses them.
This doesn't get brought up more often but the AWB features make perfect sense by considering that: 1. they were always meant to fuck us over and 2. the people behind them are not mechanically inclined.
When it came to the flash hiders, bayonet lugs, etc it was never about how they're used but what kind of weapons have them - civilian clones of military arms and surplus weapons. What they probably didn't figure was that manufacturers would grind off bayonet lugs and leave barrels unthreaded. We mocked them for thinking mass bayonetting was a problem, that flash hiders conceal the shooter, and collapsible stocks make it easier to hide a rifle under a coat. They knew exactly what they were doing. It doesn't actually matter if you don't use the bayonet lug, it was just an attempt to prevent the weapon from being sold in the first place.
There was probably an early draft of the AWB that included the shoulder rest as it was present in some military weapons, but they gave it up. So that could be the reason McCarthy mentioned the "shoulder thing that goes up" even though that was not on the final wording of the AWB.
This segment was ahead of its time as we got an early form of the Live Tucker Reaction meme.
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Mini 14s are getting really expensive recently for some reason. On the main Ruger site they're listed as like 1200+. Even when I check on places like Gunbroker for bids, I rarely see them below 800 on starting bid. Which is just bonkers. I did see one recently that got like sold for as low as 580, and stupid me didn't jump on it while I had the chance. I've seen a few in the 650-700 range to, but the majority are pushing 900 or well over a thousand. What's up with these all over the place prices? Does Ruger just not produce enough of them or something?

EDIT, Apparently I'm a dumbo, I'm seeing them in the 500 ranges for now. Just bid on one, wish me luck.
Out of curiosity are you bidding on an old pencil barrel model with the blade front sight, or one of the ones that were made after they transitioned to the trident front sight and with a thicker barrel?
 
I have been looking for a decent ballistic helmet, and holy cow are they expensive. Perhaps one of the more informed of us here can explain why the ballistic helmets cost as much or more than an equivalent quality Plate Carrier and IV polyethylene plates.

Trying to find a comms/hearing protection systems that integrates with the above ballistic helmet is looking to out price the rest of my gear combined.

I don't dare try to think of the cost of getting into NV systems at this rate.
 
why the ballistic helmets cost as much
One reason is that they can charge that much, how many civilians are buying ballistic helmets compared to plates? Not a lot of downward price pressure. I'm not sure how automated putting down the layers of kevlar or UHMWPE fabric and resin is, so it might involve hours and hours of US market price labour.
 
This doesn't get brought up more often but the AWB features make perfect sense by considering that: 1. they were always meant to fuck us over and 2. the people behind them are not mechanically inclined.
When it came to the flash hiders, bayonet lugs, etc it was never about how they're used but what kind of weapons have them - civilian clones of military arms and surplus weapons. What they probably didn't figure was that manufacturers would grind off bayonet lugs and leave barrels unthreaded. We mocked them for thinking mass bayonetting was a problem, that flash hiders conceal the shooter, and collapsible stocks make it easier to hide a rifle under a coat. They knew exactly what they were doing. It doesn't actually matter if you don't use the bayonet lug, it was just an attempt to prevent the weapon from being sold in the first place.
There was probably an early draft of the AWB that included the shoulder rest as it was present in some military weapons, but they gave it up. So that could be the reason McCarthy mentioned the "shoulder thing that goes up" even though that was not on the final wording of the AWB.
This segment was ahead of its time as we got an early form of the Live Tucker Reaction meme.
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I don't think anyone ever believed the government banned bayonet lugs because they were trying to prevent people from getting bayoneted during a shooting. Maybe I'm just oold and out of touch.

I have been looking for a decent ballistic helmet, and holy cow are they expensive. Perhaps one of the more informed of us here can explain why the ballistic helmets cost as much or more than an equivalent quality Plate Carrier and IV polyethylene plates.

Trying to find a comms/hearing protection systems that integrates with the above ballistic helmet is looking to out price the rest of my gear combined.

I don't dare try to think of the cost of getting into NV systems at this rate.
The real question is why do you need a ballistic helmet? They're a rather specialized item as you note. The only competitor to companies getting gov't contracts is Hardhead Veterans or whatever who's helmets are Chink made and have some mixed reviews. Being a l337 0per8or is expensive. Shit, even the bump helmet game is expensive as fuck because their primary clients are DoD/LEO. Do you think Team Wendy hosted that Hillary press rally because they're big Dem supporters?
 
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The real question is why do you need a ballistic helmet?
You ask that question here, of all places? Look, I know you are just trying to make a point, and it is well received. Of course I am no SWAT member or military, but I like having and training with a lot of the equipment the boys play with. Odd are good that if I had to strap on a rifle and body armor to defend myself, I have to worry about head trauma too.

The last helmet I got was a Golf War Surplus K-Pot PASGT. It was like 100 bucks a dozen years ago. It's alright, but I wanted something newer with updated protection, and a better cut for ears integration.

I thought looking at new production helmets would be two to four times more expensive, not six to twenty times more expensive. I guess I am just one of those foolish old men they make fun of when they reveal the inflation prices of the house they bought 40 years ago.
 
helmets serve two purposes: to protect your head from bumps, and to protect your head from shrapnel and incidental small arms fire that's especially weak. it's also not trivial to shape kevlar into a small dome, as the stuff is layered and must be built up in layers to maintain strength, which is time consuming.

just get a surplus LWH or MICH 2000 or something and call it a day. you probably aren't in a position to be picky about the helmet design outside of general fitment. if you want to go high speed, you can shop around for a high cut FAST helmet and an Earmor M31H if you want the modern high-speed solution. there are also older versions of the LWH, ACH, MICH, FAST, EXFIL, and all kinds of foreign ones like the Rhinemetall/Galvion GSF helmet.
 
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