I've joked about this from time to time, but what would be good investment grade firearms instead of letting money sit in a savings account or 401k? Could buying a case of AR-15 and a pallet of 5.56/.223 out perform the stock market, etc.? Just a few years ago, I could buy a 100 round box of .45ACP for $17 and now that brings $40 or more.

1. What firearm could be bought low today that is going to appreciate over the next 10, 20, or more years?
2. Ammunition? Anything worth buying that could possibly resell higher?

Any QUALITY ammo on sale is a good investment. I've never known ammo to go down in price, except for military surplus. I have over 6000 rounds of various ammo, not counting the 6000 rounds of 22LR. I always buy it when it's dirt cheap (coupons or super sales) and I've never lost any money on it. Cabelas has American Eagle Tactical AE223 on sale for $5.49 per box of 20.


Spend over $150 and take $20 off with an email coupon code.

Order online, have it shipped to the store for pick-up, and don't pay shipping.

So, you buy 28 boxes and it costs you $133 at the end... or $ 4.78 per box of 20. That's DIRT CHEAP!

Put it on your Cabela's club card and earn points for future discounts!

Firearms are a hard buy. Sure, they all go up in price, but finding the "right one" that will increase quickly and with regularity, is a chore. ARs were the best choice. However, everyone is coming with an AR rifle now. It's hard to place a collection value on any of them. So, there is two ways to go about it.

1. Buy a well known rifle. It may be a custom build like a GA Precision or an rock solid brand like Armalite. Either way, it will cost you more than the average rifle. It will go up in value but to get the best return on your investment, you'll have to sit on it to find the right buyer.

2. Buy one that you can assemble or build. It will save you money and you'll see an immediate return on your investment. Example:

DS Arms sells their base ZM-4 rifle for $775. This is a fantastic rifle (with a Nitride coated barrel) and is cheaper than most ARs on the open market. Figure you buy this complete rifle and pay a $20 FFL transfer fee and $20 shipping, and you're in it for $815.


OR: You can buy the 5 parts that make up the rifle.


Completely assembled upper receiver (Nitride or Chrome Moly coated barrel) for $275


Completely assembled lower (6-pos stock) for $200


Completely assembled bolt and carrier for $110


Completey assembled charging handle for $14


Magpul 30rnd magazine for $15

Comes to $614 + $20 FFL transfer fee + $20 shipping = $654.00 Compared to the factory assembled rifle for $815, you save $161.00.

The chance of losing money by buying this way is ZERO. Anybody who wants an AR would not hesitate to buy a brand new one for $654.

This idea started with a surplus rifle I purchased for $150 a few years back. That same one is selling for $300-$400 now. I think the flaw in using firearms as investments would be physically holding them. Doubling my money for $150 profit isn't going to get me far in retirement. I'd need a 100 or more of that type of investment. Oh well, I won't tell my wife and keep using it as a reason to buy more guns.

Yup. That is true. Unless you're flipping 50 guns a month, you're getting nowhere fast.

I just use it as an excuse to buy more guns and ammo.

My return on my investment has averaged 15% or better. It still out performs anything my stocks or mutual funds have done in the last 15 years.

The problem is, my profits is greatly deminished by the need to purchase additional gun safes at a rate of $700 a pop. Therefore, I look at it as, "I got a free gun safe out of my investment so far, and enough profits to pay for most of my ammo, too!"

I've considered draining the pool, installing a reinforced roof over it and using it as my storage/bunker. I need a bigger safe.

That would be SO COOL! You could install a plasma TV, port in the internet, and make a real Man Cave. I would also go old school and install a periscope just for giggles! :)