Not a bad time to be a purveyor of precious metals, especially brass and lead. I'm wondering if we'll have another primer famine, or if everybody learned their lesson last time the shelves went empty?
Didn't work Monday as my back was killing me, but I worked today. Yesterday they sold three guns and today we sold seven, mix of pump shotguns, handguns, and two lever action 30-30s. Still selling plenty of 9mm and .223 ammo with a smattering of 7.62x39. With all this free time, I've cleaned and inspected all remaining guns to be sold and have been cleaning up the storage area. I've been throwing away old junk, broken gun parts, and dry rotted leather holsters and slings.
We're buried under orders. Trying our best to ship as much as possible as soon as possible but we have 4-5 machine operators out so they can self-quarantine.
Another 2 employees decided to self-quarantine this morning. Looks life the management staff will have to reassign ourselves to machine operators. This should be interesting....
How are you with reading calipers and mics? Know how to setup some joblocks and surface indicators? How's your G-code? Just kidding .. good luck to you all.
Another day and seven more guns sold along with plenty of 9mm ammo again. As the new normal, they were pump shotguns and handguns, mostly inexpensive brands. Since I've caught up on cleaning and putting out back stock of guns, I started reviewing the box of broken handguns to see what could be reasonably repaired. There are one Bersa needing a rear sight, six Taurus handguns needing factory parts or factory repair (no surprise), and a Keltec PF9 that the trigger won't reset properly. Of the Taurus guns, one has been waiting parts for over a year, another awaiting a part for almost a year, and I also need to check on one they have had for over two years and still haven't heard from them about it. Taurus has probably the worst customer service of just about every gun maker out there with the possible exception of H&K whose arrogance tends to put them in the top three no matter what the problem.
3.7 million fbi background checks for firearms purchases in march and I think I saw 2.2 million for February. No rear site? F it someone will buy it.
The owner insists that every firearm sold have functioning sights or optics in addition to being functional itself. When we buy or someone trades in a rifle with a scope, I bore sight it before I put it out for sale. Today's tally once again seven guns sold along with plenty of 9mm FMJ ammo. While looking for more 9mm hollowpoint ammo I found another couple of cases of FMJ in the powder room. Apparently we are the only shop around that has any 9mm ammo and people are driving almost two hours to buy it in some cases. Background check calls are back to normal with almost immediate results. I've earned enough to pay off another layaway today. This time a Cimarron Frontier also in .45 Colt.
Contacted Keltec today and they said send it in as they were still working, but the walk-in sales and repairs are stopped for now. I'm not sure what firing pin you are referring to. I've only had to replace broken firing pins on a Beretta Tomcat, Remington 742, and an old Spanish Star pistol.
Friday was another seven gun sale day along with more 9mm, .223, and 7.62x39 ammo sales. Several layaways, mostly due to NICS checks ending up being delayed for further review. Friends of the shop owner have started requesting guns and ammo from him, which he has been helping them out with selecting firearms and ammo, but they have to fill out the form and pay. I am expecting massive amounts of guns and ammo to come back to the shop once the pandemic starts to taper off or probably before then as people probably shouldn't be spending large amounts of money when they soon may be unemployed and are already feeling the pinch. I've had some regular customers already get refunds from layaways as their "gun money" had been the overtime pay they had earned every week up till now and they realize that money should probably be put back so they don't lose their house.
If that's the star with the two part firing pin, it's because some one kept dry firing it.... other wise most Stars are almost bullet proof. YMMV
I have enjoyed reading all the gun store news reports during these Virus Times when our personal movements are limited. Such observations are a useful indicator as to what the "societal mentality" might be. Watching what sells at gun shows (when we are allowed to congregate again), and watching what flies off the shelves in the G & A sections of outdoors stores like Academy and Gander Mountain are informative, too. Thank you for the updates!