Safe Queens: WTH?!

Gene Rojas · Aug 29, 2016

I'm cruising through the Armslist classifieds at all of the AR rifles listed down here in the Socialist Republic of Commie-fornia, and just shaking my head at all of the safe queens listed for sale. More than half have never been fired, and those that were are usually lightly used (less than 1000 rds.). I find this amazing, since I went through alot of effort to gather the parts and assemble my Spike's Tactiac ST-15, and it's really unlikely I will ever sell it. Admittedly when I get my next AR-15, I plan to pay a bit less for it than my Spike's build and find an assembled rifle to save time and money.

My question is why are so many good rifles on the market? It is more expensive to shoot here, and with lame bubblegum 10 round magazines it just isn't as fun as loading up a 30 rd. mag and continuously shooting at targets.

Geno

Nick Burkhardt · Aug 30, 2016

Because Governor Jerry Brown of California signed an assault weapons ban into law.

Stomper · Aug 30, 2016

C'mon, it's California. They're trading their safe queens for another kind of queen...

etrain16 · Aug 30, 2016

My theories:

Some, possibly many, of those guns were purchased in a panic by folks right after Sandy Hook, or maybe right after some other big event where they worried they would never get to own an AR, even if they never really wanted one to begin with. Impulse buys are very common among gun owners, not that I would ever do that

Second, for some, it may have turned out that owning and shooting and AR in CA is simply to damn restrictive and they just don't want to deal with the hassle of the hugely excessive and likely unconstitutional government overreach into their private lives.

With CA trying to track everything having to do with guns and ammo from microstamping to the bullet button to registering the sweat dripping off your balls as you mag-dump that 10-rounder, it's probably more trouble than it's worth for CA gun owners.

But those are just my theories...

Stomper · Aug 30, 2016

C'mon, it's California..... my theory is more plausible.

Andy54Hawken · Aug 30, 2016

Stomper said:
C'mon, it's California. They're trading their safe queens for another kind of queen...

View attachment 309700

Wow! I really needed more coffee before I saw that picture.
Andy

Andy54Hawken · Aug 30, 2016

I do understand the idea of "safe queens".
I have a few myself. Most are of old historic value.

One I guess you could call a semi-safe queen.
It is my grandfathers Remington 870 Wingmaster from 1960.
While not old by any means it has loads of sentimental value to me.
It is not in "new in box" condition but pretty darn close.
I do shoot it and take it hunting , but only in nice weather.

So for some guns I do get the safe queen label.
But as a general rule at least for me is , that I want a gun that I'm not worried about shooting or in the case of my antiques not worried about folks handling it.
( although we do shoot a few of those ... )
If I owned an AR15 ... it would be shot and used without worry.
Andy

nwslopoke · Aug 30, 2016

I don't buy ammo on line. 7.62 is getting scarce around here compared to just a few months ago. My AK is becoming a safe queen. Walmart and even Cabela's is running low. At least when I've been by. I have a set amount in my mind and probably won't start shooting it again until I get near that amount. I'm not even close now.

I had family up from California this summer. They didn't get what all the fuss was about after actually shooting those dangerous assault rifles. They may have to hide the pictures. Even those will probably get banned.

Gene Rojas · Aug 30, 2016

If Californians are trying to dump their semi-auto rifles, it sure doesn't look like it by the prices they want for their firearms. I went to a local gun store that had rifles on consignment- most were built with Anderson lowers, Palmetto Arms barrels. Nothing wrong with those parts, but I doubt you'd find a used but complete Spike's, DD or BCM factory build for $750-850.

Geno

Brutus57 · Aug 30, 2016

nwslopoke said:
I don't buy ammo on line. 7.62 is getting scarce around here compared to just a few months ago. My AK is becoming a safe queen. Walmart and even Cabela's is running low. At least when I've been by. I have a set amount in my mind and probably won't start shooting it again until I get near that amount. I'm not even close now.

I had family up from California this summer. They didn't get what all the fuss was about after actually shooting those dangerous assault rifles. They may have to hide the pictures. Even those will probably get banned.

You do realize you had them commit felonies...across state lines....

They will soon be rounded up and interned, you might get one small post card from them, but don't hold your breath....

Brutus Out

RVTECH · Aug 30, 2016

But those are just my theories...

Another I have heard (and read) is the 'fad' aspect may have reached the high water mark - and crested over. The pawn shops around here have no shortage of all manner of ARs on the racks. I also believe probably a high % of the ARs bought were nothing more than impulse purchases and the buyer probably didn't even have a clue as to what he was doing.

RVTECH · Aug 30, 2016

it just isn't as fun as loading up a 30 rd. mag and continuously shooting at targets.

You may be in the minority with this 'fun' you describe. Where I live shooting doesn't require much planning as close as the woods and desert we are and you would think I would find those shooting ARs commonplace but around here the woods are silent. In fact the people I talk to in LGSs, outdoors and other places etc. mostly discuss target shooting, varmint & other game hunting and most of this revolves around bolt, target rifles and other styles. My observation is the 'serious' shooters are still reloading and shooting modest amounts - and that $199.00 per 500 (or whatever it costs) of .223 bulk ammo ain't feeding those 30 round mags as freely as it once did.

Gene Rojas · Aug 31, 2016

nwslopoke said:
I don't buy ammo on line. 7.62 is getting scarce around here compared to just a few months ago. My AK is becoming a safe queen. Walmart and even Cabela's is running low. At least when I've been by. I have a set amount in my mind and probably won't start shooting it again until I get near that amount. I'm not even close now.

I had family up from California this summer. They didn't get what all the fuss was about after actually shooting those dangerous assault rifles. They may have to hide the pictures. Even those will probably get banned.

I brought my new Spike's ST-15 build up with me on vacation last week- I was lucky my Brother in law was able to take me to the Albany Gun Club to shoot it for the first time, and that he could share some LEO training with me. It only took a few rounds to zero it, and after afew practice rounds we had a practice session- being taught firearms safety and proper shooting technique by a LEO and SWAT team operator was impressive. I have tremendous respect for what LEOs have to do, and how controlled and critical the criteria for them to be able to make the decision to shoot. If all Oregon LEOs practice as much as my Brother-in-laws does, we are all much safer and the bad guys don't stand a chance. It's also so much better to shoot these firearms as intended to function, with no magazine locks and 20-30 round magazines.

I bought over 1400 rounds of 5.56, ammo cans, and other "reading material" while I was up there- no shortage of ammo in the Northwest, at least at Cabelas and Bi-Mart. I have been to WalMart in Commiefornia and they were out of 5.56 one week, then plenty of ammo the next- always pays to come back. Given the price of ammo purchased online and the 9.75% sales tax here, it's safe to say it's not the last time I buy ammo in bulk in Oregon.

Geno