Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on investing in firearms magazines. (See the Tangibles section, near the end of this column.)

Precious Metals:

Jack Chan: Silver Price Update

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Gold Forecast for the Week of August 14, 2017, Technical Analysis

Stocks:

Top Four Gold Stocks as of August 2017

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Do You Own Those Three Recession-Proof Stocks?

 

Commodities

Next, over at Knoema: Nickel Price Long Term Forecast (to 2030)

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How the Commodities Bounce Could Finish Noble

Forex:

Lloyds Bank Forecasts for the Pound versus EUR, USD, AUD, CAD, NZD

 

Economy and Finance:

On to this headline: Dow at 1989 levels, Amazon at $4: What a 1929-style crash would look like today

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Fox News interview with Vitaliy Katsenels: Don’t Blame Amazon for The Ice Age in Retail

 

Derivatives:

Proposal for EMIR Reform – targeted changes with important consequences for AIFs, AIFMs and UCITS Management Companies

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Finadium: Liquidity Trends in Listed Equity Derivatives Markets

 

Troubling Trends:

Social Security needs a bailout 60x greater than the 2008 emergency bank bailout. JWR’s Comment: Gee, maybe they can just create that money out of thin air, and not worry about the mass inflation that will result.

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Also this from Brandon Smith at Alt-Market.com: Venezuela: Dictatorship, Collapse And Consequence

 

Tangibles Investing (Firearms Magazines):

Today’s focus is on investing in firearms magazines.  (The steel, alloy and plastic kind, that hold cartridges–not the paper kind that contain words and photographs.)

With the election of Donald J. Trump (DJT), gun owners gave a sigh of relief.  Many of us had been stocking up on black rifles, magazines, and ammunition. We did so in the well-founded fear that Hitlery Clinton would be elected and start enacting bans, by fiat. If that had come to pass, then we would surely be seeing huge price increases by this summer.  Instead, we are seeing bargain basement prices. My conclusion?  Stock up.  We are back in the first half of the classic “Buy low, sell high”  pendulum swing.

Presently, you can buy a decent M4gery carbines for under $300. Stack your gun vault deep. So sell off your extras when they are back up to $1,200 apiece.  And right now you can find 30 round Mag-Pul PMAGs for under $8 each.  Buy at least 10 of them for each of your ARs. I’d say that 20 magazines per rifle is a better “comfort level.”

More Than Just a Commodity

Some folks claim that firearms magazines are “just a commodity” and that is partly true. But any time that a commodity can have its supply cut off legislatively, then it ceases to be a commodity. It then becomes a valuable rarity.  The last time there was a ban on production of new 11+ round magazines (from 1994 to 2004), their prices went up anywhere from 200% to 700%.  That isn’t a bad Return On Investment (ROI).  Ironically, some of the biggest gains were seen with plastic Glock pistol magazines.  A 33-round factory Glock 9mm magazine went from $18 before the ban to $140 during the ban. They are now back down to around $32 apiece. Another big jump was seen with 100-round Beta Company C-MAGs.  These went from $120 before the ban to as high as $750 during the ban years.

Which Mags?

As preppers, it is wise to stock up on firearms magazines, both for use within our families, and for barter.  Buying even more of them as an investment is also wise. For the latter, stick to the most common full capacity types: AR-15, AK-47, AK-74, HK91, Ruger Mini-14, M1 Carbine, Colt M1911, Beretta M92, and Glock 17.  Those will probably be the most sought after. As I’ve often mentioned: Be sure to buy only original military contract magazines or original factory-made magazines. The commonly found aftermarket magazines are mostly junk, and will possibly fail at the worst possible time: Right when your life depends on it!

Provisos:

SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. So please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.

News Tips:

Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who particularly watch individual markets. And due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” investing news. We often “get the scoop” on economic and investing news that is probably ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!

 




11 Comments

    1. That is what I’m seeing for used ARs, here at gun shows in the Inland Northwest. You can also presently “part up” an M4gery for about $325 if you shop around for the best prices on stripped lowers and parts. And here is an example of what you can presently find on Internet forums.

  1. Couldn’t agree more on the magazine comments. If you believe that the prices will remain low as they are now, you’re deluding yourself. Buy them. Stash them. Same with black rifles. Buy them, grease them. Stash them. You, or your descendants, will be glad you did one day. In my opinion, the best investment available. Ask yourself, “What would I pay for something I can’t buy.”

    1. Steve

      Gunmagwarehouse.com (I have no affiliation but I think they’re a site sponsor) is selling 10’packs of 30’rojnd pmags for 74.99. Add it $5 bucks for shipping and you’re under $8 a mag. I’ve made several orders through the site, they’re very good and very fast.

    2. Cheaper than Dirt or Midway USA have had a $84.99 for 10 30 round PMAGs sale several times this year.

      Get on their email list and you’ll occasionally see the sale.

      I can’t agree more with this article!!!

      The only time you’ll truly need an extra magazine, it will be a necessity not an “extra”.

  2. Firearms Magazines:

    The AWB of 1994 really damaged my calm.

    I probably have some kind of PSTD from it. No, really…

    I have harsh memories of looking for a replacement G21 13rnd mag for months and then having to pay $200 for it.

    When you mention it, some folks who didn’t experience it, give you the deer in the headlights look, and seem to think that mags grow on trees.

    So, these recent flash sales on mags are very hard to resist.

    But, as long as you don’t go into debt, stack them so high that they can fall over and hurt you, or block entrances, investing is okay and maybe even therapeutic.

    One thing to remember is that these flash sales drain the special fund for NV and Thermal scopes, that are force multiplying and give tactical advantage.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Assault_Weapons_Ban

  3. Can’t agree more on buying mags. Even if you are short on money, buying 1-2 a month adds up quickly. Buying quality OEM or trusted brands like P-Mags are a good way to go. Brand recognition makes them easy to sell ahead of any changes in the law. Also don’t forget repair kits for your guns – for some reason these sell out just as quickly whenever mag or ammo restrictions are enacted. Another to add to the list is Springfield Armory high capacity mags (i.e. XDM 9mm). Glock 19 is also very popular in this area and sometimes people prefer a mag that fits their gun perfectly.

  4. One more idea – when high cap magazine bans are enacted (or look like they have a chance of passing) lower capacity mags increase in price dramatically until manufacturers catch up with demand. That can take months, if not years. Storing away a few 5-10 round magazines that typically use 20-30 round mags can also prove to be profitable.

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