Will tariffs impact imported firearm price?

[RWT]

MOD’s. If you want this in general discussion please move or advise.

Will the proposed tariffs increase price of Tikka, Howa and Weatherby rifles? Curious if a sponsor or FFL on the forum could advise if they have received guidance from these or other imported vendors. Considering the sales price of Glock, HK, Beretta and others may cost 25% more in the coming year? Should you buy now?

 

[RockAndSage]

MOD’s. If you want this in general discussion please move or advise.

Will the proposed tariffs increase price of Tikka, Howa and Weatherby rifles? Curious if a sponsor or FFL on the forum could advise if they have received guidance from these or other imported vendors. Considering the sales price of Glock, HK, Beretta and others may cost 25% more in the coming year? Should you buy now?

If the last 10 years are any indicator of how rapidly things can turn scarce for us, if you have the money to buy now, then buy now. Almost nothing will get cheaper going forward, for all sorts of reasons.

Some of the brands you mention do have some US manufacturing, btw.

 

[dlee56]

If they tariffs don’t make them 25% more expensive then whatever new tax they come up with next will.

 

[hereinaz]

The ones made of steel and aluminum can be hit depending on the export country.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Yes and brownings.

 

[Skydog]

I'm no economics expert...but Trump's new tariff rate on the EU is 20%. Finland (where Tikka/Sakos are manufactured) is in the EU. I'm assuming one could multiply this example to include many, many gun and ammo manufacturers. And the cost of the increased tariffs will get passed to the end consumer. So, I assume the answer to the question is "yes".

 

[chanson_roland]

 

[khuber84]

It's gonna be the tariff % plus an extra 5-10% cuz they're getting an apportunity to raise prices.

 

[Skydog]

And get ready for ammo shortages and substantial price increases...

Example 1 - PMC from South Korea was hit with a 25% tariff and is a major supplier of the most popular options for 5.56/223 ammo, as well as 9mm and many other calibers. This tariff increases the cost to 1000 rounds of 5.56 by about $100, and 1000 rounds 9mm about $50. At that point they simply cannot compete in the market against US manufacturing and most likely would slowly exit the market over the next year with the most popular products drying up first. Also, PMC's mother company, Poongsan Corporation, supplies US ammo manufacturers with a huge portion of copper strip used to make ammunition, which will drive up cost of US manufactures.

Example 2 - Prvi Partizan in Serbia was hit with a 37% tariff, and is a key supplier of metric rifle calibers, economical handgun ammo, and 5.56 FMJ ammo. This 37% tariff, if it holds, will totally force them out of business and you will see this manufacturer totally exit the US market over the next 6 months.

Example 3 - Igman in Bosnia, a key supplier of 7.62x39 and 7.62x51 ammo was hit with a 36% tariff, which increases the cost of 1000 rounds of 7.62x39 by about $180. No one will import it at all if this cost is added.

Example 4 - Sellier & Bellot in the EU (Czech Republic) was hit with a 20% tariff. This drives the cost of their basic 9mm FMJ ammo up $40 per 1000 and affects other products in a similar way, and at that point they cannot compete in the market on many popular products.

Source:

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[mmac]

The tariffs will make everything more expensive. If a product is imported and it is up 20%, for example, the other products in that market will also raise the prices. Why? Because they can now. The can raise 15% and still be less. This will impact everything you buy whether it is imported or not. You think inflation was bad before, hang on.....

 

[Elkhuntinfool78]

It's honestly pretty scary where inflation could go with all of this. Bottom line is if there is some you've been thinking about buying it would be smart to do so now as it's sure as hell not going to get any less expensive

 

[Shawn_Guinn]

It will but if we hold our ground and incentivize new American manufacturing the prices will level out, the product quality will increase and we will be a stronger Nation and not get all rednecky but America should lead the world in gun building ammo manufacturing. I own a tikka great gun and always punches outside its price point but I’m sure we can build the equivalent here in the states. Remember when Remington and Winchester meant something. Maybe companies like Seekins and the G5 owning Montana rifle company can build a presence and grow every year get bigger and take a bigger step into mass producing quality American built reasonably affordable options. As an archery guy g5 and its subsidiary Prime make some cool innovative bows. Heck most of the compound bow companies make there bows here minus Hoyt’s carbon which strangely enough the most expensive bow lol.

 

[RS3579]

It will but if we hold our ground and incentivize new American manufacturing the prices will level out, the product quality will increase and we will be a stronger Nation and not get all rednecky but America should lead the world in gun building ammo manufacturing. I own a tikka great gun and always punches outside its price point but I’m sure we can build the equivalent here in the states. Remember when Remington and Winchester meant something. Maybe companies like Seekins and the G5 owning Montana rifle company can build a presence and grow every year get bigger and take a bigger step into mass producing quality American built reasonably affordable options. As an archery guy g5 and its subsidiary Prime make some cool innovative bows. Heck most of the compound bow companies make there bows here minus Hoyt’s carbon which strangely enough the most expensive bow lol.

It’ll take 10 years for that to happen. I truly hope I’m wrong and you’re right. Time will tell.

 

[bojangles808]

Gotta subsidize those billionaire tax cuts

 

[mmac]

It will but if we hold our ground and incentivize new American manufacturing the prices will level out, the product quality will increase and we will be a stronger Nation and not get all rednecky but America should lead the world in gun building ammo manufacturing. I own a tikka great gun and always punches outside its price point but I’m sure we can build the equivalent here in the states. Remember when Remington and Winchester meant something. Maybe companies like Seekins and the G5 owning Montana rifle company can build a presence and grow every year get bigger and take a bigger step into mass producing quality American built reasonably affordable options. As an archery guy g5 and its subsidiary Prime make some cool innovative bows. Heck most of the compound bow companies make there bows here minus Hoyt’s carbon which strangely enough the most expensive bow lol.

It is a competitive global market. Let's look at your example as Tikka. If it is 20% more tomorrow, any gun manufacturer would only match the price or slightly under. Basic economics is that the market is set there now. Any new entrance would only undercut that price slightly. What this doesn't take into account is that there are already manufacturers here in the US you don't buy from for a reason.

There is a reason the stock market is tanking. The costs will rise faster than the companies can react. Which means they eat the costs or pass them on.

 

[Elkhuntinfool78]

I totally support American made and will happily pay a bit more for it but to think that we will ever see quality American made products that are affordable as a result of these tariffs is ludicrous

 

[juju]

It only costs more if you buy it. There will be a period where manufacturers hunt for the new price the market will bear. Buying in such a period will certainly mean a higher price. How high the prices settle on non-essential goods will depend on how many excess dollars there are in the economy. Without tax cuts freeing up cash, where are these dollar going to come from? I don't know and there's no telling if we will ever find out depending on how long the trade ware lasts.

 

[cowdisciple]

Reading this thread just caused me to buy another Tikka. Stainless lite, 6.5 PRC, $612 from Eurooptic. Used a 10% off coupon and was surprised it's allowed on an already discounted firearm.

 

[Marbles]

I bought a T1x and two Maven scopes as well as some other things back in November anticipating price increases.

Tikka prices have gone up $100+ in MSRP in the last 12-18 months, I expect a stainless T3x Lite will soon have an MSRP around $1000, that is assuming Sako and Beretta eat a portion of the tariffs to meet a price point. But, the other issue is the dollar is sinking in value, it is quite possible a stainless Lite will be $1,200 in 8 months between tariffs and a devalued dollar.

If you need something, or strongly want it, I would buy now. If it is a 'just because' I would hold on to the cash. I really want to pick up another Tikka, but I have a stainless T3x action sitting in a drawer already, a second spare just because doesn't help anything.

The final disclaimer is no one has a cristal ball that works.

 

[jimh406]

Maybe eventually. Some of the Weatherbys are made in Wyoming now. There are probably a lot already in the supply chain.

In any case, it's probably going to be a delayed effect. Also, we are in the early phase of the negotiations, so we don't even know what the tariffs will be in a month.