Colt AR-15 Mags,Why So Costly ?

[painter777]

Sifting thru auctions today and see that Colt AR-15 .223 mags are being offered up for + or - $175.00 and that's used.

Are they that rare ?
Or no longer available?
Please school me...

Example:



Auction link:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/773713591

Information

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[rcathey]

I always find it useful to look at what something is selling for. I could ask $2,500 for my plain Jane Inland M1 carbine, but it's unlikely I'd get it.

In this case, I found the following:
Lot of 45 Colt mags that went for $425 - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/768515762
Lot of 4 that went for $62 - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/768693596
Lot of 4 in original wrap for $97 - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/771955999
Lot of 5 20-rounders for $72 - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/767227657

I sell a lot of things via BIN that go for more than they would in an auction. Simply because "I want it right now" adds some value.
So if I had some of these to list, I'd probably try for $25 each and be pretty tickled if they actually sold at that price.

[painter777]

THX Again RC,
I just searched the 'Completed Listings' and seen same end results.

Today I seen the end of the box that I have a Weatherby Mark XXII in, was able to read the info from the tag on the end, so I didn't have to pull the stack down to get to it.
To get to the point.... I bought this when my son was born. Came with 1 mag. Dealer told me mags were hard to get. Few months later Bought a bundle of 12 factory mags for it from the 'Mag Guy' at the gun show.... early 80's.
Rifle hasn't been fired and still have the wrapped mags.
I see on GB they are 'Asking' $75 to over $100+ for 1 10rd....
Ebay, listings more like $45-$55
Don't need anymore.... No thoughts of selling, just curious I guess

Gotta look to be informed. Searching Completed auctions is a must.
I'd better run before the M16 AR15 boys jump on me !

Again Thx,

[rcathey]

No worries, Charlie.
This type of research is pretty much all I do during my free time so it comes pretty quick for me.
It all boils down the the old adage of, "it's worth what someone will pay."

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Passed on some @ $15 Saturday.

[RCS]

The small CAL..223 is the first variation and came with the early low numbered Colt SP1 Sporters, it also (like the one pictured) had the factory metal magazine block so only
five rounds could be loaded. These magazines when new had a white dot on the side tooAttachment 94369Attachment 94370

[CINDERS]

Prices obtained for items are not indicative to their true worth and it is subjective to a few variables not only with the item but on the day we have all seen items that are rare fetch a price that defies logic and they go for a snippet yet other items that are about as common as a mouse eating your cheese hit the sky?
Secondly the end user the bidder who is wanting to buy your item and they become embroiled in a bidding war as they get caught up in the 'I'm going to miss out on this" and "I'll keep going well past my empty wallet" its a simple as that.
Setting unrealistic reserves won't help either as I have seen items sit there for months & months a case at present is a bike I am watching out of interest they say it has had 50K spent on it started at 20k and is now for the 5th time listed at 17k......

I got caught 3 years ago in a bidding war with a 3rd pattern F/S it cost me 2 times what it was worth but got sucked into the moment even if it was unissued but it taught me 2 lessons "Set a limit and adhere to it" "Get better flak gear when telling your wife what you just spent on a WWII fighting knife".

[rcathey]

Cinders,
"Value" and "worth" are two very different propositions. I'll give you an example (that also shows how auctions don't always work out haha).
I paid $400 for a brand new set of turbochargers for a 2009 Porsche Panamera. Beautiful gleaming suckers.
Go ahead and look up the OE price. I think we can say the value for the set is in the neighborhood of $1,200 or $1,500.
But they ain't worth that...I can tell you that for a fact .
They've been sitting in my "inventory" for a couple months now. If no one is willing to give even $500 for them, they're not "worth" $500....no matter what Porsche says.

[CINDERS]

Thats why I made the point of the ZX-10 I am watching it looks a beast and is turbo'ed but they reckon they have sunk 50K into it anyway its not moving besides I have fun enough controlling 150HP at the crank on my bike let alone 225RWHP @7psi or 267RWHP @10psi on that beast!

[rcathey]

I wish I knew as much as you clearly do!
I'm man enough to admit that I didn't do the research I should have before buying these dang things. I had cash signs in my eyes blocking my vision
At this point, I'm ashamed to say, I'm hoping I'll find someone to give me a core charge for them. Live and learn, I guess.

Sorry for the thread hijack, Painter!