How much you expect to pay depends on the standard economics model. Availability and Desirability. Also, more risk increases the going price.

Right after the banning of semi autos years ago, I asked a gentleman who I discovered to be a gundealer how the new laws had affected him. He said that anything that he had that was off the books just tripled in price. He had an AR-15 that he was offered 15 grand for that was previously worth about 5 grand.

I guess it also depends on how illegal you want to be. To become illegal can be cheap, or very expensive. Unfortunately, as an investment scheme, being illegal can require some outlay which may or may not pay back well enough to make a profit. For instance, a cheap handgun may be suitable for casual robbery, but unsuitable in a police standoff or long distance sniping. A cut down double barrel shotgun for that Mad Max mystique will cut the mustard for a drive by, but be outclassed by three bikies with baseball bats at close range.

You really need to be more specific in your quest for a black market gun. If you’re going to run the risk, you need to be more discerning about your investment.

I once stated that I thought a sawn off pump action twelve gauge would be cool to own. Got offered one at a great price. Decided that the biggest issue with buying such a dodge gun is that you have to trust that the person selling it to you will never tell anyone they did. And I don’t particularly trust the sort of person that would sell a stranger a gun.

With the state of the world’s once proud bourses, perhaps an investment strategy based on desirable lead projection machinery isn’t such a bad idea. A mate of a friend of an acquaintance of someone I used to know but haven’t seen for ages has a few investments locked away in some poly pipe with glued ends, sharing the sub-soil environment with worms and the occasional rabbit or snake seeking a safe home. Reckons the returns are akin to French Masters over the last decade but not sure how to re-enter the market so to speak.

We have nerf guns at our house, and they are HEAPS of fun!

I am learning more and more about the readership of RiotACT every day. That reminds me, new ep of Breaking Bad is up.

troll-sniffer said :

With the state of the world’s once proud bourses, perhaps an investment strategy based on desirable lead projection machinery isn’t such a bad idea. A mate of a friend of an acquaintance of someone I used to know but haven’t seen for ages has a few investments locked away in some poly pipe with glued ends, sharing the sub-soil environment with worms and the occasional rabbit or snake seeking a safe home. Reckons the returns are akin to French Masters over the last decade but not sure how to re-enter the market so to speak.

seems smart to me, how else will your “mate of a friend of an acquaintance of someone I used to know but haven’t seen for ages” defend themselves when the zombie apocalypse begins

You don’t want a big black gun, every wigger wants two gold plated Colt .45s to wield sideways gangsta style.

If you believe the crap that was on Today Tonight last week about illegal weapons, then all you have to do is ask any dodgy looking character on a street corner and you will be offered a huge range of gats at bargain prices. Me thinks the truth is a little different. While there may be a black market for guns here in the ACT, it probably services a few small circles where someone knows someone who can get something and only for “trusted” purchasers.

The SSAA ACT is a smallish, fairly close knit group with quite a few current and past AFP officers as members and good relations with the local constabulary, so approaches to buy/sell illegal weapons and ammunition though licenced shooters would probably be passed on to the AFP.

And, if they were that easy to get, then Mr Plod would have no trouble in rounding them up too.

I assume that you’re not serious here, but anyway…

The 16 firearms stolen were “older model rifles”, almost certainly bolt actions, and would be of little interest to crims, as they prefer handguns which are much less clumsy to operate and more concealable.

In general it would be simpler and cheaper to join a shooting club and buy a gun like that legally.

Big black military weapons of the M-16 and Kalashnikov variety you’ve depicted are completely illegal in Australia.

I saw a report a few years ago that said that handguns like the Glock 9mm that are around $900 new to legal shooters were selling illegally in Sydney for around $4000.

There is no doubt a small market for illegal weapons in the ACT, as very occasionally the police bust someone for illegal possession of firearms. They must be coming from somewhere.

And the question that is on everybody’s lips. Why do you want a gun?

tbh having an illegal gun is quite a high risk item. The penalties for having one in your possession are quite severe, and (on top of those penalties) it will make you a suspect with any previous crimes committed with that weapon. There are much cheaper weapons available, that are easily disposable and have a similar effect.

While it would be “cool” to have a gun, you’d have to keep it a secret – so no bragging to mates or having photos with it (especially facebook). Wanting “a big black gun” implies you’d probably want to show it off, and it wouldn’t last long before you got caught.

With a $4000 outlay on a gun, you’ve probably got to commit a pretty big crime to to recoup your monies. Most places where a gun would be viable (like liquor stores) only have $200 in the till, so easy targets aren’t viable. Any place with lots of money has 2 key safes, timers etc so its not worth it, plus you can’t really do much with $5k in $2 coins.

If you’re looking for a gun, buy a namco gun (with time crisis). Play PS3 all day knowing that you’ll never get arrested in real life.

my 2 cents anyway

Henry82 said :

plus you can’t really do much with $5k in $2 coins.

That’s about 3000 hours intensive simulated firearms training at Intencity at Belco. Cheaper than ammo and great preparation for the Zombie Apocalypse.

Who can tell me the difference between being caught with a real gun and being caught with a replica?

I have been told what it was at the ACT registry and in other staes and it seems a little dispropportionate

Disinformation said :

Henry82 said :

plus you can’t really do much with $5k in $2 coins.

That’s about 3000 hours intensive simulated firearms training at Intencity at Belco. Cheaper than ammo and great preparation for the Zombie Apocalypse.

Intencity is gone man IIRC.

Of course black market guns exist in Canberra. I’ve never been offered but I know other people that have, and have also been caught for owning them.

PBO said :

Who can tell me the difference between being caught with a real gun and being caught with a replica?

I have been told what it was at the ACT registry and in other staes and it seems a little dispropportionate

Can’t say for sure what the difference is if the cops find one in your pocket, but I do know that when it comes to bringing them into the country (personally, or via the post) there is absolutely no difference at all. Which is pretty interesting when you consider the differences between some replica guns and a nerf gun painted matte black.

You can get a gun but then risk of having charges laid against you for previous offences commited by that weapon. If you did not do it you will be forced to provide the details of the seller. This will put you into the unfortunate situation of being a “dog” in criminal circles and if the seller is possesion of firearms then you are in an unfortunate position.