Help with AR-15 valuation

[fickman]

I may be considering trading my AR-15 for something a little more practical to my current needs. I'd probably actually sell it outright and then buy what I'm looking for. . . (possibly a compact 1911, a hunting rifle and optics, or accessories for my other pistols).

Rock River Arms Elite CAR UTE2 (It is NIB and has never been fired ): LINK

Included:
- digital camo rifle bag ($80 new)
- rail mount for front site (for tactical flashlight) ($40 new)
- three 30 round magazines
- five 20 round magazines
- two boxes of 5.56 mm FMJ ammo
- original hard case from manufacturer
- six position stock with extra battery storage compartment and Hogue grip

Any help in ascertaining a fair selling price would be most appreciated. If it's not what I'd hope to get, I'll probably just hold on to it and eventually start breaking it in.

[boba]

80% of the best NIB price is a good start. Like chrome on harley's, accessories are worth much less than you paid, unless you find a buyer with exactly the same taste. Good luck with the WTS/WTT.

[RECIT]

Sorry to say but the AR15 market fell out after the public realized Obama was not going to get a ban in effect. Rifles that were selling for over $1000 are now fetching $600-700. So everyone adding up receipts is let down when people make offers on their package deal. The chrome on a Harley is a perfect example. Good luck in this tough AR market these days.

[fickman]

Sorry to say but the AR15 market fell out after the public realized Obama was not going to get a ban in effect. Rifles that were selling for over $1000 are now fetching $600-700. So everyone adding up receipts is let down when people make offers on their package deal. The chrome on a Harley is a perfect example. Good luck in this tough AR market these days.

I know it's not worth retail. . . and not expecting big returns from the accessories. . .I've seen that enough through truck accessories plenty of times. The step bars, bug shield, wheels, off-road tires, camper shell, spray-in bed liner, etc. are nice, but they don't increase the value of the truck anywhere NEAR their actual value. Thankfully I wasn't one of the speculators who bought an AR-15 as an investment ploy during the panic.

I'm just looking to get a ballpark for what this package would command so that I can make an informed decision. . . namely, whether I'd rather eat the depreciation to get the cash or stick it out. I wouldn't want to post it for sale if I'm leaving money on the table OR if I'm wasting my time because nobody would be interested.

When I first started buying guns, nobody warned me that accessories e.g. holssters, sights, optics, furniture, etc. can cost as much as the gun itself, so early on I bought good, quality firearms but didn't leave "play" funds lying around, if you know what I mean.

[AEA]

My guess is that it would sell quick at 600.
You MAY milk 700 out of it but it would not sell as quickly.

I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but it is the way it is.

[fickman]

My guess is that it would sell quick at 600.
You MAY milk 700 out of it but it would not sell as quickly.

I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but it is the way it is.

If it's too low, it just makes the decision to keep that much easier.

I'm sure I'll get into AR life eventually. My only regret from buying it is that I might have been happier with a .308 since I haven't been shooting it a lot. . . or a better barrel twist ratio (which I can upgrade easily enough).

Right now we're extremely busy around this house: expecting kiddo number four in October (our oldest is 4, then 2 1/2, then 1). . . so between family time, church, learning guitar, going to the gym, shooting handguns, shotguns, fishing, camping, wanting to pick up hunting. . . plus a full time job and 162+ Rangers games (TV, not all in person). . . I just haven't had time to get bit by the "AR bug" yet. When my son (2 1/2 now) get a little older, it might be something we get into together, so I won't regret having it.

If it would sell for a decent amount, I'd probably just be tempted to pick up a Kimber Utra Carry or similar. If not, we'll wait till he's older and start customizing this sucker to be just like we like it.

Regardless, thanks for the input!

[gigag04]

The market is better than you think. I could likely sell that gun in the $800 range, probably around $875.

It's $1000 new right?

What's wrong with your twist ratio? Is it affecting your rounds or have you just heard that one is preferable?

[fickman]

The market is better than you think. I could likely sell that gun in the $800 range, probably around $875.

It's $1000 new right?

What's wrong with your twist ratio? Is it affecting your rounds or have you just heard that one is preferable?

$1250 new out the door (from Delmark in Denton - who I can highly recommend)
. . . but that was the "Post Obama Election Era" price and included the $40 rail mount, about $15 to upgrade the stock, two extra magazines, and taxes.

I've never fired it. . . just heard that the 1:7 is better than the 1:9, especially for heavier loads.

I naively picked up FMJ rounds when I went shopping without knowing that most area ranges forbid them. I've got family with land that I can use to shoot that ammo, but I figured that if there was even a chance of selling it, I'd rather leave it as "never-been-fired". . .

[Skiprr]

One benchmark I often use to estimate relative firearm street-value is to search an auction site like GunBroker.com. It's important to look only at the completed auctions, not the active ones. At GunBroker, for example, you have to be signed-in, then you can use the advanced search form to restrict your search to "Completed Auctions." Even then, you have to drill into individual auctions to determine if the item was sold as opposed the auction simply ending because the deadline passed. That said, there's also a lot to be gleaned from auctions that had bids placed, but failed to sell due to a seller's reserve not being met. That can be a good indicator of what bidders are willing to spend on an item, regardless of whether the seller was willing to accept the bid.

The Blue Book of Gun Values is a good source, but I've found crosschecking against what's happened recently at firearm auction sites can provide a better glimpse of current street value. 'Course, that has to be taken with a grain of salt because gepgraphic region and a singlularly motivated buyer can change the numbers.

[RECIT]

I would say closer to the $800-875 mark with goodies. Don't give it away...$600-700 would be for a plain Jane rifle in used condition with a couple of mags.

[Salty1]

Dealer cost on that rifle is $835.00 since it is new with the accesories I would think in the neighborhood of $900 with all the accesories would be a fair deal, since there will not be any sales tax applied I do not think it would be difficult to find a buyer who is looking for a Rock River.............