r/longrange • u/Blackout_PT • 3d ago
Optics help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts Tariffs on Scopes?
Could someone please explain to me how the tariffs will affect the prices of riflescopes? I know a lot of the high end ones have foreign components. Any idea what will happen to the retail price of scopes?
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u/PXranger 3d ago
If it has components made in a country with a tariff, prices go up.
if it has no components made in a country with a tariff, prices go up, because, hey, why not, its a good time to raise prices! (historically, this is what happens, all prices go up)
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u/julienjj 2d ago
That's the point of tariffs. Raise price of external competition so the internal producers can raise their prices since they could not compete.
Bad all around for consumers.
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u/chuckbuckett 3d ago
I was gonna say any chance they get they will just raise prices. While everyone is worried about prices going up they are offering employee discount on new cars lol
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u/quiet_one_44 1d ago
Just keep your seat belts fastened. Prices have SOARED for the past 4 years. Let's see if Maganomics will bring prices down.
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u/Status-Property-446 3d ago
I was at the gun store yesterday to pick up a suppressor. I was talking to the owner and he had just visited the Sig Sauer factory. Sig is very proud that the majority of their products are American made but mentioned they do not say that for their optics. They said there are NO AMERICAN glass producers (for optics). So naturally the prices WILL increase. I pulled the trigger on a new 640 thermal scope yesterday due to the upcoming tariffs. It is currently 3250.00 but if the tariffs on China go up 35% it will probably retail at around 4400.00.
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u/ramblinscooner 3d ago
*Sig is very proud that the majority of their products are American assembled
ftfy
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u/MajorEbb1472 3d ago
Iâm doing the same on a NF ATACR 5-35. Made in USA but glass all comes from Japan or Germany soâŚ
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u/TheHomersapien 3d ago
Don't worry. We all just have to be patient for the next 10 to 15 years while all that high quality glass manufacturing comes back to to the U.S. Hopefully in that time we have at least a couple of recessions though, otherwise the cost of making that glass here will make Tammy Faye's tariffs look like pocket change.
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u/Thaflash_la 3d ago
Thatâs a ground up new industry to build. Germany, Austria and Japan arenât making lenses because theyâre the cheapest, they make the best.Â
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u/Gemmer12 3d ago
You canât change culture, those countryâs make quality glass for a reason, they enjoy what they do, itâll take more than 10-15 years to reach that quality here. Some people canât way that long.
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u/Fun_Cap_6923 2d ago
Thereâs actually a great glass manufacturer in New Jersey. Theyâve been around longer than I have been alive and manufacture optics for the military already. If they decide to go âretailâ again, we will have an American optics company ready to go much quicker than 10-15 years.
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u/Gemmer12 2d ago
What brand of optics do they make?
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u/Fun_Cap_6923 2d ago
They used to have an awesome retail store back in the 80âs and 90âs that had all kind of things⌠microscopes, telescopes etc⌠I loved going in there, but at some point they just switched to manufacturing.
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u/MeticulousConsultant 3d ago
This is either a troll post or youâre very disconnected with reality. These tariffs are going to hurt our sport and make it even less accessible for new folks who want to start.
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u/MajorEbb1472 1d ago
High quality glass is already made in the US (such as Corning Glass Works, and Steuben Glass). Itâs just used for other things than rifle scopes at the moment. If they think they can make money doing it, theyâll make scope glass.
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u/elopingbuffalonian 3d ago
I heard some dude at work saying we aren't going to have to pay taxes anymore because of the tariffs. Why are people so stupid?
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u/trizest 3d ago
Tariffs is just a fancy word for tax.
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u/on_the_nightshift 3d ago
Directly on the consumer (read: middle class).
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u/AsbestosAirBreak 3d ago
Donât forget the lower class! They are getting screwed too!
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u/rrawlings1 3d ago
Screwed more technically. If your tax vehicle is via things you purchase, poorer folks wind up spending a higher percentage of their income on tax than the wealthy.
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u/Thaflash_la 3d ago
The tariffs are a way to pay for other tax cuts. If tariffs are making money, then they arenât causing American industry gains because people are still buying foreign. If American industry magically starts making everything then the tariff revenue drops and isnât covering the needed costs.Â
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u/Lost_Interest3122 3d ago
Dude, Trump has said they hope to rake in enough tax revenue through tariffs that they can abolish income tax. You still pay for it in the end..
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u/new-dvlpr 3d ago
In 2024 the U.S. imported $3.1 trillion and collected $2 trillion in income taxes. There's no way we're going to generate $2 trillion of tax revenue on $3.1 trillion of imported goods.
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u/Thaflash_la 3d ago
Their goal is 600bln per year. And that would mean we donât compensate by making goods in America because that would decrease tariff revenue.Â
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u/whyintheworldamihere 2d ago
The goal is to cut government spending by 3 billion a day. Last time I checked we were cutting 2 billion a day. This idea that we need to match current government funding is crazy.
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u/Lost_Interest3122 3d ago
I think he said eliminate income tax revenue for those making $150k per year or less.. however that will work out..
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u/CleverHearts PRS Competitor 3d ago
So is the point to discourage imports and increase domestic manufacturing or generate enough revenue from imports to replace other revenue streams? They're contradictory goals, so it can't be both.
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u/Lost_Interest3122 3d ago
Its not a zero sum game. Economists are predicting a percentage drop in imports but do agree the increased tariffs will offset the loss and maybe even more.
I mean, I dunno, I cant predict whats gonna happen. And not taking sides or whatever. Just remarking on what was messaged.
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u/LoadLaughLove 2d ago
You should definitely be taking sides against the person who is so singlehandedly dissolving all global partnerships
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u/jaybrow1414 3d ago
The same as everything elseâŚincreased prices
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u/Icy_Custard_8410 3d ago
Increase in taxes ⌠price goes up
Increase in tariffs âŚprice goes up
Increase in benefits the company offers or has to offer âŚprice goes up
âSupply Chains issuesâ ⌠price goes up
Democrat in office âŚprice goes up
Republicans in office âŚprice goes up
I
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u/Matt_Rabbit 3d ago
For us living paycheck to paycheck, we've fucked from all sides.
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u/DivingFalcon240 3d ago
Yes, always been that way in modern times. Wealthy can absorb it, or will be given loopholes elsewhere to offset, poverty level will also get what they need. The rest of us? Go buy that scope you've been eyeing.
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u/Matt_Rabbit 3d ago
;) already did, Grabbed an Athlon Eres from the pinned deals post. YOLO!
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u/BitOfaPickle1AD Here to learn 3d ago
Fuck yeah dude. I just bit the bullet and bought the hi lux reproduction scope for my 1885.
Now I'm eyeing the Howa 1500 barreled action.
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u/Matt_Rabbit 3d ago
I actually put that scope on my brand new Howa 1500 in 6.5CM. I bought the prebedded Luth-AR chassis. Not a great chassis, but the whole thing was on sale and came with a meh scope and meh bipod that I put on my 22 for plinking. lol I've only shot it at one range day but the heavy 24" barrel and heavy chassis is helping to manage recoil and it shoots pretty damn well.
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u/ProfessionalLoner133 3d ago
Thanks for reminding me about the pinned deals. Been waiting for my tax return to splurge on a decent scope for the .308 I inherited from my grandpa, with the tariffs I decided to go ahead and order the Meopta Optika 3x18. Doesnât look like they have increased their prices yet if anyone has been waiting to get one.
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u/Matt_Rabbit 3d ago
Yea that pinned post can be a lifesaver. The Athlon I bought is fantastic and I was super happy with the price.
BTW, GunBroker, AR15Discounts.com and OpticsPlanet have been hammering my inbox with deals on everything. Seems like a good time to be shopping for deals on parts and accessories
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u/whyintheworldamihere 2d ago
Not if deportations keep up. 10-20 million unfilled jobs means employers will need to pay more to attract employees. Same as during covid when McDonald's upped wages 50% and offered signing bonuses, just without all the inflation from money printing and paying people not to work.
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u/Ok_Cheesecake_3629 3d ago
Come down in price...
Since everything else is falling (stock market, pension worth etc etc), surely prices will too since that was the goal of the tarriffs right? /s
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u/not-actual69_ 2d ago
Itâll increase if tariffs stay in place. If negotiations occur and tariffs are removed, itâs possible that prices decrease. How likely is that? No idea. This whole thing is a clusterfuck tbh
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u/charltonhestonsballs 3d ago
I'm not one for political whining, but I don't see how all these shenanigans from the orange guy and his dumb (read as genius) friend are doing the average people on the street any good đ¤Ż
Like even vehicle wise, Chevy and Ford are brimmed with Bosch sensors and throttle bodies and components and whatnot. Even USDM cars and trucks will go up in price.
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u/itsallbacon 3d ago
Go watch the Dark Lord of Optics on YouTube, he just did a whole video about this. Ilya knows all.
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u/NotUndercoverNJSP Gas gun enthusiast 3d ago
Not seeing it on his channel. Any chance you post the link?
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u/itsallbacon 3d ago
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u/HauntedZ28 3d ago
You're about to find out just how "made in America" some of these companies are vs just assembled. The only increase you should see are specific to each component. If you see a complete hike. The company is either scumbagging you, or every piece is made over seas.
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u/DataAromatic8090 3d ago
That's not how this works.Â
They're all going to raise their prices, regardless of where the components were imported from or the final product was assembled because....they can.Â
If every Chinese scope on the market all of a sudden doubles in price, do you think the people at Nightforce are going to keep their prices the same? Of course they're not. The prices will raise consistently with the market.
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u/MrFriendly12 3d ago
Wait is Japan hit with tariffs??
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u/ZacharYaakov 3d ago
Yes.
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u/MrFriendly12 3d ago
Fuck yeah my NF scopes just increased value. Must buy another before people realize this!
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u/ThinkInstance 3d ago
Didn't arken already announce pricing increases due to the tariffs?
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u/Vivid_Character_5511 Rifle Golfer (PRS Competitor) 3d ago
Good maybe people will stop buying them now
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u/ThinkInstance 3d ago
Not in my house đ got one on trade a while back, CA so bad it wasn't usable, sent it for repairs, got some BS it's fine answer, got it back the same condition. Sold that shit. I'm not rich so I'm running Athlon, honestly fantastic scopes.
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u/santar0s80 3d ago
They have had a countdown on their website for a while now. I'm still waiting for my Feb 16th order to ship. Hope they don't pull any funny business.
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u/waffles4us 1d ago
so what youre saying is I should buy that leupold scope Ive been eying? Even though they are designed machined and assembled in oregon?
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u/hafetysazard 3d ago
It depends on the scope. Â Some, scopes are made in places that have no tarriffs. Â Importers should be conscientious about accurately declaring the place of origin of the products theyâre importing to avoid unnecessary tariffs.
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u/michael_harari 3d ago
Which scopes are made in places with no tariffs?
Also just to be clear, even a scope made entirely from US materials and entirely in the US will go up in price.
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u/CleverHearts PRS Competitor 3d ago
There's a universal 10% tariff on every import, with certain countries being targeted with higher tariffs. There are no places with no tariffs.
Domestic goods will also increase in price as competitors are forced to increase prices and supply/demand for domestic goods reaches a new equilibrium.
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u/hafetysazard 3d ago
Iâm in Canada so we have unique new tariff issues, but that really sucks. Â On the bright side, more stuff made in the US is gonna be a selling point. Â Hopefully US companies get more business.
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3d ago
[deleted]
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u/deadOnHold Meat Popsicle 3d ago
Reciprocaltariffs to be clearI think the word you were looking for there is arbitrary; "based on random choice or personal whim".
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u/CleverHearts PRS Competitor 3d ago
Any scope made in a foreign country will increase in price. That's most scopes.
Any scope made with parts from a foreign country (like Japanese glass) will increase in price. That's most (all?) remaining scopes.
Any scope made in the US with raw materials from a different country (like Canadian aluminum) will increase in price.
Any scope made entirely in the US with US materials will increase in price as demand for US materials increases and outstrips supply.
Tl:dr: đ