Honestly, the Mosin is a garbage rifle. At $50-100, it was easy to overlook its problems. Plus, it's a real Russian battle rifle! But for the price of one today, you can get a modern rifle that will be better in every way, except for historical value. If that justifies the price is up to you...
I can guess they think you really need cash and might take less, or they want to flip it and are just going for some extra profit. Maybe they're just bored. Not sure, really.
Now, Chuck's is pretty empty for some reason. Guess it's because they're well known around here and folks who aren't experienced buyers will go there. But a wide range of other stores have some inventory, from Academy (guns - at times, not ammo) to pawn shops to mom and pop gun stores.
That's really not true. You might not be able to find the exact thing you want, but if you just want "a gun," there's plenty you can buy. Not the selection we had a year ago, but shelves are not bare. What I'm seeing are the hardest to find are CCWs; guns everyone knows, like Glock 19; and...