Hard to believe I bought my first AR-15 COLT new in Tulsa OK back in 1971. It cost $200.
A constant dollar calculator says $200 in 1971 would be $1,009 today.
http://www.in2013dollars.com/1971-dollars-in-2017?amount=200
At that time, 1970, you could buy a NIB Winchester 1894 carbine for $45.00.