GILLETTE -- When Wyoming gun enthusiasts talk about cosmetics and accessories, they're not speaking the fashion language of glitter scarves and oversized bracelets.

They're talking about high-capacity magazines, flash suppressors and collapsible stocks -- all contraband under a weapons ban that expired Monday.

The 1994 Federal Violent Crime Control Act that outlawed the sale of the Colt AR-15, the AK-47 and 17 other types of assault weapons was allowed to expire on Monday.

But don't expect a big rush on gun stores to stock every pickup window rack in Wyoming with a high-powered semi-automatic. There have always been plenty to go around. Many gun enthusiasts in the state say the expiration of the assault weapons ban is mostly a symbolic end to an ineffective law that threatened to undermine the right to bear arms.

"This law was just good for the gun dealers," said Dave Zerbe of Casper, who traded guns for 37 years. "When they outlawed 18-round clips, all that did was put the clip from $18 to $80. All it did was make the gun dealers a lot of money."

Don Gaitan, owner of The Pawn Shop in Jackson, said the expiration of the assault weapons ban will affect his prices because of an increased volume.

"We have boats waiting off shore, just waiting to come in (to the United States) here at midnight," Gaitan said Monday. "When they hit the docks, oh, man, it'll be nuts."

Gaitan said because there will be so much inventory coming from other places in the country, his prices on new and current inventory will go down.

Studies by pro- and anti-gun groups as well as the Justice Department show conflicting results on whether the ban helped reduce crime. Loopholes allowed manufacturers to keep many weapons on the market simply by changing their names or altering some of their features or accessories.

"This (law) was pretty much about cosmetics," said Marty Brown, president of the Gillette Gun Club.

"I never got excited about flash protectors. All that does is save your night vision," Brown said, adding that he doesn't plan to buy any of the previously banned guns and equipment.

Advocates of the ban, including the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, point to some particularly vicious shootings in which military-style weapons were used -- including the 10 killings in the sniper shooting spree that terrorized residents in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., in 2002.

Brown said he often hears supporters of the weapons ban argue that the guns are made for killing people, not for recreational shooting or hunting. He couldn't agree more, but he said that's not the point.

"The Second Amendment isn't about hunting," Brown said.

Zerbe said the law infringed on citizens' right to defend themselves.

"I'm not a gun-toting idiot. But I believe guns keep America free," Zerbe said.

U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., issued a press release Monday hailing the expiration of the assault weapons ban.

"Now that the ban is expiring, many Wyoming hunters can now legally use their guns," Enzi said in a prepared statement.

"The assault weapons ban gives a false sense of security to gun-control advocates, but Wyoming gun owners know that a law based on superficial characteristics will not keep guns out of the hands of criminals," he added.

Expiration of the assault weapons ban does not mean the end of federal background checks. The 1993 Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act is separate legislation from the assault weapons ban, said Daniel Wells, chief of the FBI unit charged with overseeing the background checks system.

Staff writer Whitney Royster contributed to this report.

Staff writer Dustin Bleizeffer can be reached at (307) 682-3388 or dzeffer@trib.com.