Some good news at the Gun Show

[Doc Hoy]

I saw a WHOLE LOT more ammunition at the Gun Show in Virginia Beach. Almost any caliber and in most cases as much as one wanted.

9mm was limited at one vendor's stand to 200 rounds.

Brass was abundant.

Two vendors had returned who had been missing in recent shows.

Saw four different rifles I wanted. 1894 Marlin for 475.00. 1894 Winchester with octagon barrel for 900.00. Henry Big Boy in .357 for 719.00 and an old Remington Rolling Block 7 mm Mauser at 500.00.

For starters a stayed away from the Remington because I didn't like some of the other stuff I saw at the vendors table.

1. An Uberti Cattleman in Cap and Ball configuration for (get this) 900.00. The pistol was not new, not special. I think he was hoping to score on ignorance.

2. Had a revolver which was a non-firing replica in a Colt 2nd gen box, priced at 400.00.

3. Had an 1860 Colt steel frame revolver that had a 2nd or 3rd gen barrel connected to an unmarked steel frame. It had a grey Colt box.

I figure if this guy will lie three times, he will lie a fourth. So I gave him a wide berth.

I thought the Winchester was a little overpriced. It was old and in good condition but the caliber was off for me (.32 Winchester Special).

The Marlin was also not that much different from my M92 from Rossi.

Additionally the guy selling the Henry offered a little bit of a discount for retired Navy so I came home with that.

All in all, a good day.

[the rifleer]

Out of curiosity, how were the ammo prices?

[ChaseReynolds]

That does bring me hope. What were the prices like?

[Doc Hoy]

Prices were a bit high but I would say not inordinately so.

I always buy from Mac's Reloads in VA Beach. He sells factory loads and the prices are a little high right now. He also sells his own reloads and for example 50 .357s is about 17.00. (These are HOT loads. They'd never work for CAS shooting). He sold me 50 .45-70 nickel cases from Starline for 21.00. I also bought two pounds of Triple 7 for 24.00 each.

Here's a photo fo the Henry:

[Hawg]

Looks good. Is the action as slick as the .22's?

[Doc Hoy]

The other lever gun is a Rossi M92 in .45 LC with about a hundred rounds through it.

The Henry is tighter and the lever moves through less of an arch than the Rossi. It catches one time during the motion while the Rossi catches twice. The Rossi is noisier when the action is cycled.

The Henry has a massive receiver which gives it a more solid feel. Barrel is 19 and is octagonal. The Rossi is 16 and round. At .45 caliber the Rossi has far less metal in the barrel than an equivalent .357. And conversely the Henry barrel at .357 is a good bit heavier than an equivalent .45.

I am not a hunter nor have I ever been, but I have spent a lot of my younger days trapsing through the Pennsylvania woods carrying a .22 for plinking.

At just over five pounds, the rossi could be comfortably carried all day long. Its short barrel would permit easy passage through thick brush.

The Henry weighs more than eight pounds and the size of the receiver is large for my hand while I can get my fingers around the Rossi. In fact a good balance pont on the Henry is just forward of the receiver where the barrel mated. At this point I can get my hand around in and it is comfortable to hold that way with one hand.

The rossi is actually light enough and short enough to hold with one hand, fingers laced throught the lever like you were carrying a pistol. Be handy to bring it up for a quick shot that way.

Not saying I favor the Rossi by any stretch. They are two different rifles and I love them both.

[Hawg]

I was just wondering. I have a Rossi 92 and its pretty slick but my Henry Golden boy is slicker than snot on a porcelain doorknob. I was wondering if the centerfire models were that slick.

[Doc Hoy]

of the two rifles for comparison

[Doc Hoy]

I can tell you the action is Pretty Durned Smooth.

Reckon it'll get smoother as the rounds pile up. At close to seven hundred bucks I am gonna shoot the heck out of this one.

They had a coupla .45 LC for the same price but I opted for the .357 since the Rossi is .45 LC and the .357 'll be cheaper to shoot.

[springfield 720]

wish I would have known that... cant find any black powder anything out here..

shelves are bareboned..

Not to rub in any salt, but I bought ( back in the day) a bigboy .44 mag with the big loop lever.. $ 635.. back in the day.. but still a fare price for modern day pricing..

[mykeal]

Hey, I got one of them Uberti Cattlemans in cap & ball, and I'll let mine go for only $850.00. Including shipping. And a tin of caps.

[IDAHOMIKE]

Nice find Doc. I have been itching to soothe the lever gun itch for awhile now, but I keep stumbling into these damn wheelguns.

[Doc Hoy]

Springfield,

There were guys at the show who were selling these things for 769.00 and weren't budging on the price.

Mykeal,

I am glad to have someone acknowledge the comment on the charleton vendor. I let these things make me more angry than they should. I still believe in the basic goodness of humankind and when I see evidence of exploitism I get mad.

A different guy had a defarbed Remington and was trying to pass it off as an original at 1750.00.

Idaho,

I think I have come to understand that you can't soothe the itch for a levergun by buying a levergun. I still want an 1873, 1866, Wouldn't mind having another M92 in a different caliber.

The Sharps that Hawg came up with and showed us in his post is a beautiful longarm and I have wanted a .45-70 Sharps for the last year.

It just never ends.

[Hawg]

I have wanted a .45-70 Sharps for the last year.

Go get you one. They make them every day.

[IDAHOMIKE]

How true Doc, its very difficult to scratch any gun itch. The itchin just keeps on growin. The one at my buddys shop is a Rossi Trapper style in 357 with the big loop and everything. Its pretty cheap and there is layaway...hmmm...

[Doc Hoy]

...this next week end.

I am going to visit with my cousin who along with my now deceased uncle and me formed a trio of ne'er do wells who spent an awful lot of time with firearms.

I thought I would carry along some of my firearms and do a little shooting with him.

BUT

When I tried to decide which ones to take along, it always wound up that there is no room in the SUV for suitcases.

I'll prolly leave all of them at home.

The admirationand respect we give to our guns is a good bit like the admiration and respect we give to he people we meet. Everyone has value.

[springfield 720]

DOC-- I have a lever gun set started.. MARLINS

Model 93 carbine-30-30- full round barrel.. very accurate

1893 -take down with 26" octagon barrel.30-30. very heavy

1894 - .38 spl. with 18" barrel--built from a 1906 reciever with new parts..fun-fun-fun to shoot

Henry big boy .44.mag. with scope..

Henry golden .22LR... cant beat it..

[Hawg]

I have an original 1887 Winchester 12 gauge
Rossi 92 in 44-40
Winchester 94 in 30-30
Henry Golden Boy .22
and the .54 Sharps

I have more SXS shotguns tho.

[springfield 720]

[Hawg]

Ooohhhhh, I likey that.

[springfield 720]

it was hanging in the rafters of an old gun shop.. I won't tell you what I paid, because your jaw will open and enormous amounts of drool will bellow out..

[Hawg]

. I won't tell you what I paid, because your jaw will open and enormous amounts of drool will bellow out..

I've made a few deals like that but you already owe me a new keyboard.

[springfield 720]

it was $45...

[Hawg]

Not bad.