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Old January 26, 2013, 03:59 PM   #1
Mike38
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Gun show madness.....

WOW. If asked to describe in one word the gun show I went to today, that word would be simply WOW. I’ve been going to this town’s gun shows for over 30 years now, four times a year, and this is the craziest I’ve ever seen it. Way more then even back in 1994. I stood in line, outside, in 15 degree temps for well over 30 minutes just to get in the place. Once inside, it took me another 30 minutes just to travel the length of one aisle of the first room.

Prices were insane. Colt AR15 rifles, $3000. RRA AR15, $2500 to $2800. Bushmaster AR15, $2200 to $2500. Insanity in action. There was however a dealer that is always there that specializes in RRA rifles and carbines that did not double their prices. At most, they raised their prices by 10% as compared to last Fall. Needless to say, they were selling RRA’s as fast as they could write up the BATF forms. I know they sold 10 of them in the short time I was in that part of the show.

Hundreds, maybe thousands of 30 round AR15 mags. Priced from $30 to $50 each. AK mags selling for about $35 each. 15 round M-9 mags around $30 each.

The only .22LR that I saw was a couple beat up bricks of Winchester T22 with a price of $50 on them. Not one loaded .223 round could be found. 9mm was slim. .45acp was a bit better. A few boxes of .38 Special and .357 Mag. All with higher then normal prices.

Reloading components where flying out the door. Primers being sold by the 5000 count. But it looked like there was plenty.

I brought along a box of 380 rounds of 55gr. Wolf .223 to get rid of because my rifle prefers 62gr. I sold them within 5 minutes of being there. So I guess the trip was worth it. I asked $100 and the guy didn’t bat an eye. I could have gotten more I guess.

But, being the glutton for punishment that I am, I’ll probably go back tomorrow.
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Old January 26, 2013, 04:24 PM   #2
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My experience at a gun show today was very similar. I was looking for a particular handgun, an SR9, and could not find even one. A couple of dealers said it seemed like everyone wanted a high capacity handgun. Prices on handguns didn't seem too bad and I didn't pay much attention to ARs and AR mags. The crowd was the biggest I've seen in nearly 40 years of attending gun shows at this location.
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Old January 26, 2013, 04:55 PM   #3
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You probably could have got 150-180 for that wolf ammo.

Shame that wolf ammo is more than 50 cents a round now.
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Old January 26, 2013, 07:37 PM   #4
marbill
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Gun show sadness

went to local gun show today. Long wait. eight bucks to get in. $50.00 a brick for 22 lr. 223 remington $23.00 box of 20. No 9mm. norinco sks 375- 425. aks 1000 and up. Went home empty handed.
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Old January 26, 2013, 07:45 PM   #5
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Same out here.

$15 to get in
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Old January 26, 2013, 07:51 PM   #6
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No different then it was this time four years ago.
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Old January 26, 2013, 08:17 PM   #7
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Same here. I saw stripped AR lowers for $400 UP. Just months ago they were getting $125. Ammunition was being toted out on handcarts by the thousand. The ammo guy couldn't take peoples money fast enough! ARs were priced at nearly double their value. Absolutely INSANE!
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Old January 26, 2013, 08:23 PM   #8
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I have to admit that I've been looking at the Bushmaster in my safe lately, wondering if I could turn it into a Garand or something else on my "want" list.
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Old January 26, 2013, 08:33 PM   #9
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The last gun show I went to the ammo and reloading supply venders did not show up because they were sold out.
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Old January 26, 2013, 08:54 PM   #10
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I went to a gun show today looking specifically for powder and primers, and there was very little to be had.
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Old January 26, 2013, 09:26 PM   #11
BigD_in_FL
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Quote:
$50.00 a brick for 22 lr.
DeYam!....last time I bought 22 at a gunshow, I bought a case - that's 25 boxes of 250 rounds each - a total of 6250 rounds, for $95..........I bought a few and now, after all these years, i am finally running low......but I will not pay $50/brick
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Old January 27, 2013, 08:40 AM   #12
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Lefteye

Was that the fairgrounds show? I went there on Friday night. I arrived a half hour before the doors opened and was in a line at least a block long or longer. I was outside of the fairgrounds gate waiting in the line.
I fared better than I expected. I found a revolver I was looking for, a pound of powder and a like new Bianchi holster dirt cheap. The revovler was not cheap. I paid way more than I wanted to but decided to buy it anyway. It was the fourth show I had been to looking for nice S&W .357.
I did not see the volume of guns being sold as compred to the 3 other shows I have been to in the last month. I do not know if things are slowing down a little or the availablity was the reason.
Good show for me but very crowded.
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Old January 27, 2013, 10:02 AM   #13
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Thanks for the post guys. We had a gun show here this weekend. I decided to skip it. Looks like that was the right choice.
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Old January 27, 2013, 02:09 PM   #14
Mike38
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Went to the same gun show again this morning. Found some .223 this time. Winchester white box, $15.00 for box of 20. Lake City M855 $1000.00 for case of 1000 rounds. Unbelievable. The last case of M855 I bought was $440.00 and I thought that was high.

There where still plenty of AR15 mags for $30.00 each. That was surprising.

Clunker M1 Garands $2000. Springfield M1A $5000. Wow.
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Old January 27, 2013, 02:20 PM   #15
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J A

Yes, it was the fairgrounds show. The volume of handguns was definitely down.
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Old January 27, 2013, 09:54 PM   #16
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Was at a show last week, couldn't even get to the ammo tables. Primers were double normal price. People carting around magazines like they were the last ones on earth. The attendance was probably 10-15 times normal if I had to guess.

I did find a few goodies though and went home with a smile.
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Old January 27, 2013, 10:02 PM   #17
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Des Moines gun show got a little wild Friday afternoon......about an hour before it opened a dealer racked his personal carry .25 cal and shot himself in the hand. Needless to say he was thrown out and banned.

Prices were considerably higher, glad I'm not in the market for a black gun.
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Old January 27, 2013, 10:38 PM   #18
lefteye
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It was my impression the sponser (Trade Show Productions) prohibited loaded firearms and required plastic wire ties to prevent firing any firearm. Do you have the identity of the banned dealer? The show was so crowded it would have been nearly impossible to shoot a bad guy in self defnese without hitting an innocent victim.
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Old January 27, 2013, 10:44 PM   #19
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Even the jerky and MREs are overpriced these days!
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Old January 27, 2013, 11:51 PM   #20
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We are eating our own! SIG SAUER had not raised the prices on thier rifles or pistols, just a 60 to 120 day wait to get any! Hopefully no interference by the anti gun left wing nuts, because I have seven SIG's on order!

Magpul is not raising thier prices!
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Old January 28, 2013, 07:39 PM   #21
Rembrandt
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lefteye
It was my impression the sponser (Trade Show Productions) prohibited loaded firearms and required plastic wire ties to prevent firing any firearm. Do you have the identity of the banned dealer?
Trade Show runs a class act, this happened to be a dealer that was stupid and shot himself before the show opened.
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Old January 29, 2013, 09:20 AM   #22
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Just had a show in the Philadelphia , Pa area , prices on AR's and AK's were also threw the roof , the dealers were catering to the last minute non informed buyer . $2700 for a 700 dollar AR and $1800 for a 400 dollar AK . The dealers were trying to feed me a load of crap when I was talking to them .
The prices will come down in a few months , the ammo will take a little longer .
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Old January 29, 2013, 09:32 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottRiqui View Post
I have to admit that I've been looking at the Bushmaster in my safe lately, wondering if I could turn it into a Garand or something else on my "want" list.
Me too!
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Old January 29, 2013, 09:45 AM   #24
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This may be a good sign in the long run. It looks as if a whole bunch of Americans that have been "asleep" for years are finally waking up to the fact that their government is not representing them any more. Prices will fall eventually, not to the pre-December prices,unless another unfortunate incident causes more upheaval.
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Old January 29, 2013, 12:21 PM   #25
BigD_in_FL
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Let's not forget one other reason gun show prices are high - the company putting the show on has raised their table prices to new highs because they KNOW the place is going to be packed and folks will be selling a lot of stuff. If any of you have ever set up the white tent at a craft fair or similar know, spaces at these events can get VERY pricey - that, and the seller's gas, motel, food, etc. all have to be recouped as well
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