OK, today was gunshow day. It started really good and then went downhill. We had a table, but are never sure if its the same ole table or a new one. And my wife has wanted me to give up driving, especially long distance drives. My response is I'd like a driver, as long as they're willing to take me to my normal haunts. Take me or I drive myself. Easy enough.

But we're dog-sitting my son's lab. He's even a better dog than I thought, but he doesn't like being left alone. So out of the blue, my other son wanted to go as soon as he heard about it. All coming together into a plan.

Then the bad parts started. This was inches of rain an hour. Yeah, it was wet and getting wetter. But about halfway down the highway it stopped. Seems God thought the Yankees needed a good bath and let the rain come across the border. Oh well..

The easiest load out or load in I've ever had! Son did all the heavy lifting. Both ways. That included the "mobility scooter". Gun shows are easy when you're riding. And its been a long time so I'm not up to date with prices or what folks want. We got in thru the back door (propped open) and there was nothing to it. Ammo is still heavy. So are stupid bullets and I don't own a .41 maggie so those need to go.

The rifle traveled to the last show, maybe a year or so ago. No one even looked at it all day. Now I had two buyers. Couldn't over charge Mike (of Mike and Whitey fame). Then it all went cold. Some joker came along with a double barrel and only wanted $350 for it. I bought it for $300. Nice except for some wear, the fact that it was damacus, and had probably been shortened by an idiot. This idiot might cut it a little more to clean up the end of the barrel.

Then I went riding around. There was a black couple with and end cap (end table and one on both sides). Contrary to Kentucky experience, not only were they there and set up on time, they even had some other black buyers/lookers come along. In the past you could almost set your watch by the first black customers showing up around noon or so. None of them looked dirty or scroungy to the point where everyone was watching them. How times change.

There was ammo everywhere. Maybe not in a caliber you wanted, but lots of it. I took along a sleeve of 5,000 small pistol primers plus some odd trays of old primers from the distant past. None sold. We were all priced the same, as in too high, and even the hillbillies weren't biting. Two boxes of 45-70 just sat, as did 5 of assorted 9mm. Looks like the good times are over for sellers, but still a drought for buyers even at retail level prices.

I did see two case level packs of Tannerite. Didn't see a price. Many of us don't post a sign with prices, and its often a mistake. Some of us don't even know how much we want for an item, waiting to size up the customer first (cheat him?) I did price my .41 magnum bullets at $25 a hundred. No one was interested. Those durn things are heavy and it looks like I'll be carting them to more shows.

Gun shows are kind of clanny things, where it pays to know the other players. I have no interest in AR crap, or plastic automatics. There were lots of them at the show. Somebody is working their tails off making knives. Must have been 8 tables all together of big gaudy ones. More belt makers than usual. If you need a 48" belt, gun shows are the place to go. They'll even cut them for you if you're not quite that fat, and punch holes.

Went to a gunshow last week. It was much like what you're describing, lots of ammo in virtually all calibers, but nobody really buying any of it.

Tons of primers priced $80/K to $250/K and again, nobody buying.

Bunches of ARs that have definitely come down in price in the last couple of months, as well as a lot of handguns of all kinds. Prices on guns are starting to approach pre panic pricing.

No beanie babies, no R/C helicopters, no jerky sales, just a bunch of guns, ammo, components and gun related stuff.

I had a great time and bought a dust cover for my AR that said "I'm Your Huckleberry" on the closed side and "say when" on the open side.

Pretty eccentric for someone like me.

I went to the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, VA. They've had a few since COVID, but this was the first big one with no restrictions. I'd say maybe 15% of folks wearing masks (I did out of habit, though I'm fully vaccinated). Ammo, ammo everywhere. Even some exotics. To be fair, I expected ridiculous prices, as folks try to unload ammo they paid a lot for.

But a few vendors had 9mm brass-cased under 50 cents per round. 5.56 and .223 still too high, as I don't shoot steel-cased. I'd say 1/3rd ammo prices WAY too high and did not move, 1/3rd too high and little movement, the last 1/3rd had good enough prices to sell, but not flying off the tables.

Plenty of guns and ARs.

quote:

Originally posted by Batty67:
I went to the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, VA.

Plenty of guns and ARs.

My cousin and I went yesterday. Plenty of "stuff" but most of the guns were low class and high cost. Even saw a new Hi-Point for $450 Overall, I had fun but the amount of Chinese knives, trinkets, and astronomical gun/ammo prices makes for a tedious day. I was relieved when I left because I couldn't take looking at 325 Round bricks of Federal Automatch for $65-90 I had a few choice words for some of the vendors and their douchebaggery.

My theory is that 90% of gun show vendors are only there for the newbies and the panic buyers and not for us regular long time gun owners anymore. They’re in it for a quick buck and to take advantage of people who don’t know any better.

I asked my LGS once why they never had any presence at the big gun shows held 2-3 times a year around here and the guy actually made a face and said something about he wouldn’t waste his time there. I notice that all of the vendors seem to be from elsewhere and no locals.

Went to a small local show today. Prices continue to be astronomical 40-50 bucks for 9mm plinking ammo, a buck a round for 223 ( am already well supplied with both thankfully)
A few nice collectible guns, but mostly AR’s and plastic.
Some day eventually sanity will return.

Well, we go for the friendship with other vendors. Most of us have been doing it for decades (first one I remember going to was about 1972). We saw lots of guys we haven't seen in at least a year. None of us are "locals", we come from all over the commonwealth. Note: its not a state. Good guys.

rburg, the onetime owner of one of the largest private collections of Registered Magnums is now buying $300 sawed off shotguns - say it ain't so! Was it a Parker or LC Smith at least?

Whitey and Mike - gun show legends and great guys to do business with. Was the show sold out? Do you like the new show mgr as much as the old one? I always got along with Billy but have not set up with new guy. Mitch doesn't like him but he gets mad at everybody from time to time. I thought about trying to get a last minute table but figured it was full.

Nope, wasn't full and had 15' wide aisles. They could have squeezed another full aisle if they'd tried. Plus, they've even set up tables out in the arena area. I think all of Kenny's relatives are gone now. Steady flow of shoppers, but it wasn't packed as in the past. We've been upgraded to being in the same area as Whitey. For us low-rent folks, that was a big upgrade. Joe doesn't like this venue because the number of shoppers isn't as big. He used to like Rupp Arena because it had lots of paying folks. Not sure he had anything to sell that anyone wanted. He had one gun and a napkin size thing with old coins. Some of them did sell, but for only a dollar each.

Nope nothing good about the shotgun except it looked like a wall hanger. I still don't know the shell length, but wall hangers aren't particular. Does anyone know if shorty shells that probably will chamber in a 2 5/8 chamber are safe? I didn't buy any because the scalpers all wanted $3 a shell.

quote:

Originally posted by mutedblade:
My cousin and I went yesterday. Plenty of "stuff" but most of the guns were low class and high cost. Even saw a new Hi-Point for $450 Overall, I had fun but the amount of Chinese knives, trinkets, and astronomical gun/ammo prices makes for a tedious day. I was relieved when I left because I couldn't take looking at 325 Round bricks of Federal Automatch for $65-90 I had a few choice words for some of the vendors and their douchebaggery.

Yeah, I was not looking closely at the guns. I did see a minty Marlin Camp 9 that was reasonably priced, and an IMI pre-ban Galil in 308 that was not. I picked an optic for my tacticool M1 carbine and a few very nice ammo boxes, so for me, it was a pretty good show.

quote:

Originally posted by Batty67:
I picked an optic for my tacticool M1 carbine and a few very nice ammo boxes, so for me, it was a pretty good show.

The reality in all this is that if you make one good purchase or one good sale, it was a good show. At least least for you.

How much were you asking for the small pistol primers?

quote:

Originally posted by XLT:
How much were you asking for the small pistol primers?

I clearly overpriced them because they didn't sell. But I priced the same as everyone else, at
$800 for the 5000 sealed box. When someone came along and seemed interested I suggested $600. He wasn't a buyer, but a looker. To me they're worth more than that. I still my come to my senses and load them into empty cases. I went to the last big Louisville show and sold 5000 LMR for $175 a thousand. For me, a great price.

quote:

Originally posted by Batty67:
Yeah, I was not looking closely at the guns. I did see a minty Marlin Camp 9 that was reasonably priced, and an IMI pre-ban Galil in 308 that was not. I picked an optic for my tacticool M1 carbine and a few very nice ammo boxes, so for me, it was a pretty good show.

I go to look at old military firearms, gear, and the beautiful old muskets that show up. They have always interested me and are normally part of an older guys collection. Some of the conversations that I have had over the years are illuminating and have stuck with me. One such this past Friday was with a gentleman with a table full of M1 Garands. He had a really nice low serial IHC that I took notice of. Even though I had no funds to buy it, he spoke to me at length about it and several others (not trying to sell, but passing knowledge onto me). For that experience alone, it was a great show. The price gouging whores just make me mad. I quite enjoy getting to talk to people I don't know and pass on my knowledge or get some handed to me.