I've been working with a local woman on securing her home and general preps the past couple of weeks. We had planned to go to a show today an I got there around 3:00. (Turkey Shoot this AM). The expo center was partitioned in the middle and the other side was a craft show. It actually wasn't in the middle. I'd say the Gun Show had 1/3 of the hall. It looked busy but maybe that was the compressed space. First thing I noticed was the lack of 2 dealers I usually hit right up front. Both big on AR15s. Gone. Not there. Missing. Oh well. I saw a lot of garbage. A lot of chinsy junk and a few examples of the usual firearms we discuss. The suppressor guys were absent. The 50 BMG guys were gone as well. One dealer I know very well told me the last 4 shows have been a bust and he is moving to Alaska... "To get the hell out of here before the SHTF" Wow! Ammo: Depressing. These shows usually have 4 or 5 ammo dealers. There was one and his stuff took up no more than 2 8 foot tables. It also looked like he had cleaned out his closet to bring that much- odd lots, old boxes, loose rounds. Not a single surplus or otherwise bulk offering. I asked him about it and he told me this is his last show and he's moving as well. The hot dog counter girl looked asleep. I think we are seeing the end of an era boys and girls. Surplus ammo is gone and will not come back anytime soon. The falling dollar and subsequent increases in all materials means what we can get keeps going up. I'm afraid to go to the range to shoot through a box or two. I had brought along an M1A to sell. Everyone asked me what I wanted. ($1500). Most agreed that was a fair price, the rifle was beautiful, (No one bucked up to take it) and I bet 10 people today told me not to sell it. "You may need it later" Overall mood of the entire show was stressed and uncomfortable. I did see 4 Ron Paul tables however and lots of RP stickers all over the other tables and cases. Maybe these guys are looking for some "hope" as well?
7.62x54R is still plentiful and not going thru the roof, tho' it is going up. Chalk that increase up to fuel, and not demand.
I haven't been to a good gun show in over three years. I know what you mean about going shooting. I think the days of going through a thousand rounds in a day are long over. Nobody is getting rid of anything anymore, it took almost two months to find a Beretta 92FS, befor I left, you couldn't sling a dead cat without hitting a Beretta. Days are getting lean.
ghrit: Ahh, the Monkey Gun Sniper: We used to take no less than 1000 rounds of 223 every time we went to the range. Now, what I have left is in my save for later pile. I'm installing my Ceiner 223 to 22LR conversion soon so I can maintain the feel of my AR. Funny, I always thought that 22 conversion was for when we ran out of 223 post SHTF. Maybe I need to look out the window a little closer.
damn, here 7.62 x54r is hard as hell to find, with big 5 selling the 91/30's and the m44 for less than 80$ every week. i had to sell some of my extra gold bear to a friend cuz all he local supplies were almost nil, or at about 20$ a box
funny you mentioned the conversion kit, I cracked mine out yesterday and cleaned it up. Willl go try it out Monday, now let's see the AK guys do that!
Sniper... there are .22 AK's AND .22 conversion kits. But there is no need. 5.45 is still pretty cheap.
Went to a gun show today as well. Kinda got ropped in to it with my father inlaw. First show I have been to in awhlie that had. 5.56. Igman M855 but way to expensive. I went looking for some AA#5 and some 9mm bullets. Zippy. I would of settled on some primers but none were to be found. Did get a stock for my 9mm build and one of those cheesy pistol cross bows. I have wanted one for a long time. Man that sucker is cool. Bolts sticking in tress at 15 yds. Was having a great time until HouseHold-6 came out back and saw me and my two boys shooting it. There 5 and 6. She hasn't seen the bolt stuck in an empty bird house on the other side of the house yet.
So far our shows seem to be pretty much the same as they always are. Lots of ARs. The biggest vendor Bachman Guns from Dallas usually has five or six different AR models, and tons of handguns to choose from. Right before you walk through the show hall door, there is another vendor that has always been there. He sells ARs, uppers, lowers, mags, accessories, etc. My local FFL goes to all of the local shows. He told me he hasn't seen much of a difference, with the exception in the price of ammo as we all have. The ammo is there, but not at the price you want. It seems like there are not as many AKs as in the past, but the ARs are plentiful. As a matter of fact, my local dealer who is a small dealer (I was by there Friday) has the new version of the Steyr Aug in. While I was never a fan of the bullpup design, I really liked this one. He also has five ARs in his safe for sale. So far it just seems to be the ammo that is affecting us locally. Now if Hitlary gets elected, I expect that the price of ARs will be way up, as the demand goes through the roof.
I haven't been to a gun show in a coupl'a years...Hows show security ? Lots of batfe wandering around?
I know a couple of cops that work the shows. Security at our local shows are uniformed police, deputys at the doors, and walking the show. They are a visible presence. Is BATFE there? Probaby, I doubt that there is an agent there all day long, but I don't doubt that one doesn't make his way through looking for illegal weapons, real or not.
Just talked to a friend that recently had access to a BATF agent and he said they don't do gun shows much anymore because of the political pressure, they have enough work in their other areas anyway.
I know they are rutinely at the shows in Illinois. I have heard a LOT of folks from MO and IL complain about them entraping folks up there.
