I made the four hour drive over to the huge Tulsa Gun Show Saturday. Left home at 4:00 am so I could be there when the doors opened at 8:00. A buddy of mine lives in Tulsa and picked up some advance tickets so I didn't have to wait in the 30 to 45 minute line to get in.

For those who have never been, this is a huge gunshow. I went for one purpose: Ammo and reloading components. Obviously, I was not alone.

I've been to this show at least a dozen times, so I know roughly how it's laid out. I knew where the regular ammo suppliers are and reloading stuff usually is and headed straight to it. Ammo suppliers had the stuff on pallets stacked 6 ft tall. Fortunately, I was able to get in and get the ammo I was looking for, only a dozen or so boxes of assorted handgun ammo. By noon, these pallets stacked 6 ft tall were down to the floor! Prices for the stuff I bought was high, but not out of sight. In fact, I found it to be cheaper than what I'd been pricing at Walmart lately . . . when you can get it. I got .32 ACP and .380 ACP JHP's for $16.00 a box. A few boxes of 158 grain JHP's in .357 were $19.00 a box.

There seemed to be plenty of brass and bullets, but powder was scarce and there were NO primers to be had. None. Since I got in early, I stocked up on the powders I use, but by 9:00 AM it was pretty much all gone.

You would not have know we were in a recession by standing near the door. Folks leaving with not only ammo, but guns were moving. AR's were selling like crazy. I grabbed a corndog and a coke and stood by one AR vendor and watched him sell 13 AR's in 15 minutes, had five clerks filling out yellow forms at one time.

I picked up some other odds and ends; a holster I liked, a couple of slings, and the obligatory package of jerky.

I also picked up a decent M1 carbine project gun.

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I made the four hour drive over to the huge Tulsa Gun Show Saturday. Left home at 4:00 am so I could be there when the doors opened at 8:00. A buddy of mine lives in Tulsa and picked up some advance tickets so I didn't have to wait in the 30 to 45 minute line to get in.

For those who have never been, this is a huge gunshow. I went for one purpose: Ammo and reloading components. Obviously, I was not alone.

I've been to this show at least a dozen times, so I know roughly how it's laid out. I knew where the regular ammo suppliers are and reloading stuff usually is and headed straight to it. Ammo suppliers had the stuff on pallets stacked 6 ft tall. Fortunately, I was able to get in and get the ammo I was looking for, only a dozen or so boxes of assorted handgun ammo. By noon, these pallets stacked 6 ft tall were down to the floor! Prices for the stuff I bought was high, but not out of sight. In fact, I found it to be cheaper than what I'd been pricing at Walmart lately . . . when you can get it. I got .32 ACP and .380 ACP JHP's for $16.00 a box. A few boxes of 158 grain JHP's in .357 were $19.00 a box.

There seemed to be plenty of brass and bullets, but powder was scarce and there were NO primers to be had. None. Since I got in early, I stocked up on the powders I use, but by 9:00 AM it was pretty much all gone.

You would not have know we were in a recession by standing near the door. Folks leaving with not only ammo, but guns were moving. AR's were selling like crazy. I grabbed a corndog and a coke and stood by one AR vendor and watched him sell 13 AR's in 15 minutes, had five clerks filling out yellow forms at one time.

I picked up some other odds and ends; a holster I liked, a couple of slings, and the obligatory package of jerky.

I also picked up a decent M1 carbine project gun.

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I just got back a couple of hours ago. Crowded show. I got in about 1 o'clock Friday and bought some ammo and primers. It seemed that the sell of ARs and AKs had slowed down a bit.
Got to see a lot of SWCA members and enjoyed the get together on Saturday night.
I got to hold and have my picture taken with one of Teddy Roosevelt's guns from the NFM. A real piece of history.
Oh yeah, also bought a Winchester big bore 375. Didn't get a S&W this trip.
All in all, another fun weekend, At least until I got home. Broke a tooth and will visit the dentist in the morning.
Butch

I missed the Tulsa gun show this time. This is the first one I've missed in a long time. Had a concert to do this weekend, rehearsed yesterday and performance today. Just kind of blew the whole weekend for the gun show.

The last one I went to in October I came home feeling like I had been run over by a truck because of all the people and panic buying going on. I still need bullets, powder and primers. I guess I'll have to try something else.

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G.P. Charlie

Arrived Sat. 0930, short wait to get in. Haven't been in 3 yrs. New parking lots etc. It was some sort of busy. I had made a pact with myself not to buy anything, along for the walk/ride. My friend who I tagged along with is very educational in firearms so I got a real lesson in shopping watching and listen to him.
Ammo bunkers 50-100 deep in waiting line, no powder/or primers. Lots and Lots of winchester lever action and high grade shotguns. One dealer was perched in a high chair (second floor) with a large western hat, black beard, deep set eyes, and western garb who sat so still he looked like a store front manne'quin. I kept looking at him and he finally moved, scared the Jesus out of me. That was one weird looking dude!!!
Prices were high, selection so so, and one played bumper cars with other patron's. I kept my promise to self until about 1530 when I visited a private citizens collection on the 2nd floor who was selling all of his guns. Most 1911's, multiple makers but he had one nib charles daly commander for the right price. Took it to the range yesterday and one really impressive little commander. At 10 yds with semi wadcutter's one hole in the 10x ring. I think this beats any of my kimbers/paras and will be my companinon for now.
We were to meet a group of friends for dinner prior to going home and couldn't find the place. We knew we were in the right spot or at least thought so. We gave up and sat down at the Lone Star Steak house. They called and really gave us humorous grief. About 20 mins. later they called and wanted to know how to get to our place for dinner, seems they had bulldozed the old place. Guess we got the last laugh.
Good time by all....

fortunately, i wore comfortable shoes, as usual. met several new folks from the forum and saw several others. no new smiths this trip. one mosseberg .22 target rifle, a marlin .357 mag, one set of herrett grips and a neat old weaver 1.5-4.5X scope. totally enjoyed the weekend, seeing all the intersting firearms and visiting with folks. lee

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VFW, NRA, VVA, S&WCA 1758

I'm glad I didn't go. The only thing I need is large pistol primers.

I'm glad I stayed home from the show, although I should have gotten off my lazy butt and come down on Saturday night. I remember the last one, and I don't want to do that again. My brother-in-law got 4000 rounds for his new AK, though. He's one of the ones who had no interest in guns on Nov. 1, but has a couple now. And lots of ammo.

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Insert short witty words here

Hey! I was gonna buy that!

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You're shy a few manners.

Now that's a surprise!

Details?

Nice report, Faulkner, thanks!

Noah

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Nicht mehr als 30 Zeichen

This was my first Tulsa show. I expected it to be big and it was. I wore comfortable shoes. I should have brought something to drink, the drinks for sale were high, no suprise. Most of Saturday was pretty crowded, again no surprises. I saw a lot of things in person I had only seen photos of before. Prices were high, but so was quality and selection. I would have liked to have seen more S&W's, but I guess I can't have everything. I had a great time at the SWCA dinner/meeting Saturday night (I was one of the not yet members). I was able to pick up a couple of bayonets, only had to look at about 50 or so to find what I was looking for. All in all a good show, I will definitely be back!

Noah, I posted a detail report on the carbine just for you buddy.

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