Gun show report. Not good.

[Art Doc]

Bricks of 22 ammo priced at $80. About 2 months ago they were $60 and 6 months ago they were $50.

I posted the outrageous prices on 22 ammo elsewhere so now I'll bitch about the ridiculous gun prices.

One dealer had a 1940ish S&W Military & Police 38 that had been nickel plated including hammer and trigger (I hate that). Worth about $200 IMO. It was tagged at $1200.

Another dealer was worse. He offered a Victory Model 38 S&W cut to 2" (losing the ejector rod latch) with a another crappy plating job and plastic "stag" stocks. Asking price? $950. Worth... zero IMO. I literally wouldn't take it as a gift.

Lets not even talk about prices on powder and primers. Fired, empty cases for common calibers are pushing a buck each. Primers were $45/1,000. Powder was... well, gold dust is cheaper.

But the prices on the beef jerky and Mexican blankets wasn't too bad so it wasn't a total waste.

 

[Harrison]

Mr. Saxon, I have found that gun show prices are often regional and what the market will bear. Also some dealers, are like politicians, demented fools. except for the prices on 22s those prices for abused S&W revolvers are much higher than what I would expect in my area. If that is an example of gun shows in your area, I can understand your dismay and disgust.

 

[arjay]

I stopped going to the local shows a few years ago and was surprised at the prices I saw last week.They were reasonable :-O Too bad I'm broke.The only silly prices I saw were $80 bricks of 22.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Was at the Alamogordo, NM gun show yesterday. Didn't price any ammo,
Blood pressure already high enough. Did see a nice 35 and a very nice 617 6 shooter.

 

[lawandorder]

Doc makes me feel better that I didn't drive down to the show.

 

[the ringo kid]

You think $80 is high for a brick of 22? I saw them still priced at from $115.00 to $167.00 at the show yesterday. They werent selling as far as I could tell. 50 rd Lightning 22s for $13 etc 325 Round packs stil priced between $50 - $70.

 

[Arik]

Mr. Saxon, I have found that gun show prices are often regional and what the market will bear. Also some dealers, are like politicians, demented fools. except for the prices on 22s those prices for abused S&W revolvers are much higher than what I would expect in my area. If that is an example of gun shows in your area, I can understand your dismay and disgust.

Very true. Although I don't pay attention to the condition of old S&W revolvers because I have no interest in collecting them nor paying a thousand dollars for a something that will loose it's value if I shot it. I do look at shooter grade revolvers and of course 3rd gen S&Ws and other polymer handguns.

My interest lay in AKs, Mosins, other surplus firearms. I'm mainly concerned with 9, 40 and 45. 38/357. And 303, 7.62x54, 7.62x39, 5.45 and 5.56. I have other calibers like 22 but they are irrelevant to me. I don't shoot them much and never did. I don't pay attention to 22 prices but I find my other ammo prices to be ok. Not as good as it was but not bad

I also don't find gun shows to be horrible. It's a bunch of stores under one roof. If I walk by and see high prices I keep walking. I don't dwell on it. If I find a few boxes of cheap ammo I'm happy If not.....the day is still young and I have other things to.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Fishslayer]

They must not have teh intrawebz thingy or maybe haven't gotten the memo. Except for the .22 unobtanium this round of the panic is over. Powder, primers & brass can be had at reasonable prices if you know how & where to look.

As for the guns, we always pay a premium here in Kalifornistan anyway...

Even .22LR is obtainable at "OK" prices but you need to work for it.

 

[Mule Packer]

It used to be that you could go to gun shows and find some real bargains. Not the case anymore. In fact, I'm not sure we'll ever see those days again. As a result, I don't find myself going to gun shows as often as I did a few years ago.

 

[rdcl]

I often wonder if some sellers at shows list outrageously high prices on sought-after guns simply because they'd rather the guns NOT get sold at all.

In other words......taking the term "gun show" literally......they set up a display just to be able to show-off their cool stuff, and if it sells fine.....if not.....even better. They do not really NEED the money.
These guys just get loads of enjoyment having dozens of prospective buyers looking.

Nothing really wrong with that, I suppose, but it's just a theory of mine.

Sometimes I'll see the same guy......year after year....same guns but higher prices. Just sitting back sipping coffee content & happy with a table full of out-of-production guns just being drooled over, and it seems obvious he's not trying to move his goods.


That's why I always think of gun shows as just as much a trip to a gun museum as it is a place to shop, and that's a good thing too.

Russ

 

[rwsmith]

There are some demented fools as well....

Mr. Saxon, I have found that gun show prices are often regional and what the market will bear. Also some dealers, are like politicians, demented fools. except for the prices on 22s those prices for abused S&W revolvers are much higher than what I would expect in my area. If that is an example of gun shows in your area, I can understand your dismay and disgust.

There are some demented fools that have plenty of money that will pay those prices and not think twice about it. That's the crowd these show are catering to. Not people like you or I.

 

[Farmer17]

I went to a show in OKC a couple of weeks ago and prices were down on about everything but of course, .22 ammo. One dealer was selling Ruger 22/45 pistols with adjustable sights for $225 so I bought one even though I didn't want one that bad. AR prices were down and Rossi M92 lever actions were everywhere which I had not seen many in a long time. Saw a nice 4" M28 for $450 and ammo and accessories were decent prices. I have not bought any .22 shells in two years and am down to a couple of hundred rounds and I went in a small town pawn shop a couple of days ago and 50 round boxes of Winchester T22 were $4.00/box. I thought about it and decided to buy a few boxes when I went back there the next day....you guessed it, all gone.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Saxonpig you may regret not getting one those Smith's ....... when the SHTF....and you find yourself on "The Road" with only a single round of .38 special RNL....... left to defend yourself and your son!!!!!!! LOL

Except for .22lr and mag. ammo is around...... still high in MHO........

 

[raisedin99]

What I find humorous, is when you ask the dealer about his inflated prices and he looks you square in the eye and tries to justify them.
No wonder why I have so many Model 10 revolvers that were previously owned by presidents Washington and Lincoln.

terry

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

I often wonder if some sellers at shows list outrageously high prices on sought-after guns simply because they'd rather the guns NOT get sold at all.

In other words......taking the term "gun show" literally......they set up a display just to be able to show-off their cool stuff, and if it sells fine.....if not.....even better. They do not really NEED the money.
These guys just get loads of enjoyment having dozens of prospective buyers looking.

Nothing really wrong with that, I suppose, but it's just a theory of mine.

Sometimes I'll see the same guy......year after year....same guns but higher prices. Just sitting back sipping coffee content & happy with a table full of out-of-production guns just being drooled over, and it seems obvious he's not trying to move his goods.


That's why I always think of gun shows as just as much a trip to a gun museum as it is a place to shop, and that's a good thing too.

Russ

Russ, you pretty much have nailed it far as I am concerned - been that way for years and has just got worse. I don't need the ammo, and a good thing cause I doubt I would pay those prices. Last show I went to, was checking the last two tables going out the door. Some turbaned headed guys had some OLD 22's with no prices. I asked and just laughed at them as I walked away-- I believe they were a bit PO'd. Last couple shows before that, I saw a 639 -- and wished I had picked it up on the way home--- next show I saw another-- this time I DID get it-- why? simply because I wanted to. Price was fair enough, but some of these prices on revolvers of old are crazy. Nevertheless, I enjoy going, you never know what will turn up.

 

[Kitgun]

The World Wide Web and gun forums are the driving factor for the inflated prices and shortages not the government, zombies or lack manufacturing capacity. Its the folks who read about shortages and go out and buy as much or all the ammo they can afford.

 

[old bear]

Prices of guns and ammo.

I've been an on and off firearm owner and shooter 50+ years now, and one of the things I always enjoyed about the sport, there was something for "everyman." Rich, poor, or like most of us in between, you could afford to shoot something. As with so many things this has changed in the last five years. Ammo, when you can find it has doubled if not tripled in price. Prices on almost all handguns has followed suite.

I foresee that day when a great majority of the working middleclass will be hard pressed to afford the shooting sports. This will also trickle down to the younger generation, of which so many are underemployed, of potential shooters. If our sport is to continue we will need every member we can get, not just a bunch of old guy's hanging out at gun shows, the range, or at the forum.

 

[diamonback68]

The World Wide Web and gun forums are the driving factor for the inflated prices and shortages not the government, zombies or lack manufacturing capacity.

As I have said many times before, WE create our own inflation. The outdated Blue Book is for buying, the gun forums and auctions are for selling. We are the new "bible".

 

[bgrafsr]

I just sold a 550 pack of Federal .22's to another club member so he had some ammo for his son to shoot. I charged him $20.00. I think I bought the stuff for $17.00 or so at the time.

 

[GaryS]

The advantage of gun shows is that a lot of vendors are in one place at one time. Which allows the potential buyers the chance to wander around, look at pricing and availability, and make buying decisions without making dozens of phone calls and road trips.

All of that comes at a price as some FFLs have to close their shop on what could be the busiest day of the week (Saturday) and work on what might normally be a day off (Sunday). They have to lug all that stuff to the show, set it up, watch it to make sure nothing walks, pay for the gas, table, meals, and whatever else (some places charge for electricity and internet access).

All of which means that they aren't going to cut prices or offer many bargains.

Or so I've been told by people who have worked behind the tables at gun shows.

That doesn't explain the insane pricing I've seen sometimes on guns, ammo, and accessories.

I've only gone to one small club show since the last panic started. Prices in general have stabilized, if not retreated, on guns and ammunition.

I think that .22LR is so unavailable because the manufacturers are concentrating on other calibers. It will come back at some point, but if I knew when that point was, I'd be a wealthy man from buying .22LR futures.

I enjoy gun shows best when I have no specific wants, needs, or expectations. Occasionally I come across a bargain, but it's a treat when I do.

On a slightly different note. This comes from a young lady who is new to shooting and went to her first (and last) show about a month ago.

It's not a compliment, it's creepy when you stare at a woman at a gun show.

Take a shower and put on clean clothes. Those places are crowded, the air circulation is iffy, and it's usually warm.

Men and women will thank you for that second part.

That is all.