Local gun show report

[robertrwalsh]

I dropped in today on the Vallejo (CA) gun show. The parking lot was about 2-3X more crowded than usual for this show, though there was also an RV show going on.

There was a good supply of powder, both handgun and rifle. The 1# went for $25 out the door, the 4# was going for $80 out the door. Didn't both to check on 8#. Very reasonable IMHO.

There was also a good supply of primers. I usually use Winchester and they were available for $125 per 5K. Other brands were available depending on which table you hit.

Brass and bullets were thin. Place was crowded enough that moving around was difficult. I don't believe the drive was a waste of time or gas.

 

[Ballistic147]

Last show here on the east coast I went to was in May. Wasn't quite as crowded as the show in January but it was still very busy. Three different vendors there had powder and they had a bunch of it. No 8lbs jugs in anything I was looking for but the 1lbs cans were somewhere between $20 and $25 OTD each. Primers were $27 to $30 OTD per 1k. By the time I left I carried out 14lbs of powder and about 10k primers. Next one is early August and I plan to pick up more at that one. Trying to get my "HRC" stockpile of components together just in case.

Very little brass or bullets at that one and the little bit that was there was overpriced IMO. Most of my pistol bullets are ordered from Everglades Ammo. They have really good prices when ordering bulk and shipping is really fast. They've also has some good prices on once fired brass lately too. Been ordering bulk 223 rifle bullets from Midsouth Shooters Supply. Their house brand of FMJ's are priced good and are decent quality, perfect for plinking. They recently got in some Hornady 62gr BTHP's that are very consistent and priced good in bulk. Just picked up 2k of those.

 

[fredj338]

What was the entry fee & parking? I dont go to ahows anymore. Lots of junk, too many people & not saving all that much over online or the one shop in socal that has decent prices & good supply.

 

[Collo Rosso]

What was the entry fee & parking? I dont go to ahows anymore. Lots of junk, too many people & not saving all that much over online or the one shop in socal that has decent prices & good supply.

I go pretty regularly. Parking is $5 in front of the building, free if you don't mind the walk. $8 to get in. My son always comes with me and if nothing else the price of admission is worth the couple hours we get together BS'n. The SCACA (?) that puts on the show usually has some good displays.
I've always found primers cheap and have caught deals on powder. Both in LGS's are priced in the stupid range. Found a few deals on brass too. I've never bought a gun at a gun show!

 

[AveragEd]

I have always enjoyed gun shows and think the entry fee is worth the experience but around here, they have become mainly "black gun" exhibits. Having little interest in such firearms, I've pretty much stopped going to all but two. One is at a fire company, the other at a small gun club and both attract a lot of private citizens selling their unwanted or duplicate items. A few dealers are on hand to handle transfers and both places have shows in January and over the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

The rest of them are, frankly stated, over-populated with a crowd of people I find less than desirable. The conversations I overhear give cause to be concerned about the intentions of those folks. Some of it might just be macho braggadocious chatter; I certainly hope so.

I usually always find something that makes the time spent there worthwhile and no one is forcing me to pay more than a fair price for any of it so there's no harm in attending.

Ed

 

[LAA]

As I'm aging towards 66, my interest in "black guns" has picked up. Therefor, I now find the larger gun shows more interesting than not.

 

[pharmer]

Gun shows have changed, sort of like the "Shotgun News." Years ago SGN was a "trade paper" for us small FFL's. I remember "Ashland's" 2 pages of S&W revolvers under $200. Today it's a shell of it's former self. In Florida from here south, a large dealer has purchased the "show circuit." Every 6 weeks or so they truck the contents of their stores to a convenient location and strategically place ATM's to help out. It makes great business sense to collect the gate, the table rental fees and be the biggest dog in the room. For the buyer, not so much. I go because I have a good friend that insists, we been doing it for years and the chili-cheese-fries have become a tradition. Once in awhile someone will offer me a gun at a "price I can't refuse." At the price of a movie I certainly get a lot more enjoyment without some covert political message. Joe

 

[robertrwalsh]

At Vallejo it was $10 to park and $10 to get in.

 

[AveragEd]

As I'm aging towards 66, my interest in "black guns" has picked up.

I'm 69 but since autoloading rifles are not legal for hunting here in Pennsylvania, I don't get worked up over them. But that new Ruger Precision Rifle has my attention and I'm awaiting a version 2.0 in 6.5 Creedmoor from Ruger for evaluation and, I'm sure, purchase.

Ed

 

[Rocket3]

Nothing better than going to a gun show with a pocket full of cash. But here in North Texas the shows are just to packed. Quit going about 5 years ago.


I'm sitting in front of my gun show replacement right now.