Orlando Rainy Day Gunshow Report

[pharmer]

Got soaked, but it was after 4+ hours of walking the regular goat rope and no-jerky festival. Bricks of .22's still at $50 but they were plentiful. Not a round of 7.62 Tokarev which we were in search of. As far as S&W revolvers, the $7K Registered Mag was still there under the mesh, safe and snug. Used L-frames started at $800 and went vertical from there. A very nice 3" Model 66 was available for $1400, too rich for me but not for some. Khalid at Shoot Straight was doing OK for a very slow show. I went because my friend the doc was going and since he had neck problems and pain meds to help, I couldn't let him drive. He stimulated SS's economy by buying an FN 5.7 and 150 rds of ammo. I told him he could load his 3, 20 rd mags twice and then load 15 rds into 2 mags and that's all folks. He bought the 5.7 because I absolutely would not let him buy the KelTec .22 magnum, which looks like a toy gun. The 5.7 was exactly double the price but it's a much more "robust" design. SS also had the tail end of the DC Model 15 dump on hand, about a dozen and a half guns. They were blowing out these beaters for $249 take-your-pick. I had to find a reason not to jump on a HB contour (15-5 maybe) in about 85% condition with zero end shake, a nice bore and Pachy grips. Woulda been $270 OTD but I was not overcome by disposable income syndrome. There are less and less actual gun dealers at each successive show. Nobody had the 5.7 for instance except SS. Some of the other regular FFL's were absent. Once you could hear the thunder from inside, the place emptied out, a ghost town by the time we hit the road at 2:30 pm. I didn't see any nice S&W revolvers that were reasonable and the reasonable ones were pretty beat for the price. A 25-5 6" for $895, maybe 90% and another 25-2 for $695 that was less than 90%. The walk -in traffic was asking wacky money for the few S&W's they were selling. I can see all the major displays of guns in less than an hour and another hour second tour for the ones I missed if I go alone. I imagine a time soon when I can go to the Apopka SS store and see what's available at the O show. There were more LE in attendance along with annoying ****'s holding up IPhones in camera mode. I was tempted to flip a bird but if it makes YouTube or "film at 11" I didn't want to portray gun folks as rude. How far we've come in a short 30 years. Joe

 

[diamonback68]

"I couldn't let him drive." Yeah sure, like you aren't addicted and didn't want to go.
Thanks Joe, glad I didn't go, besides I just paid off my mortgage in a lump sum and I don't have plenty of excess usable funds right now.

 

[doublesharp]

Joe, who was it using the iphones in camera mode? Just tourist types or were they anti gun show busybodies?

 

[pharmer]

Joe, who was it using the iphones in camera mode? Just tourist types or were they anti gun show busybodies?

Problem is, I don't know. One was a "clean cut, muscular, African American male, about 6'2", holding an I phone type device at eye level, pointing it at the folks coming in through the gate toward the entrance building. He was gone after about 10 minutes. Didn't see him again. There were a couple other folks with similar devices but they appeared to be "general attendee" types, but I could be wrong. With these new phones the "no photography rule" is right out the window. I hate it. Joe

 

[flundertaker]

i went today and actually enjoyed myself. it wasnt crowded at all. plenty of room and time to browse and BS. I got pretty good deals on .30 carbine, .45 Colt, and .45-70 ammo from Space Coast Bullets, Young's and Georgia Arms. Believe it or not I also got what I consider a great deal on an excellent condition Blackhawk 7.5" .30 carbine from the big guys at the North end of Bldg 2. It was marked $595 but I knew that was insane and they would do better. I asked for their best price and the guy said $450. I countered $450 OUT THE DOOR. The blackshirt wished me a Merry Christmas and I got my 3rd Blackhawk. Considering I used a CC, I figure the gun was <$400 when you figure in tax, NCIC check, CC fees and I didnt have shipping, transfer FFL or anything else had I bought it off line.
I was really on the fence about a 3 digit flat top 4 5/8" .357 that the guy wanted $1200. it was fired but in fantastic condition. Maybe too good. The finish looked almost mirror like plum colored, including the trigger and hammer. I just dont know enough about Ruger SA's to drop $1200 on what may or may not be 100% correct. IMHO, this show was well worth the $10 price of admission.

 

[smith17]

I had a table at a small show this weekend in a small neighboring town. A really neat show with about 100% guns and knives. Local vendors who are ranchers and farmers in their real lives. Lots of old Brownings, 7400 and 721 rifles and very few black weapons.

We had the phone-camera situation show up at an adjacent table when a grandfather gave his young grandson some cash, told the seller he wanted a box of ammo and then told the kid (about 10 yrs old) to give the man the money. I then noticed the dad of the kid filming it. I butted in and told the man he couldn't take pics due to house rules but was really concerned about the obvious ramifications. G'dad told me to mind my own business and walked off with his ammo. My neighbor asked me why I butted in and I told him someone now had him on video selling ammo to a kid. OK, I'm paranoid.
Also almost got into it with a guy who shows up at every show and stops at every table and picks up everything while asking the same dumb questions. I've never seen him buy anything. I've dealt with him for about 6 yrs now but when he picked up every single can of powder on my table and asked me what each was used for, I told him to quit leaving his greasy fingerprints on everything on my table. He pitched a fit in front of everyone but finally walked off.
I'm getting cranky in my old age.

 

[gdnagle]

We had the phone-camera situation show up at an adjacent table when a grandfather gave his young grandson some cash, told the seller he wanted a box of ammo and then told the kid (about 10 yrs old) to give the man the money. I then noticed the dad of the kid filming it. I butted in and told the man he couldn't take pics due to house rules but was really concerned about the obvious ramifications. G'dad told me to mind my own business and walked off with his ammo. My neighbor asked me why I butted in and I told him someone now had him on video selling ammo to a kid. OK, I'm paranoid.

I don't think your paranoid. You can't trust anti's. This was a dumb mistake I hope the seller made and doesn't do it again. !8yo for rifle ammo 21 for pistol. This could turn up on the news.