TexasSeaRay
New member
Whew.
Surprisingly, saw a number of really good deals on firearms. As usual, the gougers and rip-offs were also out in force. And as usual, the people P.T. Barnum prophesized about were there with wallets and credit cards in hand.
I guess every group has their snakes.
So that (all the good deals on guns to be had) was the good news.
Bad news was that reloading components were freaking out of sight, price-wise. Good news is that I didn't see ANY of it selling. The lone exception was the Southwest Ammo Supply booth--a respected company in Mesquite (suburb of Dallas) who always has very good, honest prices and one helluva good reputation.
They had a line.
I saw yankoffs asking $20 for 100 pieces of once-fired .38 Spcl brass. I saw one group asking $30 for unfired 40 S&W brass. Another group was selling IMR4350 for, get this, $39 a pound. His powder containers all had a good collection of dust on the lids and shoulders.
Stopped at one table that had "junk" trays of various loose and miscellaneous stuff in them. I picked up a Lee case length trim guide--no shellholder with it--that was rusted to the point that you almost couldn't see the .308 on it. Figured I might offer him a quarter or four bits for it, take it home, soak it and put it on the bench grinder's polishing wheel. If I could bring it back, great. If not, I was only out a quarter.
The alpha hotel wanted, get this again, FIVE BUCKS for it. I told him NEW ones WITH A SHELLHOLDER were only four bucks. He shrugged and replied, "Then don't buy it."
Funniest--or maybe the saddest--thing was I saw reloaded ammo, all nice and shiny, selling at factory or higher prices. I saw bags of 45 230 FMJ going for $50/100 rounds. .223 going for almost that much.
I did see some much better deals on reloaded ammo, but there were some real hucksters out there.
Now I know why it's been ten years since I was last at a gun show. Figure it'll be at least ten more years before I go again.
In the meantime, thank God I reload and know where to get the good deals.
Jeff
Surprisingly, saw a number of really good deals on firearms. As usual, the gougers and rip-offs were also out in force. And as usual, the people P.T. Barnum prophesized about were there with wallets and credit cards in hand.
I guess every group has their snakes.
So that (all the good deals on guns to be had) was the good news.
Bad news was that reloading components were freaking out of sight, price-wise. Good news is that I didn't see ANY of it selling. The lone exception was the Southwest Ammo Supply booth--a respected company in Mesquite (suburb of Dallas) who always has very good, honest prices and one helluva good reputation.
They had a line.
I saw yankoffs asking $20 for 100 pieces of once-fired .38 Spcl brass. I saw one group asking $30 for unfired 40 S&W brass. Another group was selling IMR4350 for, get this, $39 a pound. His powder containers all had a good collection of dust on the lids and shoulders.
Stopped at one table that had "junk" trays of various loose and miscellaneous stuff in them. I picked up a Lee case length trim guide--no shellholder with it--that was rusted to the point that you almost couldn't see the .308 on it. Figured I might offer him a quarter or four bits for it, take it home, soak it and put it on the bench grinder's polishing wheel. If I could bring it back, great. If not, I was only out a quarter.
The alpha hotel wanted, get this again, FIVE BUCKS for it. I told him NEW ones WITH A SHELLHOLDER were only four bucks. He shrugged and replied, "Then don't buy it."
Funniest--or maybe the saddest--thing was I saw reloaded ammo, all nice and shiny, selling at factory or higher prices. I saw bags of 45 230 FMJ going for $50/100 rounds. .223 going for almost that much.
I did see some much better deals on reloaded ammo, but there were some real hucksters out there.
Now I know why it's been ten years since I was last at a gun show. Figure it'll be at least ten more years before I go again.
In the meantime, thank God I reload and know where to get the good deals.
Jeff