Chantilly gun show sit-rep (Friday night)

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W.E.G.

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Chantilly gun show sit-rep (Friday night)

The lines were huge.
They now have FIVE money-takers at the front of the building.
The show opened at 3:00.
At 4:45, each line was still easily 100 deep.

There are ZERO 9mm Glock pistols in the building.
Not one.
No G17
No G19
No G26
Zip. Zilch. Nada.

Trader Jerry did have one specimen of the Glock generation 4.
A G22 with the skateboard-tape grip, and swoopy- cocking serrations.
I found the skateboard grip to be every bit as repulsive as I had feared.. They must have had to work hard to RUIN a Glock.
The newfangled swoopy cocking serrations provided a much less secure grasping surface than the design Glock has successfully marketed for twenty years.
Yep. They ruined it.

Dark Sun had a few of the generation 2 police trade-in G22’s.
They appeared to be worn so smooth, that skateboard tape would actually be an improvement.

Meanwhile the various-and-sundry smaller vendors were all heard preaching to the uninitiated the wonders of oddball Glocks in stupid calibers like .357 SIG and .45 GAP.

Any new Glock – even in some stupid caliber or configuration – was running in the mid-500’s

Overall, there was not a lot of AR-15 type rifles – at least not compared to years gone by.
When that type of rifle could be found, the prices were pretty consistently a solid $350 more than the same gun was priced at this time last year.
Same could be said for AK-47 type rifles, except that there were VERY FEW of those.
I think there were three FAL's in the building - all over $1200.

Dark sun had some SAIGA guns at fairly reasonable prices.
The 7.62x39 SAIGA was around $325.
The 12 gauge SAIGA was around $625 – too high in my opinion, but I’m sure the geeks will pay it, as it does seem to be the market price for that monstrosity.

Dark Sun has Ruger 10-22 rifles at GREAT prices.
$170 for blued -- $210 for stainless w/synthetic stock.

Nagants were still under $100.

Ammo was stupid priced.
PER ROUND
62 cents for .223 green-tip
40 – 48 cents for .223 55-grain FMJ
9mm ball for 22 cents
7.62x39 for 33 cents
45 ACP for 33 cents
.308 (7.62 NATO - Radway) for 50 cents (nearly a “bargain” in this market

If ammo prices don’t come down, the shooting game is OVER for most people.
How many gun owners on an hourly wage can shoot even one magazine of 7.62 ammo without feeling a pinch?
NONE.
Even shooters with damn good income are going to have to think twice about burning more than 10 minutes worth of ammo.

Having said that, the ammo vendors had lines 10-deep waiting to hand over their credit card to get scorched.
I predict that the ammo vendors will sell out all case-lots by mid-day Saturday.

One of the ammo vendors had a few cases of MRE’s that looked like they had un-expired orange stickers.
Dunno the price.

****loads of knives.
Dumb-ass knife vendors trying to get stupid prices on Chinese knives.
The usual artsy knife guys there too.

A few jewelry vendors.
Bleah.

I saw a Fabrique Nationale SCAR on the table by the wall over in the rear on the right.
They wanted $10,000 for it. I laughed out loud in at the guy behind the table.
Those are the guys who won’t let you pick up the guns even after you ask nicely.
At least I do sort of admire them for being CONSISTENTLY the biggest *******s at the show.
Truly, I think they make “ponytail” at Dark Sun look like Mr. Rogers.

The double-barrel shotgun and Luger guys by the door were keeping the aisles near the front clear – just like they always do. 99.999% of the customers blasted by them as if they didn’t exist. Kind of a shame. Some of those doubles were very nice.
 
Did Beef Jerky Guy put in an appearance? How about the cool dude with the business cards stating "Dealer in Destructive Devices"?
 
Great show report! I was thinking about going but didn't make it out.

I guess you were looking to get a Glock 9mm? Maybe you can just go to Virginia Arms to get one.

Its nice to hear they had ammo. It has been in low supply recently but yea the prices are still pretty high - supply & demand I guess.

Any AR-15 mags to be had? At the last gun show there were a lot on Friday but then they started going quickly. Ammo sold quickly then too.
 
I don't really NEED another 9mm Glock.

I was just flabbergasted to see that there were NONE.

Since I posted this report, one fellow on another forum told me he saw a green G26 on one table.

I also posted my comments to a listserve email list.

One vendor responded indignantly, asserting that he had exactly that which I complained about being absent (9mm Glocks).
I shot back with a demand for the price and an accounting of how many he is prepared to sell right now.
The email became ominously silent after that.
 
I visited Virginia Arms yesterday (Friday) and they did not have any 9mm Glocks. Nada, zip, zilch. The only Glocks in stock are all .45's.
DRC
 
Magpul mags & primers.....

>>Any AR-15 mags to be had?<<

Friday afternoon there were a sea of Magpuls avaiable, 30rd with window @$25ea halfway down the building, same mag was $19 near the back of the bldg (different vendor of course), Earth Brown, OD Green and Black. 20 rd magpuls were $17 ea. C mags with anti tilt followers (20rd) were $25 and I only found 1 10rd C mag with anti tilt follower which I'm ashamed to say I actually bought because I need another 10 rounder for $24. Anti tilt followers were 3 for $8, they had the ranger pull plates but I didnt price them.

Line was 1 hour long at 3:00pm, at 4:05pm I bought the last 2 boxes of Remington 7 1/2 SRBR primers which were the only ones (7 1/2) I saw. Plenty of 6 1/2 and sp. Plenty of Federal Champion (hate the size of the box, but they shoot OK) available. NO Varget, OK on 748, IMR etc. Mind you this was Friday... I'm sure today will be another story - components were flying out of there.

One ammo guy was selling Remington .223 55gr at $400/ thousand, I didnt even look at the rest but people were rolling multiple cases (like 6-8) out on handtrucks while I was still waiting to get in so it was there but going fast.

Tonys Custom had plenty of parts, but just to give you an idea he wanted $10 for a front sight tool, of which he must have had 50 in a box. Good thing I had used up all my stupid on the 10 rd C mag.

Did not see the Beef Jerky Guy unfortunately, but Willards next door has some of the best BBQ around.
 
hmmmm, so much snobbery, so little time...

It is interesting that you mention the Stupid prices on everything, yet ammo was flyinig out the door like it had wings and a ticket to Florida....

"Stupid" calibers like .357 sig and .45 GAP... Oh, enlighten me, oh wise one.. what are the only calibers us lowly peasants might buy that would meet with your aproval?

Awww, a slam on AR-15 prices! Wow, news flash.... if they are selling at those prices... and they are... then thats the new price. Capitalism sucks, I know...

I know, you just want the good ole days when you could buy anything you wanted at the price you wanted to pay in only the calibers you deemed worthy.

Secret time.... You see all those lines out the door? They don't need you at the show....

Maybe it is shortsightedness on the part of the dealers... Maybe they should have set the prices in a two tier system. One for the people who are new to shooting and ones for the hi speed lo drag fellas who know when prices are "Stupid"
 
hmmmm, so much snobbery, so little time...

It is interesting that you mention the Stupid prices on everything, yet ammo was flyinig out the door like it had wings and a ticket to Florida....

"Stupid" calibers like .357 sig and .45 GAP... Oh, enlighten me, oh wise one.. what are the only calibers us lowly peasants might buy that would meet with your aproval?

Awww, a slam on AR-15 prices! Wow, news flash.... if they are selling at those prices... and they are... then thats the new price. Capitalism sucks, I know...

I know, you just want the good ole days when you could buy anything you wanted at the price you wanted to pay in only the calibers you deemed worthy.

Secret time.... You see all those lines out the door? They don't need you at the show....

Maybe it is shortsightedness on the part of the dealers... Maybe they should have set the prices in a two tier system. One for the people who are new to shooting and ones for the hi speed lo drag fellas who know when prices are "Stupid"

.357SIG has been more successful than .45GAP due to SigSauers better marketing to Law Enforcement. I'll put that caliber on the fence of things.

I can't believe how with a straight face you can say .45GAP isn't worthless.
 
<< Capitalism sucks, I know...>>

Actually not.

I merely felt stupid now for buying something I should have bought (because I could forsee my need, had the funds and the goods were in front of me but I put it off) 6 months ago at a lower price.

The price per se isnt stupid, nor is the vendor to be villified for charging the market price - its just dollars chasing goods. The $400 case of Remington might very well be considered cheap in 6 months, who knows.

Probably some canny vendor is today investing *their* hard earned money in goods some of which they will wharehouse until the market price reaches a level that suits them and will allow them to replenish their stocks in that future market. They take a risk with their money, they are entitled to profit or loss as the case may be.
 
if price of ammo is getting higher and higher, why bother with getting a military semi-auto?
 
What amazes me about the Dulles show is the dealers in the front row when you walk in selling the old double barrel shotguns and bolt actions for $2,000 plus. I've never seen them sell one and they don't appear to be particularly interested in you buying one either. Are they actually trying to sell them or is buying a table at the show just a chance for them to show off their prized possessions?
 
I sold a yugo SKS to a guy for 250 dollars. And turned around and spent 215 of that money on a Troy FF 7" rail (After confirming it wasnt airsoft). Speaking of airsoft, did you guys know that Aimpoint micros are made by a company called "vision" for aimpoint? I didnt either, thats why these didnt have serial numbers and were selling for 250.00. I stopped at Dennis A. Todd's booth and bought 7 Pmags. for $20 a pop. Then later on found a guy selling them for 19 a peice, oh well, i like to buy from dennis. There were also copies of the magpul dvd for 40 dollars. I found some MOE furniture also.

I did see that guy selling the FN SCAR for 10k, told my friend you can buy 5 of them at that price. (Dealer price is about 2100.00 and some change) Today i stopped at VA arms and bought the magpul modular rail covers for my new rail.

BTW, what is up with VFG prices?! like 50-90 bucks for a good one?
 
I carried 2K rounds of 7.62x39 out the door after calling a family member back home and hearing that most online retailers were out of it. Price wasn't too bad, better have it than not IMO.
 
I went today. Not much of anything there and what was there was priced out of this world.

I saw a Century AMD 65 clone marked for $1000.00.... :eek:

Fiocchi .223 was $449.00 a case....

I was specifically looking for a Colt but there wen't many. Trader Jerry had 3 or 4 but they were plain jane Series 80's.

On the collector front - there were some nice Lugers near the front door and the guy had a few common DWM's for under $800.00, I almost bought one but I don't really need another.

A guy with a small table there had 3 random Colt 1911's among the usual junk. One WW1 Colt rebuilt at Augusta Arsenal for $750.00 and it was a very nice looking gun. Second a WWII Colt that was Chromed and had "released from US... " or something stamped on the frame for like $600.00. Third was another WWI Colt that had some huge super tall sights, a NM barrel bushing and had been refined so many time the US Property mark and slide roll marks were barley visiable but no arsenal re-finned marks for like $650.00. I probally should go back tomorrow and buy the one for $750.00....

All in all, even with the sky high prices and limited selection, the place was still a mad house and you couldn't even navigate the isles without bumping into someone. Probally the shape of Gun Shows to come for at least the next 4 yrs anyway.
Will
 
<<if price of ammo is getting higher and higher...>>

<<...if price of ammo is getting higher and higher, why bother with getting a military semi-auto?>>>


'cause you dont *have* to blast through hundreds of rounds to have fun - shoot slow strings at distance for accuracy. 50 rounds can tire you out pretty well if you concentrate hard enough.
 
"...'cause you dont *have* to blast through hundreds of rounds to have fun - shoot slow strings at distance for accuracy. 50 rounds can tire you out pretty well if you concentrate hard enough."

for me, that defeats the purpose of buying a military semi-auto. if I wanted to shoot "slow" I would buy a bolt action
 
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