Great gun show purchase!

[markm_04]

Hopefully this is in the right section, if not, please feel free to move.

I am new to collecting and have been looking for cartridges to add to my collection. Well I went to a gun show yesterday to poke around and see what I could find. I came across a table that had about 40 Ziploc bags of loose cartridges and shotshells. All of the bags were individually priced and ranged from $1 up to $15 per bag. After sifting through most of the bags looking for stuff I thought I might need for my collection I had set a few bags to the side that I intended on buying, then the gentleman running the table came up to me and said "Tell you what, $20 will take all the bagged stuff here." I looked surprised and told him the only problem was that I literally had $19 dollars in my billfold at the time and he said it was a deal. I was excited as all get out and bagged up everything I could get.

After having some time to go through the items a little closer at home this afternoon, I counted 344 total pieces and the total dollar amount on all the bags ended up being $199.......I paid $19!!

Now, I know that most of the stuff in the bags might be fairly common cartridges, but for a beginning collectors it is awesome! I did a quick inventory of most of the items and found quite a few completely new additions to my collection. Lots of 10 and 12 gauge paper shot shells which I had none of to begin with.

Some of the items included in the purchase:

.257 Wby Mag
7.92 mm
8mm Mag
300 Win Mag
Lots of .243 and .223 or 5.56
.300 Savage
.17 Rem. (Centerfire)
6.5x55
30 Carbine (Sears Headstamp)
7mm-08
6mm
.22 Hornet
.220 Swift
.284
.45 Auto with some being shot shells
Lots of 12 gauge shells, some high brass, lots of paper of different varieties

All of these cartridges are live and I have multiples of each caliber, along with a mix of different headstamps for each caliber which is nice.
Some I have come across are labeled "unknown" so I am still in the process of taking measurements to determine what cartridges/calibers they are.

Also at another table I picked up some nice old .25 Auto Remington boxes and .32 S&W boxes. Some 5mm rimfires and even a couple of bags labeled "free" so I picked up all of those that I could. They contained loose cartridges and I have looked through them and there are some military rounds, .30-40 Krag, 7x61, some all brass .410 buckshot rounds along with some others that I have not identified yet.

I just wanted to share my excitement with everyone and I am looking forward to doing a detailed inventory and getting everything logged into my collection. Hopefully I can get some pictures up sometime soon!!

 

[ChaoSS]

Bags of random ammo? Be careful shooting it.

Who knows what led to this ammo being put together. Pick ups at the range? Sometimes people drop stuff, but more likely it's stuff that was fired but was a dud. Could be experimental reloads. Could be anything.

Just saying, that sounds fishy, and I'd be very careful with it. A lot of people would pull it all apart and use the components, at least the bullets and cases.

 

[markm_04]

As I stated above, the purchase was made in order to add items to my collection of cartridges.

I do not plan on shooting any of these items as they are now, aside from some of the 12 gauge rounds in plastic hulls. I can definitely use the components of some of the rounds for my rifles but as you said, they will be pulled and reloaded with known components before being fired in any of my firearms.

 

[ChaoSS]

Well then that sounds like a very reasonable purchase.

 

[markm_04]

I really think it was. So far after a fairly quick sorting effort I have counted at least 25 new additions to my collection and more if I keep every different headstamp.

 

[Twiki357]

Sounds like you did good. I know I wouldn’t mind finding some 32 S&W boxes, or at least the plastic inserts. A couple of weeks ago I was looking at a bag of 32 S&W (Shorts) that were pretty grungy. Looked like someone had carried them around loose in their pocket for a few years. But 58 rounds for $2 bucks, it was well worth the brass and bullets. Occasionally, there are good buys at gun shows, just rarely on guns.

 

[Hardtarget]

Its cool to get a boost like that when starting a collection! Now you can focus on filling in the blank spots.
When you see the "newest/bestest" new cartridge in the magazines grab a box. That way you won't be looking for them after they disappear!

Mark

 

[slumlord44]

A lot of people complain about gun shows. I love them because every once in a while you come across a neat deal like this. Good find!

 

[markm_04]

I always seem to find pretty decent deals at most gun shows I go to, but like Twiki357 said, there are hardly ever good deals on the actual guns.

I was pretty excited to come across this deal, probably the best deal I have found in quite awhile.

Not sure what I am going to do with all of the "extras" I don't need or can't use. Any suggestions?

 

[FROGO207]

When you are able to get on the trading post section on here (tied to post count/activity) list what you have and quantity (pictures help). Then what rounds you are looking for in trade. Someone will want to trade with you I bet. Locally will be best so as to avoid shipping cost.

 

[markm_04]

I can and will post some of what I have in the trading post. I need to go through and make a detailed list of what I have available. It would be nice to get some trades so I can possibly add some new pieces to my collection.

I doubt anything would be too local as I don't know of many members nearby my location.