Gun Show Finds

[Dr.Rob]

Went to Tanner today with Dad and some of my old hunting buddies and a good time was had by all... any day is better than a a day at work, right?

While we didn't find a ruger Mk3 Hunter model to fondle I did manage to pick up some 8mm mauser for my old 98K, some corrosive and some boxer/reloadable. The corrosive stuff is Yugo, 196 gr and very pointy, 1954 mfg and shiny as a penny. It was selling for $2/15rds. I bought 60. I splurged on a box of reloadable stuff made by Century, as I could find only one box of S&B thatw as overpriced.

Still I WISH I was shopping for me, as I came across a very nice Astra 600 in 9mm para (marked as such) with a spare mag and holster... a little pricey but a VERY nice pistol.

Second neat find of the day was Colt Cobra, NIB for just under $500... I couldn't afford it but I soooo wanted it.

Anything you passed up this weekend?

 

[evan price]

Hate to point this out but that Yugo corrosive, get it from Century for $45 for 900 round sealed spam can. Fits easily under a bed. Or the back of the towel cupboard. Or under the kitchen sink.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I don't plan on buying 900 rds of it (or paying shipping) until I see how it shoots first. I could have bout 900 rds of Romanian surplus for $50 at the show and passed on it.

I went looking for S&B or Olympic, as I've heard from other Kar owners this is good stuff.. with only ONE box of S&B found at the show (for $16) $8 for 60 rds of the Yugo surplus didn't seem like a big deal to me at all.

 

[poppy]

I was about to start a gun show thread when I saw yours. I am somewhat tired of gun show rants. There seems to be at least one rant per month about how terrible guns shows have become.

I love gun shows. It's too bad you didn't see a MKIII hunter. Our show had several, with the best price being $419 plus tax. At least 4 different dealers had one. I once again passed it up, but I almost succumed at an earlier show when one dealer at it for $409 plus tax. This is Ruger country and the prices are very competive.

I also passed up a decent Star BM 9mm pistol, but it only had one mag and the price was a little high at $209 plus tax. I will find one eventially.

I passed on a Walther P5 priced at $525 plus tax. It was the only one at the show, so the prices have not come down yet.

I passed on a Yugo Mauser even though they were only $65 plus tax. (I already had a Nazi Mauser bought from a previous show for $199 plus tax).

I passed on two different HK P7's; one a P7M13 and the other a P7M8, both used. I don't remember the price of the M13 but it was well over $1000. The dealer wanted $1550 for the M8 but it did have 3 mags and night sights.

Then I found something that I had never seen at any show; a HK P7 BMI police trade in. These are the early P7 models with European style mag release. Some call them the PSP, but this one was not marked PSP. The BMI (Bureau of interior) was x'ed out and the slide was date stamped 11/82.

I didn't know anything about this pistol before the show. I had been following the sales of NIB P7M8's lately and have lusted after one, but just couldn't justify paying between $1200 and $1400 for one.

This BMI example was being sold by a private party who started out at $800. It had the factory hard case, 2 mags (one unused), tool, bore brush, 25 meter test target, and factory manual (in German). The slide had some holster wear, but the pistol looked little used.

Again, I didn't know anything about this pistol model; didn't know what the BMI was all about, and neither did the owner apparently. He did know the difference between the original P7 and the M8. I just had a feeling that this was something that I should consider; a way to scratch the P7 itch without spending the price of 4 Rugers.

Needless to say, I bought the P7, $725 out the door. After I got home I did a search on HKpro.com and saw some favorable reviews on these police trade in's and comfirmed that I didn't get raped.

Then I went to the guy whom I had met at an earlier show who had taken my M1 Garand home to put a "new" barrel on it. I had had the Garand for several years (a gun show purchase) and it needed a new barrel. He had the M1 ready and had also checked over the whole rifle and tweeked the trigger, all for $100.

So I left the show with a "new" P7 and a renewed M1 and the buddy that I took with me even bought me lunch. It was a good day.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

I was at the tanner show over the weekend. not a lot of deals but a few.
Bought a Remington rand 1911a1 with 2 mags and holster. everything was original and the pistol in 95% original finish condition. It was the last production run in 1945.

I also picked up a Glock 21 in 45auto with two mags.

and on Sunday I bought a italian Beretta cougar in 357 sig with 5 mags.

The 1911a1 will be a safe queen as it looks to of been already. the glock will get shot and see if I like it. The Beretta may turn out to be another carry gun but will see.
First time I have been to tanners in over a year.

 

[jnojr]

Every time you guys wanna carp about how bad your gun shows are, c'mon out to CA and check out one of ours. You'll never complain about yours again

 

[MachIVshooter]

Every time you guys wanna carp about how bad your gun shows are, c'mon out to CA and check out one of ours. You'll never complain about yours again

Who's complaining? Tanner is one of the two big ones in CO. (Cross roads of the West is the other). I've found that pretty much whatever you are looking for (barring really specialized or rare stuff) can be found on the first day. Sometimes the second day is slim pickin's, but usually still a good time.

There is usually at least 1 class III dealer there with SBR/SBS's, supressors, AOW's and MG's. Not that one can obtain a class III license on the spot, but you can put a weapon on layaway until you'er approved by BATFE.

The last CRotW I was at, I went looking for a Carcano. I found a pristine M38 7.35mm and a VG M91 6.5mm long rifle. Bought them both, along with ammo. I was also able to find Russian-made match ammo for my 7.62 Nagant Revolver, albeit $30 per box of 40. (BTW, this stuff launches a 98 grain LWC at a whopping 615 FPS )

 

[Manedwolf]

I was also able to find Russian-made match ammo for my 7.62 Nagant Revolver, albeit $30 per box of 40. (BTW, this stuff launches a 98 grain LWC at a whopping 615 FPS )

Probably why the most infamous useful use of the Nagant pistol was with a silencer on it, used in back alleys to silence threats to the Party. Gas seal, subsonic and all...

 

[ken w.]

I was at the Roch.,NY gun show and walked out with a 95 % + Winchester 69A for almost next to nothing.I picked up a bunch of really hard to find magazines for pretty cheap as well.Other than that,there wasn't anything new there since the last show.I've been to the Ohio gun shows and used to really enjoy them,but the last few years there's more non gun items at the show than gun related.Too much millitary and not enough sporting guns for me.Up here in NY there is also alot of non gun show junk showing up on tables as well.Sometimes it nice to go a bit farther away to a gun show to see an entirely diffrent crowd of gun show vendors.

 

[poppy]

ken

I've been to the Ohio gun shows and used to really enjoy them,but the last few years there's more non gun items at the show than gun related

The Bill Goodman shows are Gun and Knife shows, so sure there is going to be non-gun stuff, including some pretty cheap knives, but for the most part there is no flea market stuff. (The Pro-gun show in Columbus is another story).

For me, there is a good mix of military and sporting; I love to look for mil-surp stuff. The Goodman shows still have more gun-related stuff than anything else, and there continues to be different vendors showing up.

 

[Bob F.]

Local shows are hit and miss. Sometimes more like flea markets. One dealer shows up at some with high end stuff, lots of engraving. Once in a while we hit a pretty good one. One time some old fart, even older than me, showed up with some old big bore revolvers, don't remember the specifics but seemed like good prices considering the local scarcity. Also saw a Marlin model 39 in good shape, not great, for $150 and a ss scoped Colt or S&W (see how long it's been?!) big bore insanely cheap. "That's all I've got in 'em", said dealer. Naturally I was broke. He said one time they taped a dollar bill to the table and put a fifty cent price tag on it; no takers till a 8 or 10 yr old kid came along.

Stay safe.
Bob

 

[Tommygunn]

I attended a gunshow in Cullman Saturday....
*SIGH*
Not much ...except a real nice Spencer Repeater I've seen at local gunshows before...but much to $$$ for my wallet.... :banghead:

 

[lionking]

you know,alot of the things I've got was at gunshows.But I went to one Saturday and it sucked.There were the normal dealers selling new guns,but most of the dealers I've gotten to know who sell milsurp wasn't there.

I went convinced on buying a K31,only one at the whole show for$175 and I just didn't want that one.Not one Moisin 91 to be seen.

Ammo was scarce,saw 3 1903a3 springfields in fair condition (laughing) for almost $1000 each.Probably CMP with a sticker shock added.

Sometimes you find deals but some of those dealers just try to gouge the average person roaming around.

M1 Garands?....ha!

 

[Koobuh]

"Hate to point this out but that Yugo corrosive, get it from Century for $45 for 900 round sealed spam can. Fits easily under a bed. Or the back of the towel cupboard. Or under the kitchen sink."

After shooting some of that ammo, I would have to say...

Yes, I will stack it under the sink, in an ice rink, under my bed, and even in my shed! I would stack that ammo up, I would I would, in a barn, under mother's yarn, in a boat, next to the goat, come, come, bring me some more!



It's seriously good stuff, if your rifle can handle the hard primers. We got two 900 round packs at the $45 price with $12.50 shipping last month, but they were out of stock when I called a few weeks ago. Did they get a new shipment? It is listed on their site, last I looked (yesterday).

"Every time you guys wanna carp about how bad your gun shows are, c'mon out to CA and check out one of ours. You'll never complain about yours again."
I'll have to respectfully disagree. A local Ace Hardware in a small town would give the gunshows (Falcon Productions Deming and Custer Club, and the WAC Monroe) I've attended a run for their money on reasonably priced milsurps alone.

 

[Silver Bullet]

The gun shows I saw in Texas were terrific; I picked up a new 92FS for less than $350.

The gun shows I see in Arizona have a lot of chaff amidst the wheat.

 

[poppy]

Dr. Rob; Sorry to see your thread turn into something of a rant about gun shows. I just wish the complaining would stop.

To all ranters: If your local shops are much better, then go to them and quit complaining about the shows.

Sure there is junk at every show, but then there is that one find that makes going worth it. But even if there is nothing worth buying at a particular show, there still is plenty to look at and plenty of old warriors to talk to.

Nothing is like is was back in 1950, so get over it.

 

[Onmilo]

I wasn't even an afterthought for my dad in 1950 but I have been attending gun shows since 1977 or 1978.
Things ARE different now since the great Clinton purge.
There are far fewer actual gun dealers and more sideline sellers and private individuals who are trying to cull some of their herd.

I think if you look hard enough, play by the rules,are willing to haggle and have cash at hand there are some very good deals to be found at the current shows.

When I was running under my own FFL I made money at every show I attended and didn't need to price things at 150% mark up either.

Gun Shows are a good thing, think of them as rendevous for the modern sportsman.