Knoxville gun show report

[Major Kong]

I went out to the RK gun show at the Knoxville Expo center this morning. I got there at 0915 (started at 0900) and there were about 75 people in line to get in.

Impressions from the gun show: ammo was plentiful, some overpriced, some moderately priced. I found 150gr Federal .308s for $15 a box and Win 7.62x51s for $16 a box.

I was also able to find primers and powder at several different vendors and brass was plentiful, although a little expensive. I got a pound of Varget for $23 and 1000 Win LP primers for $59 (I know that is highway robbery but I had 0 LP primers).

Guns were fairly plentiful but mostly overpriced. Seemed to be lots of revolvers and shotguns. Most of the ARs seemed to be in the $1000-$1500 range. I went looking for a DW CBOB but found very little in the way of 1911's.

The one other item I went to look for was an FNAR 20 round magazine. I found one in the whole gun show. It was at the booth of a local gun shop. He was asking $80 and wouldn't negotiate. I think this was a "special gun show" price because he had scratched off his normal price and written $80 on top of it. I understand supply and demand and the free market so I chose not to buy it. However, by trying to gouge the local market (the people who keep him in business when he's not working the gun show) he has guaranteed that I'll never do business in his place again. Again, free market. "Mini rant over"

Anyone else had a different experience at a gun show recently??

 

[juk]

50-70% of the guns at gunshows around here are double barrel shotguns, M1 carbines and Garands. Not complaining. The last one had very few reloading supplies. Only 3 vendors had powder, and none had primers of any kind. I go mostly just to look though. There are always unique guns there.

 

[moewadle]

I attend gun shows in Iowa

quite a bit but cannot comment much on prices of ammo and supplies except for two days ago. At a small gun show a lot of ammo seemed very expensive and the small pistol primers were $70 per 1000 at one table and $60 at another.

Generally, with what I know about prices of new guns the prices are generally reasonable with some occasional bargains at the gun shows. This last show I saw a brand new CZ75B for $399 with two high cap magazines, factory box, etc. Mostly I see them for around $550 or a bit higher.

I see SW nice used revolvers for reasonable prices also, in my opinion. I am not talking recent stuff so much as the original blued, wood handle models from the 1970s and before.

So, there is a bit of sampling of what is happening here in Iowa. As an additional comment....I like to attend gun shows even if I do not plan on buying anything. The $5 admission gives me an average of 3 hours entertainment. I enjoy looking, I always learn something new about firearms, and I always find someone enjoyable with whom to converse. If I walk by a table that is peddling something not related to guns, knives, hunting, outdoors supplies (two examples: family tree forms to frame, VHS movies) I make it a point not even to approach the table because merchandise like this does not belong at gun show for which I paid admission.

Anyway, to end on a positive note I like gun shows.

 

[Guitargod1985]

Did you happen to see any .380?

 

[Mags]

The last gun show here in Albuquerque had zero reloading supplies.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I will be at Knoxville today myself.

 

[bonza]

Our 'big' twice monthly gun shows here in western Washington don't allow the sale of powder, but other components are ok. Last show I was at (April) two or three vendors had Small Rifle Primers for $60-$70/1000. Some of the smaller shows have powder for sale, but I haven't been to one of those for a least a couple of years.

 

[danprkr]

In Austin I was disappointed. It was my first in several years so I may have unrealistic expectations, but over all the prices on much of the stuff including guns were higher at the show than at the local retail shops I checked the weeks leading up to the show. I was primarily shopping for an AR Lower and a GP 100 for the wife. I'm just happy I did my homework.

I am able to buy AR lowers here for 175 retail in at least 2 stores, but at the show they were 250+ (one exception, but I chose to pass). The GP 100s are 500 retail here, and 525+ at the show. So, I had to go to a crowded show and pay admission to get a bad deal? Didn't seem good to me so I left with my money still in my pocket.

I glanced at ammo etc and it all seemed high, but since I didn't need any I didn't pay that much attention.

 

[tn-dave]

Thanks for the report. I wanted to make it down there but I really only had enough $$ to get in the door. Figured it would be pretty crowded too.