Nations Gun Show - Dulles, VA

[wojownik]

Anyone go to the Nation's Gun Show at the Dulles Expo Center? They've expanded the show to two halls (though there seems to be proportionately more beef jerky in the second hall ). Friday seems much lighter in attendence than the past two shows there. This time, the ammo was not flying out the door like it was just two months ago or so.

I only had an hour and a half after work, so I tried to cram everything in a running tour of the show. Pardon me if my notes below focus just on pricing... Prices on EBRs are still kinda high - Bushmaster Patrolman (M4gery) ran from $880 up to $1190. Lots and lots of Colt black rifles (at least compared to prior shows) in the $1100-$1300 range. WASRs in the $550-579 range. Yugo M70s in the 699-899 range. Saw only two CZ-82s (priced at a premium). No Makarovs to be seen, though rumor is the Century had gotten a new batch through Garands in the $1000+ range and M1 carbines in the $750+ range.

Picked up a AR15 A3 upper from J&T Distributors for $345, plus a few pmags at $15 per. Plus, [icked up a few factory Sig p225/p6 mags .

 

[crebralfix]

Sounds like a typical NoVA gun show: high prices and too many non-firearms related tables.

 

[atblis]

Fudge

They now have fudge at gunshows too. Hadn't seen that before. Not bitching. Free samples.

 

[wojownik]

Went back to the show on Sunday morning. Ammo still plentiful in the morning. Picked up 2 more P-mags and almost picked up another Sig p6.

Had a really bad incident - had my 18 month old on the shoulder, and heard a shotgun racked way too close to my ear. Some idiot had a Mossberg pointed right at my baby's head and racked it. I normally consider my self pretty mellow (maybe too mellow) but before I even formulated a thought, I whirled the baby away, grabbed the weapon and pushed it away pretty hard. I left right after that, after and exchange of harsh words with the shotgun dude.

 

[rklessdriver]

I went this afternoon just to see how much the lunacy has dropped off since last month.

Plenty of ammo on the tables but the prices were kinda high, espc on milsurp .308 and .223... One guy was trying to get 125.00 for SA battle packs... but not many folks wanted a hit on that crack pipe.

There were lots of people there. Not crazy hoards of scared rich folks like in January but enough to make it not enjoyable to try and browse the tables.

I did see AK prices down a little (in the 500-540.00 range) from the crazy 600-700.00 prices we saw right after the election. AR's were in the 850.00 and up range depending on if you wanted a plain jane Bushmaster or something better. Lots of AR stripped lower recivers in the 120-150 range.

If the supply keeps comming like it is on ammo and guns - I feel like prices will probally falling at the current rate (very slowly) and NOVA will be back to normal (pre election) by end of the year.

wojownik -
With all the people I saw there, your incident does not surprise me one bit. I saw lots of little kids running aorund picking up every gun on the table, people flagging each other, lazing random people across the room... It's NOVA what do you expect? IMO business as usual for a NOVA gun show.
Will

 

[wojownik]

To be honest, with all the active/retired military and LE in this area, I expected a bit better in the safe handling department. Silly me The gent with the shotgun appeared well-heeled enough, but again income does not coincide with common sense.

 

[Jim K]

Mishandling of firearms is all too common at gun shows and in gun shops. There is a good reason why show sponsors usually require guns be "tied" and loose ammo banned.

Still, a good show, and a place folks can see and familiarize themselves with collector guns so as to minimize the chances of being taken. I got a Colt 1878 .44-40 in pretty good condition at what I considered a decent price. I have wanted one of those for a long time. If the past is any indication, I will now be deluged with 1878's; it never seems to fail that when I buy one, a dozen show up in better condition at better prices.

Jim

 

[atblis]

To be honest, with all the active/retired military and LE in this area, I expected a bit better in the safe handling department. Silly me The gent with the shotgun appeared well-heeled enough, but again income does not coincide with common sense.

Yeah, but remember it's "unloaded", so it's okay to point it at people. :banghead:
Funny how many people get shot by unloaded guns.

I know we all know this. I've explained to people why I am so weird about pointing guns at people no matter what (unless they deserve it). Most have agreed. It's for that one time you're mistaken and it's not unloaded.