I'm inviting everyone to take some time to reflect on your experience and offer a critique of the show. Here's my take. This is probably my 25th time of attending the show. This show reflects trends and the current status of a variety of gun related issues. Past shows have had 5-6 large vendors selling reloading components and you could find nearly anything you wanted. The prices in the past were reasonable and you could find bargains. That pattern has steadily dwindled and this show had none. The show this weekend featured lots of tables with a few random components and bargains were nonexistent. I found a couple pounds of VV powder N165 for $35....not bad. Found two tables with H4350 powder (the most popular long range powder); one was sold out and the other had 3 lbs...all selling for $70. There was LOTS of ammo, all very high prices. Overheard numerous conversations about ammo including guys calling friends to quote prices and take orders. I'm not sure if sales were happening, certainly some. I bought one box of .38 Special for $33 to accompany .38 revolver.
A couple of interesting stories. Was at a table where a customer was negotiating the price of 10 boxes of 30-30 and paid $310. I was next to them and said "While you are in the mood, would you sell one more for $30?" He said, "Oh what the hell...sure". When I paid him he said, "I just made a whole $2". A related incident......I found some Hornady 17gr V-Max 17HMR for $39.95 at a vendor who had lots of ammo. I wear a vendor badge and had a conversation with her as a fellow vendor. I told her about another vendor who had a brick of the same ammo for $20 per 50 and that I can buy it on line (last week) for $16.50. She said, "that's less than I paid for mine." She offered to lower her price a bit, but I explained that I was not trying to negotiate the price. Rather, I was warning her that she may end up with a bunch of ammo that she will have to take a loss to get rid of. Most of these folks are just trying to make a buck in a highly competitive and volatile market.
Other cool things....SilencerCo had a table and were marketing suppressors. They offered a $75 discount for the show and had the technology to do the finger printing and photographing and complete the application form. The whole process took about 15 minutes. I've been planning to buy a suppressor at some point and those guys made it really easy. Their latest email says for the first time that got an approval in less than 90 days, thanks to the fully electronic application process.
Other cool event that typically happens at the Tulsa show. I found a nearly mint condition Anschutz 1717 for $1895. That's about market value. I have wanted one of these for some time and was excited to find it. Until then, I had only seen pictures. After looking it over, I changed my mind and passed on it. Tulsa is the only place I have found where you might encounter hard-to-find items, handle them and make an informed decision. Awhile back I was bidding on a 1717, which sold for more than I was willing to pay. Imagine what I would have felt if I won the auction then discovered that I didn't really like the gun. The show is helpful in so many ways.
A couple of interesting stories. Was at a table where a customer was negotiating the price of 10 boxes of 30-30 and paid $310. I was next to them and said "While you are in the mood, would you sell one more for $30?" He said, "Oh what the hell...sure". When I paid him he said, "I just made a whole $2". A related incident......I found some Hornady 17gr V-Max 17HMR for $39.95 at a vendor who had lots of ammo. I wear a vendor badge and had a conversation with her as a fellow vendor. I told her about another vendor who had a brick of the same ammo for $20 per 50 and that I can buy it on line (last week) for $16.50. She said, "that's less than I paid for mine." She offered to lower her price a bit, but I explained that I was not trying to negotiate the price. Rather, I was warning her that she may end up with a bunch of ammo that she will have to take a loss to get rid of. Most of these folks are just trying to make a buck in a highly competitive and volatile market.
Other cool things....SilencerCo had a table and were marketing suppressors. They offered a $75 discount for the show and had the technology to do the finger printing and photographing and complete the application form. The whole process took about 15 minutes. I've been planning to buy a suppressor at some point and those guys made it really easy. Their latest email says for the first time that got an approval in less than 90 days, thanks to the fully electronic application process.
Other cool event that typically happens at the Tulsa show. I found a nearly mint condition Anschutz 1717 for $1895. That's about market value. I have wanted one of these for some time and was excited to find it. Until then, I had only seen pictures. After looking it over, I changed my mind and passed on it. Tulsa is the only place I have found where you might encounter hard-to-find items, handle them and make an informed decision. Awhile back I was bidding on a 1717, which sold for more than I was willing to pay. Imagine what I would have felt if I won the auction then discovered that I didn't really like the gun. The show is helpful in so many ways.
