The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Rastus on April 04, 2009, 08:06:53 PM
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My wife, youngest son and I just got back from a few hours at the Tulsa gun show. This is only for the upper portion (about 2/3's of the show) so it's not a complete look.
My observations:
EBR's---Plentiful and overpriced. Especially M-1 carbines...$650 (and trashy) and up with an $800 average....lot's of M-1's..but then the CMP has been pushing them out of the door lately so why is the price so high?
Handguns---Fair supply of semi-autos so everyone should find something at upper end of pricing. Revolvers....pick what you want except for snubbies...they are towards the low end of supply.
Longguns---Lot's of new and old in all calibers. Yes, you can find them in .308, 30-06 & .223 and just about any model you want. On the high end of long gun pricing for miliary calibers...medium to high on others.
Ammunition---It's there, but leaving through the door. People are paying like 2x Wal Mart prices for common pistol caliber ball ammo. For military rifle ammo...stick to the internet except for .308 and some 30-06 scattered about outside the official ammo dealers.
Magazines---Way overpriced. Lots and lots or AR mags...no shortage here. Prices should fall soon. All mags overpriced over mail order...I'd stick with MidwayUSA or CDNN.
Specialty Observations---I saw Cylinder & Slide at the show. Started to pick up some pieces parts but decided to bring the whole gun to them tomorrow to take home with them. A very few Tactical Solutions upgrades around. High end jewelry in places----the wife found it---dang it. Lot's of safes to look at and choose from. Bag, backpack & holster dealers---prices not bad..a bit shy on leather holsters in the upper level...was looking for the couple from Arkansas with the Sting Ray hide holsters and did not find them---dang it. Bryon Gaston (Major Malfunction) was set up to subvert the gun buying public with supressors and MG's...really nice guy you should tell him hello if you go.
Reloading Supplies---Slim pickin's in the upper level...didn't make it to the lower where the heavy hitters usually are. Still, looked a bit thin despite sticking to the upper level.
Dutch Van Kirk (Enola Gay Navigator) was at the show signing autographs. 88 and a mind like a steel trap...quite impressive. He's the last living crew member of the Enola Gay. If you are in town it's worth the price of admission just to shake his hand. Way to go Dutch ! ! ! !
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I know there has to be some other DRTV members who went. Let's hear about your observations.....especially anything going on in the lower level.
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I went and enjoyed it. Is was very, very busy! Prices ranged from fair to GOOD LORD!!! I recently bought a S&W 642 and was doing a bit of price comparison---I paid $426 NIB at Sports World in Tulsa and I saw two at the show, each marked $525. Apparently, everyone was after .380 ammo and Ruger LCPs. .380 ammo was bringing up to $46/50. In addition, though some LCPs could be found around $350, I actually saw one at a dealer's table marked for $800! I almost fell over! I saw the Pincus video for the Laserlyte Pistol Bayonet, so I knew that I had to have one in order to be practical, so I picked one of those up. That's really all there is to it, except my feet hurt. Oh, I did take a picture of a nice Holland & Holland rifle that I found:
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h270/Sanjuancb/P4040209.jpg)
This one was in .240 H&H. I am such a sucker for these rifles! The quality is just amazing!
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I'm heading back with cash for the end of the show...take my cash offer or take it home. I've just got to find something I need.
Did you pick up that H&H?
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If I remember correctly it didn't have a price on it, so I can assure you that I can't afford it! Maybe Obama will bail me out and I can get one! ;D
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OK...I was there at closing time today. Yes lots of people and yes lots of guns sold...a lot more than usual but less than November. There were large numbers of EBR's packed and carried back home this time. I saw an S&W M&P AR for $1,150...which I think is a low number for that model.
The dealers with the high prices brought their high-prices home with them...right along with their inventory this time. I know there were some sales...but nothing like November, December and late February.
So long as BHO and the boys don't crank up the anti-gun rhetoric, I think we will start to see increasing inventories in both guns and ammo in a few months. NOW THAT HAVING BEEN SAID...please realize that I'm in Tulsa where there is a gun show or two every month and quite a few gun shops in and about town...so I believe that we have peaked here...we who have had very good and regular access to firearms. It may not be so in your area....so you may not have peaked yet. But I'd say we have peaked out here....so long as BHO and the boys don't stir the pot. After the IRS refunds stop hitting that would be my bet as to when the gun buying slows.
I did the smart thing (I think it was smart) in increasing my ammo inventory to a "hold over" volume. Now I'm waiting on a price drop for ammo additions. If prices drop I'm building inventory later this year.
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I got a Encore pistol in .460 s&w.and found ammo for $23 a box!!
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I got a Encore pistol in .460 s&w.and found ammo for $23 a box!!
Fantastic...now you gotta do a range report and post pics...... :D
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Fantastic...now you gotta do a range report and post pics...... :D
I shot it today,It is a handfull but it will work perfect for ferel hogs!
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I shot it today,It is a handfull but it will work perfect for ferel hogs!
Glad you like it.
I think they used to make them in 30-06, too.........always thought it would be fun to shoot....... :o
They still have them in .308. Bet it's a handful too.