Sunday, January 6, 2013

Sorry, I wasn't at the Birmingham gun show Saturday and won't be today.

Sorry. I should have posted this earlier. Frankly, I have neither the gas money, the gate fee nor the desire to fight the inevitable crowd in a wheelchair (which is still required when I'm standing for any length of time). Would appreciate if anyone who was there could give us a report. It's still early in the morning here, so I'm going back to bed and will work on Absolved when I get caught up on a little sleep.

15 comments:

bondmen said...

I don't blame you one little bit Mike for not wanting to subject yourself to the burgeoning crowds at today's gun shows across America. I'm guessing many there are wishing they'd acted earlier in procuring their liberty teeth and supplies and now is not the time at today's prices. Seems ammo, when one can find any for sale, is 70% higher in price than just 2 weeks ago! Click my name for a view of yesterday's Portland, OR gun show line!

Anonymous said...

It's not Birmingham, but if you're interested, we had a Record Show at Kingsport, TN yesterday. I've never seen so many people or so much overflow parking. A lot of people who wanted to come had to come later or cancel because they couldn't get in.

A lot of the regular vendors were not there--I'm guessing because they were out of stock since there have been some big gun shows like Knoxville that were within their range to go to and sell out.

The result was that the show was populated by the Biggest vendors, and a plethora of smaller vendors and individuals raising money. There were enough individuals that the tables were more full than at the shows before the election.

Prices were ridiculous--$40 for PMags, 20-30 for GI aluminum magazines. M855 was going for 1.00 per round to 1.50. M193 wasn't but about 75 cents to a dollar a round.

Very few spare parts available--dealers would admit they had them, but they're not selling them.

As for gun prices: Stripped AR lower, 500-600 dollars. Used AR 1500 and up, used AK 800+. New AK, 1000+, New AR, 2400+. PSL new or used, 1500+.

Anonymous said...

Wishi had a wheelchairto sit in whilst waiting in this crazy line.

Curly said...

Not in your area but thought you might enjoy a report from the frontier. This is essentiall the same SitRep from the Lubbock Gun, Knife, and Home Improvement Show I put on my FriendBox account: We had to walk a half mile because the lot was full the line to get in wrapped around the interior of the build and I couldnt hardly get through the crowds. Business was "extremely brisk" according to one gentleman. Price for any AR-15 was at least $2500. Anything to do with this platform was expensive. ...Ammo was out of sight. About $1/rnd for .223Rem/5.56NATO. People were selling ammo that looked like they had loaded themselves or bought in bulk and put in plain white boxes for almost as much as store bought and when I asked for information about how it was loaded the guy shrugged and said he didn't really know but it was selling well. AR-15 magazines were 40 bucks a pop, firm, and folks were paying it. Gladly. Even old pistol belt suspenders and belts were 40 bucks for the pair. Reloading equipment could be had, but only less used calibers. Some deals could be had if you were advanced in your preps. I saw a guy put down 400 bucks for a case of small rifle primers, a big box of assorted primers, small pistol, large rifle etc... a full keg of VihtaVuori powder and a used RCBS powder thrower. So he got at least eight thousand rounds of .223 primers and over two thousand rounds worth of powder (?) A gentleman was selling used miltary 5gal NATO water jugs for 40 bucks each, nice but I thought I caught a whiff of deisel fuel. No military grade rifles. M1 rifles were priced for emotional attachment rather than servicability and there were no Mosin Nagants. No Ruger Ranch Rifles. No 10-22 rifles. No home defense style and damn few field grade 12 ga pump shotguns (I dont even remember seeing a field gun even at a table but saw some guys carrying). One Thompson center in .223 (interesting but limited usefulness). The new Ruger .22cal Takedown was 600 bucks. Pistols can still be had. I saw a used Ruger P90 in stainless for about $500, but I dont want a used pistol. I was looking for a rifle. I did pay a guy to sharpen my Moore Maker stockman's knife (A gentleman's Blade). Pleasant fellow. Double bevel. Nice polished edge. Got his business card.

Anonymous said...

Birch Run Michigan, Gun Show. 5 Jan 13

7.62 x39 seems to be going for $1.00/round and 5.56 NATO at $1.10/Round. No Spam Cans or cases that I could find. 7.62x54 available, at $0.75/round. Seems like the dealers can do better breaking down a case and selling by the box.

Not many AR's, AK's and M1As avail. I saw one AR and picked it up and found that it was a T-14, chambered in .410 shotgun Mosin/Nagants are drying up, not many left. Priced at $150. Garands are available, for 1000-1200. I'm interested in riding over to Camp Perry when I get thing together for that purchase.

I walked my Russian Tula SKS around with a sign on the barrel, that said "ask me about 7.62x39." I was offered $800. I would have settled for $900.

I am interested in a Garand, and I'm thinking how I can make a trade and end up with no money out of pocket.

Traffic was heavy, deals were far and few between. It wouldn't surprise me If we start seeing less tables due to stock-outs.

Anonymous said...

I'd bet $1k pond scum Feinstein bought small arms company's Stock last month.

Anonymous said...

Stupid hoarders are killing us.

They are preventing people yet to be armed who now want to be armed from getting anything at a reasonable price.

Please no bromides about the free marker, apathy, it's their fault for waiting, etc.

People are awake now, knocked out of their dogmatic slumber, and instead of mocking them we need to do what we can to help them get what they need.

Anonymous said...

I have given away about 14 wepons ,with ammo and field gear, to folks who were to poor to pay top $ but will use them to good effect. THats right FOR FREE. If DC wants a war lets see they get a goodun.

Earl Flanigan said...

I'm honestly surprised they were allowed in!

http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Gun-Enthusiasts-Flock-To-Gun-Show-185772382.html

Gunny G said...

Anon @ January 6, 2013 11:57 AM

Some of us don't hoard, we STORE! I can arm and supply a fire team and would do so w/o a second thought.

Ed said...

If the same people that are expending this time, effort and cash acquiring speculation-priced weapons, ammo and accessories, spent the same time, effort and cash on political activity, then they would be paying normal prices.

Make sure that you let all politicians that support any gun control know that you will work to make sure that this is their last term in any elected office or appointed position of authority. Read the Dred Scott v. Sandford Supreme Court decision and understand that these politicians regard you as slaves, not citizens, and act on that information. Be free men and women, citizens.

http://www.guncite.com/journals/senhal14.html

Anonymous said...

It's on! The liberal blogosphere is alive with talk of a march on Washington to support more restrictions on firearms. Plenty of info. can be found here: http://www.google.com/search?q=january+26+march+on+washington+gun&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Might be a good idea for liberty-minded individuals to show up in support of the Second Amendment.

CowboyDan said...

Thanks, Anon 1259. You are righteous among many.

Anonymous said...

to anonymous re: hoarders ... well I'm happy items are dispersed among the populace. I think a lot of buying probably is new or previously inadequate buyers (obviously everyone buying doesn't think they have an adequate supply, unless they are speculating). But here's my point to you: I'd still rather have more and then supply people of my choosing, than have random uncaring people (or speculators, etc) buying.
Here's another point for you: if you are yet to be armed, a reasonable price now seems to be around $2500 per AR. If you wait for your house to be on fire before getting an extinguisher, well, the price you are willing to pay is likely to go up. I'm glad the limited supply is going to people who care that much, though I'm sure some deserving persons are being aced by limited assets. I bought my first mini-14 with college money when I turned 18...
best to us all, -Erik from Seattle

Toastrider said...

I went there in the morning, and didn't even make it in the door. Too cold to stand outside for what looked to be an hour long wait just to enter, and I rarely buy at gun shows anyways.

Still, gives new meaning to the phrase 'We are Legion, for we are many', doesn't it?