Olevern
04-06-2013, 09:18 PM
Small gun show today at a nearby community fire hall. First time I have been out (driving myself) since surgery two weeks ago.
On some pretty heavy-duty pain meds and not supposed to drive on them, so laid off the pain meds at 5 a.m. , then left to pick up a boy I mentor (Zack) at 11:00 a.m. and headed to the show.
I planned to arrive late so as to avoid the crowded isles usually encountered at/after opening. I didn't want to risk someone bumping into my recently repaired shoulder.
Only five dollars to get in and no charge for Zack. Also no charge for parking. So far, so good.
I took two guns with me to sell or use for trading material, a H&R classic carbine in 45 Long Colt (with a Redfield 1 3/4 - 5X scope) and a Taurus model 63 semi-auto .22 rifle. I had Zack carry one and I carried the other. I had prepared price signs on wooden dowels with $400.00 on the handi rifle and $325.00 on the semi-auto .22.
As you might perceive, I priced more for the show-goers (end users), not allowing much "meat on the bone" for a dealer to buy and resell. While these guns were (and are) excess to my needs, I had no immediate need to sell them. I was prepared to separate the Redfield scope from the H&R.
We entered the show and started to walk around, and I had to slow Zack down several times so I could look at the items on the tables. Zack was focused on bb and pellet guns.
Prices were high on most components and ammo, although AR's had come down from $2000+ of last month to a still high average of $1200+.
$35.00 a box of 9mm Remington ball. Junk .223's at a buck a round. Powder not too bad, normal prices for what was available, but not a great selection. Inasmuch as I just purchased a 7mm-08 rifle, I was looking for new or used brass or several boxes of factory ammo to get started with it. Found a baggie of 33 pcs of used brass on one table for $35.00, Really? passed.
On another table, not a dealer from the look of the eclectic assortment on the table, I found two unmarked, older, faded boxes of Nozler 7mm 140 grain partitions, asked price and was told $34.00 a box. Moved on without comment.
Laughed to myself at a $35.00 price on an old, used Lee round ball mold (this guy must sell on e-bay).
Found some factory Rem. 7 mm-08 ammo on a table in ratty old boxes for $34.00 a box (no thanks)
Had many express interest in the rifles I took, but no one anteed up my asking price, so chose to take them home with me.
Looked long and hard at a nice Ruger #1 in 7mm Mauser priced at $750.00 . Couldn't get him to come down a penny and, while he was willing to take the H&R in trade, he only offered $100.00 for it. He'd have been better off telling me he didn't have any interest in my trading mat'l than trying to steal one from me. Actually, I might have bought his Ruger at his asking price if he hadn't offered a hundred bucks for my gun.
Well, Zack getting tired and bored, so left and took him out for a late lunch, washed the van for my wife at the car wash, then took Zack home and watched him play 'minecraft' for awhile, then home to take some much-needed pain medication and take a nap.
Good to get out of the house, even if I had to put up with some pain to do it. And good to spend some time with Zack after several weeks holed up nursing my shoulder.
On some pretty heavy-duty pain meds and not supposed to drive on them, so laid off the pain meds at 5 a.m. , then left to pick up a boy I mentor (Zack) at 11:00 a.m. and headed to the show.
I planned to arrive late so as to avoid the crowded isles usually encountered at/after opening. I didn't want to risk someone bumping into my recently repaired shoulder.
Only five dollars to get in and no charge for Zack. Also no charge for parking. So far, so good.
I took two guns with me to sell or use for trading material, a H&R classic carbine in 45 Long Colt (with a Redfield 1 3/4 - 5X scope) and a Taurus model 63 semi-auto .22 rifle. I had Zack carry one and I carried the other. I had prepared price signs on wooden dowels with $400.00 on the handi rifle and $325.00 on the semi-auto .22.
As you might perceive, I priced more for the show-goers (end users), not allowing much "meat on the bone" for a dealer to buy and resell. While these guns were (and are) excess to my needs, I had no immediate need to sell them. I was prepared to separate the Redfield scope from the H&R.
We entered the show and started to walk around, and I had to slow Zack down several times so I could look at the items on the tables. Zack was focused on bb and pellet guns.
Prices were high on most components and ammo, although AR's had come down from $2000+ of last month to a still high average of $1200+.
$35.00 a box of 9mm Remington ball. Junk .223's at a buck a round. Powder not too bad, normal prices for what was available, but not a great selection. Inasmuch as I just purchased a 7mm-08 rifle, I was looking for new or used brass or several boxes of factory ammo to get started with it. Found a baggie of 33 pcs of used brass on one table for $35.00, Really? passed.
On another table, not a dealer from the look of the eclectic assortment on the table, I found two unmarked, older, faded boxes of Nozler 7mm 140 grain partitions, asked price and was told $34.00 a box. Moved on without comment.
Laughed to myself at a $35.00 price on an old, used Lee round ball mold (this guy must sell on e-bay).
Found some factory Rem. 7 mm-08 ammo on a table in ratty old boxes for $34.00 a box (no thanks)
Had many express interest in the rifles I took, but no one anteed up my asking price, so chose to take them home with me.
Looked long and hard at a nice Ruger #1 in 7mm Mauser priced at $750.00 . Couldn't get him to come down a penny and, while he was willing to take the H&R in trade, he only offered $100.00 for it. He'd have been better off telling me he didn't have any interest in my trading mat'l than trying to steal one from me. Actually, I might have bought his Ruger at his asking price if he hadn't offered a hundred bucks for my gun.
Well, Zack getting tired and bored, so left and took him out for a late lunch, washed the van for my wife at the car wash, then took Zack home and watched him play 'minecraft' for awhile, then home to take some much-needed pain medication and take a nap.
Good to get out of the house, even if I had to put up with some pain to do it. And good to spend some time with Zack after several weeks holed up nursing my shoulder.