Actually scored at a gun show!?!

[MachIVshooter]

So today was the first Tanner show in Denver since the elections, and I figured it would be jam packed. I was right; Holy crap, was it busy! And holy AR mecca! There must have been over 500 complete rifles and uppers on the floor. And amazingly, no one was really gouging. There are always some folks that think their stuff is solid gold, but for the most part, I was still seeing pre-election prices, except a small hike on some ammo.

Anyway, I really went there to scour for some small parts for a couple of different guns (which I didn't find), but I did stumble across an upper I needed (yes, NEEDED! Lol). I had ordered an 11" from DSA in early October, keep being told "a couple more weeks". I'm tired of it, and with the deal this fellow gave me, I no longer need the DSA upper.

BCM complete upper with BCM M-16 BCG, 12.5" MPI HPT 1:8 Stainless NM government profile barrel:



............For $500 even, tax included! These are listed on BCM's site for $519 without BCG or charging handle! I keep wondering if the guy forgot the thing didn't come with the BCG he had in it or something, but he knew it was there, so oh well. I was stoked, and I'd been anxious to install the UTG FF rifle quad rail and Troy Claymore I've had sitting around:



Sorry for the crappy pictures. My camera was not cooperating tonight.

Now I just need a good set of BIUS and another optic. I'm really anxious for my SBR tax stamp to come back now, too, because this upper looks a little wonky on a pistol lower.

Anyway, just thought I'd share. I was pretty excited to 1) find an 11"-12.5" upper and 2) to get such a nice one for the price I paid!

Also decided to pick up a couple of the Pro Mag 42 rounders. I'll report on those after some testing.

P.S.

Anyone wanting a FF quad rail but lacking the funds for a MI or Troy should seriously consider these UTG pro rails. They're US made, fit and finish is excellent, and they're much lighter than the UTG drop in units. The 13" is 15.7 oz. (including the barrel nut and screws). Was $110 with tax.

 

[mnrivrat]

Actualy I think the AR market is getting saturated - just my opinion based on what I have been seeing.

I was offered a free table at a well attended gun show here in Sept. I brought my spare AR in and set it out at $625 . I had one person pick it up in two days of show. A couple other dealers had AR's for under $700 and they didn't move either.

PS: My spare AR has a 11.5 inch with a pinned and welded 6 inch MB to make it compliant without the SBR paperwork.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Good grabs. I went to a gun show in downtown Birmingham last weekend and the price gouging was incredible. Firearms were going for 100-200 over their retail price, and to make it worse it was $8 per ticketx2 and $8 parking. Paid $28 to look at overpriced weapons. Could have done that at home for free.

 

[xjsnake]

Good grabs. I went to a gun show in downtown Birmingham last weekend and the price gouging was incredible. Firearms were going for 100-200 over their retail price, and to make it worse it was $8 per ticketx2 and $8 parking. Paid $28 to look at overpriced weapons. Could have done that at home for free.

I saw the same thing at Nashville yesterday. One booth had no name stripped lowers going for $160... Seemed like the high prices were all on AR's and AK's though. The rest of the firearms were at pre-election prices.

 

[MachIVshooter]

One booth had no name stripped lowers going for $160

That's ridiculous. I dropped by one of the LGS on Tuesday after picking up a shotgun from the nearby smith, and they had Noveske lowers for $179.

I was fully expecting to see some price jumps, but it just hasn't happened here. We even have a local company selling brass cased 5.56 for $335/1000.

That said, I've had a heck of a time up until yesterday finding a reasonably priced barrel or upper in the length I was after. Shops don't normally stock them, and everywhere I looked on line was out of anything below the $800 mark for an upper or $285 for a barrel alone. I did find one 10.5" tube at the show, but it was a DPMS, and it was an MG barrel with a 1" profile up to the gas block. Talk about heavy!

All in all, it was the best Tanner show I've been to in quite awhile. Much more tables packed with guns, ammo and accessories and far less of the old codger with 4 overpriced antiques and a bunch of memorabilia, or people selling cheap art, beads and beef jerky. It just kinda sucked having to navigate with so many peolple. The pavillion where they hold the Tanner here is a very large building, and I suspect it was nearing capacity. Thousands of folks. It was a good day for vendors.

 

[firesky101]

I went today to a local gun show. No big purchases, but that was a lack of disposable income not a lack of deals. I did get some good deals on reloading dies, and ammo from some smaller vendors selling off calibers they did not use anymore. The only real price jump i saw was components (not that they had a hard time selling them). $28/1000 wolf primers , $24/lb powder:banghead:

 

[MachIVshooter]

OK, well, I can't edit my OP, so here are a couple of better photo's now that my camera is not freaking out

 

[3twelves]

Nice score

Had one of those claymore's but didn't like it.

Makes it quieter on your end but adds recoil and fireballs.

 

[Ian]

I had a great show last weekend - found a nice Broomhandle Mauser and a Remington Model 8 for $300 each, and a pair of "Made in Occupied Japan" Victory binoculars for $25, among other things.

 

[youngda9]

Market is saturated. ARs are expensive rifles for what you get, and they are money pits (ammo+accessories+mags). Not a lot of extra cash in people's pockets lately to buy despite the Obamanation fears.

 

[SilentScream]

Sweet set up. Who made the rail?

 

[MachIVshooter]

Who made the rail?

It's a UTG Pro. Really nice free float rail, especially for the price ($100).

With ditching the A2 front sight and going to low profile gas block, this set up is only about 5 ounces heavier than the stock configuration, even with the heavier Claymore vs. the stock A2 flashhider:

Stock A2 guards, barrel nut, delta ring, handguard retainer, A2 sight, pins and A2 flash hider: 15.74 ounces

UTG Pro FF handguard (incl. barrel nut): 15.7 ounces
Troy Claymore: 3.48 ounces
CMMG low pro gas block: 1.5 ounces

Total: 20.68 ounces

Had one of those claymore's but didn't like it.

Makes it quieter on your end but adds recoil and fireballs.

I haven't noticed a change in recoil on my Armalite M15A2C with the claymore. What I did notice was dramatically reduced concussion as the shooter. I find the muzzle blast and concussion offensive, so anything that reduces it is good in my book. I really like the Noveske flaming pig on my 7.5", but they look a little funny on a rifle that has exposed barrel, and no way they'll fit inside a FF quad rail like the Claymore does.

 

[Ala Dan]

As originally posted, the last Birmingham Gun Show I visited (in Oct. '06)
all I saw was a bunch of over priced firearms; and a few good ole' boys
sitting a'round eating cookies and drinking milk~! That is the last one I
have been to; and don't plan on going back~!

 

[Isaac-1]

The last one I went to was a few weeks before the election, small show, not much turn out, did not see anything calling to me, but some stuff at fair prices, ended up buying a gun from a guy in the parking lot. He had been walking around the show with a Ruger 10/22 on his back with a for sale flag in the barrel. We just happened to both give up on the show at the same time and after walking out the door on the way to the car I asked him about the gun, offered $250 for it, and he took it. Nice looking 10/22 sporter with scope, case, spare magazines, even part of a bulk pack of practice ammo, etc.