Great Weekend At The Gun Show

[Havok7416]

I went out to the gun show this weekend hoping to sell my M1927A1 Thompson and possibly my S&W 640. It turned out to be a wonderful idea!

I figured it would take me hours to get someone to buy my Thompson and I dreaded the thought of lugging it around half the day. As it turns out, I made it exactly 10 steps past the entrance before someone stopped me and asked me what I was carrying. I'd had the foresight to make a sign, but apparently it was lost on the guy, so I explained. He told me he didn't have any money, but asked if I would be interested in a trade. I was pretty sure he didn't have anything I wanted, but I decided to humor him. I was very surprised when he pulled a brand new Springfield EMP 40 out of the case, complete with all the goodies! He asked to make an even swap and after half a heartbeat, I agreed!

Now, it would have been better if the EMP had been in 9mm (I got rid of all my .40s years ago) but I think an EMP is a pretty awesome gun no matter what the caliber. As it happens, I never got rid of my .40 dies, so picking up this gun wasn't a big deal for me logistically.


I was feeling pretty good after that transaction, but I knew my 640 would be a bit tougher sell since it shows quite a bit more wear. My end goal in selling the 640 was to pick up a 9mm revolver, ideally a Ruger LCR or Taurus 905. I found a dealer with an LCR-9 on his table and he offered to trade my 640 for the LCR plus $100 on my end - not terribly great. By the time I got to the back of the show I found one more dealer with an LCR-9 and he ended up offering to make an even trade.


Long story short, I ended up picking up two brand new (nice) guns for two used ones and didn't have to spend a dime! I'm still feeling pretty good about it. I was so happy I forgot all about the air rifle I was also trying to sell.

 

[greenmtnguy]

I'd say you win the "wheeler-dealer" award!
If I ever have to do any trading, I'll want you walking beside me for luck!

 

[bannockburn]

Havok7416

Definitely a win-win day for you at the gun show! I would have been happy to get either one of the two guns you traded for. Let us know how they do at the range.

 

[Havok7416]

Havok7416

Definitely a win-win day for you at the gun show! I would have been happy to get either one of the two guns you traded for. Let us know how they do at the range.

I actually went to the range the next day. I didn't quite get 200 rounds through the EMP. Most of those were grouping slightly low and to the right - a problem with the shooter, not the gun. The EMP is phenomenal in every way I could hope for.

The LCR produced a bullseye with the first shot (at 15 yards) which was partly due to a very good DAO trigger. Very smooth, no stacking and a relatively light pull. I expected recoil to be severe, but it was surprisingly pleasant. I definitely got a better gun over the 640! I probably put less than 50 rounds through the LCR as I didn't have a demooner. That issue has been rectified and I should get it soon.

I'll provide a better follow up in the next few weeks as I get everything fine tuned on these guns, but based on their first performance I think they will be more than satisfactory.

 

[MIL-DOT]

"I love it when a plan comes together".

 

[Havok7416]

The first mods came in for the EMP. Nothing special, just a grip enhancement to add finger grooves. I already have some for my Defender and they change the feel of the gun tremendously. The EMP will be rounded out by Crimson Trace grips eventually, but I'll wait for a deal.

The LCR has a tritium front sight and a Crimson Trace, but those are both long-term projects. I should have further details after I shoot them again tomorrow.

 

[bikemutt]

Please contact me next time you attend a gun show, it may be worth the airfare from WA to OH

Those are great deals. I have the LCR-X in 38 Special and owned a 9mm EMP for quite a while. I really miss the EMP, if I could have figured out a way to bobtail mine I would never have sold it.

 

[Havok7416]

Please contact me next time you attend a gun show, it may be worth the airfare from WA to OH

Those are great deals. I have the LCR-X in 38 Special and owned a 9mm EMP for quite a while. I really miss the EMP, if I could have figured out a way to bobtail mine I would never have sold it.

Anytime, although I'll be the first to tell you I think I plain just got lucky. If I could trade this EMP for one in 9mm, I would do it. I did call Springfield and the guy there said he was "pretty sure" they weren't able to sell a new slide assembly to me in 9mm. I'm not sure why as the gun will work with either on the top.

 

[Geezer Glide]

I have a friend that owns an LCR in 9mm. It is a very nice revolver.

 

[PabloJ]

Anytime, although I'll be the first to tell you I think I plain just got lucky. If I could trade this EMP for one in 9mm, I would do it. I did call Springfield and the guy there said he was "pretty sure" they weren't able to sell a new slide assembly to me in 9mm. I'm not sure why as the gun will work with either on the top.

Why prefer 9x19? The .40 is next to 9x19 the least expensive centerfire handgun ammo and 180gr .40 has equal knockdown power to .45ACP with 185gr load.

 

[Havok7416]

PabloJ, I have nothing against the .40 S&W per se, but in trading for the LCR all my regular carry guns are in 9mm and it would simplify things to have the EMP in that caliber also.

Additionally, the EMP is the only straight .40 I now own (I have a S&W 610 that mostly sees 10mm).

Cost is really not an issue for me - I have large quantities of .40-caliber bullets on hand for my 10mm guns, plenty of SPP and powder that is compatible with .40 S&W. My only sticking point currently is my supply of .40 brass, but I always seem to end up with a few handfuls mixed in with mine at the range, so eventually I will come out ahead (and free!) on that too.

 

[Havok7416]

Well, I went to the range today. It was all of 26 degrees this morning which made reloading LCR moonclips difficult, so I focused on the EMP. I put a little over 200 rounds through the gun (total round count is up around 360 now). Many of these were reloads that I threw together to see what the gun likes.

I can tell you that this gun in particular does not care for semi-wadcutter bullets! I had multiple issues with them, but they were the only bullet profile I had on hand. Compared to the factory rounds I fired on the first outing, my reloads were substantially snappier (Auto Comp, Red Dot and Unique were used), although the loads with Unique were very close to the factory loading in feel.

I have been noticing a trend to shoot to the right with this gun and I am still working on ways to correct that. I should add I'm usually able to address issues like that.

In the picture below, it would at first appear that I managed to spray bullets all over the target, but most of the "stray" shots are the results of testing different loads in addition to shooting the LCR, which I did rather quickly. It was after all, kinda cold.

 

[rondog]

Glad you're happy, but I can't imagine myself trading a Thompson M1A1 for any compact 1911. But that's just me. Any photos of the Thompson?

 

[Havok7416]

I have pics of the Thompson somewhere, but it was pretty run of the mill. It was also super heavy and utterly useless to me. I have an H&K USC that runs circles around it, so I figured why keep it?

 

[Bigtrucker]

I say you did good!

 

[Havok7416]

UPDATE: I took both guns back out for some further fun.... I mean testing! As it turns out the rounds for the EMP were not loaded to full power. The gun gets somewhat snappy when full-power defensive-type loads are fired, but it's still very manageable IMO. Still working on getting the rounds to the bullseye, but they group well. Oddly I had a small hiccup with some older .40 rounds I reloaded awhile back. These had been given to a friend who graciously returned them to me when I told him about the EMP. My issue with them was that they wouldn't chamber in the EMP, yet I haven't adjusted the dies on my .40 S&W toolhead since those rounds were assembled. I ran all of them back through the seating and crimping stations again and they work, but only grudgingly. I'll make some fresh rounds and try again when I have some time.

I ordered 10 additional moonclips for the LCR which makes it much easier to shoot - too easy in fact! Fifty rounds disappeared VERY quickly! Unfortunately the demooner tool that came with the clips doesn't work all that well, so I plan on ordering a better demooner soon.