Gun Show Report

[Duke of Doubt]

Just returned from the Lewiston, Maine gun show.

Not too bad.

Differences this year included even less ammunition than the last couple of years (though still enough of every caliber and at reasonable enough prices). Lots of guns; plenty of ARs, AKs, SKSs. Wide variation in prices for the identical gun at different tables. Some guns were priced at or slightly above where they were last year, while others had doubled. Obviously the doubled ones weren't selling.

Lots of lookie-loos; not so many buyers (maybe more bought yesterday).

Increased amount of counterfeit/phony militaria AND gear. A few slightly illegal items offered for sale (for example, Maine bans armor-piercing bullets, yet I saw some green-tip .223; brass knuckles are banned from carry on one's person (even to one's waiting vehicle), yet a couple were offered as "paperweights").

Got some vintage military .45, some Korean surplus .30, some cheap Swedish 6,5, a sling for my AR, and some cleaning kits and pouches.

Nearly bought a couple of milsurps, but I'm paring down my collection at present, not bulking it up.

Saw a STRANGE Nagant target pistol. Huge target grip and target barrel. Saw another undated Nagant pistol.

Oh, the hot dogs ran out before closing. Plenty of baked beans, though.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I saw quite a few $900 Bushmasters being sold for $1400 at the gun show here this weekend. There are a lot of complete idiots out there.

 

[blkbrd666]

Korean surplus .30?...as in .30Carbine, or another type?

 

[Duke of Doubt]

blkbrd666: "Korean surplus .30?...as in .30Carbine, or another type?"

Garand feed.

Ammo was scarcer than in the last couple shows, and much more scarce than three years ago and before when the bulk ammo guy would do the Lewiston show. But it was all there. Prices varied a lot as with the guns, but the lower-priced sellers were doing most of the ammo volume, obviously. Plenty of crates and giant tuna cans of 8x57 and 7.62x54R.

 

[JeffDilla]

Duke,
Just out of curiosity, what were the low-end prices on any AKs that you noticed?

 

[blkbrd666]

Okay, wasn't sure. My first thought was the Carbine ammo from Korea that's in the look-a-like cardboard box like WWII US. I found some a while back and I am assuming it's corrosive primed, but haven't tested it.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

JeffDilla: "Just out of curiosity, what were the low-end prices on any AKs that you noticed?"

I didn't price them much since I already have a great one, but I noticed prices for real semi-auto AK-patterned rifles (as opposed to Saigas) tended to be in the $600 to $700 range. ARs ranged from about $700 to $1,200 for the same gun(s).

 

[JeffDilla]

Thanks. I guess the prices aren't as high as I thought they would be. I've been tossing around the idea of picking one up, but still not sure. I almost bought an SKS, but I think I like the AK pattern better. Thanks again for the report, I hadn't even heard anything about the Lewiston show until you mentioned it. The Bangor one usually isn't anything to write home about.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

JeffDilla, I have both, SKS and AK. The AK is more fun to shoot, but the SKS is far more accurate, so in short, I saw a definite need for both.

 

[WC145]

We were going to go but it's just too far from where we live, I ended up working a deal with my local gun shop for his last 400rds of .223 and taking the kids to Bangor to the movies. It kills me to have to drive 85 miles each way to see a movie but such is the cost of living down east.

I agree about the Bangor show, seldom anything good. I try to not miss Waterville, it seems I always find a deal I can't pass up athat one.

 

[Titan6]

Just because .223/ 5.56 is green tipped does not make it armor piercing. I don't know Maine laws but normally AP laws do not apply to rifle rounds anyway, otherwise many rifle rounds would be illegal just because there is no body armor that will stop .50 BMG or .338.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Possession of armor-piercing ammunition is a felony in Maine. It's one of the few gun laws we have. "Armor piercing ammo" indeed is limited in scope to such ammunition that "may be used in a handgun." Handguns are made which take .223 Remington. It is a poorly-reasoned, poorly-drafted law with felony consequences, but it is the law.

Maine statutes:

http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/17-A/title17-Asec1056.html

§1056. Possession of armor-piercing ammunition
1. A person is guilty of possession of armor-piercing ammunition if, without authority to do so, the person knowingly possesses armor-piercing ammunition other than as part of a bona fide collection.
[ 1993, c. 457, §1 (AMD) .]
2. As used in this chapter, "armor-piercing ammunition" means a projectile or projectile core that may be used in a handgun and that is constructed entirely, excluding the presence of traces of other substances, from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, beryllium copper or depleted uranium, including but not limited to ammunition commonly known as KTW ammunition. "Armor-piercing ammunition" does not include shotgun shot required by federal or state environmental or game laws, rules or regulations for hunting purposes, a frangible projectile designed for target shooting or any projectile or projectile core found by the United States Secretary of the Treasury or the secretary's delegate, pursuant to 27 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 178.148 or Section 178.149, to be:
A. Primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes; or [1993, c. 457, §1 (NEW).]
B. Used for industrial purposes, including a charge used in an oil and gas well perforating device. [1993, c. 457, §1 (NEW).]
[ 1993, c. 457, §1 (AMD) .]
3. Possession of armor-piercing ammunition is a Class C crime.
[ 1993, c. 457, §1 (AMD) .]
4. This section does not apply to members of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Reserve Forces or the National Guard, or to law enforcement officers or agencies or forensic laboratories, in the course of duty or employment.
[ 1993, c. 457, §1 (AMD) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1983, c. 430, (NEW). 1993, c. 457, §1 (AMD).
Data for this page extracted on 12/10/2008 02:05

 

[JeffDilla]

WC145,
I've never been to the Waterville show, but I'm intrigued now. When is it normally held?

 

[JeffDilla]

Double Post

 

[Titan6]

That is a horrible law. Makes illegal just about all rifle ammo based on the "sporting purposes" call. I imagine the law is meaningless if it is being ignored.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Titan 6: "Makes illegal just about all rifle ammo ..."

Except for that ammo containing significant amounts of lead in the projectile or core, as does most rifle ammo.

I agree it's a terrible law. Typical of Maine that we have hardly any gun laws at all -- that one is basically the only ban -- and yet it's horribly capricious, obscure, and draconian. Very few know about it, but if anyone bought a box of that stuff at the show, they committed a felony.

 

[Aerospace]

In the Maine statute, I noticed "2. As used in this chapter, "armor-piercing ammunition" means a projectile or projectile core that may be used in a handgun"...
So, I hope that the statute allows surplus Rifle ammo, such as AP 30'06, or .50 cal BMG, would be legal ???

 

[ClayInTX]

What constitutes “armor”?

A .22 will pierce light gauge sheet metal.