GunShows Aint What They Used To Be

[Deep C]

Well my day started shitty with Mini tearing her car up on a toaster oven that fell off a pick up. Got that sorted and said to my self "Hell, I'm down this end of town anyway and theres a gun show... So I'll go..."
Got to the parking lot and there was a load of people there. I did notice not a lot of guns walking out of the place but hell it was early so I didn't give it a second thought.
Walked in and the place was bustling. Just like the good old days. I love looking at guns and have a pretty keen sense what they are worth. Used to be you could find a lot of bargains at shows but less and less that has been the case.
Some people I guess don't know prices and I saw some falling prey to some serious gouging. $900 for a used standard mini 14? My ass... Thats a $500 gun period end.
I perused the ammo selection. Can't hardly find any in a store but it was present and heavy at this show. Again some goughing and some fair price. Hell I even tracked down some that I would call a bargain...
I scoured the aisles looking for particular pieces then bingo! Theres the ruger Mark 2 with 6" barrel I am looking for and its priced right! Down here we have waiting period for hand guns and I'm fine with that. Buy it then pick it up five days later. One problem... This dealer was from Orlando four hours away... Scratch that one off the list...
I kept digging. Buying some ammo and a couple spare clips for pieces I already have. I found three marlin 30-30 also on my list but all scoped and priced a bit high. As noted before the one guy who had mini 14's was out of his tree high. Might explain why his rack was full....
Scoured some more then found a particular 22 rifle I have been looking for. Priced right... Ok I'll wrap that one up. ... Not today!
Seems that the county just for the show extended the holding period just for this show to include long guns. I about shit. They only enacted that right as the show opened. These poor vendors got stuck! can't sell a long gun without a hold...
So unless you were law enforcement or have a new CCW card (even the old ones dont work) nobody was gonna walk out of that show with a piece.

[Glenn W]

You raise an issue that is timely for many of us-- me as well. That is, if you live in States that don't treat you as a criminal for owning and enjoying firearms (such as is Florida) get your CCW now!!!!!-- even if you never plan to carry a weapon concealed. Who knows what the future will hold regarding firearms restrictions, but having a CCW is one step in protecting yourself against these rediculous regulations. Maybe ALL CCW's will be eliminated in the future, I don't know. One thing I will bet on though is that if you currently have a CCW, your odds on keeping it ( and renewing it) are better than trying to get one (if) they make it harder in the future.
As important, is this "holding period" nonsense. That in and of itself is worth getting your CCW. I checked Florida's CCW requirements and they are very similar to Virginia's--- I think states like ours are known as "shall grant" states, vs "may grant" states. Anyway, unless you've had a felony, beat your wife, or had multiple drug/alcohol convictions, you're pretty much good to go in getting a CCW.
Here in Va. we had a 1 handgun a month law for 17 yrs that was finally recinded this session of our legislature ( becomes effective 7/1/10). You were exempt from this sillyness if you had a CCW. Fortunatly, we don't have a holding period law here in Va., but the one handgun a month law was great reason to get your CCW just so you "could" buy more than one handgun if you wanted too.
I don't intend to carry a conceled weapon ( although I may), but am in the process to getting my CCW for the reason's mentioned.
I am aware of the price of ammo in Fla and it is ridiculously high ( don't know why), next tme you come North stop in NC or VA and stock up--- it's quite a bit cheaper and you wil save on sales tax as well.
Finally, on the MK II you are looking at-- a fine and fun pistol, no doubt. Unless you have yor heart set on the Ruger, the Browning Buckmark is also very good (perhaps even a better barrel and trigger). The Camper model can be bought new for under $300 and has adjustible sights and there is a simple 5 minute trick to smooth the trigger to just under target grade. The internals of the Camper are identical to the higher priced Buckmark models--- they just don't have the same quality grips, and other fu fu.

[Deep C]

Yeah...
It sucks having to go back and get a new one. Shizzle, I had a permit for a long time and let it lapse. Now I gotta go sit through class and requalify. Kinda like going back to grade school.

[Glenn W]

Yeah...
It sucks having to go back and get a new one. Shizzle, I had a permit for a long time and let it lapse. Now I gotta go sit through class and requalify. Kinda like going back to grade school.

Many states let you do the class on-line. Here in Va, if you have yor DD-214 (military discarge) you are exempt from the safety class.

[Deep C]

I'm not sure whats needed. I still have my course certificate and will go back to that range and see what is needed now. I know I need the new paperwork packet... Pain in the ass stuff...

Explains why no pieces were walking out the door though.

[Capt_John]

Damn, that sucks Deep. Drive up here and buy your guns.

[Deep C]

I remember a three day ban was imposed on handguns that we had to vote for and thats just county. Next thing I know they stretched it to five. Then they added long guns this weekend to it? I know there was no vote for the add ons...
Its not state wide just county. I can see Miami or even Lauderdale but Palm Beach County is still pretty rural for much of it.

I know what it is I want. I know the prices. Just gonna have to either get a new permit or go out of county to get it.

List isn't extravagant. Mini 14 should be +-$500, Marlin 30-30 should be about $250, Ruger mark should be $200, and a simple 22 rifle should be about $100.

[Glenn W]

Good luck trying to find a Mark II or III that isn't beat to shit for $200. New base with fixed sights are running Right @ $325 and used with adjustible sights in the $300 - $400 range. It seems there is an upsurge in all handguns and with the price of ammo, the demand 22's is better than ever.
You may want to keep an eye on http://floridaguntrader.com/index.php
for good ole fashioned face to face used buys.

[NY Bearhunter]

UP HERE GUN SHOWS ARE JUST THAT SHOWS, HIGH PRICES ARE COMMON PLACE.YOU HAVE TO STAY LOCAL FOR ANY KIND OF DEALS, THE LOCAL GUN DEALER WILL SELL ANY TYPE GUN FOR FIFTY DOLLARS OVER HIS COST. THE GUN DEALERS ALSO HAVE THE CHEAPER AMMO. THERE IS A BIG USED GUN MARKET HERE AND IF YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF YOU CAN DO VERY WELL.

GETTING A PERMIT FOR A HANDGUN IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER, IT DEPENDS ON THE COUNTY YOU LIVE IN AND WHO THE JUDGE IS THAT DAY, YOU DO NEED A LAWYER TO SUBMIT THE PAPER WORK IF YOU WANT THE GUN ANY TIME SOON. MY COUNTY ONLY GIVES WHAT IS CALLED A FULL CARRY PERMIT THAT IS CONCEALED ONLY, THE WAITING PERIOD IS FIVE DAYS ON A PURCHASE, WITH ADDITIONAL PAPER WORK FROM THE COURT ALSO NEEDED FOR EACH HANDGUN. A GUN SAFETY COURSE IS REQUIRED.

THE HASSLE CARRYING YOUR HAND GUN IS A REAL PAIN, THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS TO GET PULLED OVER FOR A TRAFFIC TICKET AND HAVE A HANDGUN WITH YOU, YOU WILL BE TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL AND WILL BE DETAINED FOR AWHILE SO THEY CAN CHECK YOU OUT AND HARASS YOU SOME MORE, COPS HERE DON'T LIKE GUNS OF ANY KIND AT ALL.

DON'T EVER GO TO ANY NYC AIRPORT FOR ANY REASON AND THAT INCLUDES HUNTING SOMEWHERE, WITH A HAND GUN, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED AT ALL IN NYC FOR ANY REASON. TOO MANY SPORTSMEN GET CAUGHT IN THAT TRAP AND ITS A REAL BAD FOR THEM.

[Deep C]

Our local gun dealers suck. All pirates! Here you gotta have that cc permit even if you don't carry (I stopped a long time ago) if you want a buy a gun from anywhere other than here. The local gun dealers know that and jack stuff through the roof.
Our biggest dealer also has one of the last ranges around. Ammo almost double of what I saw and bought at the show.