Conroe Gunshow - High Caliber

[GoodOlBoy]

Well, me and dad and my two younger brother went by the gunshow in Conroe Yesterday. Had to take PTSD meds before I could even go in but that's neither here nor there. There was alot of ammo to be had if you were willing to pay the price but even small 50 rd boxes of 22s that were older than me were selling for $28 a box. I just shook my head and kept walking as I watched peopled repeated shell out coin for those kind of 22 prices. Powder prices were MUCH better running $19 a pound up to $35 a pound depending on the brand of powder and it's uses. Pistol powders were consistently higher than rifle powders when you could even find them. Cowboy powders were the lowest priced of the lot. There was a single can of unique in the whole show and I giggled like a naughty school child as I swapped a bit of cash for it and stuffed it in my pack. There was NO clays of any type. No HP-38, bullseye, red dot, green dot, etc. Primers were selling from $37 to $49 per 1000. The score of the show for me was a fella who had 2100 Winchester Western Staynless Large rifle primers (yellow boxes) in pristine boxes for $40 for the lot. There wasn't a single box of rifle bullets (projectiles not loaded) above 24 caliber in the whole show, and I saw more 300 AAC Blackout than anything else around. Gun prices were just plain stupid, and people were not buying much in the way of guns because of it, though there were a few that sold while we wandered. Even knife prices were kick me in the shin stupid (really a USMC kabar is $98 now?) There was a metric ton of loaded ammo in just about every caliber to be had. Prices varied from meh to OUCH in every case. There was a pile of brand new AR lowers for very good prices if a fella was looking for one. I wasn't because that ain't my thing, but I had to admit the prices beat anything I have seen in a long LONG time.

All in all it was a good show, clean, bright, and fun to wander. We were done with the whole thing, even circling back a few times in just over an hour and a half. Crowds were non-existent for the most part, though it fluctuated as it always does. I managed to only have a couple of panic attacks the whole time, which is a record for me lately, and we had some very good Tex-Mex at the local Rancho Grande before heading for home.

All in all a great day.

Richard

[skeet]

How big is this Conroe Gun Show. Up here in Wy and Montana the gun shows seem to have a LOT more on the tables. Prices are not all that high either..cept powder is kinda pricey..Primers are an average of 34 bucks up here.. except in stores such as Cabela's

[GoodOlBoy]

To be honest the rows were alot wider this time because they had noticeably taken rows of table out. There were still some empties around. I bet there wasn't but maybe 10 double rows in the whole kit and kaboodle this time. The problem is when they have one of the BIG shows like down at the Astrohall in Houston I can't take the traffic to get there, and the usually won't allow the sale of ammo or reloading supplies in the things. One of my brothers recommended a place in Huntsville Texas called Able's. Powder was about the same price (and availability) or a little higher, and primers were only a dollar or so cheaper per 1000 than the show (and not at all cheaper in a couple of cases). They also didn't have a bullet to speak of in the place. Same goes with brass in both places. What really irked me were the people selling 20+ year old sets of hard used reloading dies at the show for MORE than new dies cost (including shipping) and they were actually selling. Baffles the mind it does.

Richard

[skeet]

Well dies sell good for me at most shows. I usually sell 30 sets on a weekend. But my prices are usually pretty fair. I sell RCBS Carbides for 30-50 dollars according to condition and caliber. Rifle and pistol steel dies 15-35 according to condition..some go higher such as the 38-55 or 45-70s..some of the more esoteric go higher..Have a set of as new 45-75 here right now.. Special order for the most part.. so they are a bit higher.. Primers sell pretty well here at shows but generally 40 dollars and less. Gal had some at the last Billings show for 28(Winchesters too) but she also had CCI and she got a few Federals from me..cause I had a bunch. She didn't have powder at the last show though..Wasn't enough in here stock to sell at a show.....She is reasonable in price all the time. Next weekend I am taking every partial and full box of bullets I have extra and hope I sell 'em all. Cleaning out a load of stuff in case we get the ranch here sold..and have to move. Gonna miss the range I have out here.. And the Coyote targets too I guess. They are getting a little more spooky. Been shot at too much??. Wolves haven't yet. But when I get to shoot one here I still have to report it. Especially if'n I want the hide tanned. My Granddaughter wants a wolf hide. But ya have to have a tag to get it tanned.. But you can take a hide to Montana and sell it..LOL 150 and up. The show this coming weekend in Billings is sold out and tight..again. They having a rodeo at the same time this weekend in Billings

[GoodOlBoy]

As an example off the top of my head a lee set of rgb dies in 223 that weren't just rough but ABUSED they were asking $43. Even Midwayusa (whom I recently found through very good advice from you, thanks again btw, isn't always the best price) sells the same dies NEW for $19.29 +S&H. A set of rough Hornady Dimension 243 dies they were asking $65 for. Again new at midway $34.99 +S&H. I mean come on. If it was a rare set of dies, a moratorium set, a special order set, or heck even just a regular set in GOOD condition I could almost see paying close to what new +S&H would be (or more for rare/moratorium dies). But those kinda prices for common rough and beaten dies? I have paid the new price for used dies in good/great condition before, but dang! My thought is that they were selling because people just don't know any better, and I guess in the end it is always buyer beware.

MMMM I would be awfully tempted on that Montana price on the hides. That kinda price gets me ta thinkin' awful things about how much I need to get out and shoot more, and how it would be even better if it paid for itself :p

I will send you a pm about the bullets, you might have something I am in the market fer and I can save ya havin ta pack a few more boxes. :P

Richard