Visit a gun show?

[bonz_d]

I haven't been to one in 30+ years and don't know what to expect or how to find a good one.

I know there are a lot of shooters among our members so let's hear you stories or advice. I'm still looking for a handgun to be used for home defense and general plinking. So a nice used model will do. I still like the older model autos like the Berettas, S&W Model 39 or maybe even going with another S&W wheel gun.

Since the bug has struck to get back into this I will start hand loading again also and yes I'm doing this backwards because I just recently picked up a Lee Pro 1000 press for a very reasonable price. Am now in the process of building a bench and watching for other items to go with it.

 

[StarTed]

A handgun should be fun to do some shooting but a shotgun is better for home defense. A friend of mine asked a law enforcement officer about the best gun for home defense. The answer was a pump shotgun. When an intruder hears the action movement he knows immediately what it is.

 

[poconojoe]

Also, pellets or shot (vs slugs) from a shotgun is less likely to go through your walls and hurt someone else in the house. A powerful handgun might be risky if you miss your mark.(the intruder)

 

[Cat nip]

I haven't seen a good gun show come up in a long time. I think one of the promoters was crocodile productions? Also armslist.com can be a good place to look local for private and dealer sales.

 

[MTboatguy]

Are we really going to go through the whole "This is better" thread again? Let the guy buy what he wants, he didn't ask about what gun to buy, he asked about what good guns shows are around these days!

 

[bonz_d]

I ask because my brother was just telling me about one he's just been to and he stated it was a waste of time. Didn't say what he was looking for but stated that one was mostly knife vendors and military memorabilia.

Kind of interested in hearing what people see for pricing as to what I see on the websites.. Seeing much for used reloading equipment? Right now I'm kinda looking at powder scales on fleebay and by the time one adds in the shipping costs they're not much of a bargain

Also I hate having to pay an entrance fee just to walk around and look like they do around here at some of the flea markets..

 

[MTboatguy]

It has been quite a number of years since I have been to a good gun show, not much offered at the majority of them I have visited the last few years, I have spent my money to get in, but have not purchased anything at them. I stick to online pretty much now a days and if you search often times you can make some good deals, I look at armslist and gunbroker all of the time and that is where I have picked up quite a few things the last few months.

 

[bonz_d]

I've done the web gun show search and see there are quite a few of them in my area through out the year with one up around Milwaukee once a month. I have been watching both those sites and even talked with the local shop about using them as the ship to point. But by the time I add in his fees plus the shipping costs it's adding $50.00-60.00 to the purchase price.

MT, in another topic you mentioned looking at reloading presses. From what I see I believe this Pro 1000 will be a knock out for pistol calibers. Not so much for rifle. The one I found is complete with dies and powder measure for 38/357 and for what I see a caliber change can be made for about $50.00 with another shell plate and dies.

 

[MTboatguy]

I have been looking at the Lee 50th anniversary kit, they come with just about everything you need for reloading, except of course dies, I want to start with my .300 AAC blackout for reloading, as factory loaded ammo is darn expensive for that gun, where is I can get new .223 for about $6.00 a box, the blackout is running about $16.00 a box and up! The reloading kit I am looking at runs about $140.00 on ebay and I can get a die kit for my .300 used for about $25.00, then pick up the other dies I need for the rest of the guns, fortunately, I can make the .223 cases into .300 cases with the sizing die and annealing the shells is no problem. I can get a complete set up for cutting the shells the correct length with the saw and jig for about $74.00. I have been trying to find a used set up, but none in the area that I can find, and I have been looking for a couple of months now! I would buy a Lee Classic hand loader kit for about $30.00, but I don't believe they make it in the caliber I need, so have to go to a new set up to get back to reloading.

 

[bonz_d]

MT, check out that same kit at Titan Reloading, in stock $122.49

 

[gm280]

I have to admit I haven't visited a gun show in years either. Seem they use to be a great place for bargains, but now the vendors think everything is in limited editions and therefore want more then you can buy the same gun at a gun shop. I guess they think the peer pressure with everybody there will make you purchase overly priced guns. Not me. I don't mind them making a profit, just not all on one person or sell. I also don't have a dire need for any gun presently and therefore really have no need to go to gun shows right now. They use to be amazing to see all the offerings and it would take us hours to just walk through. Now a few aisles and not much to see. You can walk through them in mere minutes. So I stopped going to them in our areas. I buy things off the net and even guns off gun auction sites. That way I can see what I am bidding on and get the deal I want...or let it go.

If you guys have never mold your own bullets, you need to get into that. It is so addicting and easy to do, you will get hooked very quickly. And the number of types, styles, and weights are a very long list as well. I have probably 30 different type bullet molds now and literally tons of lead. We, wife and I, love to mold bullets. One you get the molding pot heated up and the molds hot, you can mold more bullets in one hour then you would shoot in a year. Check into it. You won't be disappointed for sure. :clap2:eace:

And there is a second bonus from molding as well. You can also make a lot of different fishing jigs as well. Two great things with one lead pot setup. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[poconojoe]

I have the Lee 1000 and the primer feed device failed quite often. Primers would end up upside down, sideways etc. I ended up buying a hand primer. Just watch out for that. Hopefully you will have better luck with that than I did.

 

[gm280]

I have the Lee 1000 and the primer feed device failed quite often. Primers would end up upside down, sideways etc. I ended up buying a hand primer. Just watch out for that. Hopefully you will have better luck with that than I did.

poconojoe, I stopped using the typical priming setup that comes with most loading presses because they are so slow. So I bought a hand primer and I can prime cases amazingly fast, safe and without any problems. Once you get use to a hand primer, it is so easy to verify you seated the primer to the correct depth as well by sliding your finger across the seated primer. You will know instantly if it is too high and not seated properly. Best purchase you can make for reloading. :thumb:

 

[bonz_d]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I've read and watched every forum and video I can find on this press and I don't think it will be a problem. Yes there are known issues and most can be attributed to 3 things or 4 things if doing 9mm. 1st of which is that it needs a very sturdy bench with no movement. Then the primer feed needs to be kept clean and clear and then use smooth steady even strokes. The biggest issue is with 9mm., the shell plate is made for 9mm and 40cal., The 9mm is smaller and doesn't fit tightly into the shell holder therefore the primer pocket doesn't center over the primer and anvil. There is a mod out there with using a #6 shell plate with a quick and easy mod to it that is supposed to work fantastic.

gm, reloading is one of the reasons why I'm interested in going to some shows, to look for used equipment, even casting stuff. Been spending some time watching and reading about powder coating the cast bullets and it seems like a hoot. You should check it out. I'm reading that powder coating eliminates the need to lube and reduces fouling tremendously. And yes once casting jigs and sinkers and be done. A 2fer!!!

 

[gm280]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I've read and watched every forum and video I can find on this press and I don't think it will be a problem. Yes there are known issues and most can be attributed to 3 things or 4 things if doing 9mm. 1st of which is that it needs a very sturdy bench with no movement. Then the primer feed needs to be kept clean and clear and then use smooth steady even strokes. The biggest issue is with 9mm., the shell plate is made for 9mm and 40cal., The 9mm is smaller and doesn't fit tightly into the shell holder therefore the primer pocket doesn't center over the primer and anvil. There is a mod out there with using a #6 shell plate with a quick and easy mod to it that is supposed to work fantastic.

gm, reloading is one of the reasons why I'm interested in going to some shows, to look for used equipment, even casting stuff. Been spending some time watching and reading about powder coating the cast bullets and it seems like a hoot. You should check it out. I'm reading that powder coating eliminates the need to lube and reduces fouling tremendously. And yes once casting jigs and sinkers and be done. A 2fer!!!

Bonz_d, you will absolutely love molding bullets. And if you really want very hard cast bullets, you can drop them out of the mold into a bucket of water. It tempers them immediately and they will be able to be shot at higher velocities as well. But they will also be harder to size doing that. So many little ideas and secrets casting bullets. I use a sizer/lubricator to do that effort. I have a Lyman 450 sizer. Some folks cast the bullets, then size them without lubing them. Then they heat them back up in the oven and dump them in the water to temper them. Then they run them back though the lubricator to lube them. I longer process, but easier to do as well.

I did read the coating bullet articles and I haven't done that myself. I like the copper coating article the best.

 

[Boomyal]

I know it won't do you any good, bonz, but out here in Portland Oregon we have several big gun shows a year. They too have all the misc stuff but no shortage of guns, long and short. Most however are dealers. Every now and again you find a private party with their own personal inventory. They can't do that too often or they will get nailed as dealing without a license.

 

[MTboatguy]

Well bonz, I was able to pick that 50th anniversary kit up at the Big "C" store for $113.00 with free shipping, best price I could find for that particular kit. Now just a couple of little things to pick up and I will be cranking out rounds!

 

[bonz_d]

MT, That is a terrific price, congrats!!! Would be interested in your impression of that Lee scale. A scale is next on my list.

Thanks Boomyal, that is kinda the impression I was getting but again wasn't certain.

 

[MTboatguy]

MT, That is a terrific price, congrats!!! Would be interested in your impression of that Lee scale. A scale is next on my list.

Thanks Boomyal, that is kinda the impression I was getting but again wasn't certain.

I don't believe the scale will be bad, I used one of their archery scales for a number of years when I was shooting competitive archery and they were very accurate, Of course I do also have a digital powder scale also, that was changed around for arrows and I can set it back to powder with no problems, scales are actually not all that bad these days.

 

[thumpar]

I have the Pro 1000 and use it for 9mm and .233. The only times I have run into primer troubles is when there are not enough in the shoot to push the others down. As for gun shows, I stopped going. The prices are usually higher than retail. I go to my friend's shop most of the time if I am looking for new. I got an 2 LCP custom .380 from him for $200 each (they are going for $300+ on places that even have them in stock). Also watch CDNN and bud's guns. They will sometimes have some really good sales and it ends up cheaper even after FFL and shipping costs. For reloading equipment that is used you can try ebay. I use Rocky Mountain Reloading for bullets. Their prices include shipping. For powder and primers I go to a local shop that has good prices because shipping that stuff is expensive with the fees.