Southern Classic Gun and Knife Show at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds
Local news reports
The Southern Classic Gun and Knife show wrapped up Sunday in Jacksonville and organizers say there was a big difference in the size of the crowd compared to the show at the beginning of the year.
Vendors say supply and demand are finally seeing eye to eye and they say it's because the rush to buy guns threatened to be taken off the market, has calmed.
The AR 15 is one of the popular guns vendors sold out of and had waiting lists for at the last Southern Classic Gun and Knife Show at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds. James Emanuel with Weapon Enhancement Solutions says earlier this year the gun was selling at over 2200 dollars, now the AR 15 was selling at 699 dollars at his booth.
"You had the scare with the political atmosphere which I think drove prices up and there was a lot more demand, people now are slowing down, they can find a better deal these days because the market has went down," said Emanuel. Emanuel says in the first few months of the year he was selling up to 200 AR 15s a month, and now he's averaging at ten a month.
Way down, yes. But way down from a high the likes of which I've never seen. You'll notice that people are still buying, the market just found an equilibrium.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I'm sure you're waiting in the wings with a comment about panic buyers looking silly, but their purchases were motivated by the anticipation of the passage of a ban--a rational response to something people thought was likely--that people on your side bragged was going to happen.
Then the Senate blocked the ban, likely due to all of those panic buyers calling their Congresscritters and telling them which way to vote--after all, if you're willing to drop two grand on a rifle, another grand on a case of ammo, and half a grand on magazines, you're probably going to be motivated to call and express your opinion.
Now that the calling and lobbying worked, the market has calmed, people put off purchases until the price came down to an acceptable level, and people are buying what they want at the new equilibrium price.
The smart will buy what they think they might need (e.g. maintain a few months to a few years ammo supply in rotation) so that they can buy at these lower prices and weather any future panics without having to buy stuff at a dollar a round, and so that they have enough ammo to still practice occasionally if y'all manage to do something to the supply in the future like banning new purchases of military calibers.
Those without such foresight will shoot up what they bought high over the next months or years and then panic buy again the next time y'all give it the good ole college try. (Well, they'll start shooting up what they bought once the ammo market is at a new equilibrium--between government contracts and private purchases, some calibers are still out of whack.)
Mikeb, I still don't own an AR-15. I don't particularly like the design, and there are other things that I want more. But it gratifies me no end to know that Americans all over bought up a bunch of those rifles. The more out there, the less chance you have of taking them away.
ReplyDeleteDon't get sucked in. I like mine ok for very accurate target shooting (free-floated barrel helps that) but I've found it underpowered against varmints with standard loads--yet to try shooting a raccoon with frangibles.
DeleteFor defense, I carry my AK if I'm in the coyote infested woods at night--I'd recommend that platform.
"Coyote infested woods?" Are you shittin' me? Do coyotes in Tennessee attack humans now?
DeleteOn occasion. More frequent in some of the worse infested counties in southwestern Virginia where they have a lot of sheep farms.
DeleteWe have some wooded acreage surrounded by cattle farms, and during times of the year when the cows are calving our woods are one of the places the coyotes make their dens--their territory, and the hunting groups are more bold--prudent to have something to defend yourself with, even if it's just a shovel or walking stick. Frankly, I prefer to go with more than a stick in case they get bold or I accidentally get too close to their pups.
And so, we add biology to the list...
DeleteYes, Mikeb, coyotes are sometimes dangerous in many states. They adapt well to living near humans, and they thereby lose their natural fear of us. Sometimes, they are rabid. You may not see them, though those of us who pay attention to our surroundings do.
Tennessean, I have an SKS, if it comes to that. Someday, I want a Sig 556, such as the one my friend has--gas piston, not direct impingement, is one difference I like.
SKS is a fine gun. Milled receiver and short stroke piston--good for accuracy beyond that of the AK.
DeleteAs for the Sig, Piston is definitely an improvement, but I've lost my trust in tiny calibers ever since a coon hit in the chest managed to climb over a six foot fence, through a hole in the roof, and run 50-60 feet, at least, into the woods before it either crawled in a hole or up a tree to die.
I hate for even a pest animal to linger that long. It also raises doubts, for me, as to the effectiveness of the round for defense and makes me wonder about the urban legends (at least I've only heard the tales and not seen or looked for proof) about the 5.56 being designed to wound rather than kill so as to tie up battlefield resources.
Agreed. Anything in .223 would be a fun gun only.
DeleteI always liked the 7.62X39 as a varmit caliber. Several choices in the projectile as well. Either a AK47 or a Sig Saur 556 chambered in the 7.62X39 was what I took out for critter control. I really had no use for the .223. The .223 the is faster and lighter so distance fall isn't as bad as the 7.62X39 but at critter distance, its a non issue with the 7.62X39.
DeleteThe AK is also great for the wild pig. A Mosin Nagant is wonderful for the large wild hog in the 7.62X54R. Others we used were the 303 British, 300, 308, 30-30 and 30-06. Wild hog, mountain lion and coyote, get big and brave in West Texas. You better be on your toes hunting and tracking them there, you may find you are being hunted instead!
I've heard tale of the Texas hogs! That plague is moving into East Tennessee now too--so bad there is no season or bag limit, but they're still expanding. Considering my Grandpa's tales about hunting feral pig out West, I love the bayonet on my Mosin--a last ditch defense he didn't have on his .30-06 (Thankfully he brought the pig down before it got to him, but it scared him more than an other experience in his life--I can understand--the head alone scared the crap out of me as a kid walking past it on the way to the bathroom at night).
DeleteOne of these days, I'm going to get another Mosin-Nagant, one with no particular collector's value, and lighten it up as a trail gun. The only problem is that dang safety. Anybody know about any replacement bolts with a sensible safety that won't require me to rebarrel the thing?
DeleteDo a search for the safety knob accessory item that attaches to the knob without any mods. It's basically a pull ring that's easier to control than the basic knob.
DeletePersonally I prefer the rifle as is. I just wrap my thumb over the knob and squeeze while pulling the trigger and let the bolt slide gently in.
Takes practice, practice unloaded tho.
I don't know of any, but I haven't looked much--I just keep the chamber empty. I'd recommend getting it quickly--around here they've gone from $90 to 250--dealers said the suppliers have run out of crates to import.
DeleteAlso, you may already know this, but in case you or others don't, if you get the M44, be aware that having the bayonet folded or extended can move the point of impact laterally by a surprising amount (something to do with the barrel harmonics I'm told). Mine shifts about 8 MOA laterally. Sights may be adjusted for bayonet extended or folded.
Tennessean, save that bayonet for something else. Trying to use that for a last line of defense is like trying to poke a runaway locomotive. When going after the larger hogs you are going to need at least two, maybe three guns. The Mosin or other large caliber bolt gun (a lever action is better) to try and take him a distance. If you miss or don't get a vital organ and he makes you, he WILL CHARGE and damn fast at that. Pick up that AK with FMJ frangables loaded in thirty round mags and go to town. Keep at least four mags loaded with you. It will be either him or you as he is determined to kill you. And can if your not careful.
DeleteThere is a place in east Ft Worth called Military Gun Supply. I was in there this past weekend and they have about 200 or so Mosins for 130 to160 each. Tins of milsurp ammo for them as well. 440 rounds at a hundred each. Not the modern production stuff, FMJ frangable and water sealed military rounds. I picked up three cases, two tins or 880 rounds per case this past weekend. I may go back and pick up another Mosin to "sporterize" just for the heck of it. Some really nice accessorie for the Mosins out there now. Like the Archangle stock with removable ten round mag for example. Cut down to carbine length and scoped is really popular for the Mosins too. And still very accurate as well.
DeleteTexas,
DeleteThat's exactly what happened to my granddad--he managed to cycle the bolt on his rifle and put two more rounds into it bringing it down before it got to him. Ever since that story, I had planned to take a semi either as backup, or as a primary (PSL shoots the lovely 54R).
I've got no illusions about stopping a 200-600 pound slab of angry bacon with a Mosin's toothpick being a great idea, or even probable to work out in my favor. I mostly own them for the hell of it, and on the general principle that it harms nobody and upsets the control freaks. I only think of it as having a slightly less slim chance of saving my life than a sheath knife in the same situation. A powerful handgun, or preferably a semi-auto--especially if it has a buddy--are much preferable.
As for the Mosins there, I'm jealous. I guess the distributors out there stocked up better or folks around here just bought up our supply faster--I haven't seen one in that price range for a year. Ammo is about the same here, though. Interesting how the market varies state to state.
(If it's a matter of y'all just not buying enough, pick it up--your state has to keep up with it's mountainous progenitor.)
You guys are a veritable scourge on the local fauna. I guess all those close encounters with wild animals are good for the DGU count.
DeleteOh yes, we slaughter animals left and right! Blood flows freely!
DeleteBack in the real world, this discussion mostly talked about me shooting at raccoons that had gotten into my chicken yards. After that we moved on to discussing the hunting of wild pigs which are a veritable plague down here, destroying crops and spreading like crazy. There is no season on them because they have no natural predators and you need to cull around 80% to keep a population stable--not enough people hunt them each year.
But sure, insult us as scourges on the fauna and try to discourage such hunting. I'm sure all of the other fauna will thank you as they starve out while the pigs take over their environment and force them out.
Finally, regarding DGU's, I don't know whether they count defending against animal attacks in some of the various tabulations, but as we've told you repeatedly, this is one of the reasons we own and carry guns--they're useful tools to fend off animals and eradicate pests. You used to call those reasonable reasons to own guns, but I guess you've evolved.
Mike, the worst scourge on the fauna is the feral pig. They destroy crops for the farmers, kill young cattle and are a deadly danger to humans.
DeleteThe coyote kill cattle and will attack humans, the mountain lion will do the same.
Crops represent financial gain for farmers, cattle a gain for ranchers. Human loss and injury is totally unacceptable. Farmers and ranchers have a right to defend and protect themselves and their investments from this scourge. The Sheriff does his part, Parks and Wildlife does their part, Texas Rangers chip in when they can and the rest is left up to the land owners. Hunters are hired or paid a bounty to get rid of these pests by the land owners, farmers and ranchers.
Its a bit different than hanging a bug zapper up Mike. That's all your worried about. I will be glad to ship a bunch of the feral piglets to Italy and let you pet them for a while. And mountain kitties and coyote pups. If you like them, you can put up with them.
Yes, feral hogs are destructive, and they're not native. Mikeb, the great environmentalist, is defending a harmful species that isn't supposed to be here.
DeleteThe ring attachment for the safety is something I hadn't heard of. I'll have to look into that. And yes, the bayonet on the M44 has to be extended, though I understand that if you remove the whole thing, you can adjust the sights and not have to worry about it again.
Greg,
DeleteYes, you can do that. Basically, you have to pic a configuration and stick with it.
Texas,
I don't know that the Italians would like that much. I've seen a few stories where Europe has had issues with its own resurgence of the native pigs ours came from--Germans chased around etc. kinda like the stories of pigs on college campuses and in people's yards over here.
That's right, I know they wouldn't like it, wont tolerate it. So why should we? Its our problem because of them, so I figure just send them back home, or quit criticizing us for trying to rid ourselves of them.
DeleteI will even make space for Piers Morgan to go with those pigs, they should make great company!
That's cruel, man!
DeleteEven the Pigs don't deserve that!
LOLs, couldn't help it!
DeleteAfter all our discussions about DGUs, you have the nerve to say this about shooting at animals?
Delete"I don't know whether they count defending against animal attacks in some of the various tabulations"
T., you really need to get a grip. You're playing so loose with the truth that it's becoming a drag calling you on all the offenses.
I understand the justification of hunting wild pigs or deer because their overpopulation is a problem. But I also understand that that's not why you guys do it. You do it because you love it, hunting and shooting and killing animals. That's what's sick about it.
DeleteWhat is sick about a necessity Mike? The need to protect and defend even from animals is sick Mike? You really need to get a grip. Yes I do hunt too. When I do the animal does not go to waste, it gets eaten and the hide gets tanned, the bone and entrails get ground and made into dog food. Most hunters mount the head and neck, I don't. Venison is good, rich meat. Excellent eating.
DeleteThose wild pests taken go to the dog food plant by the truck loads, not just left to rot.
Hunting and taking game for consumption is not sick Mike. When you go get your burger, steaks, pork or various foul, they lived at one time, all have to be killed before process. What is the difference Mike? What?
The difference is when you go to the store you are spared from the process and you don't know what meat your getting from what animal and its condition. When we hunt, we select what we are taking so we have control over our dinner.
What is sick Mike is you and others like you have convinced yourselves into believing your meat selection starts and the grocery store.
Mike says: "T., you really need to get a grip. You're playing so loose with the truth that it's becoming a drag calling you on all the offenses."
DeleteMike,
My statement was in response to this from you: "I guess all those close encounters with wild animals are good for the DGU count."
I said that I didn't know if defense against animal attacks were counted in the estimates because I don't know what questions were asked. Did they ask, "Have you ever defended yourself with your gun?" Some people might say yes if they shot a dog that was attacking them. Others might not and might only say yes if they brandished their gun or fired it at a mugger or a burglar. Or did they ask, "Have you ever been mugged and defended yourself with a gun? Burgled and defended yourself?" etc.
Similarly, I don't know if those compiling the data would have asked for summaries of the defensive uses and included or culled out ones that dealt with attacking animals rather than humans.
Has this ever been discussed in previous threads? I've seen you go after Kleck and other's methodology of phone surveys, but I've never seen this issue discussed, so when you raised it sarcastically, I simply stated that I didn't have a clue whether or not animal attacks were included in the figures.
You called me a liar for this statement. I challenge you to explain how that was a lie--how that was playing fast and loose with the truth. If you cannot, then I expect a public apology for the accusation you made publicly.
Texas,
DeleteMike is actually a vegetarian, so I'll recognize that he has the integrity to be consistent on his opinions of eating meat and doesn't fit the mold of most of the people who will tell you you're a horrible person for eating venison while chowing down on a Big Mac.
Mike,
DeleteRegarding your comments on hunting, you said:
"But I also understand that that's not why you guys do it. You do it because you love it, hunting and shooting and killing animals. That's what's sick about it."
I've addressed this before, but I'll say it again, you are assigning motivations to us that we do not have and have told you we do not have.
Do I like hunting? Yes, for the same reason I love fishing--I love being out in nature (also why I enjoy hiking and canoeing), and I have no compunction against the consumption of meat and rather enjoy the taste of fresh harvested meat whether it's fresh chicken from my farm, crappie from a pond, or venison, squirrel, rabbit, etc.
As I have said before, the killing part, which you claim I sickly enjoy, is the distasteful part that I do not enjoy in the least. Look above--I talked about disliking that a raccoon I killed lived long enough to get as far as it did--I don't like killing animals, but when I need to, whether for food or to eliminate a pest, I want to do it as quickly and painlessly as possible.
This is why it is so offensive to have you keep saying that I do it for the enjoyment of killing. You keep framing me as a sociopath when you couldn't be farther from the truth.
If you have a problem with me hunting for food and eating meat, try to convince me that it is wrong. Don't lie about my motives; that gets you nowhere.
T., it's convenient that you don't recall the mocking of Gary Kleck for including any and every possible DGU in his famous 2.5 million estimate. Some people shot at snakes from their porch and others reported something like 50 DGUs in a single year. These ridiculous claims were all added up and multiplied over the entire population to get the famous number.
DeleteBut, you don't remember any of that, right?
I will grant you that those discussions which were awfully tedious and exhaustive may have taken place before you were a regular among us. But still, where have you been, man? You didn't just fall off the turnip truck, did you?
Like I said, I remembered the criticism of his methodology of using phone surveys, and I remembered the criticism of his accepting some people claiming to have had tons of DGU's in a year.
DeleteI did not remember the snakes part.
If I had been trying to be dishonest about things and pull stuff out of my ass I would have said that there were not any animal attacks represented in the numbers and that these defensive uses would make the number at least 1,000,000, and maybe higher.
I didn't do that.
Instead, when you raised that issue, I stated that I was ignorant of any inclusion, or lack thereof, of defense against animal attacks in any of the numbers, meaning his, DOJ's, all of them.
I was DECLINING to discuss the impact of such events on the numbers because of my expressed IGNORANCE in the matter.
You then falsely charged me with trying to lie and bend the discussion my way. I'm still awaiting the apology for the false accusation for that.
Guess I'll be waiting til kingdom come for that apology. Of course, what else to expect from a collectivist bigot.
DeleteFewer people are buying guns. That means the majority are rejecting that choice. And that will be reflected in a future political majority, and legislation.
ReplyDeleteNice attempt at comedy.
DeleteDon't quit your day job.
Haven't quite figured out how it works yet, have ya?
DeleteGet a job someday.