Slim pickings in my area of late

I went to a small show in town yesterday. Guns of the West comes once a year. When it opened at 09:00 a large crowd went right to the ammo tables. Fifty or sixty deep in a line out the back door. Guys buying 9mm, .40, and ,45 for double of what it was last summer. And seemed happy to get it.

Two guys had carbine ammo. Federal soft point at $22.95 for a box of 20. And some bandoleers of 120 rounds in stripper clips for $90. Neither would budge on the price. That's nuts.

Only one imported Inland, 3 million range, in the whole building. It was a beater with all late features. He had $875 on it and sold it for $850. No bayonets or M-3's. And of course no magazines.

For me at least, it was a bust. I left a donation at the wounded veterans exhibit and left.

Went to our local gun show at the Ingham County fairgrounds, Friday, April 12. I was part of the Zombie crowd wandering around looking for powder and primers. I got there 1-1/2 hr after they opened the first day. It was packed, by far the most people I've ever seen there. Did find 2 bricks of SRP Primers. 2 bricks of LPP and 2 bricks of SPM primers. Bought 2 lbs of Hodgdons 'Titegroup' @ $30.00 each. Primers were $50 a brick. I've never used 'TiteGroup' but will try it for pistol loads.
Really needing SPP Primers, I'm down to 300 left, though I have roughly 1200 target .38spl loaded along with roughly 700 rds of .357.

Wasn't sure what it was worth but couldn't stop myself from buying a Legitimus and Collins USN marked machete, with Khaki sheath also stamped USN. Blade was also dated 1945. I gave a $100 for it, it was worth that to me. Blade hasn't been messed with, still looks like original edge and patina. I'll take some pics later.

I'd rather FMJ, but since they were there I bought 8 boxes of 500 rds each lead cast 230 gr .45 LRN. Borrowed a dealers rolling cart to the front door, security guy I know watched my stuff while I got my car. Don't think I could have carried 1 box all the way to my car.

Seen 20 count bags of Carbine reloads (115 gr Plated RN) $30 per 20 count. That was the first table on the left, that you'd come to after paying your entry fee. Noticed on my way out he had sold off what looked to be half of what I'd seen stocked earlier.

Seen guys lurching over a (what they were calling) a "WWII USGI M1 Carbine" near a back corner.
Hearing them spout their knowledge was interesting. It made me smile as I quietly slipped away.

It was a Erma Model E M1 in .22 Rimfire............ :lol:

M1 Carbine Sighted:
About half way back on the left side/corner table had a real USGI M1 Carbine.
I asked to look at it. Noticed the small Import stamp on the bottom of the Underwood barrel.
While looking for a serial number noticed the rear bevel on the receiver and top/forward edge of the Recoil plate had been grinded on.
That's when the seller informed me that:
" Any US Carbine brought back from Korea had to be grinded there"
I asked why they would grind it?
He replied:
"So we know it came back from Korea"
It was hard to tell if the markings KART stamped on this grinded area, were stamped under or over the grinding.
I showed him the KART markings..........
He said: "That stands for Korean Army Reserve Training"
I just nodded, OK, knowing I'd seen a Carbine that had at some point in it's life seen use by the Norwegian Coastal Artillery. It was a 4.7 QHMC that had seen some very hard use. Stock was a Type II SCB, but couldn't get him to pull the price tag ($475 IIRC) off. The price tag was rather large in size and placed where you'd normally find a IBM CC.
I thanked him for sharing his Knowledge with me and shuffled along.

I never went back by it, more than likely he sold it.
So there might be someone out there who may soon be asking about his:
Korean Army Reserve Training carbine....... :confused:

Cheers,
Charlie-Painter777

No carbine ammo at all in my area ATT. I did pick up some projectiles for reloading but loaded ammo is not in evidence. M1 carbines that do come up for sale at the LGS dont last long and dont appear often. In the last ammo shortage , componets for the carbine(bullets) were low priority after hunting bullets for the larger .30 cal. rifles. I cast bullets for my pistols but havent tried to use cast in the carbine, yet.
John

I will say Cleveland area is good for carbines I don't think I have seen less then 20 at shows thru the winter

I used cast loads in my m1 all the time. It's been a long time ago, but I remember having a mold that threw a small .30 spire point. I liked 2400 behind it. It shot wonderfully and functioned flawlessly. I think I still have the mold somewhere. I bought that carbine for $150 in 87 in Huntsville. Shot it a few years and sold it for $175. Thinking about that makes me sick. I think I will go throw up now.

I am now saving my 1400 rounds of 30 carbine factory rounds, and loading cast moly coated and plated bullets. No factory ammo for 30 carbine, at any price, anywhere in central California. 45 ACP is running $32/50 to $50/50 when you can find it. I have loaded 500 rounds of cast in 45 ACP and have the fixings for another 500. Np primers or powder to be found anywhere now. Thank goodness I had a couple pounds each of Unique, WW296, 2400, and 4198.

Primers and powder have lossened up here a little bit, the local wholesaler has some in stock but is rationing sales

Only 2,434 mi, and a 35 hours drive to Ohio for primers. The way things are around here it might be worth that road trip.

I got lucky. Picked up 8 pounds of Lil'Gun, 1000 110 gr bullets and have near a case of primers. Had I waited another week I would be in Jim's shoes. Lets hope things loosen up soon. Regards, Rick.

have got so bad I skipped the last two Boone County shows. I went to Sedalia show a week or two ago. Things were a lot better there. One seller had a lot of ammo they were selling at the old uninflated price. Dealers were buying it and repricing on their tables. I don't think it was selling very fast then. It sure makes me feel good about all the ammo I bought years ago. I just walk by and smile about what people are paying for it now.

Got N EMil from Cheaper Than Dirt (should be cheaper than nobody) that Armscor 110 FMJ ammo on sale for ONLY $56/50! $1.10 a round! Glad I have about 1500 factory and several thousand loaded reloads or components for reloads!

I quit going to gun shows over a year ago. Plenty of ammo and components then but I figured I had enough on hand so didn't buy anymore. I was looking for a reasonably priced shooter Garand and but only saw 8 or 10. Mostly high priced junk. I did see one in nice cosmetic shape but closer inspection revealed the chamber was caked with rust and you couldn't even see down the bore, guy wouldn't budge off $1100. From what I hear from a buddy it was so packed at the last couple he went to you can't get close enough to look at anything and ammo and components are nonexistent. I'm not sure I'll ever go to another one, I just added 90 acres of land to the dirt collection so funds are a little low right now anyway.