This show was always a little more expensive due to the high table prices (next to DC). This is always the largest show in the area. I thought I'd beat the crowd by going early Friday PM before it opened. Wrong. The humungous parking lot for the Expo, combined with the Wal-Mart parking lot next door holds thousands of cars.....and they were. I had to park behind the W-M in a loading zone, well I tried to squeeze in where I wasn't blocking anything, made a note to keep enough money to pay for the tow, just in case. I went into the W-M to get some cash--no one there except cashiers and stock clerks, all cars were for the show. Got to the Expo Center with about 20 minutes to go before opening, two lines about 5 miles long each (ok, maybe a half mile). Doors opened and the stampede headed to the ammo dealers. By the time I got in, the crowds at all ammo tables were 3 deep. Ammo was flying out of there faster than at a gun range. Prices? Holy S$#%! Finally found a table that wasn't totally outrageous and bought my 30-06, 303, 8mm, 9mm, 45ACP, 44 Mag and 308 for about the price of a small house in WV. Absolutely no 22lr anywhere...what's with that? Reloading supplies were rationed...if you could finally get to the table, I gave up. Did find a nice FN 49 Egyptian that was only over priced by about 3x and dickered him down to only 2x. Had him throw in a Bubba-ized 1917 enfield that had all identifying marks ground off. I took out a third mortgage on my house and went back Saturday. Parking was worse, crowd was bigger. Found a really nice No I Mk III that someone was carrying around and left with that. Ammo was starting to get scarce and it was only Sat morning. Bought more 303, 8mm and 30-06. The AR 15 type rifles were going like hotcakes at double the price they were a few months ago. 1800-2500 was the average price. Oh, yeah, the usual cast of characters were all there. Behind and in front of the tables. Gun shows are great sport. Looking for someone to give me a fourth mortgage on my house so I can go to the next one.
