Reno “Big Show” — Prepper Jack’s Report On One Of The Biggest Gun Shows In The West

TND Exclusive:  Prepper Jack | 

About now, August 17, 2014, the Big Reno Gun Show is winding down.  Vendors are packing up what little inventory they didn’t sell.   The last few buyers are moving quickly between the tables looking to score a last minute deal.  Sellers don’t like packing up heavy awkward items like rifles, ammo cans and the vast amount of minutia that has to go back in the boxes for the next gun show so they tend to offer discounts.  I reviewed the Reno Gun show last August.  Click here to read that write-up. How times have changed, and for the better.

My friend and I went to the Reno show at 9 AM Friday August 17,  with a shopping list in hand.  We decided to go early, not knowing how things would  work out.  Would we wait an hour in line?  Will there be early bird sales?  Will prices be bumped to get the most from the first buyers?  Will the good stuff be scoured from the stands before the big weekend rush?  Frankly, nothing like this happened.

The lines were modest; just a few minutes wait to get in.  This time gun check people were at the Grand Sierra Casino’s front doors. That was new.  There is a rule, written or not, that loaded firearms are not appreciated in casinos at any time.  With the sound of money in the air, this Casino welcomes guests, buyers and sellers coming heavy, loaded down with more artillery than on the beaches at D-Day.  We unloaded our backpacks, pockets and holsters, looking more like the scene in Maverick, where Brett divests himself of all his pocket rockets.  Security checked magazines, receivers and holsters to make sure we weren’t bringing any contraband, like a loaded mouse gun in the boot holster. (They missed my mouse gun. I never go light to a casino.)

We were surprised at a couple of things from initial impressions.  There were no lines at either of Miwall’s large  ammo booths.  They tables and shelves were stocked full.  The crowds were large and  were spending money on just about anything on the tables.  We moved quickly from table to table.  This show covers two full rooms, two acres of selling space.  A show with 1,600 tables is a target-rich environment.  We were able to buy  the specialty ammo my friend needed for personal defense and  shooting classes.  We found a very nice, private sale used Mossberg 22 LR semi auto for $135.  Ten round mags were still costly at $25 each.  Given that a used Ruger 10-22 might run you $200-250 and a new one gets close to $300, it was a reasonable deal.

22 Caliber Long Rifle was available without limit from private sellers.  The cost ranged from $60-65 per 500 round brick. I didn’t see anyone carry cases of 22 cal, so the price break point at $60 was probably causing people to hold back.  The ammo retailers didn’t have 22 cal LR since that’s not a particularly profitable ammunition.  They did have nearly unlimited amounts of all the popular pistol, rifle and shotgun ammunition.  Prices were more than 50% lower than the Reno Gun show of early 2013.  As a matter of fact, with no lines and no limits, the buying experience was fairly routine and enjoyable.  We saw people with dollies full of ammo cases being toted to the exit doors.

We found  223/5.56 ranged from  $190 per 1000 for steel cased Wolf,  $210 for  brass case factory reloads, and roughly $315-350 for 1,000 rounds of factory new ammo.  Keep in mind that a re-loadable brass casing for 223 or 5.56 is worth 10 cents and can be reloaded 5-10 times, you are paying closer to 11 cents a round given the post-brass price.  If you don’t reload, then the factory reloads were a good deal.  I have a few thousand rounds of that ammo for practice.

The Wolf steel cased 223 is still a subject for great debate. I like it for plinking but only use it in an AR 15 with a worn barrel.   Purists say it wears the receiver and damages the extractor. Does that happen?  The answer is yes with a qualifier.  Go to  You Tube and you’ll find many videos that dispel that notion.  Steel case has it’s qualities and wear to your receiver is one of them.  But the wear is negligible.  Extractors are damaged if the extraction cycle is slightly out of phase on very short barreled AR rifles.  There are rumors that this same Wolf goes for $175 per 1,000 rounds on a few internet sites.  If  you are not a re-loader, go with Wolf if the price hits your buy point and free shipping is included.  You generally avoid sales tax.  That is a distinct savings as well. If you like reloading your 223, then the factory reloads at $210 per 1,000  rounds is a deal.  I like both classes of 223, brass or steel, since a few friends are avid re-loaders.

Remember when 223 was $900-1,000 for 1,000 rounds?  And 7.62×39 was $350-400 per 1,000?  Say sayonara to those prices.  Think 50-65% less and abundant quantities.

The only firearm we were not able to find was the Keltec P-32.  Some of you know I now carry this mouse gun on a regular basis.  It is now scarcer than Saigas.  It’s unavailable at this date.  I like it because it’s one of the most easily concealable pistols.  It fits in a pocket, a little IWB holster, a shirt pocket or even in a boot.  Though it’s only a 32 caliber, when equipped with 85 grain Hydrashock rounds I am quite comfortable with its capacity to take care of business.

The overall atmosphere of this gun show was one where sellers had well stocked tables, buyers had well stocked wallets, and smiles were seen on many faces.  A good time was had by all.

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