Topic: Went to a gun show today and have some thoughts

[AmericanPatriot]

 

I went to the gun show today and it was really crowded.

Was there, maybe, less than 2 hours.


Lots of older guns and some that looked intimidating. I didn't really know much about those ones

I have never known a lot about guns. Just had them for hunting.


Left there and went to a newer gun store which was a lot less crowded but they were very low on inventory. Had a nice visit with the personnel and got some cleaning supplies.


Left there and ran some errands then went to another shop about 15 miles in the opposite direction from my house.


Went there with the express intention of picking up a couple Hi Point pistols.

They had sold the last few just minutes before.


I did learn there is a 2 year wait for the 9 mm.

I thought I was interested in 380 or 9mm for my daughter who isn't old enough yet to carry. She'll be 18 in June.


And a 40 or 45 for me.


I like the idea of the Hi Points because they seem to be near indestructible


I looked at a couple other guns including a nice little 9mm by (I think) Taurus.



It was $349 which is about what I could get the 2 Hi Points for. But this one is a lot easier to conceal.
I left my phone  for them to call me when they get the Hi Points in again

On the way home from there, I started to think wider.


I started to consider trading up from some of what I had

(Before they were all lost in the boating accident)


My hunting days are pretty much behind me and I thought about getting some defensive weapons in place of some of the hunting guns.


An important consideration for me is that all the guns were pre-1975 and I doubt that anyone knows they exist. (or did before the boating accident)


There was a 357 S&W revolver, a 32 Winchester Special circa 1943-1948, a Mossberg 12 ga pump with 30" barrel (heavy sucker) as well as a 50 cal Thompson muzzleloader (not percussion)


Would it be wise to try to trade these?


I would still have a 7mm winchester scoped rifle, another shotgun and my old 30-30 plus what I would add.


Kind of thinking an SKS plus the pistols.



I would appreciate your thoughts and advise



Thanks

[Glock32]

I probably would not trade any of your existing guns unless you know you're not going to miss them. And if you do decide to trade, make sure you do your research and know what their real value is. When you get into stuff that's a few decades old, a lot of times they can have added value just because there are aficionados out there who favor a particular vintage for whatever reason.

I'd keep the .357 S&W probably, especially being pre-1975. The 1950s through 1970s were quintessential magnum revolver vintage, especially the 70s when Dirty Harry had just come out. I'd still love a S&W Model 29 in .44 Magnum even though I have absolutely no practical use for one.

Regarding the SKS, they are handy little carbines and IMO never quite get the credit they deserve. They were of course overshadowed by the AK-47 which came out only a few years later. But the SKS is more accurate and has a bit of extra power due to the longer barrel. I have a Yugo M59/66 and it's fun to blast cans with.

[AmericanPatriot]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm not anxious to trade or sell anything but considered it a way to diversify within a budget.

My dad got the 32 for either $5 or $10 from a local guy who put it up for collateral for a loan until next Friday. He never came back to claim it.

It became my deer rifle when I was old enough to hunt.

For some reason, I took dad's 30-30 and this 32 was never shot too much.

I would be hard pressed to count how many deer the 30-30 took.

I do remember coming home from school one day and asked where my dad was.
Mom told me he was hunting.

As I was going back to join him, I heard a lot of shots.
Found dad and a stack of deer

[AlanS]

......as well as a 50 cal Thompson muzzleloader (not percussion)

Is it a flintlock?

[Glock32]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm not anxious to trade or sell anything but considered it a way to diversify within a budget.

My dad got the 32 for either $5 or $10 from a local guy who put it up for collateral for a loan until next Friday. He never came back to claim it.

It became my deer rifle when I was old enough to hunt.

For some reason, I took dad's 30-30 and this 32 was never shot too much.

I would be hard pressed to count how many deer the 30-30 took.

I do remember coming home from school one day and asked where my dad was.
Mom told me he was hunting.

As I was going back to join him, I heard a lot of shots.
Found dad and a stack of deer

Don't trade any of those guns, you will regret it if you do.  You can get plenty of deer rifles, but never another one that your dad got for you.

[AmericanPatriot]

It is a flintlock, AlanS. When I got it, percussion wasn't permitted for hunting in Pa

I'm not anxious to trade any. Just looking at ways to expand things to a little bit more useful if SHTF

[John Florida]

It is a flintlock, AlanS. When I got it, percussion wasn't permitted for hunting in Pa

I'm not anxious to trade any. Just looking at ways to expand things to a little bit more useful if SHTF

   Is the point just to get a couple of pistols?Rifles you have and deer rifles do take other things down too had you not lost it in the boating accident and the shame of it is that the records of those weapons I'm sure are lost in time where as the new stuff has records.

[AlanS]

My suggestion (if you wouldn't have lost them all in the horrific boating accident) would be to keep them all. Long guns will always be handy. Remember, a handgun is used just long enough for you to get to a long gun.

[AmericanPatriot]

Thanks for the perspective, John and Alan.

I may have been having a bit of Rambo fantasy weakness.
I'm almost 63 and fat.  Probably won't be leading any assaults.

Couple easily concealed pistols are an interest, though.

The Hi Points give me cheap fiorepower but not easily concealable.

Maybe I need 3 pistols instead of 2?

[Libertas]

I am thinking the Taurus you looked at was probably something like the 740 slim, in .40 it is a potent round and I've shot my brothers at the range, very concealable and sights are decent and is controllable, and they are nearly as affordable as the Hi Points.  I agree that you should have kept the old guns you lost, besides their sentimental and practical use they were owned and have no paper trail.
 

[AmericanPatriot]

I have been going around on some of the points you made, Libertas.

What do you think about about something like the Taurus in maybe a 9mm for it's smallness and a Hi Point 40 for creating a commotion?

Also, on another forum, someone suggested getting an 18" barrel for the Mossberg.

Cabelas has them for $99.
They say "cylinder bore". Not sure what that is

That seems like something that makes sense.
If I hadn't lost it in the boating accident

[Pandora]

I have been going around on some of the points you made, Libertas.

What do you think about about something like the Taurus in maybe a 9mm for it's smallness and a Hi Point 40 for creating a commotion?

Also, on another forum, someone suggested getting an 18" barrel for the Mossberg.

Cabelas has them for $99.
They say "cylinder bore". Not sure what that is

That seems like something that makes sense.
If I hadn't lost it in the boating accident

Gunsmith says it could mean "rifled bore" or "smooth bore"; put the link up, he'll take a look at it.

[trapeze]

I am thinking the Taurus you looked at was probably something like the 740 slim, in .40 it is a potent round and I've shot my brothers at the range...

Proper punctuation is a powerful thing.

[AmericanPatriot]

Tell Gunsmith thanks for me

http://www.cabelas.com/barrels-chokes-mossberg-replacement-shotgun-barrels-1.shtml

It's the top one on the chart 1/2 way down the page

Item number: IK - 212148

[John Florida]

Tell Gunsmith thanks for me

http://www.cabelas.com/barrels-chokes-mossberg-replacement-shotgun-barrels-1.shtml

It's the top one on the chart 1/2 way down the page

Item number: IK - 212148

  The reason for it is because they're all slug barrels which is also why some are rifled,they also have scope mounts which you would not need if you were bird hunting.

[AmericanPatriot]

Ahhh, I wondered what the scope mount was doing on there

Looked some other places and the 18" barrels were a lot more

[Pandora]

Gunsmith talking here:

Ok, I understand now we're talking about the choke tube.  Basically, the one you're looking at means the inside diameter of the choke tube is a slightly smaller diameter of the bore of the rest of the barrel.  Chokes alter the shot pattern of the shotgun making it tighter and tighter depending on which choke is chosen.  Has nothing to do with smooth or rifled.

[John Florida]

Ahhh, I wondered what the scope mount was doing on there

Looked some other places and the 18" barrels were a lot more

   Which barrel choke and length  do you have now and what are you trying to achieve?

[AmericanPatriot]

I have a 30" barrel full choke.
Heavier than Hades
It was suggested, and it seemed to make sense to me, that this would make a good home defense gun.

[AmericanPatriot]

Maybe this is what I may be looking for for my Mossberg

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/748383/mossberg-barrel-mossberg-500-12-gauge-3-18-1-2-cylinder-bore-with-bead-sight-steel-blue

Product #: 748383 Mossberg #: 90015UPC #: 00015813900157

If anyone here (Gunsmith) sells this stuff, I would rather buy from someone here.