Hamilton gun show was this weekend. I saw virtually nothing that looked even remotely like something I’d want to take home. Used gun prices were in the stupid-plus range. $550 for a Gen 2 used Glock? Srsly? I used to buy them by the bucket for about half that.
But, on the way back, I stopped at a gun store and found a cardboard box full of contract Beretta 92 mags. Well, I’ve managed to wind up with a pair of 92’s so…why not? 
Wound up buying 23 mags for $160..so thats..uhm…carry the one….$6.95 each. Hey, at that price theyre a lottery ticket against a future ban. But, since I have a couple 92’s, I’ll put half a dozen with each gun for the Deep Sleep.
Other than that, the gun show was pretty much a wasted trip…except, of course, for seeing a few people whom I only see when I go to gun shows.
local gun show yesterday found some PMC .357 mag for $30/box of 50. Also some Black Talons for only $3/rd compared with $6 on Gunbroker. Exactly zero 20ga buckshot! Prices of Marlin 336 lever guns over $1k and SKS’s over $800, crazy when I remember buying them for $80.
$7/mag is a damn fine price.
I went to the Post Falls gun show last week. I really only go to reminisce now. There is the occasional good deal.There is a guy that is always set-up in the back with a lot military surplus. He has every size of USGI ammo can for about half the price of everywhere else. Clean, very little to no rust. I got 7 of them, 5 x.50 cal at $10 each and 2 x.30 cal at $8 each. That was it.
If they are USGI Checkmate contract, you may need to replace the springs. They have weak spring that became obvious during the Iraq war, The resulting problem was increased failure to feed issues. If they show made in Italy, should be good, but if contract Checkmate M9 magazines than not good. Hope, you got original factory!
The issue with the Checkmate M9 magazines was fixed long ago. Early production magazines were parkerized with a rather coarse finish that produced a lot of drag on the cartridges and follower during feeding. Replacing the magazine spring was an uncertain fix. Taking some emory paper to the interior of the magazine body will fix the problem.
Checkmate changed their finishing process after the issue was identified and they have a solid reputation these days. Not sure when the finishing process was changed — sometime around 2005 maybe? I think there was something posted in the Army’s “PS” maintenance magazine/cartoon at the time, might be able to track it down online as the Army used to (still does?) put PS online at one of the army.mil sites.
Commander Zero, you occasionally mention your “deep sleep” procedure for the longterm storage of hardware, Could you give ume an example of your process for deep sleeping a gun please? Or, direct this reader to a previous article where you have done the step-by-step already.
Asking for a friend . . .
Thanks!
I almost went to the glendive gunshow last weekend while working on the Eastern half of the last best place. I couldn’t bring myself to spend the $3 admission. In the last several shows I’ve spent more on admission fees than on items.
I need me a Beretta 92! LOL. Just because it was a service arm for so many years. I know they are a solid piece even if they are pretty chunky. It’s on the list at any rate, although the latest round of candidates for military trials has produced some excellent designs I want to check out as well.