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Late last year the SAXET gun show returned to Austin, this time at the Travis County Expo Center. Didn't make it until today - here are my impressions:

* Parking isn't free - it's $2 in this venue. Entry to the show is $5. Usual PC30.06 sign out front.
* Venue is basically a small arena - show proper is down on the floor, but there's some overflow at the mezzanine. A bit smaller than the old building on Lamar, but larger than the show at the former Target building off I-35 that was also being held today.
* LOTS of non-gun stuff . . . jewelry, jerky, trinkets, ornaments . . . a line of tables FULL of books covering every conspiracy from Nazis to Illuminati to fluoridated drinking water.
* LOTS of black rifles, and stuff for black rifles. Stripped lowers from recognizable makers ranged from $119 - $139. Pays to shop, as 10 or 15 steps could save you $20.
* HUGE price differentials - the MSAR STG556 (Steyr AUG clone) ranged from $999 to $1700. Mosin Nagants from $135 to $175 (Cabela's sometimes marks down to $99.)
* Saw a number of M1 Garands - possibly CMP rifles - marked up at least 50% from the CMP price. An ordinary M1 carbine for over $1k.
* LOTS of common guns - Glock, Taurus, Springfield, etc. Saw fewer S&Ws than I remembered. Nothing really out of the ordinary.
* Saw one extremely gaudy bolt action - fancy stock inlaid with mother-of-pearl . . . LOTS of it. ("Pimp my Rifle?")
* A good amount of Chinese optics - they're now trying to make their junk - I mean economy optics - look like Nightforce riflescopes.
* Saw ONE Luger - an Artillery - for $3k. Not worth it in that condition. Guy also had a worn & pitted Broomhandle for $1500, with capture papers.
* A number of "custom" guns that failed to impress.
* ONE vendor had quality AR accessories (Vltor, DD, Troy, Magpul) but quite a bit of Chinese stuff otherwise.
* Ammo was generally more expensive than Cabela's, especially if you work the sales there. Couple of "new" commercial reloading operations were present.
* Plenty of no-name holsters, web gear, gun cases, etc.
* Overheard a couple of sales pitches . . . let's just say some of these guys make used-car salesmen sound good.
* LOTS of sellers have stopped putting prices on their stuff . . . I guess they're not too proud of what they're asking.

To borrow an expression from a recent gun rag . . . my money was safe, I saw nothing I wanted.