What are gun shows good for?

Fondling guns you don't own?
Window shopping?

I can't say I always know exactly what I want. Hells, one of my best guns is a gun I didn't even know existed until I went to a horrible gunshow, had to fight crowds, had nowhere to sit (why am I sitting at what amounts to a tradeshow again?) and had to fend of beedf jerky being thrown at me.
And I still came home with an excellent handgun somehow. 8) Am I too optimistic to be a gun owner?

About .... A year ago? Probably less.

<insert obligatory comment regarding cured sliced meat here>

I actually enjoy them, as there are almost none in my state now, and the local stores don't have much more than the typical.

I like them as a place to see and get your hands on a large variety of guns all in one place that you likely won't find at any local gun store. They're typically a decent source for milsurps like Mosins as well.

you forgot trinkets , jewelry and jerky

Beanie babies, deer jerky, cheap pocket knives...

Haven't been to one in years.

I enjoy looking for oddball Items and the ocasional good deal. I always run into A few folks I have not seen in A while. I don't go with the intention of buying A particular item. Just as something to do. I enjoy them.

elcaminoariba said:

guys showing off to their half dressed girlfriends, all crowding around a table.

Click to expand...

not a reason but it is one of the perks. i live in a small town an hours drive from a small city. i like being able to park in one space , go into one building, check out guns i never see at local shops or walmart, do a hands on inspection of accessories i only see online , and spend a few hours with people i happen to find interesting. i think if i get a fair deal on a gun that i wouldn't normally see then it is a bargain.

At gun shows, I look for and usually find:

- Good bulk ammo prices, esp factory reloads of common handgun rounds
- Holsters to touch, feel, and test fit before buying
- Other gun people with interesting thoughts and opinions
- Useful gadgets and gizmos that I didn't know I needed
- The occasional gem!

Male bonding.
period

You nailed in Elcaminoariba, "half dressed girlfriends"!

Seriously, I find it a great place to window shop while not feeling guilty about fondling guns, knives, lights, etc. I recently bought a great flashlight for about half the price of a similar Surefire. I never would have known about it if not for the gun show. Same goes for knives, the local stores don't have the sheer variety. I agree on the crowds and generally overpriced items but do enjoy getting to pick things up and examine them. Hard to do that over the Internet and the folks at the local gun store tend to get annoyed if you handle a bunch of stuff and don't buy anything. Just human nature. At the gun show, they know they are going to get groped. Now, about those girlfriends.....

Take lots of cash. Take something along to sell or trade. Don't go looking for anything special, you won't find it at a bargain price. Look for deals on guns, then sell or trade them later at a profit to buy what you really want.

There are lots of individuals walking around at gunshows who need rent money the next AM in a bad way and will sell good guns cheap. About half the time I don't find anything I'm interested in, but some of my best guns have been bought at gunshows for a fraction of what they would have cost new. I've also sold or traded quite a few for a good bit more than I paid for them.

I helped a guy out with rent money a few years ago by buying his Colt 1911 for $250. Six years later I got $650 for it in a trade on a rifle I really wanted. Just be patient, don't get insulted easlily and learn how to play the games. There are lots of deals out there if you know where and how to look.

At least in the Cleveland area, if you want a decent selection and reasonable prices, gun shows are your ONLY choice.

Local gun store prices are typically astronomical, and selection average to poor. In the past, customer service has sometimes been miserable.

GOOD gun books? Forget ANY store in the Cleveland area, ESPECIALLY now that Borders is going out of business. I buy Collector Grade books from one vendor who goes to the Berea gun show.

I would guess if you have a negative attidude going in, you'll have a negative experience coming out.

Would any one expect a gun show, car show, camper show, or spring home improvement show with no crowds? No expense to attend? Low cost tables? Do you think the facility rent if free?

As to the other items not addressed, what are you looking for that you can never find.

The gun show was the internet of the 20th Century.

"No where to sit"............. It`s a Gun Show, move along.

"No return policy" Buyer beware!

"Cost to much to get in." What`s the cost of a movie ticket these days?
Only option. Don`t go.

"Tables full of non-gun crap".. True. Lots of really cheap knives.

" Looking for something specfic." May take more than one visit.

"over priced guns." True. But you don`t have to buy.......anything.

Don`t like Gun Shows? Stay home and catch up on your ..."honey
does!"

I've been to several gun shows in the last year and have found much better deals than my LGS. YMMV

It's seven dollars to get into the major one near me. For that I get to hold and fiddle with a wide variety or firearms and accessories local gun shops don't carry. So for me, I take the "show" part literally, and look at things but don't buy, as they are severely overpriced in most cases.

That being said there are deals to be had, $12 PMAGs out the door was the last good deal, then $6 a box PMC Bronze .223 which is two dollars less then I can get it around here.

It's worth every penny to go in with my wife, have her look at the guns on the table, and have the guy behind the counter say "here's a nice lightweight 2" snubby for you, the ladies like 'em" and have her counter with "But the 2" won't give you a great sight picture or maximum velocity. Besides, I shoot a Beretta Laramie now..."

Good answers already given above. I will just add, stop whining.

Last month I went to a small local gun show. Sold three guns, two at very decent prices. And got a great deal on a new Sig. What's not to like?