Attended the local gunshow yesterday morning

[doubleh]

My grandson, son-in-law and I planned to go but a sick wife made the grandson drop out. It was raining when we left. It was a 15 mile trip and the rain had stopped by the time we arrived. Admission was up a buck from previous shows. We found knives, lots of knives, but no jerky, only a very small amount of costume jewelry on one table, no cheap sunglasses, quilts or other non gunshow related things except some laser engraved wood plaques. Lots of plastic fantastic handguns and quite a few ARs plus some other black guns. Surprisingly there were quiet a few new revolvers scattered around and quite a number of older handguns and rifles. I saw a couple of revolvers I would really liked to have taken home but the prices were terrible. Prices on most items were from somewhat too high to extremely high on almost everything including quite a bit of ammo. Son-in-law found a decent deal on a 17 hmr Ruger precision rimfire and then moved over to huge selection of scopes and found one for a reasonable price to go on it. I walked out the door with only a Bushnell Scope Chief 4x scope I intend to put on one of my lever action 22 rifles. Its in great shape with crystal clear glass no mount ring marks, and only one tiny bright spot on the objective bell. It appears either unused or taken really good care of.

It was raining cats and dogs when we left and we made a mad dash to our vehicle. I had put my scope in the sack with his and the only things that got wet were he and I.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Sounds like a good time and you guys were able to find some things that you want.
Now, what is this "rain" thing that you mentioned..?

 

[jmorris]

I saw a couple of revolvers I would really liked to have taken home but the prices were terrible.

That depends completely on what side of the table you are standing. Now is a great time to sell things, it’s like people didn’t have to earn the money they are spending…

 

[doubleh]

Sounds like a good time and you guys were able to find some things that you want.
Now, what is this "rain" thing that you mentioned..?

I had to study for a time to determine what it was----and still is. It was raining when I got up this morning and is supposed to continue thru tomorrow. This was the driest year I can remember and now it rains when it is too late for any benefit and is detrimental for the farmers by keeping out of their fields for harvest. The soil is thin and clay like so it will have all evaporated by spring.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Been a dry Fall here, ponds are drying up and there's a Red Flag a fire risk around here. Deer season might be "interesting" this year..?

 

[Archie]

At least one gun show thread not of the world is ending theme.
Hope you and the son in law enjoyed the time of being together and out of the house. And yes, everything is more expensive this year.

 

[lionking]

At least one gun show thread not of the world is ending theme.
Hope you and the son in law enjoyed the time of being together and out of the house. And yes, everything is more expensive this year.

I also went to one last weekend, compared to the last one I went to in March this one had hardly the crowd, no standing in line, no crowd to wade through, I'd say attendance was half of what normally was in the past. Average price for .223 was .55 cents a round, average price for 7.39x39mm was close to $1 a round, a box of 50 rounds of 9mm averaged $20 a box, other less popular types of ammo well lol $2 to $3 dollars a round if not more. Tables upon tables of AR type rifles and semi auto Glock type guns. Two Mosin in the entire show priced at $550 each. The only deal of the day I found was $ $10 Magpul Ar mags.

 

[Archie]

I also went to one last weekend...

So what you're saying is the Gun Show was pretty much the same as all the local gun stores? I have no snappy comeback to that.

 

[Sniper66]

I'm debating going to the Wanenmacher Gun Show in Tulsa next moth, a show I wouldn't miss for the past 15-20 years. I still love the show, but having bought lots of stuff and reached the ripe old age of 76, I'm not trying to find that rare gun (I've found most of what I wanted) or the good deals on ammo and reloading (they do not exist anymore). Plus my back hurts if I walk more than15 minutes on concrete. Not sure it interests me enough now to endure the pain. Being old is a bitch.

 

[MedWheeler]

I still like them for a chance to get out of the house and fondle some hardware. The last time I bought a gun at one was in 2015, a Bulgarian PM for $275 OTD (solid gun, by the way; very pleased with it.) I did try to buy a NAA Mini in .22WMR at one in maybe 2019 or so, but the BCG was taking too long and the show was wrapping up. I've bought a hat here, a knife there, but usually all I've paid for is some time hanging out and maybe a drink and hot dog.

 

[TTv2]

I don't go to them anymore, but that's largely because the ones in the Northeast are terrible. From the sounds of it, when even New Mexico is having awful gun shows, then the gun show is dead because all it devolves into is overpriced generic common stuff like AR's, polymer pistols, and Mosins selling for as much as an SKS.

Accessories like mags, scopes, stocks, triggers, etc. have not gone up in price or had supply issues because the demand hasn't been there the past few years like it has for guns and ammo. The deal there is I can get better prices online and not have to leave the house and blow $8 in gas, plus pay an admittance fee.

 

[Remington1911]

I have not been in several years. Around here there is one gun show worth going to if you are looking for guns, and it is put on by collectors not the normal group.

Only time I go is if I am looking for powder or primers, I figure the entry is under the hazmat fee, so I come away a win.

Past that going to a gun show to buy a gun is just stupid......and it is going to get worse.

 

[SwampWolf]

The deal there is I can get better prices online and not have to leave the house and blow $8 in gas, plus pay an admittance fee.

"Online" (I hate the term) shopping has been the final nail to the gun show coffin. Too bad; I really miss the the excitement and deals gun shows commonly offered back in the day. I still attend a few though when my knee permits; nothing like being able to handle a gun in the flesh.

 

[lionking]

"Online" (I hate the term) shopping has been the final nail to the gun show coffin. Too bad; I really miss the the excitement and deals gun shows commonly offered back in the day. I still attend a few though when my knee permits; nothing like being able to handle a gun in the flesh.

Well that may being reconsidered now because when you factor shipping it can raise the price a lot for ammo for example, a 50 round box of 9mm may be $15 online but by the time shipping is added it became $30 for it, and now that places like gunbroker are collecting state taxes it may be cheaper to buy the same gun local or at a show after you factor the shipping, the taxes, the 3% credit card fee that many gunbroker sellers collect, and then the transfer fee also. So a $400 police trade in Glock on gunbroker becomes $ 530 after said and done.

What online is still good for is finding select items that would be hard to find local. For instance I have been searching for Fiocchi 10mm and the gun show or any local shops don't have it so online may be my only source.

 

[SwampWolf]

My lgs used to have a large inventory of used guns to look at, mostly from trade-ins, but no more. The store has found it much easier to find and sell to thousands of potential buyers "online" than they ever would from a smattering of local customers.