Do you avoid Gunshows?

[orangeninja]

Another thread started regarding the outlandish behaviour of a gunshow dealer got me to thinking. I have been invited to 3 different gunshows in the last several months and everytime I find myself saying no thanks or "I hate those things" which is odd cause I love shooting and like looking at new and different stuff.

Truth be told I have been put off by gun show slobs, extremists and nonsensical table top commando know it all's. The prices in the DFW Texas area are THE HIGHEST at gun shows and there will be several "capitalists" willing to take you at a moments notice. For instance, a $250 USED fixed sight Bulgy Makarove. Magazines, X-tra. PULEEEZZ. A $450 Ruger P95?

Have gunshows ALWAYS been like this?

 

[StephenT]

Gun shows are not a problem if you know the going price for guns and what you're looking for. Prices for Glocks and other common guns are generally $30-50 cheaper at the large dealers, sometimes even more. At the last one, there was a used G34 for $499 (new ones in stores go for $650+) and once I saw a CZ-75D PCR for $299 (didn't get it because I already own one). Gun shows are also a great place to find to hard-to-get stuff.

 

[jojo]

I must admit that I do somewhat. I didn't mind paying $3.50 and $4, but the last one I went to, last week, was $7!
I wont pay $7 just to go shop. Maybe if I have some items in mind, but even then, I'd have to think about it.

jojo

 

[jefnvk]

Gotta know what you are looking for, and how much to pay. Some things can be had for a good price. I picked up a beautiful Swedish Mauser for $175. I could have bought a crate of 1400 rds of Turk 8mm for $80. I would never really buy anything new from a gunshow, though. That seems to be where the price goes up, same with rarer things. Get those from a good reputable dealer.

The thign I really hate is when I go, and a quarter of the stuff has nothing to do with guns.

 

[RRTX]

I remember going to gun shows around here in the late 80's/early 90's with my dad and he always seemed to be finding good deals. The past few years however I have to agree with you Alduro, you can find better deals any day of the week at local shops or online. I go to the show at Will Rogers here in FW every couple months and it seems that the vast majority of dealers have the same exact guns they did the last time. The one place that seems to be an exception is Bachman, they always seem to have pretty good prices but I think you can get the same price from them anytime at their store in Dallas. The main reason I go to the shows at all anymore is to get a chance to handle various guns that I might be interested in without having to deal with salesmen, or to look for ammo/accessories. On the rare occaison I do find a decent deal I still usually leave without it because the majority of the dealers just ignore you.

 

[Art Eatman]

Lotsa times I'm just browsing, so when mostly looking for parts and pieces, the prices of new stuff doesn't bother me. The majority of dealers are pretty good folks; I've enjoyed many a bull session, here and there.

If I'm really trying to buy "right", I go on Sunday afternoon.

Heck, it's like anything: You gotta know what's going on. I've made some great deals on bullion, when some dealer is behind the curve a bit on the latest spot prices. I'm happy if part of a show is non-gun stuff. I've found some good Indian artifacts from time to time.

Gunshows are like any flea market: You never know what you'll run across.

, Art

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I love'm.

There is a local gun show about every 3 months here and 90% of the same dealers are always there. This means they have to be fairly polite if they want repeat customers. Most of these in turn have a storefront somewhere in central Florida. Combined together, this makes it easier to settle any issues you might have with a purchase.

Two things that I greatly hate about the local gun shows are having to pay for parking and pay to enter the show. It takes about $10 just to get in the door. Take your kids and a couple of friends and your pushing $50.

 

[Greg L]

No I don't avoid them but I don't actively seek them out either. Generally I use them as a way to pick up surplus ammo without the big shipping charges. As was mentioned, as long as you know the general prices of various items going in then you won't be taken & you might get a good deal as well.

Greg

 

[theCZ]

I got a good deal on a Model 94 30-30 right after I turned 18 (about 5 years ago), and later that summer I got a mediocre deal on a used winchester 1200 shotgun. Since then I haven't seen any really good deals, and I haven't seen any fair to midlin' deals on anything I was interested in.

 

[STORMIN29]

gunshows

Alot of times I go just to handle a firearm that I am interested in buying. See how it feels in the hand and try the trigger. If the price is right , Ill buy but with the big quantity of guns there, the choice is hard. I usually buy about two hours before the show closes on the last day. Sellers are alot easier to deal with and I have saved alot of money that way.

 

[USP45usp]

I go to look. It costs $5 and parking is free (for now).

I don't buy, I just look at the prices and compare them to what the locals are selling them for. I've yet to find a deal.

As for ammo, with a C&R and all, there are none. Even with S&H I get better deals online, especialy if there is a deal at the time.

I like to go and watch. I love watching people, of every color, of those that are Democrat and republican, of those who think themselves arm chair warriors. I enjoy them all.

I enjoy a smile when I see that AK on sale, will take ten round mags only, for just under $400. The AK that will take AK mags, just $699.00 don't ya know. That AR 15 for $1300, pre ban don't ya know, like the AWB isn't over. That post ban, only $1000.

Ammo, this kills me... only $200 for 1000 rounds of this or that.. on line, even with shipping, $150. You could buy the same ammo from Wal-mart if you were in the area.

Wayne

 

[frenchwrench]

I dodge 'em unless I'm looking for certain items.Last month I went for books.Picked up four books for $40.00 on line they would have been $75.00.
Good prices on powder and primers $11.00 perLb/1000. Just gotta be picky.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Shows up this way are getting worse also. Prices aren't any better than at a regualr shop. Don't really expect great deals but when you see items AT or even ABOVE suggested retail... :banghead: C'mon now.
There's a few I will go to and spend the $5 or $7 to walk around. I go mostly to see two specific dealers and see what may be different. I think what's turned me from them the most is the know-it-all attitude of everyone - dealers and patrons - and the amount of attendees that are just, well, "different". It's a good place to see a potential model I've been considering but other than that...


Oh wait, they are good places to pick up silver polish, super low quality knives/swords and left over flea-market junk.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Whenever I find myself in need of beef jerky, bobble head dolls, fake World War II medals, and rusty bayonets, I go to a gun show.

 

[snug]

I agree that in most cases that the shows are overpriced, But I go and look
and try to the odd and old stuff as well as being able to get parts and stuff my local dealers do not or will not carry, ie. AR-15 lowers the only place that I can get'em is at a show if the guy is'nt sold out!

 

[larryw]

For me the operative word is "show". Fun to go and BS with the local gunnies, fondle the toys, laugh at the asking prices, and maybe bring home some beef jerkey.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

In my area there is only one outfit doing shows. Those of you that live in Oregon and Washington know who I am referring to. It's kind of pointless to go to several shows when it's the same vendors and the same stuff. I try to hit the Portland and Eugene shows once or twice a year.
The execption is the Rickreall show. It's put on twice an year and is promoted by another outfit. Same ridiculous prices, different vendors and stuff. More old timey stuff at this show.

ZM

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

One of the best side reasons for going to the gun show, other than the possible deal that I may find, is the tons of handguns already on the table that I can easily pick up and see how they feel. To go through that many if a gun shop even had them all would take a long time. And anyways, it is always nice to get a laugh at the Carcano rifle with the "Buy the same type of rifle that killed JFK" sign, for "only" $300.

 

[ConcernedCitizen]

I do go to shows on occasion, but I generally don't go to buy anything. Usually it's just so I can look at all the new models at once. I can get better deals from my local dealers, and don't have to wait in line to fill out a 4473.

The reason I do go is for the Gun Culture. I just like to be able to talk to a bunch of like-minded individuals, and I also like the books. Some of the books at the shows are hard to find anywhere else.

Oh, and t-shirts are good, too.

 

[G1FAL]

I dont go very often, but thats usually for financial reasons more than anything else.

When I DO go, its for ammo and private party purchases, or to see if anyone at the show has whatever new thing I've been wanting to look at and acutally hold. The dealers,exhibitors, whatever you want to call them, they mostly irritate me. I understand that they're in there to make a buck, but could they PLEASE try and at least pretend that they dont think that everyone there except themself is a total moron who has no idea what they have or what its worth? Is that too much to ask? I dont like being offered $500 for a rifle that can easily fetch $800 any more than they like having someone haggle them for a box of .22 ammo. It's insulting. They try to do that, I offer to trade even-up for that $3000 FNC or AUG or whatever they've got sitting there. You want to insult my intelligence, two can play that game. Dont give me a song and dance, either. I want to sell whatever it is, I dont want your life story or an explanation of what you are hoping to do with whatever it is I'm selling. I dont care if you paint it purple with green polka dots and then worship it by the light of the full moon, as long as you pay a price that we can agree on. Stories arent going to sway me on the price, and if you irritate me, it just went up.

One of these days, I MIGHT take a drive to AIM or SOG, rather than hitting the shows or buying online. Dont know, though, because that involves not only having the money, but having the time. And I dont like to buy things in this state.

The jerky people gotta be making an absolute killing at gun shows. I know we buy some jerky at every show we go to.

You all see the article in the Dec 10 Shotgun News where the author actually encourages people to sell junk at shows? Like they havent degraded enough already, right? Let's just make things a little worse by convincing people that they should forget actually selling GUNS at a GUN SHOW.

 

[Jubei]

I stopped going to Illinois gun shows quite a while ago. They're nothing but oversized garage sales filled with everything BUT guns. I have gone to a few in Indiana and Wisconsin, usually a much better show.

Jubei

 

[Missouri Mule]

$5 entry fee is plenty especially for the shows around here.
I don't go to buy.
I go to look, shop and sometimes make an occasional small purchase.

 

[Tamara]

I like gun shows.

My loot from Saturday:

1 MAS 49 magazine: $10
1 box FNM 7.5 French: $9
1 box Federal Premium 6.5x55 140gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaw: $12
2 big hardback books (The Art of Warfare on Land and Guns At Sea: The world's great naval battles) $5/ea
1 Honkin' big bag of beef jerky: $5
Meetin' and greetin' old friends, pimping my new employer, seeing lots of cool guns: Priceless.

(Among other cool stuff I saw there: An ivory-gripped Bowen/Turnbull Vaquero, a gas trap Garand, an actual Arisaka sniper rifle...)

 

[Zach S]

I used to, but they got old. I dont go to the flea market to look for guns, why go to a gunshow that looks like a flea market? It cost me eleven bucks just to get in the door of the last one, and I cant even remember what I walked out with. Of course, everyone asking me "hey is that for sale" got really old really quick. I just got to the point where I assumed they were talking to someone else.

I dont like crowds either. Well, it not that I dont like them, I'm really uncomfortable in them. I spend too much time watching people instead of looking at whats on the tables. Thats not just at gunshows, but everywhere, the more I'm crowded, the more I watch people. I prefer to keep at least an arm's length between myself and anyone I dont know (and some people I do), which isnt easy at a gunshow.

Since Mom has me trapped in a white trash hell-hole, I cant afford to buy any firearms that catch my eye, there's no real point anyway, my dealer can get it to me for about the same price of not cheaper if its a factory gun.

 

[DigMe]

I don't go to many but I don't mind going. The ones to avoid are the monthly ones that pop up in the same places every month. Those are the small players who tend to have the same small selection of gun dealers over and over. I went to a pretty good one this year at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton. I had the usual jerky and gold but there were some decent tables with some pretty good prices and I got a much better trade than I could have imagined on my S&W Sigma .40VE.

THe only thing I didn't like about it was they had one guy allowed to sell ammo and he was outside the entrance.

brad cook