NMGonzo
Member
I work on Sunday.
Sucks
Thanks for the link
Sucks
Thanks for the link
Going to my first gun show, hoping to buy my first gun
- Thread starter Meesh
- Start date
- Status
Meesh
Member
Deanimator, I've used both the Ruger SP101 and the LCR and MUCH prefer the LCR. I also used the Ruger LCP and also fired several Glocks, full sized semi-automatics and full size revolvers. I settled on the LCR because the recoil isn't bad for a small gun, even with my short experience I find my accuracy best with the LCR. The SP101 was so awful I traded it in for something else to shoot after just 25 rounds.
My husband works most of the weekend so we're going on Sunday, which is good. I do have cash, also good.
Thanks for all the posts!
Meesh
My husband works most of the weekend so we're going on Sunday, which is good. I do have cash, also good.
Thanks for all the posts!
Meesh
Okay, let's say $70 per table.
So in addition to normal overhead, you have the cost of the table, the cost of packing up and getting to the show and back, the cost of additional employee or else the cost of loosing sales at your closed store.
Hence, yes, a gun at a gunshow has a larger overhead than a gun in the display case at a gunstore.
Another factor is how humans act. Make a guy pay $5 to get in, and he feels like he needs to buy something, otherwise that $5 is wasted. Hence he often buys something he doesn't really need or at somethign other than a competitive price to offset his admission price, in the process really ending up $20 behind. (This is the same thing with $5 off coupons you get, it often gets someone who would never buy item X for $20 to buy item X rather than waste $5...but the end result is them wasting $15)
Don't go to gunshows to find deals on new guns at the tables.
Go to gunshows for entertainment
Go to gunshows for hard to find guns
Go to gunshows for deals on used guns from the walkins
Go to gunshows to piss of a liberal.
Don't go to gunshows expecting to find prices better than you would at the local gunshop or internet for a new gun.
P.S. you pay an aweful lot more for a glass of sodapop at the gunshow than you would buying a 12 pack at the grocery store...same model applies too.
DammitBoy
Member
I'm going to a gun show in Laurel, Mississippi today.
I expect to find a good deal.
Probably from a guy with several $55 tables who doesn't own a shop, who has his spouse and kid helping him with his tables. Which usually represents half of the 250 tables I'll look at today.
I'll find better prices than my local shops because they are overpriced.
I'll find better prices than the internet because I won't have to pay shipping or ffl transfer fees.
I'll be better able to haggle if I find more than one of what I'm looking for and use it to get a better price.
I'll be able to get a better price by getting the guy to eat the taxes as part of the bargain.
Should I believe you or my lying eyes?
I expect to find a good deal.
Probably from a guy with several $55 tables who doesn't own a shop, who has his spouse and kid helping him with his tables. Which usually represents half of the 250 tables I'll look at today.
I'll find better prices than my local shops because they are overpriced.
I'll find better prices than the internet because I won't have to pay shipping or ffl transfer fees.
I'll be better able to haggle if I find more than one of what I'm looking for and use it to get a better price.
I'll be able to get a better price by getting the guy to eat the taxes as part of the bargain.
Should I believe you or my lying eyes?
One thing I haven't seen mentioned. If you do buy from a gun show and if there is a waiting period to get it (3 days in Florida). Where is this dealer located (gas & travel time)? Will he have to ship to a FFL (shipping + ffl transfer cost)?
I did the same thing as you, expecting to get the best deal at the show - it was the opposite!
The best thing it did was let me "feel" a few different models to help make up my mind.
I ended up going locally to one shop (after browsing at several in my area). Not only did I get a fantastic deal, but I've got great service near me should I need it. Also, you will want to buy more guns soon after, so locally is better IMO.
Hope this helps!
I did the same thing as you, expecting to get the best deal at the show - it was the opposite!
The best thing it did was let me "feel" a few different models to help make up my mind.
I ended up going locally to one shop (after browsing at several in my area). Not only did I get a fantastic deal, but I've got great service near me should I need it. Also, you will want to buy more guns soon after, so locally is better IMO.
Hope this helps!
Meesh
Member
Okay, we're back and happy from the show. I did get my Ruger LCR, I paid $430 cash for it, which is a little better than $100 off retail at the local shop and online.
Guess a Virginia gun show is more fun than a Florida gun show because the background check was done in 45 minutes and out the door we went, gun in hand (well, in a box in hand)!
Guess a Virginia gun show is more fun than a Florida gun show because the background check was done in 45 minutes and out the door we went, gun in hand (well, in a box in hand)!
DammitBoy
Member
The show in Laurel was great. I was looking for a Ruger Blackhawk used, in good shape, in .30 carbine.
I found four at the show, all on different vendor's tables. The price tags ranged $400-$600. The highest priced one was a three screw, and the lowest priced one was a new model in good shape, but had some slight surface rust on it.
I haggled with the guy over the fact it was dirty and had some rust on it, he agreed to an 'out the door' sale price of $375.00 plus a 20 round box of ammo for it. I bought it, the instant background check took 15 minutes and I went to a table that sold magnesium wool and used their sample to clean the rust off of the barrel.
The pistol cleaned up great, I got a good deal, and I was able to buy some supplies and ammo from several different vendors. I found three 50 round boxes of .30 carbine military ball for $25.00 per box - another great deal.
I wonder how that happened?
I found four at the show, all on different vendor's tables. The price tags ranged $400-$600. The highest priced one was a three screw, and the lowest priced one was a new model in good shape, but had some slight surface rust on it.
I haggled with the guy over the fact it was dirty and had some rust on it, he agreed to an 'out the door' sale price of $375.00 plus a 20 round box of ammo for it. I bought it, the instant background check took 15 minutes and I went to a table that sold magnesium wool and used their sample to clean the rust off of the barrel.
The pistol cleaned up great, I got a good deal, and I was able to buy some supplies and ammo from several different vendors. I found three 50 round boxes of .30 carbine military ball for $25.00 per box - another great deal.
I wonder how that happened?
I recommend finding a table that is for a dealer that is WITHING YOUR DRIVING DISTANCE. Once you get bit by the bug and decide to buy more and more guns, it is very important to have a working relationship with a reputable shop that will honor service and warranty work, and assist you as you get into the sport. Find a table that has friendly courteous, and knowledgeable people that is again, within driving distance, and don't worry about thirty or foury dollars in price. Haggling for bottom dollar gets you bottom appreciation from the seller. That's okay if its a hit and run you never want to see them again deal, but hey, if you want to get into guns, and build a relationship with a trusted dealer, start off on the right foot. Find the right table, the right people, pay what they want for the gun, and since you'll be doing lots of practice shooting in the near future, AFTER you agree to retail purchase price fo the gun, you can ask for a free cleaning kit if you buy a case of ammo, or ask for a free spare magazine if you buy the cleaning kit or something. You come at them looking like a cheapo, they'll think of you as a hit and run buyer, and won't be there for you when you need a replacement part, a place to shoot, warranty help, advice, ammo, whatever...........
I'm not saying waste good money, I'm just saying don't be a cheapo when you're the new guy. Let them make a few dollars for their honest work, and if you picked them right, they should be the kind of people to reward you with excellent service, advise, and maybe even bigger discounts on future purchases.
Good luck, and welcome!!!!
- Quentin
Romans 10:13
I'm not saying waste good money, I'm just saying don't be a cheapo when you're the new guy. Let them make a few dollars for their honest work, and if you picked them right, they should be the kind of people to reward you with excellent service, advise, and maybe even bigger discounts on future purchases.
Good luck, and welcome!!!!
- Quentin
Romans 10:13
9MMare
Member
Meesh
Member
9MMare, not a huge jerky fan after overdoing it waaaaaay too much on a camping trip ;-)
I should be able to try it out today or, more likely, Wednesday afternoon.
Meesh
I should be able to try it out today or, more likely, Wednesday afternoon.
Meesh
DammitBoy
Member
theQman23 -
I've found that over the years of going regularly to the shows in my state, you get to know the vendors and they remember you as a buyer.
They appreciate a person willing to barter and dicker for a deal, as long as you aren't just blowing smoke up their butts. They want a buyer and don't mind haggling as long as you buy from them.
I've been offered better deals because I'm known as a guy who has bought from them before and will buy from them again.
Nothing galls a guy with tables at a gunshow more than the sightseeing crowds that are 'just looking'.
I've ordered stuff from vendors at a show and told them, 'just bring it to the next show and I'll pick it up' - with no problem.
This last show I went to where I found the .30 carbine ammo, when nobody had any on their table - was a direct result of what I'm talking about.
I went to a booth of a guy whom I had bought two S&W lemonsqueezers from. I asked him about .30 carbine ammo, because he specializes in irregular stock ammo. I hadn't seen any on his table, but thought I'd ask. He spent 15 minutes looking through boxes because he knew he had some. Then he gave me a great deal on the three boxes he found.
I've found that over the years of going regularly to the shows in my state, you get to know the vendors and they remember you as a buyer.
They appreciate a person willing to barter and dicker for a deal, as long as you aren't just blowing smoke up their butts. They want a buyer and don't mind haggling as long as you buy from them.
I've been offered better deals because I'm known as a guy who has bought from them before and will buy from them again.
Nothing galls a guy with tables at a gunshow more than the sightseeing crowds that are 'just looking'.
I've ordered stuff from vendors at a show and told them, 'just bring it to the next show and I'll pick it up' - with no problem.
This last show I went to where I found the .30 carbine ammo, when nobody had any on their table - was a direct result of what I'm talking about.
I went to a booth of a guy whom I had bought two S&W lemonsqueezers from. I asked him about .30 carbine ammo, because he specializes in irregular stock ammo. I hadn't seen any on his table, but thought I'd ask. He spent 15 minutes looking through boxes because he knew he had some. Then he gave me a great deal on the three boxes he found.
FROGO207
Member
DammitBoy
Where are you getting those 30 carbine Black hawks. The last one I purchased was a 82% new model for $240.00 this year, but did not get any other things with it.
Well there was the set of presentation grips it came with.
I didn't even spend $400 for my lightly used Universal 30 carbine I got 2 yrs ago.
Meesh
Good score on that LCR. Go and ventilate some targets ASAP.
Where are you getting those 30 carbine Black hawks. The last one I purchased was a 82% new model for $240.00 this year, but did not get any other things with it.
Well there was the set of presentation grips it came with. I didn't even spend $400 for my lightly used Universal 30 carbine I got 2 yrs ago.Meesh
Good score on that LCR. Go and ventilate some targets ASAP.
DammitBoy
Member
The box of ammo I got was corbon hollowpoints - which sells for about $40.00 at midway usa - if you can even find any - it's usually on backorder.
I was and I'm still pleased with my buy - it's a good deal, even without the ammo. You can check any site like gunbroker.com and used 7.5" barrel 30 carbine blackhawks are going for $350-$600 easily. New ones start at $425.
If you got one for less than $250 you robbed somebody or found a fool.
I was and I'm still pleased with my buy - it's a good deal, even without the ammo. You can check any site like gunbroker.com and used 7.5" barrel 30 carbine blackhawks are going for $350-$600 easily. New ones start at $425.
If you got one for less than $250 you robbed somebody or found a fool.
9MMare
Member
Did you try it, did ya?
Meesh
Member
No, yesterday was a day from hell for me, everything that could go wrong did, pretty much. So when it was over I just stayed in. But this weekend for sure!
Meesh
Member
Alright, finally got to the range and fired my new Ruger LCR. Very awesome gun, I think I'll really enjoy it.
Been carrying it around the house in a SmartCarry holster, just "practice" as I am waiting for my CCW permit to arrive. But want to get comfortable with it as I will likely carry.
Been carrying it around the house in a SmartCarry holster, just "practice" as I am waiting for my CCW permit to arrive. But want to get comfortable with it as I will likely carry.
9MMare
Member
Very cool! A revolver seems so bulky to carry like that...isnt SmartCarry down within your waistband? Like, way down?
Cosmoline
Member
I think you may be thinking of the LCP, not the LCR
Meesh
Member
It's not too bulky. I'm sure the LCP would be a little more comfy, but I like a revolver, and it's quite small.
you're lucky
Wow, you're lucky. Only 45 days? It took them NINE (9) months to process my application here in Texas.
If you're buying a new gun, just make sure you have a bill of sale so that you may have it warranteed by Ruger. If you're buying used, shine a light into the barrelll (make sure it is unloaded, no round in chamber!) to make sure it looks clean (no pitting, no corrosion). Rack the slide to make sure the action feels smooth, examine the firing pin area to make sure it has no corrosion and the pin looks intact and whole. Put a dummy round in and pull the trigger to make sure you hear the right "snap" sound. Also, if it is a used gun ask the seller if you could get a written guarantee that you could bring the gun back for a refund if it is non-functional. Get the seller's FFL info to keep on record, too.
Wow, you're lucky. Only 45 days? It took them NINE (9) months to process my application here in Texas.
If you're buying a new gun, just make sure you have a bill of sale so that you may have it warranteed by Ruger. If you're buying used, shine a light into the barrelll (make sure it is unloaded, no round in chamber!) to make sure it looks clean (no pitting, no corrosion). Rack the slide to make sure the action feels smooth, examine the firing pin area to make sure it has no corrosion and the pin looks intact and whole. Put a dummy round in and pull the trigger to make sure you hear the right "snap" sound. Also, if it is a used gun ask the seller if you could get a written guarantee that you could bring the gun back for a refund if it is non-functional. Get the seller's FFL info to keep on record, too.
Meesh
Member
It's new. I have the receipt, it was a cash sale. And since it's a revolver, no slide to rack, obviously.
- Status
