gun show prices

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

was reading some of the threads on the local gun shows. I can remember a time a few years ago, could find one or two at a fair price, now seems everyone wants new prices for worn out junk.

Once in a while will find something, but not very often,
I am not into plastic guns, or ar's, or ak's.
I picked up a good Ruger security six a few years ago, and a nice Taurus Judge a couple months ago, but that is about it
I will admit to seeing some Turkish shotguns at a pretty fair price

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I see better prices on gun broker or Buds

 

[CoalTrain49]

Everyone complains about gun shows but they keep going, looking for that special deal.

I used to go to those 20 years ago when a person could actually find a decent deal.

The last one I went to was about 10 years ago. Same old junk, same insane prices.

Maybe that's a local thing, IDK.

I buy my used firearms online now and have had good success. Just buy from dealers.

 

[tubeshooter]

I heard about a small show right in town recently.
A few vendors in a public venue.
Very rare; most shows are one town over.

I dropped by and was pleasantly surprised for what it was.
Spent a few dollars with a few vendors.
Thanked them all for coming and told them please visit again.


I'm glad they're still around.

 

[CapnMac]

It's going to be a mixed bag. "Gun show" is not a uniform thing, but something that varies by State, locale, and, especially, by promoter.

For instance, this weekend is Premiere's Original Fort Worth Gun show, which will be around a thousand tables over in Will Rogers Coliseum. Premiere is a good promoter and has a bunch of returning dealer/vendors. They are good about exploiting the show, too, so the public "draw" is good. Only real downside is having to pay to park--but, it's in the museum district of West University in FW, and parking is dear everywhere. in the area.

Have there been some deals? Sure, I've found a couple (even, foolishly, let some slip through my fingers). I think it's worth going, even if all I get out of it is an excuse to eat at a tasty FW restaurant.

Prices, by my obervations are way down from the ugly times of the Banic and of the couf. Are they the greatness of, say, the eary 90s? No, but nothing much is that cheap any more either.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

We have two major local shows and a couple small ones, so a relative embarrassment of riches, I suppose.
One of the big shows is owned by a large regional dealer. I met the owner/organizer years ago and he came off a as a pompous jerk. He is notorious for treating smaller vendors like dirt and fills up the whole center of the venue with his tables selling new plastic at full MSRP. Private sellers are discouraged and even harrassed.

The other show is run by a couple of cool guys and encourages private sellers and Mom n Pop vendors. Ya, there's a fair amount of wampum and jerky, but also lots of old stuff, milsurps, and estate finds. Asking prices are high, but usually highly negotiable as well.

I still like going to that show, especially with the kids who get a kick out of it as well. Just took my Granddaughter to her first show and she had a blast. My best memories of time with my Dad are scrounging shows in the Golden Era of milsurps. I hope my kids remember them fondly as well.

 

[earlthegoat2]

As I always say, I continue to go the shows but I treat them as more if a museum than a shopping experience.

Point is, I don’t go to the shows to buy guns. I go to buy other things you can still actually get deals on like old reloading manuals, old casting supplies and equipment, old reloading gear. Sometimes a gun will find its way home with me.

 

[jmr40]

You're not going to find deals on new guns at gun shows, they can't compete with the internet. I go to look and see stuff I normally wouldn't. I go to look when I go to a car show too, there is no expectation of buying a classic car. At least not for me, but I still enjoy looking at old cars and old guns.

Occasionally you'll find an older gun that is no longer in production at a fair price. For that reason only I usually take cash and occasionally a gun I no longer use or want to use as trade bait. I've actually had better luck selling unwanted guns at gun shows than I have buying guns.

I've been deer hunting since the 1970's and still haven't killed what I'd call a true trophy deer. I'm a bit proud of a larger than typical black bear that I killed 25 years ago. But I still hunt because I'm certainly not going to kill one sitting on the couch. Won't find those gun show deals if you don't go either.

Even back in the pre-internet days when gun shows had more deals I don't think I ever ran across a deal if I went looking for something specific. All good deals have been on something I wasn't even looking for but stumbled onto.

 

[jmorris]

I enjoyed going to them back in the ‘80’s and early’90’s. Clinton’s AWB seemed to give everyone the idea of asking stupid prices, because people pay them, especially when they are in a panic. I remember $150 10/22 ram line mags (same price as a new 10-22 at the time).

The only gun show I care to go to these days is the SHOT show and I’d probably go more often if it wasn’t in Vegas.

 

[EddieG54]

Our local east Texas gun shows used to be mostly private sellers and mom and pop dealers. The last few I have attended are made up of retail gun shops from the Dallas/Ft Worth area. Prices are in line with their over the counter sales but very few bargains. I still go to a few shows just to see guns not otherwise available and listen to my old hunting buddy talk about the S&W revolver he bought at a gun show for $100.00 back in the old days

 

[Choctaw]

Once the internet came along I pretty much gave up on gun shows.

 

[doubleh]

My LGS says he loves the two a year local small shows (small town, small show) because his business really picks up. People look at show prices and drive 3 blocks to buy the same thing at a better price from him.

 

[CapnMac]

The last few I have attended are made up of retail gun shops from the Dallas/Ft Worth area.

Some of my better "buys" have been from dealers from over near Tyler, Crockett, Palestine or the like.
Rock-solid folk (as is pretty common in East Texas) who are getting a chance to get their slow inventory in front of a larger audience.

I still go to a few shows just to see guns not otherwise available

Which is still the best reason to hit up "big" shows, to see things in greater variety than at the LGS.

 

[Vonderek]

Even the beef jerky is overpriced.

 

[Reinz]

Some of my better "buys" have been from dealers from over near Tyler, Crockett, Palestine or the like.
Rock-solid folk (as is pretty common in East Texas) who are getting a chance to get their slow inventory in front of a larger audience.


Which is still the best reason to hit up "big" shows, to see things in greater variety than at the LGS.

The Tyler show a few months ago was great! My first time back since 2019/20 when EVERYONE got greedy.

I’m too embarrassed to list the guns and custom knives I bought because I set a personal record on how much I spent. I’m still suffering from that shopping spree!

Mac, I agree about the Ft Worth shows in the 90’s, I always found great deals there.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I remember going to a Gun Show in Charlotte NC, Big Show, about 10 years ago. The were selling Mosin from the Crate for $169! Got a nice Tula

But I stained the Stock Walnut Brown… I’m very Sorry, I didn’t know better

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

last good thing I got from a gun show was a Ruger Security Six, 4 inch barrel, at what I thought was a good price. I go to the local shows here in Mobile, AL, and once in a while, can get a good deal, but most of those are from local people
our shows here still let private people show at the shows

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

But is not like before the AWB and the Clintons, some times you can find local buys , but most are dealers now, not like before

 

[Ignition Override]

Our shows no longer exist.
A certain “flavor” of Memphis politicians Closed down what we had called shows at Shelby Farms.

A really tiny show sometimes takes place in a small room in a Shriners bldg.

One day some of you guys will no longer be “troubled” by a true gun show in your area. You will be “Free at Last”….

 

[tws3b2]

I usually go to a couple gun shows per year. Mostly to just look because I've never found what I would call a good deal.
As for the Turkish guns. I bought a Sar b6 about a year ago at the lgs. Straight out of the box, no break in period needed, no need to go out and find the ammo that works best in it, eats every ammo that's put in it, more accurate than I am, not a single fail of any kind. $352 Now my favorite handgun.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I will say this, about the only really new guns priced where a working man can afford them seem to be coming from Turkey or the Philippines, and Brazil. Most of the European guns and American guns are way above 1 k,
But I will say the Henry rifles seem to be affordable now, but even their prices keep going up. Last new guns I got, a baby Rock from the Philippines, a Taurus from Brazil, a Rossi again from Brazil, and a new Henry
all weather, with a loading gate 45-70 with 18.5 inch barrel

 

[CapnMac]

At Saturday's Fort Worth Show, prices were stable, not too high over retail, no j=huge smoking deals, either.

Ammo is still over average, if very close to retail--but was in wider variety than in most retail situations.

Did see something that caught my eye, both Carbine and Garand prices at "less crazy" numbers. Plain jane--but good condition Inland Carbines for US$1200, whic his not an awful price given where inflation currently is. The less-common makers were over two grand, which is likely apt for National Postal Meter or Rockola examples in Good to Better condition. Garands--nice ones--were down to $1200 to $1600, a far cry from, say, a year ago.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

You do know that inland is building brand new carbines at about that same price level.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

If I wanted a shooter vice collectible, I would go with the new ones,

 

[Smokin Gator]

I've just bought one gun at a gunshow. I was looking for a S&W 586, preferring blued, or a 686 if I couldn't find the 586. Checked a couple of stores, none in stock. They didn't seem to be trying to hard to find one. Finally at a local gunshow an outfit checked with a distributor and they supposedly had around 10 in stock. I'd never dealt with them before. Walked around for a while then went back had them double check that it was the 686SSR model and ordered it. Not a great price but I got what I wanted. Had Apex tactical do their action work on it. Later found a prelock 586.