FlSwampRat
Member
So, has anyone gone to a gun show and not bought one single thing?
Asking for a friend.
Asking for a friend.
Gun show shopping
- Thread starter FlSwampRat
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Chevelle SS
Member
Yes.
FL-NC
Member
Yes, unless you are counting the ticket to get in and maybe a drink from the concessions.
BSA1
member
Yes.
My main reason for going to gun shows is trying to find those odd ball little parts and items where the shipping for them is ten times the cost of it.
My main reason for going to gun shows is trying to find those odd ball little parts and items where the shipping for them is ten times the cost of it.
.308 Norma
Member
More often than not.
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
Sometimes it is wise to not buy anything at a gun show. Sometimes certain vendors raise prices instead of giving you their everyday deal. So yes I can go with come out with nothing. A fool and his money are soon parted.
Sovblocgunfan
Member
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- 1,484
Yes. Unless you count the candied pecans and stuff.
AlexanderA
Member
Quite often I go with a shopping list, not find what I am looking for, but find something else that interests me. Or, more likely, leave empty handed. The Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia, has raised its admission fee to $15 (after the discount coupon), so that's cut down on the casual entertainment value. Chatting with old friends is part of the draw.
375supermag
Member
Yes...
Many times.
Some times I have bought a small item for next to nothing, other times I have bought multiple firearms for considerable sums of money.
All depends on what is available and the price, condition, how deep my pockets are, etc.
Generally, I look on gunshows as a form of entertainment. Just something to do. Doesn't really matter to me if I buy anything or not.
I get to look at a lot of guns, talk to people with similar interests and spend a couple of hours with my son.
Sovblocgunfan
Member
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off topic but funny story. many years ago I took my wife to her first gun show here in houston.
She got bored pretty quickly and I was my usual kid-in-a-candy-store self. She went and sat down in concession area and waited for me to be done.
I don't know what she had in mind when we went in there, but on the way to the car, she asked, "Where were the hot women?" I said, "Huh?" She proceeded to explain that she thought gun shows had hot women as models, like you sometimes see at car shows or other trade shows, but was surprised to see just a bunch of flannel shirts and some old farts. Since then, she couldn't care less.
She got bored pretty quickly and I was my usual kid-in-a-candy-store self. She went and sat down in concession area and waited for me to be done.
I don't know what she had in mind when we went in there, but on the way to the car, she asked, "Where were the hot women?" I said, "Huh?" She proceeded to explain that she thought gun shows had hot women as models, like you sometimes see at car shows or other trade shows, but was surprised to see just a bunch of flannel shirts and some old farts. Since then, she couldn't care less.
theotherwaldo
Member
Nope.
I've always found something that I wanted, needed or desired.
We only get six per year.
One is this weekend... .
I've always found something that I wanted, needed or desired.
We only get six per year.
One is this weekend... .
scott klaverkamp
Member
Over the years I've purchased literally hundreds of guns...on line, private collections, auctions, box stores, etc. I've only purchased two at a gun show and that was a long time ago. I rarely go now because of the way the gun show has evolved into an 'everything under the sun' show including tools, beaded purses, candles and so on. Being that, most of the prices are not realistic either.
Dframe
Member
Many Times
Double_J
Member
I usually go to buy either reloading materials to save hazmat shipping, or random small parts that disappear during "deep cleaning" or to go get random trinkets/jerky/kettle corn. I have not bought anything of real substance in several years due to the show's being an utter waste of time. The same vendors selling the same stuff over and over again.
.308 Norma
Member
I have a beautiful and loving wife. But at gunshows, she’s an enabler that sometimes encourages me to buy guns I’m only mildly interested in.
She’s not fooling anyone though. I know the only reason she’s encouraging me to buy another gun at a gunshow is because she’s feeling guilty about buying yet another piece of agate jewelry off some other table.
bobinoregon
Member
Some gun shows I go to have great deals on variety of stuff and I leave behind a lot of money. Others, everything is what I call optimistically priced and I just leave.
armedwalleye
Member
More often than not I buy nothing, or buy some spare magazines, small parts, get info on something from a vendor. I pay as much or more attention to folk walking around with guns to see if they are private parties selling, and have done better there than off the tables. Bought 2k rounds of ammo for a really good price once, then remembered how far out I parked. Got some much needed exercise as well...
Tommygunn
Member
Went to one Saturday. One guy was carrying a Model 71 Winchester in .348. It was quite nice. Might have made him an offer, but he was "carrying it for a friend" who wasn't present.
This was similar to the Winchester 1886 lever action, had a half-magazine, used but in pretty decent condition.
I might have bought a gun mountable laser rangefinder that was going for $150.00, but couldn't see how to mount the dang thing without obscuring the sights, and, I already have a pretty good rangefinder anyway.
This was similar to the Winchester 1886 lever action, had a half-magazine, used but in pretty decent condition.
I might have bought a gun mountable laser rangefinder that was going for $150.00, but couldn't see how to mount the dang thing without obscuring the sights, and, I already have a pretty good rangefinder anyway.
LiveLife
Member
Depends on the gun show and where it is held.
15-20 years ago, I used to buy all my powders, primers, brass and some bullets (projectiles) along with other shooting/reloading accessories at different gun shows but in recent years (Especially during the "Great Shortage" during Obama years), gun shows became overpriced with poor selection.
Now I buy all of my reloading components and guns/shooting accessories online due to lower price and convenience of shopping from the couch.
As another hobby, I collect vintage made in USA tools and bought some of them at gun shows but now I mostly browse ebay for better selection, condition and price.
THR has buy/sell/trade guns, reloading components and other accessories categories and often better than gun show selection, condition and prices (You can always negotiate too). Check out "THR gun show" and buy from members with good ratings (I have gotten way better than gun show prices on reloading components over the years from fellow THR members and didn't have to drive long ways in hot days walking through crowded buildings
) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php#trading-post.21
Hand guns - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/buy-sell-and-trade-handguns.22/
Rifles and shotguns - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/buy-sell-and-trade-rifles-and-shotguns.38/
Reloading components - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/buy-sell-and-trade-reloading-components-and-gear.50/
Seller ratings (Put member name in "Search") - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/rate-private-and-retail-transactions.24/
15-20 years ago, I used to buy all my powders, primers, brass and some bullets (projectiles) along with other shooting/reloading accessories at different gun shows but in recent years (Especially during the "Great Shortage" during Obama years), gun shows became overpriced with poor selection.
Now I buy all of my reloading components and guns/shooting accessories online due to lower price and convenience of shopping from the couch.
As another hobby, I collect vintage made in USA tools and bought some of them at gun shows but now I mostly browse ebay for better selection, condition and price.
THR has buy/sell/trade guns, reloading components and other accessories categories and often better than gun show selection, condition and prices (You can always negotiate too). Check out "THR gun show" and buy from members with good ratings (I have gotten way better than gun show prices on reloading components over the years from fellow THR members and didn't have to drive long ways in hot days walking through crowded buildings
) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php#trading-post.21Hand guns - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/buy-sell-and-trade-handguns.22/
Rifles and shotguns - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/buy-sell-and-trade-rifles-and-shotguns.38/
Reloading components - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/buy-sell-and-trade-reloading-components-and-gear.50/
Seller ratings (Put member name in "Search") - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/rate-private-and-retail-transactions.24/
Last edited:
AlexanderA
Member
Not off-topic at all. You actually raise an important point.
Wives tend to suspect the worst of husbands who go to gun shows. They may even suspect that you are not going to the gun show at all, but that it's an excuse for some illicit meetup. Taking them to the gun show will put their worst fears to rest.
Although, I have to say, some vendors at gun shows do have hot women tending their tables. Just hope that you do not have your wife along on such occasions.
OP
OP
FlSwampRat
Member
Well on Sunday it was Morty and his venison and bacon jerkies.
theotherwaldo
Member
Now that the desirable milsurps have dried up I've been picking up the contemptible ones at the gun shows. Last time, I picked up a pristine Carcano "Type I", the one before I got a Jinsen Type 99 with a scrubbed mum, before that it was a Finn-marked Model 38 Carcano in 7.35.
Total price was $400.00.
I'm satisfied.
Total price was $400.00.
I'm satisfied.
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