Minnesota gun shows worth it?

[billsnogo]

I am thinking about going to the state fair show tomorrow, but from the last two shows I have gone two, I had mostly seen overpriced firearms, and only a small handfull of deals. So for those of you who go to buy more than browse, are they worth it?

 

[Srigs]

The state fair show is worth it. I also like smaller shows away from the twin cities where you can find some good deals.

 

[average_shooter]

I went to the Colliseum (sp?) show a few weeks back. It was pretty nice, didn't buy much, but saw some decent deals. Definately better than the smaller show at my local armory.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Buy-buy-buy!

a small handfull of deals

Just how many good deals do you need in order to make your day? One usually has to winnow quite a bit of chaff to find the wheat; that's true everywhere. Good deals just aren't going to jump out of the bushes and grab you by the ankles. You can't go to a gun show with a shopping list of "must buys" or you WILL be disappointed. It just doesn't work that way.

If you have something you have to have right now, you call up Midway's website, or SOG, or the CMP, or such, and you pay full retail. Plus shipping. And you get that must-have right now.

A gun show simply is not a buying trip, or if it is, you're gonna pay a premium for the privelige.

Hey, if it was easy, any idiot could do it. And nobody would appreciate it.

(BTW, thx to Jim Cramer for the title of this reply.)

 

[dleong]

Good deals on new firearms at the MWCA gunshows are rare. If there's a gun I'm interested in, I'll fondle it at the gunshow and, if I like it, order it online at a much better price.

I do, however, pick up a lot of reloading supplies at these gunshows. Brian at the Wolf's Den table usually has good deals going on them.

 

[mnrivrat]

+ 1 on what SJ just said

If you are going to the gun shows expecting to always get a bargin on what you specificaly are looking for then I can see why there would be disapointment.

A bargin is just a bonus if you find one.

 

[Rev. DeadCorpse]

I haven't been to an MN show yet, but I regularly hit the Saxet show here in Austin, TX. Sometimes, it isn't even about buying anything. It's a chance to go look at the toys, talk with other gun culture folks, and get out of the house for a bit.

Most of the stuff I do get at the shows are things like primer, powder, springs, and maintenance items.

 

[bucktail]

I view gun shows for entertainment more than for buying, especially when it comes to guns. Not to say that there aren't deals to be had, but by the time you figure in your gas and time, it doesn't pay to go if you aren't enjoying yourself. I haven't been to any in the metro area, but like the Pine City and Wells shows. The Sioux Falls shows is also very nice if going out of state.

 

[repsychler]

I always liked going to the shows at the Anoka armory. I went to the fairgrounds show once, didn't see anything that would make me drag myself down there again.

 

[Richmond]

Not to say that there aren't deals to be had, but by the time you figure in your gas and time, it doesn't pay to go if you aren't enjoying yourself.

And if you can't enjoy being in a huge building full of guns, looking at guns and talking to like minded folk about guns - what can you enjoy!