Tulsa gun show

[Larry in wyoming]

I haven't been to a gun show in years. The ones around here are just a joke same old stuff by the same old vendors and everything priced at msrp or more.

I got an email that the Tulsa show is this weekend. I've heard it is (or at least was) quite the spectacle. I don't have anything pressing going on this weekend, and the idea of getting out of town is appealing.

Is the Tulsa show worth the effort? I'd just be wandering around and looking.

 

[unspellable]

Look up the details. It's so big you won't be able to see it all. I ran the numbers once and it's two days, ten minutes at each table, no time out for a hot dog or potty break.

 

[BushMaster-15]

Look up the details. It's so big you won't be able to see it all. I ran the numbers once and it's two days, ten minutes at each table, no time out for a hot dog or potty break.

Kind of takes the fun out of browsing doesn't it

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Ok so dad and I went as normal people just to scope it out in 2021 and it was full of ridiculous overpriced hunting ammo like 600 bucks for a case of Hornady 150gr SP 30-06 lol. And tables cost a pretty good amount per table and if you don't go every single time, you get really crappy tables and spots apparently... So we decided it's not worth it. We do go to shoes in Tulsa but not the big one. We usually do the Oklahoma Gun Shows a couple times a year up there.

 

[anothernewb]

One of the local guys that comes in to the range a lot runs a table there for Leroy Merz antique firearms. he says it's insane. According to him, you would only have seconds at each table - if you wanted to see everything.

but if you are looking for something specific. you'll be able to find it there.

 

[potmetal]

I've met guys at local gun stores who claim to find great bargains at the Tulsa show but they all agree, You need to plan to spend 2 days there to see everything. There are lots of dealers who are overpriced but there are others who are reasonable and worth the trip.
It's only a 3hr drive from here but I have never been there.

 

[BushMaster-15]

Ok so dad and I went as normal people just to scope it out in 2021 and it was full of ridiculous overpriced hunting ammo like 600 bucks for a case of Hornady 150gr SP 30-06 lol. And tables cost a pretty good amount per table and if you don't go every single time, you get really crappy tables and spots apparently... So we decided it's not worth it. We do go to shoes in Tulsa but not the big one. We usually do the Oklahoma Gun Shows a couple times a year up there.

That's predominately true of 99% of all sales venues . Established consistent sellers get premium tables with high traffic location ,they also pay premium prices unless somehow grandfathered in .

What has absolutely soured myself on gun shows is , now they're any type of trinket bobble toy jewelry or foreign oddity one can put out for a 15 second distraction ,while gun enthusiast must endure eye sores while browsing .
Some mental midgets buy guns on sales ,then try peddling them at shows for 30-50% mark ups ,praying no one else saw those original sales

When I see those clowns ,the old adage comes too mind . You can't fix STUPID !.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Back in the 90's we lived near Tulsa and belonged to Red Castle Gun Club. The club had a booth at the show and for a 2 hour shift we got free passes and a place to stash what we'd buy. We also got passes from Joe Wanenmacher for helping on the Friends of the NRA fund raiser every year.
Good times and it was a big show even "way" back then.

 

[CapnMac]

If it's the Wanamaker Show, it's huge. Large enough to probably want to make a weekend of it. But, you will probably need to look to Broken Arrow or Catoosa, or Bixby for a motel room.
Whether it's "worth it" or not, is more subjective.
It will be a display of near-complete inventories of stuff. Like entire lines by various arms makers. (That might span a couple of tables, but somebody will have the one of everything.)
If nothing else, on Monday, if asked, you can say you say like 3000 tables of cool stuff.

Tulsa is not very scenic, but the people are nice. And there are some outstanding places to eat.

 

[Ignition Override]

Yes, it’s worth it.

What helps is to be disciplined….resolved to walk nonstop, but fairly slowly on the “first patrol”, taking photos of locations of “cool” items- to find during the Last patrol.

But you will probably be pretty turned off by many prices- unless you enter with a realistic attitude.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

If it's the Wanamaker Show, it's huge. Large enough to probably want to make a weekend of it. But, you will probably need to look to Broken Arrow or Catoosa, or Bixby for a motel room.
Whether it's "worth it" or not, is more subjective.
It will be a display of near-complete inventories of stuff. Like entire lines by various arms makers. (That might span a couple of tables, but somebody will have the one of everything.)
If nothing else, on Monday, if asked, you can say you say like 3000 tables of cool stuff.

Tulsa is not very scenic, but the people are nice. And there are some outstanding places to eat.

Yep, Tulsa food is a good plus. We try to get something that isn't in OKC each time we go up there. I did like seeing all kinds of cool stuff. Like I think Rock River was there when we went??

 

[SunnySlopes]

Tulsa is not very scenic, but the people are nice. And there are some outstanding places to eat.

I'm in Tulsa. Name some of these "outstanding" places to eat.

 

[lightman]

I have been to nearly 50 of them, so I would say its worth it. I usually cover the show in a day, but you can't do that if you stop to visit at every table. Wear comfortable shoes, take a pocket notebook to take notes in and if you see something that interest you ya better buy it. Lots of people carry a backpack with water and snacks.

 

[Sniper66]

Following this thread is making me nuts. I've been to almost every show in the last 20 years; missed one due to Commie Flu hysteria. I will miss this show because I came down with a rotten cold. Just do not have the energy. I hate not being able to attend and once again behold the spectacle of 4200 tables dedicated to the celebration of firearms.....only in America!! OK, so jerky is not gun related, but you get the idea, right?
Here's how I do it,,,usually. I help a friend set up his table and get a vendor badge. Most of Friday afternoon and evening vendors trade with and buy from each other. It is a breath-taking experience, commerce at it's finest. The only place I feel freedom more stongly is being alone in the woods with my gun. Support for firearms and shooting sports is everywhere in Tulsa. When I check into the local hotel I can walk to and from our room with a shotgun over my shoulder and pistol in my pocket and NO ONE BECOMES ALARMED. Instead a large sign hangs over the registration desk welcoming me to Tulsa. Imagine that.
You are right though. There are lots of overpriced firearms, abusive ammo prices, and obscene reloading component prices. There is a magical way of dealing with that though....just say no. But, where else will you be able to pick up and handle hundreds of guns that you can't even find anywhere else. And at least consider buying. I rarely pay asking price for anything at the show. Every vendor I know is willing to consider reasonable offers.
Would anyone argue when I say that the Tulsa Gun Show is worth every penny? If you would rather stay home and watch football; I'm afraid there is no hope for you.

 

[CapnMac]

Name some of these "outstanding" places to eat.

Cajun Eds and Nola's Creole are a couple of my downtown faves.
Knotty Pig is another of my faves.
Mom' Family Diner is not bad.
And, I've had good chow at Port City Diner--which is closer to Catoosa than Tulsa.
White River Fish was good, over in Broken Arrow.

I spent a year and a half making monthly trips out to Tulsa, if mostly out 21st closer to the Reservoir.

 

[Electricmo]

I’ve been to several fall and spring shows. Unbelievable the amount of tables and people to go along with it. I just went initially to say I saw it. When you first visit it will overwhelm you. No you can’t see everything. Yes there are a lot of high priced stuff. There is however deals to be found also. They have a directory of venders what they sell and where they are located in the building. It is really a very unique experience that can’t be described.

 

[Ignition Override]

Electricmo:

I never knew that they have a list of vendors and their items.
It would be cool if they gad a database where you could search for a certain type of gun.

 

[Mk-211]

I used to go to the Great Western at the Pomona CA fairgrounds.

8 miles of tables, walked the whole thing everytime in about 5 hours.

Walked it with friends, if you saw something you liked, you stopped and everyone else kept going.

When you saw the others, we always asked if there was anything worth seeing. Yes, keep browsing. No, walk back to a break in the tables and catch up.

Anything worth seeing twice, write down where you saw it and return. Some of the people there were... interesting!

The shows here are beanie babies, beef jerky and over priced everything now.

 

[SunnySlopes]

Cajun Eds and Nola's Creole are a couple of my downtown faves.
Knotty Pig is another of my faves.
Mom' Family Diner is not bad.
And, I've had good chow at Port City Diner--which is closer to Catoosa than Tulsa.
White River Fish was good, over in Broken Arrow.

I'm in Broken Arrow and used to patronize the White River Fish restaurant on Sheridan. But their quality of fish and meal prep declined.

The Broken Arrow WRF was pretty good when it opened but dropped off in quality. The fish is fishy, hush puppies oily, etc.

Knotty Pig is just another BBQ place. They're on every corner. Oklahoma's 3 basic food groups are salt, sugar and grease.

As to the gun show, here were a couple of observations by a couple guys on our state shooter's forum. "Prices are crazy .. full retail prices or overpriced on used guns .. 5 miles of walking looking for a deal on a 6.5 creedmoor and nothing lol .. you can buy from local stores cheaper without all the walking lol .. my big purchase was 200 rounds of 7.62X39 just because it was a brand I haven’t seen before and I collect random AK ammo brands"

"I went today. That show gets worse and worse every year. Same old people with the same old wore out lever guns and shotguns. Just not my thing. I go anyways just to people watch and see if I cant fall into a good deal on something"

The old man Wannamacher passed and his kids took it over. First thing they did was to raise table prices. Rows and rows of empty tables. That sort of thing.

I was thinking about going to see if I could find an 8 inch barrel for a Dan Wesson but didn't get around to it. Things like that, (i.e., unobtainable elsewhere) the show might be worth it.

 

[Larry in wyoming]

I ended up spending the day fishing here at home.