Cold morning at the Gun Show, Florida.

I have been a gun show followers for decades. Maybe I am just becoming a picky old Wrangler. But it seems the gun show are getting more like "Flea Markets" every year.
I will make the UGA Gun Show in Ogden, Ut. this Sunday. It is put on by the Utah Gun Collectors Association twice a year.

No point in going to a gun show when I get order my beef jerky, used romance novels, and beanie babies online from the comfort of my own home.

Yep....

I've noticed the "quality" at gun shows decline as well. I reckon there are still occasional deals to be had out there, but the shows don't seem as exciting. I don't know why. Between that, the increasing admission fees and restrictions on carrying, I frequently take my business elsewhere. The last one I attended was four(?) years ago when I was told a vendor had some handloading components I was looking for.

Is the Port Charlotte show a “Suncoast” show? I like their Tampa and Bradenton shows.

I always find something I can’t live without. An extra lower or something. At the very least

it’s fun to just hang out and look.

15 years ago you could go and find deals, not any more in my observations. If i need parts (no place around here carries parts for ANYTHING other than AR's) I just order online. I want to support my local guys and buy from them, but they have no intentions of stocking anything I want/need. Try finding a 1911 part of pretty much any kind other than grips around me and good luck. I couldn't find a recoil spring and guide rod within 50 miles of me. The gun show last weekend probably had it, but for an 18 dollar entrance fee for me a my daughter to look for it I just ordered from Wilson Combat and got a free sticker and no tax to boot.

Holy smokes, it's time for our monthly gun show bashing thread again?

Said it before, and I'll say it again: we'll all miss 'em when they're gone -- and our cause will be worse off -- when there are no more gun shows. Where else can you hang out with a few hundred like-minded folks all on one weekend morning?

I pay 40 bucks a year as a member of the Washington Arms Collectors, can go to any of about 20 or 22 shows a year, buy, sell, trade, get a free table ... and our shows still have lots of guns. Sure there's the jerky, but never seen any beanie babies (whatever the hell those are) or used romance novels. Perhaps our standards are higher up here ...

As for having to zip-tie one's carry piece open, I can live with that for a little bit. Too many violations of Rule #1 (and too many guns that were supposed to be unloaded) at gun shows.

I went to my first gun show in a while a couple of weeks ago. Wasn't looking for anything in particular. A fellow was walking around with a Ruger 77/22 with a Burris rimfire scope on it. I asked him if he had just bought it or if he had it for sale. He said he didn't squirrel hunt anymore and was selling. I asked what he wanted for it and he replied "$900.00, they don't make them anymore." Well, I didn't buy it and the last I saw of him, he was walking out the door with his rifle.

I saw a Browning Micro Medallion in 7MM08 that piqued my interest. Dickered with the guy awhile but neither of us moved to much from out original offer so I left without it. Sure was a pretty rifle tho.

There is one nearby this weekend and I may go tomorrow. Haven't decided yet. I enjoy them even if I do have to lock my carry piece in the trunk of my car before entering.

psyopspec said:

No point in going to a gun show when I get order my beef jerky, used romance novels, and beanie babies online from the comfort of my own home.

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Don't forget the T-Shirts, Nazi trinkets, cheap jewelry & reloads by bubba in the still.

Old Dog said:

Holy smokes, it's time for our monthly gun show bashing thread again?

Said it before, and I'll say it again: we'll all miss 'em when they're gone -- and our cause will be worse off -- when there are no more gun shows. Where else can you hang out with a few hundred like-minded folks all on one weekend morning?

I pay 40 bucks a year as a member of the Washington Arms Collectors, can go to any of about 20 or 22 shows a year, buy, sell, trade, get a free table ... and our shows still have lots of guns. Sure there's the jerky, but never seen any beanie babies (whatever the hell those are) or used romance novels. Perhaps our standards are higher up here ...

As for having to zip-tie one's carry piece open, I can live with that for a little bit. Too many violations of Rule #1 (and too many guns that were supposed to be unloaded) at gun shows.

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The LAST THING I WANT TO SEE IS GUN SHOWS TO GO AWAY, but I would like to see them return to a place that you can find decent deals, parts for what you need and stuff you don't see every day. Around here they are a place to gouge new buyers that think that gun shows are still like they use to be. My 4 year old daughter LOVES them and I like taking her to them. But if you are setting up just to mark your wares for over MSRP to sell to uniformed buyers, why bother. I think now that the political climate has settled in our favor for the time being we might see it go back to closer to what it was in the past. I love hanging out with like minded folks and trading and haggling, but when you frequent shops around you and then see the same shops set up and jack up the prices and tell tall stories to folks about the stuff for sale I just shake my head.

The gun shows were started by gun guys. The dealers back then only carried new guns no one wanted. The shows of the 1950-1960 era was a place to buy trade and learn from others.
The Pawn Brokers Associations Lobbyist got Clinton to ban us from using National Guard Armorys and required an FFL. It has been taken over by mostly "Hack" dealers who do not support us or the NRA. Just my thoughts and they carry a small value.

Think about the accidental discharges at several gun shows over the last few years.

With the urge for people to pull out their handgun (to try a new mag or holster-try to imagine.....) they are almost always loaded, and I don't want to be shot by some careless Gomer Pyle who thinks that he can Not make a mistake..

As for the large Dallas Show this spring, hope that a trip there will take place.
Kind of hard to handle an unfamilar gun type through a computer, or DA trigger feel, or use a bore light.

When my boys were younger the gun show was a good day out, not any more expensive than doing anything else, with no intention of buying any guns.

Gun shows are a good place to buy ammo, mags, and other gun parts as opposed to online, absent shipping fees – and reloading supplies absent hazmat fees.

When asked if I'm carrying a firearm, I simply state no and proceed into the arena. Haven't had a problem, and yes I'm a CCW carrier and have been for over 40 years, the only time I won't carry is in a courtroom, which is just about non-existent these days. All they can do is make you leave, and if you are carrying concealed properly no one should even notice without a pat down.

Woolworth is gone. Sears is closing even more stores. Macy is closing stores and laying people off. The Internet is killing off more than just gun shows and taking the "good deals" with them. It seems like you can overprice just about anything and put it on the Internet and someone wants one of those bad enough to overpay for it.

With that said, I have a great time at the local gun shows in Greenville, SC. I can always find a deal. I recently found and bought a Ruger LCP Custom for the same price I found on the Internet and I was able to walk out the door with it. Same day I bought a beautiful suede gun rug with lambs wool lining for a great price and I almost bought two original design Leatherman multi-tools in near perfect condition for an awesome price. I much prefer the original design to the new ones with all the gizmos and do-dads handing on them. If I had the cash I would have walked out with a Sig 938 Extreme. It was priced lower than anywhere I've sever seen it priced in any shop either local or Internet. And I feel like I have a better chance of stumbling across someone wanting to sell their SP101 chambered in that odd caliber (.327 Federal) the owner can never find ammo for who doesn't know what he/she has. There's a guy at that show who makes custom kydex holsters while you wait and he only makes them at the show. There's another vendor who sells nice leather holsters and he has one that will fit my Ruger Speed Six. Try to find that online and it may or may not fit. At the show I can slide the gun into the holster and check the fit. Did I mention knives? The vendors at the show have just about anything you can imagine and you can actually pick them up and feel them They feel a whole lot better in my hand than the do when I view them online. Throw in the other odd items here and there and I still get a kick out of the local shows.

As for having to leave my carry gun in the car, well there are a lot of other places I can't carry either so I play the odds and take my chances.

I Override, The Dallas show is OK. I always look out the Big window toward Dealey Plaza. The Old Texas School Book Depository reminds me of the those Dark Days.
It looked like we would lose the 2nd Amendment after the JFK assassination. And I turn around 50 years later standing in a Big Texas gin show. All is Right.

Gun Show=retail... no fun or worth my time anymore,I shop elsewhere

I really used to look forward to the two Houston Gun Collectors shows every year. Until about 4-5 years ago you could find great deals on used firearms and accessories but that all has changed. The one in January '15, at the height of the big ammo scare, it was absolutely insane. CCI .22 Mini Mags at 20-25$ per 100 rds. 9mm and .45 APC $30 a box and people lining up with cash in their hands to buy it. Can of Coke $3.50, bottle water $.3.00, Nacho's $12.00 all of this on top of a $10 entrance fee. Screw that. Gave it one more try last summer. Went on a Saturday afternoon. About half the hall was filled., Lots of crap like cheap knives, old coins, antique china and glassware. Left after 1/2 hour.
I do patronize the local shows they have here in town. Usually at the VFW or civic center. Probably around fifty vendors but many are open to a little bartering. Picked up a H&R Pump .12 ga. with heat shield, leather sling and swivel stock for $175 and a WWI era Spanish Mauser in "good" condition for $150 at the show last spring. Also usually run into old friends while I'm there so that's always a plus.

Dog Soldier:
The only two fairly large shows I've attended were the National Arms Show, near ATL Airport about five years ago, and the Ft. Worth show, New Year's Day maybe four years ago.
Looking fwd. to the Dallas Market Hall, because it's Very Big and on the way to my elderly mother-in-law (89), A career Quartermaster widow at the A.R.C. in San Antonio (near Randolph).

Tulsa's Wannemacher show is out of the way for us in west TN. All I request is the chance to see Many tables...hopefully a few lower-cost. (?), mod. worn Russian/Romanian SKS (in one bldg.), or several military Makarovs, maybe a 'spare' stamped/milled Mak 90. Post Nov 8th, maybe less increase in prices than anticipated, less demand.

Fort Myers is a Suncoast show - Port Charlotte is a 2 Guys show.

I went to the most recent Fort Myers show expressly to buy a safe - I won't be back for another year until I get the urge again to see the same vendors with the same stuff at retail or higher prices to remind myself why not to go to another one for another year. I don't think the vendor lineup has changed in years.

This was the show that had a negligent discharge in the parking lot recently with a guy reloading his CCW - shot himself and a friend with the same bullet. Personally I'm glad that they don't allow carry in the show - there is ZERO muzzle discipline in those shows. I'm sure plenty of people don't declare and are carrying anyway, but it's disheartening to see the unwashed masses of gun owners picking up and dry firing displays pistols etc with no regard for the fact they're pointing them at someone a few rows away.

iPrior to 1968 a gun show was like Disney Land in comparision to today.
Many "vendors" were simply folks who wanted to clean out their closet of stuff they no longer had a use for. Guns sold for whatever they brought in the area of the show. Partial boxes of ammo were plentyful, and so was misc hunting gear.

No paperwork to do as we still had a second amendment fairly intact yet. It was cash and carry. There were always bargins to be had.

Military surplus guns were plentyfull and cheap. Old muzzle loaders were cheap as few wanted them. There was always something to buy.

I seldom go to a show now, and when I do I have no expectations of buying anytheng. I visit old friends, and can still intertain myself by looking at prices and getting a good chuckle because I bought what I needed in the 60's and 70's .

And recall going to a local police sell off of their obsolete duty guns. Both Colt and S&W's in .38 special thrown in a box to pick thru at $15 ea. (cash and carry)

dirtman said:

they are not stopping anyone who is carrying illegal...... So we all become a soft target..... just totally bass-ackwards.....

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Your probably right there. It would be pretty east to walk in a gun show with gun, unzip-tie it load up and make a mess.
I guess the promoters figure that its more likely that some dumb-f—k will screw up and accidently shoot someone. So zip um up or leave them in the car.

My favorite part is walking past the "No Firearms......please check CCW at the door" signs in order to get to the multitude of booths selling the "cold dead hands" nonsense while giving out the "victim zone" "I won't patronize your establishment because you prohibit firearms" cards. Either you live the mantra or you're a hypocrite if you are profiting from it.

I don't understand the OP's concerns. Charging admission, and asking attendees to unload and zip-tie their weapons, have been par for the course at gun shows for a long time. Look at it from the point of view of the gun show promoters -- how are they going to stay in business, and continue to provide us with quality gun shows, if they don't do these things? The legal liability if an unintended discharge occurs could bankrupt them. Zip-tying weapons has become the "industry standard" for "due diligence," and if they don't require that, it could be evidence of gross negligence on their part.

It's up to you if you want to patronize gun shows. If the admission price, the parking, the need to disarm, the beef jerky, the Beanie Babies, the cheap Chinese junk, etc., etc., bother you, by all means stay away. Speaking for myself, I know that my collecting hobby would be impossible without gun shows. If gun shows were to disappear tomorrow (which, after all, is one of the gun-banners' goals), there would be an awful lot of very upset people on our side.