I will NEVER go to another gun show again

I never assume that my fellow human beings know what in the HELL they are doing. It has saved me a lot of problems. I too have found that there are far too many idiots at gun shows. Waving guns around and talking like they were in WWII, WWI, and The War of 1812. Great place to go if you are looking to buy a pair of pink handcuffs though.

I took a family shooting today. 2 parents and 2 kids. They own a shotgun that the woman got from her father and the husband has fired it once. Their daughter comes to my house all the time and they have decided they want to learn about guns. We shot 11different rifle and 4 pistols. There were no sweeps or accidental discharges. Just 4 people who now realize you don't need to be afraid of guns but you do need to be comfortable around them. I hope the safety lessons they learned will stick with them as they venture into the world of guns.

Day at the range > day at the gun show

I gave up on gun shows many years ago but not for the reasons you stated. The price of the gas, parking and admission negated any real savings.

Don't take my word for it. Look at the average person at your local range...Those are the same folks frequenting gun shows and giving advice on internet gun forums.

There are certainly pro's & con's to buying, selling, & trading at gun show. I personally like the anonymity that comes from trading at a gun shows. Placing ads in newspapers and social media can (and does) lead to home invasion, robbery, or worse. I also embrace the heightened police presence at most gun shows. Other than a few weekend cowboys handling firearms in an un-safe fashion, I feel fairly safe at most gun shows. Gun show crowds have a way to keep most of the morons in line

I've never had the desire to attend a gun show... with internet sales and FTF sales from the boards in conjunction with a few decent dealers that I developed a relationship locally in FL I assembled a nice collection.

I just haven't yet went out to try and find a dealer here in PA.

Although I haven't had the urge to buy anything -- yet.

rcmodel said:

Point it at the ceiling or something.
Just don't point it at me, my chest, or my head!!!!

I keep getting red-laser dots dancing on me at the Topeka KS shows from three aisles away.
That, or a mall ninja in baggy pants below his crack is jumping around and swinging a ninja sword in a crowded aisle like he was Bruce Lee or somebody.

Two three years ago, I no more then walked in the door when a dealer had a ND with a .45 ACP!

While laying on the floor, I was amazed how long the bullet ricocheted around the concrete exposition hall before it finally ran out of steam without hitting anyone!

rc

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Pointing it upwards is the logical answer and is what I've done but that doesn't help get a good feel for it. As crowded as the shows have become, unless there's a designated place, it's nigh impossible to do.

The only gun show I've been to worth a damn was the "Nation's Gun Show" in Chantilly, VA. Every other one I've been to are sketchy at best and full of dealers selling over priced guns, overpriced C&R's, and overpriced Chinese NCStar crap.

soloban said:

The only gun show I've been to worth a damn was the "Nation's Gun Show" in Chantilly, VA. Every other one I've been to are sketchy at best and full of dealers selling over priced guns, overpriced C&R's, and overpriced Chinese NCStar crap.

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Don't forget the beef jerky and wonderful arts and crafts.

There is, for many of us, a hell of a lot more to a good gun show that just much of the stuff mentioned. Aside from the licensed dealers peddling guns and ammunition and private sellers hawking a few guns there are people walking the show with guns for sale and frequently a good deal can be struck if someone has it and you want it.

However, guns and ammunition aside there is much, much more to be had for many of us. Several years ago I snagged a real nice set of Starret Depth Micrometers for literally a few bucks. I have also managed to find not only reloading tools at good prices but also various gun smithing tools. There are also tables with assorted gun pieces and parts.

What I am getting at here is that for a knowledgeable and savvy shopper a gun show can offer much more than overpriced new guns and ammunition. That some good treasures can be found. Just a matter of what one is looking for.

Ron

I have been to dozens of shows over many years and have never witnessed an oops-I-forgot-to-unload moment. I'm sure it happens, but it is rare and certainly not something that would make me stay home. The Tulsa shows are always fun and sometimes just down right phenomenal. I shudder to think what Obama will do to them in the future. But, you can be assured he will try to destroy them.

Ever notice all those bullet holes in the tin roof above your head at the outdoor range? Makes you wonder where all the other ones went.

My range is safer than the roads leading to it, and I've seen the RO's escort idiots out and tell them they need to come back with a cert from the safety class. It's exceptionally well regulated. I searched our tin roof for my chrony parts that helicoptered when my wife shot it - no bullet holes.

I avoid the gun shows because they make no sense in arizona where private undocumented sales are the norm, and you need not pay parking and admission.

A firm rule I have is to stay away from idiots with guns, so I can understand your point about not attending gun shows any more after your experiences. I got a bad taste in my mouth at a show about 12 years ago where there was a bunch of neo-nazi merchandise for sale. I still go to one every 2-3 years, but don't have much enthusiasm for them.

Not just the outdoor ranges. The indoor pistol range I go to has gouges in the ceiling, floor and walls within inches of the shooting areas.

A number of us were swept with a loaded Glock (with the person's finger on the trigger) during my CCW class shooting portion of the class. The person turned around saying "what do I do next?" (they had never taken the gun out of the box before that day). You wouldn't believe how fast this old fat boy moved to get out of the way!

I hadn't been to a gun show in years. The one around here just never have anything priced remotely close to what I can get it for elsewhere. And that was in non panic times. I went to the a gun show very recently just to get a laugh at what was going on. It was worse than I could have imagined. Aero percision stripped lower for $500. A built no name lower (likely with a DPMS kit) $800. BCM rifle for $3k+. The crappiest looking used Oly AR for $1500. MOE non window Pmags for $60.

Beyond that almost ever table selling accessories was filled with NCStar and other Chinese knock of junk.

Lastly, even things that are not in particular demand the prices were extremely high. Since I know what dealer price is on many of them, I enjoyed listening to the dealers telling people they had such narrow margins they couldn't mark them down. There likely wasn't a gun in there that someone couldn't have gone a few miles down the street to the LGS and gotten for less and certainly no more, to say nothing of buying on line. An example fo the pricing that was common on items that are not even really in demand. I saw a star BM in typical used condition, priced at $450. They are $250 all day online. Even if you pay a high transfer fee, say $35 (I pay $10) and drop $20 to ship it and pay for hand select, you'd be well below that silly price.

There were A LOT of people there. I had to wonder why. It didn't seem like people were buying much, which wasn't too surprising given what was being offered.

I got a kick out of the laughable sales pitches being given buy those behind the tables.

I was not amused at how many times I was swept with firearms.

In sum, absurdly high prices on everything, lots of air soft quality accessories, and lots of nonsense behavior by both vendors and attendees.

I go the shows locally to buy reloading components then get out. Locally Varget goes for $28.85 per pound and is $20 at the shows.

The last show I went to, a couple months ago, my wife actually went with me, which never happens. It was even her idea, I guess she's finally figured out that I'll never give up my love of guns. Anyways as we were walking in there's some dumby walking out in his hunting camo carrying his rifle and sweeping everyone walking in. It was probably a good thing my wife was with me because I was pretty upset about it and was about to "set him straight" but my wife stopped me. It did serve as a good teaching moment though and I was able to use this guys stupidity as a prime example of how not to carry/handle any firearm ever.

Went to the large NE Ohio (Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds) show this past weekend. While there was no shortage of over priced ammunition and AR type rifles the show was pretty good overall. I saw several Colt Government Series 70 pistols and several real nice Colt & S&W revolvers. There are a few sellers always there with top notch high end stuff. I may catch them next weekend at the Medina, Ohio gun show. There was one S&W Model 27 I really liked. Also saw a set of S&W N Frame beautiful walnut grips for $150 I should have snagged. Saw several sets but one set was absolutely beautiful and my Model 29 would like them.

Overall not a bad show. One guy had some real nice Mosins with nice bores and nice lumber in the $130 to $170 range for those into such things.

Also saw a few nice Springfield Trapdoor rifles but it so hard to fine nice wood and a minty bore. Looking to replace one I parted with years ago.

Overall, again, depending on what trips your trigger there was nice stuff and overpriced junk as usual. While I was not looking as I am well stocked there was nothing in reloading supplies that jumped out at me but I wasn't overly looking.

Ron

We usually have 4 shows a year in my area, and I will not attend 2 of them as they want me to unload and ziptie my cc pistol. The other 2 do not care and I have seen much less unsafe gunhandling at the ones I attend. More older guys at the second and put on by and for the benefit of the VFW.

Where do you live that your fellow citizens are that dumb???

Muzzle sweep: I stopped using a jackass rig for these same reasons. I think you would be surprised by the actual number of times a muzzle crosses your body each month gunshows or not.

I was at the Tulsa show years ago and an off duty LEO had brought a 10MM glock in loaded. He handed it to a guy to check it out and the guy shot him in the leg with it.

Drail said:

I have worked behind tables at gun shows all over the Midwest for years and it is truly ubelieveable that people can be so stupid and unthinking and yet be issued a driver's license and allowed to vote and raise chiuldren. Several times I have been in huge auditoriums with an incredibly loud background noise level that forced you to almost yell at anyone to converse. Suddenly, BANG. The immediate silence is almost spooky. But the promoters and the cops can't possibly really check every person or gun that enters the building and so it happens. More than you would think. Someone fired a .223 in a show in Illinois and hit two people. Keep your head on a swivel folks. Going to some gun shows can be the riskiest thing you ever do next to going to a public range on a busy day. I gave that up too.

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I live down the street from where the Illinois show was. Walked in about 10 minutes after it happened. Pretty freaky stuff.

I still don't care about going into gun shows, things happen and that's just how it goes. My wife however still gives me grief when I go to one.

I just wish the universe had decided to let me win the lotto instead of attend a gun show where someone shot a round off.

Oh well. Probably karma for something bad I did.

Drail said:

But the promoters and the cops can't possibly really check every person or gun that enters the building and so it happens. More than you would think.

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I've been to quite a few shows over the last 6 or 7 years here in alabama, and have NEVER experienced any of this. so far as I remember, every show i've been to there is a couple of cops at the door checking ALL of the guns, and locking the bolt open with a zip tie. I know at one show I attended, even the dealers had all of their guns tied open. Never seen people pointing guns in unsafe directions, never heard any guns go off, though I wish they would quit with the taser demonstrations... I guess I should consider myself lucky?

I LOVE the Tazer demos! A local company will let you have a free stun gun [not a Tazer, though] and almost every time a big tough guy will c**p his drawers, and they give him his $20.00 toy. Good times.

I quit going to gun ranges for the for mentioned reasons. Swept by loaded guns by a dumb@$$, ADs , NDs, shot roof tiles, shot floors, heck have even had my target shot on my lane. I'll just go out to the farm from now on. It's a bit of drive, but I'm still alive.