I'm tired of gun shows...

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Redlg155

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Long lines, inflated prices. No one really buying. Ammo sells out in the first hour (normally priced ammo). It killed me to watch 2 people just about wipe out half of an ammo sellers stock of 9mm with double armfulls. It's been like that the last few shows.

I for once agreed on the 3 box of ammo limit at Walmart. Add in the newbies pointing guns are all over the place and you have the makings of a great show.

There is one in Panama City this morning. I pass..
 
There is one in Panama City this morning. I pass..

I live about two miles from the Panama City show, and I will not be going. It has never been that great and the last couple or three events have only gotten worse.

joe
 
I do about one a year. I like to go to window shop and often there is good people watching to be done there. At some point people will realize that congress doesn't have the votes to get any gun control bills passed and the recent insanity will end.
 
It depends.

Since our WAC show is around 10 miles from my house, it's not a huge deal (unless I forget my badge :cuss:)

I know enough folks there to easily make the social aspect worth it after a nasty work week with people you don't really enjoy being with :)neener:)

Some places bring most all their wares (like Quantico Tact for example), so no need to drive 80 miles to their store and their prices are EXCELLENT.

Get up to date on the latest ammo prices that you might not pay.

I certainly don't go to a gun show to buy guns.:eek:
 
I won't set foot in a gun show until after the current panic buying climate ends. It's not worth standing in line for an hour to get into a gun show. This is especially true as there are no deals and you're lucky to even get near a table.
 
I'm going to one today. More for entertainment than anything else. I wanna see these $3000 Ar's and $2000 SKS's.
 
I go to most of the local gun shows because I help friends out that have tables and visit with the folks that make the trip into town. Sort of a "class reunion" with people you know already share a common interest.

I occasionally find a great deal, but that's just the icing on the cake.
 
I am able to get the best prices on new guns at shows. The largest dealer in the state will sell at a loss to get the business. And he has every model, Kimbers, Ed Brown, Every shotgun and rifle. The LGS are 30% higher, and offer no service. I have purchased at least 6 guns from Shoot straight.
Now their stores arent as deeplly discounted, I made that mistake once, it seems that he will beat any price at the shows but not once you are in his 5 stores.
He sold me an lcp , "when they first came out for $250. And a shiedls for 100 plus a LC9 which didn't shoot half the time, told him that.Also an AR for $800, 300 of which he gave me for a PF9.And my buddys bought 2, 357's in stainless, "taurus" for $259. You can't beat his prices or variety, even Cobra Carry's $ 2,500 and fullsize nighthawk $3000. That may not be the cheapest, for the high end guns, but he had a couple dozen of them to look at. Plus every Kimber and colt model
 
Depends on the show. I went to the The Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia, yesterday, and it was worth it. There were plenty of black rifles, and magazines, but prices were all over the place. I managed to find brand new GI AR-15 30-round magazines, with the tan followers, for $20 each. (Most vendors were charging $30.) One vendor had NOS BAR magazines for $20, which was less than pre-panic prices. Stripped AR lowers were ranging in price anywhere from $300 to $800, or higher. It was clear that the market hasn't settled yet. Comparison shopping is a must.
 
The Orlando gun show has become a nightmare (lines, prices) but I still go for that "just in case" opportunity. Plus it's a great freak show and always good to see vendors I have purchased from over the years.

LGS called East Orange Shooting Sports in Winter Park that hasn't engaged in gouging AT ALL since this all started. Great staff, decent inventory, excellent range.

They used to have a Tuesday & Friday morning inventory release where everyone would show up for what turned out to be a very well-run, equitable and orderly buying spree. They just discontinued it, however, because some were flipping their stuff for a quick profit and they said it conflicted with the non-gouging policy. Yes, I know it wasn't them flipping but their OEM inventory was ending up on Gunbroker, et al that very afternoon and they didn't want to be associated with the mayhem.
 
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I went to a gun show a few years ago down in Raleigh, the Dixie Gun and Knife show. It was a laugh. I have no interest in ever going to another one.
 
I went to the one in Grants Pass,OR last weekend just for something to do. Saw all the ridiculous prices on black guns and anything semi auto which was expected. Managed to get a real good deal on some 30 cal reloading bullets plus the guy threw in half a can of 4064. As we were leaving my wife said lets go back to the first table by the door so we did. Savage 24 deluxe in 22lr over 20 ga, the exact gun I've been looking for for several years. A deal was made and I now have a pristine model 24 from 1956. Thats why I keep going to the shows, looking for stuff to fill in the gaps.
 
I usually go to one a year to support our local range. It started last night, I arrived 15 minutes after the doors opened, asd was inside in about 10 minutes. It was very busy, and any semi-auto rifle was rediculously priced; $1,800 was the lowest I saw for a used kit gun. Common ammo such as .223, .308, 9mm and .45 was priced way too high for me. I saw good deals on a Winchester 94 and a CZ 455, though I didn't buy either.

Walked out with some 300WSM dies, powder, and ammo boxes and was pleased with the prices I paid. Primers were non-existent and PMags were selling for $30+. I saw some old beat up USGI mags for $50 but they weren't selling.

In fact, I didn't see any AR or AK sell in the 2 hours I was there. The show has 2 more days, but this leads me to believe the prices have reached the tipping point where people aren't willing or able to pay the prices.

Oh, I saw some 50 rnd. boxes of American Eagle .22 for $10.
 
True gun shows, I'm still diggin'.

There is one promoter out "WEST" here who's lost me as both a customer and a vendor due to the fact that a fella burns up a 20 just to get in the door only to be greeted by a swap meet of cheap import key-rings, beanie-babies, and off-the-boat, Long Beach crap.

Now, some of the little re-surgent "old school" shows (200 and less tables) have caught my interest as well as the classics still remaining like Tulsa and Reno ("The Big Show") for both their content and deal making opportunities.
 
Hasn't it been like this for a long time? Inflated prices and half the tables selling something non-firearms related like beef jerky. Yes you can sometimes find a good deal but those are few and far between.

I haven't been to a gun show in years and don't feel any pressing need to go to one anytime soon.
 
Our local show doesn't have any jerky. I actually wouldn't mind buying the good stuff.

I like the "Gun Stick" seller. I suggested some new types and darn if he didn't listen to me. Cool shapes with cotton and now some synthetic foam types that work great. The Bore Snake guy on the other hand sells "too hard" and his prices are too high, I guess I'm not a bore snake guy, even though it's the The Year of Snake.
 
I haven't been to one in quite a few years. There use to be a pretty good selection among the regular vendors to find the ammo and components I needed. Then it seemed like most of them pulled out to do some other show going on at the same time out of state. Quality, quantity, and overall selection of guns, ammo, and accessories fell off after that so I stopped going. Found just about everything I needed either locally or online.
 
In my Metro area there R 8 gun shows per year. I always make it a point to go to at least 1 per year. It's fun to go with friends & shoot the breeze. I usually get something, cleaning supplies or ammo (@ regular price) the point is he get to see & handle new toys. Even if we don't buy them.
 
In the Houston Texas area they have gotten to where they do a gun show every month - they same company rotates between Houston, and two close-by cities (Pasadena and Conroe). There seems to be no incentive for the sellers to ever have any good deals - they figure if they don't sell something this time, they'll sell it next month.

And that was BEFORE the recent craziness. I don't go any more.
 
I can put up with the beef jerky and junk jewelry tables at the gun shows if people would just realize that a gun show is not the place to bring your babies, toddlers, and huge baby strollers. At the last gun show I went to there were children trying to play on the floor while the massive crowd tried their best not to step on them, things have gotten a bit insane.
 
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