I'm tired of gun shows...

I have found some amazing deals at gun shows, but I have also left in an hour without buying a thing.

At the last National Gun Day in Louisville (before the panic) I found a great liberty model 44 Super Blackhawk for $375. That was worth the effort to attend. You just never know what you're going to find.

I go to at least two or three a year. I went with a cousin and friend to the the show in Austin a couple of weeks ago.

The line was ridiculous and so were the prices on many things. We had a blast!!!

The jerky was delicious, the crowd was all very friendly and having fun and I did finds some deals. I bought primers for $35/1000 which is a good deal as I don't buy enough online to justify the hazmat fee. I also bought a Magpul MS3 sling and sling mount for one of my ARs.

I don't understand why people whine so incessantly about gun shows. If you don't like them DON'T GO!

I don't understand why people whine so incessantly about gun shows. If you don't like them DON'T GO!

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I think that is the general consensus, they aren't going..

joe

Rembrandt said:

I go for the jerky, dental tools, and rubber band guns....

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I remember setting up at Vegas once with "The Jerky Hut" right next to me crowding my tables with free-sample hangers-on.

So Sunday, I'm watching these two fellas being totally "reeled-in" by the salesmanship of the vender. It became truly fascinating to me to see if they would turn anything down. From what I saw - no.

When they were done they did a 180 towards me with somewhere between 15 to 20 plastic bags of various dried/tubed/shredded meats between them.

As the eyes of one of them settled on my vintage AR/16 case, he noted that I had original slick sided carriers and components to include the first design firing pin retaining pins among everything else. That old stuff is kinda a thing of mine and I buy it when I see it.

Anyhow, he says how much for the pin and I tell him something well under 20 dollars but over 10. Excited by the availability and the price and after putting down his haul o' meat and searching all his pockets, noting he maxed his debit at TJH and tapped his ATM, he turns to his pal. Pal repeats the previous performance and between them they've dumped gum wrappers, a parking stub and other pocket debris along with a total of just over two bucks on my case.

Considering I'd pay many times that at the time for originals (they've since begun reproducing/importing them) it was a no go. Fella says, "will you be at the next show?" Well in fact I wasn't gonna be back for a full year so I tell him that and say to keep his eyes open at the next jerky show, maybe someone will have one.

I lost interest in the gun shows around here when they ran out of military gun parts ( surplus) The guns & ammo they sell I can buy from a local gun shop at a better price ( until Obama went on a rampage)

Depends on the show. I went to the The Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia, yesterday, and it was worth it.

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+1 I found the large pistol primers and a few boxes of .38 S&W for reasonable prices. Since no local stores even had the primers and I couldn't have ordered them without the $30 hazmat fee plus shipping, it was well worth the $12 admission fee. I found the .38 S&W ammo for $20 a box which is cheaper than I could ever buy it online even without shipping factored in. I was a happy customer yesterday. I just need to pick up some black powder and I'm set for quite some time.

I also enjoyed talking to some of the old timers who had tables full of C&Rs. They generally seemed to have prices on the upper end (either because they didn't really want to sell or as a negotiation tactic) and with everyone else flocking around the black rifle tables, they seemed to enjoy chit chatting.

It was definitely WAY less crowded than the last one in January. I went in looking for a small revolver for CCW and in the endm, I did pick up a sweet little S&W Safety Hammerless there...so that was also a success. I just couldn't say no to such a nice looking, old revolver that also worked for my original need.

I think that is the general consensus, they aren't going..

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Really? That would not be the case here. Our WAC shows are packed, with lines down the block and around the corner to get it ...

I don't care about the ammo prices -- if you didn't see the handwriting on the wall at election time and couldn't remember the last shortages, shame on you ...

We do have some retailers with excellent prices on new guns at our shows. We've got the Kramer holster guy, our Glock parts guys, our black rifle and tactical accessories guys, plenty of prepper stuff, surplus and maybe even some jerky.

Me, I enjoy the shows for the social aspect. Where else can you commune for a day with THOUSANDS of gun-folks, fondle new guns, old guns -- and yes -- even find a used gun you were looking for?

For our movement to succeed, we need to make these social events the norm. Help 'em work -- quit complaining and do what some of here do -- become members, get on the BoD of the organization that puts on shows, find out what people in your region want to see, network., make the shows fun, and see the RKBA movement grow ...

Me, I'm just tired of people that whine about gun shows ...

I missed the last GS here in town, the next one is upcoming, won't miss that one. 2 months ago, they had huge amounts of cased ammo, but prices were so high, don't know if they sold any, not to me anyway! Powder and primers were sky high too, if one could find any, and bullets were not to be found. Oh, there were lead bullets, but boxed bullets not available. Hope things have calmed down some this next show, like to get some powder, if I don't have to sell my car to get it !

Gun shows? Nobody goes to those anymore...too crowded!

If you're tired of gun shows, don't go. I went to one today to see if I could find any brass, powder, and primers. There wasn't any powder or primers to speak of, but I did pick up 900pcs of 45ACP brass - split about 50/50 between Federal and Winchester headstamps, along with 100pcs of R-R 300wm and 400pcs of mixed 380acp for a total of $120 including the price of entry.

I also passed up a used Single-Six that was priced at $275 that I might actually talk myself into going back for tomorrow.

And then there was the complete 4-barrel Dan Wesson Pistol Pack for $1500. I'm not in the market for one, but it was the first one I'd ever seen in person, and it looked to be in really great condition. Certainly didn't have the holster wear that my DW has...

And, yeah, the vast majority of MSR's were all priced high (stripped polymer lower for $200, most complete rifles between $2k and $3k, even a used Mini-14 for $1500), but I wasn't seeing any buyers at those prices. The one negotiation I actually saw was for an AR-15 with a $1700 sticker on it (too crowded to get a good look at it - don't know what make/model it was). A guy offered $1000, and the seller dropped to $1175 without even flinching. I didn't stick around long enough to see if they actually struck a deal or not. By then, there were way too many people, and I was already heading for an exit.

But, all-in-all, it was worth a couple of hours of my time to go take a look, if for nothing else than just to get out of the house in the middle of February. It's not like I had to shovel the driveway or anything. ... oh, wait... gotta go.

I was surprised to find a couple decent deals at todays show. I bought some Pmags for $28, yes I know that's high, but in the current climate it's not bad. Friend of mine bought a new DPMS AR for $1100. I did see some $75 mags, and some $3000 Ar's too. Pretty big show, there were some OK deals to be had. Not great, but OK.

I think ammo is the really highly priced stuff now, .223 was going for $1 a round and higher, .22LR is really outrageous now.

I quit going to gunshows a few years ago. i pay $10 to park, then $14 to get in , then the things i have interest in purchasing are more expensive than if i just ordered off the internet . thats my experience anyway .

My local Walmart limites you to one box and thats if they have any. Gone there everyday for weeks then they finally have some and only let you buy 1 20 round box. O_O

I don't go unless I'm looking for something specific. Me and my wife prefer to use the time and money to go to things like the outdoor expo, the home show, and the auto expo.

A few days ago a friend posted a story about an autistic boy whose puppy was stolen at a gun show. I say this as the parent of an autistic child....WHY DID YOU BRING HIS PUPPY TO A GUN SHOW?! The boy may or may not get something from it, (mine wouldn't,) but his puppy wouldn't.

I still attend gun shows. I went to one about 4 weeks ago, they didn't have a lot of ammo but I got a really good deal on some PPU .40 caliber JHP, 50 rounds for $15.00, I bought 5 boxes.

I went to a gun show today and the ammo selection was the worse I've ever seen! Not having much would be an understatement and what they did have was beyond WAY-OVER-PRICED!! 500/550 bulk pac's of 22/LR was going for $40.00 to $50.00, 45 acp/40 caliber (50 rounds) FMJ $40.00, and 9mm (50 rounds) FMJ $30.00.

umadcuzimstylin said:

My local Walmart limites you to one box and thats if they have any. Gone there everyday for weeks then they finally have some and only let you buy 1 20 round box. O_O

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The corporate policy is three boxes, but the store manager can go even further it seems in your case. Sad....yesterday I was at my local Gander Mountain, and they had one of those Aisle Islands stacked with boxes of "Independance" brass cased .223 for nine something a box. I dont have any AR's any more, but the son in law still does, so I thought I would grab him some. I start piling up the boxes, and I notice this little sign about 4 inches square "2 Box Limit" I put it all back.

I agree, I too am frustrated. I find however, for some reason, I cannot resist the temptation. I always end up going.

I make it a point to go to a show or two about every 5 years or so just to remind myself of all the "deals".

In my parts, the local gun stores leave alot to be desired. I have not set foot in one, except to take delivery of a firearm in years.

While the gun shows are not great, they do have stuff i can use and i occasionally find a firearm I just cannot live without. Gun shows these days are too focused on the mall ninja and home defense stuff. Not much on the things I am interested in.

Most of my shopping is done on line though.

Since the panic set in, I will not wait in line so i have not gone to a gun show since December.

I just wish sombody would set up a deodorant booth at the gunshows. How hard is it to at least shower before you go out in a crowd?

Old Dog said:

Really? That would not be the case here. Our WAC shows are packed, with lines down the block and around the corner to get it ...

I don't care about the ammo prices -- if you didn't see the handwriting on the wall at election time and couldn't remember the last shortages, shame on you ...

We do have some retailers with excellent prices on new guns at our shows. We've got the Kramer holster guy, our Glock parts guys, our black rifle and tactical accessories guys, plenty of prepper stuff, surplus and maybe even some jerky.

Me, I enjoy the shows for the social aspect. Where else can you commune for a day with THOUSANDS of gun-folks, fondle new guns, old guns -- and yes -- even find a used gun you were looking for?

For our movement to succeed, we need to make these social events the norm. Help 'em work -- quit complaining and do what some of here do -- become members, get on the BoD of the organization that puts on shows, find out what people in your region want to see, network., make the shows fun, and see the RKBA movement grow ...

Me, I'm just tired of people that whine about gun shows ...

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Absolutely. The world keeps changing, mostly in ways we neither approve of nor have control over. Stop whining. Adapt. Work to make things work. Contribute. Enjoy what there is to enjoy and laugh at the rest.

Gun shows have guys walking around with their AR crap wanting $1800 and the other half looking for $600 AR crap.

Gun shows

I go to ALL gun shows within reasonable traveling distance. If we all stop going, then the gun shows will stop showing up.

I've only been once and it was pretty underwhelming. I think it would be far more interesting if they separated the brick-n-mortar retail outfits with tables full of NIB guns from everyone else.