Gun Show attendance in your neck of the woods?

I live in South Dakota and we dont have much for gun shows here The closest it gets in my town is the "Outdoors show" which ranges from fishing tackle to jewlery. The is only a few gun tables.

Central PA = high attendance.

Broome County NY, they suck because nobody sells pistols at shows.

Hello

I was blown away with the number of people at the last Harrisburg, PA gunshow. I have never seen that many people in a show.

I dont do gunshows anymore.

Last time I went was about five years ago, I paid 5 bucks for a parking spot. Another 6 to get in. A lot of the people there didnt seem to have any interest in guns and were tagging along with their buddy, husband, BF, father, etc. And most of these folks who act like they have something better to do with their time stand in front of the tables so you cant see the same product that you saw at the last one. And since they arent customers, the vendor wont "be rude" and ask them to make room for paying customers. Most of the vendor are really nice untill you take an interest in something on their table.

Yeah, its the same vendors selling the same product every time. They generally set up in the same area. Its a bunch of overpriced firearms, ubertacticool crap, and a bunch of folks asking "you sellin' that?" along with a few stupid liberals telling folks that guns are evil. Yes, that really happened.

I've often thought about spending 11 bucks just to see if anything has changed, but I normally have something better to do.

Gun shows in this area (Western Washington) get an erratic attendance. If it rains, or is overcast expect a good crowd. If the weather is mild and/or sunny you can expect smaller crowds. Parking is generally free, and admission ranges from $4 to $7, one closed show by the Washington Arms Collectors is free to members.

Aisle widths vary greatly, from 3 1/2 feet to 12 feet (sometimes in the same show, go figure). One group that had a nice show in Lakewood for a while hasn't put on a show for at least five years (rumor was that they were looking for a new home).

Here in Ohio, I think the Medina County gunshow is tommorrow. I think Cuyahoga County is next week.

A lot of people go to both, although sometimes I wonder why ANYBODY goes to the Berea show. Lately, it's been in too few buildings with too narrow aisles. That makes for a lot of people standing around blocking traffic while they babble to their friends. I mostly go for deals on pistol ammunition from a friend. Lately, even she hasn't had much.

The Ohio Gun Collector's Association Show used to be at the Cleveland IX Center, but moved first to Milan, near Sandusky, then to halfway between Columbus and Dayton. I can't justify belonging anymore. If I have to get a motel room for a gunshow, it had better be the NRA convention, the SHOT Show or the Smallarms Review Show.

Around pittsburgh a lot of people go to the PGCA gun shows and the washington fairgrounds show. At the last two PGCA shows, there was a line to get in. The wait was only like 5 minutes, but there were a about 100 waiting.

The Indy 1500, in central Indiana was quite busy last year, I expect it's the same this year. I would usually try to show up Friday before the huge crowds, and before the deals dissapeared.

Dixie Classic

The Dixie Classic comes by Richmond, VA quite a bit, always at the Showplace. We also get a smaller one that comes by the Richmond Intl Raceway. Funny thing is that we have these in town at least twice a month, often back to back. Somehow, there's always a huge crowd no matter what. Its gotten to the point where I'll avoid going to one because my wallet is still sore from the last one

Not sure, I usually go close to closing on the last day, I check the tables where not much is going on...

Ones around here are OK and fairly well attended. Fewer people seem to be actually buying, I guess the economy is beginning to turn sour.
Hard to predict whether there will be good merchandise.
April 5th, however, I did attend one in the Cahaba Shriner's Ctr in Huntsville Alabama and bought a Springfield XD45, from a FFL up from Dothan who appeared to have a good selection of modern stuff.
Was disappointed in the selection of blackpowder and other historic reproduction revolvers/firearms though.

I'm going to the show in Kearney, NE tomorrow, so I'll let you know how the attendance is.

Shows down here in deep South Texas are standing room only.

But you better speak spanish!

The Concord, NH show last weekend was packed on Saturday and busy on Sunday.

The Concord show was old school. Guns and accessories for sale and not much of the flea market crap that I see at other shows in the Northeast.

Pretty good here in MI for attendance and even thought I go to all the different ones I find that there is a good size crowd at them consistently.

You tell me!

That was at one of the Chantilly, VA gunshows

Maybe two months ago in Columbus,Georgia, first gunshow in a couple years...........not only was it elbow-to-elbow packed.....i've never seen so many hot babes at a gunshow in my life !!!!!!

P.S. I mean PACKED, way more than the above photo. Buisiest show i think i've ever been to.

I have never attended a gun show. So I am curious, is it a good place to buy a new gun ( pistol ) or can you basically get the same deals at local gun shops or online ?

Chris

I'm heading out to the Minnesota Weapons Collectors show today in St Paul, which is usually pretty well attended. The first MWC spring show last month was the busiest I've ever seen...moving through the aisels was slow and painful!

Chris - gun shows are lots of fun if nothing else, a good place to while away a couple hours perusing guns, accessories and assorted brick-a-brack. Getting a good deal on something specific is kind of a crap shoot, if you go with a long list of possibilities in mind your chances of coming home with something you like go way up.

Thank you. I live just north of Tampa and didn't know this show was going on this weekend.

Like I said, I have never attended one so haven't a clue as to their prices, etc.

I am in the market for a new 9 mm but if it means saving only a few bucks versus my local gun shop, then I will buy through the gun shop. I try and patronize the locals whenever I can instead of a dealer who is in town for the weekend and then leaves.

I am all about saving money, but in this case I wont bother with a gun show dealer unless I can save a lot of money. For 5 or 10 bucks ???? Nahhhh. It isnt worth it to me.

Chris

I'm in central Florida too,
The last few shows have been packed.
Lines out the door to get in.
Our shows were always well attended but this is getting crazy.
I'm not sure what's driving it. Ammo prices? Possible AWB?, The need for more jerky?

AFS

The need for more jerky?

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LOL, just about fell off my chair. But seriously, I'll be attending the Crossroads of the West show in Salt Lake today. It's been a couple of years since I went, so I'll be able to judge whether or not attendance is up or down. If it's up, I suspect it would be fear of Hilary or somesuch.