Are your gun show expectations too high?

[Smoke]

Last few gunshows I've been to I was disappointed. Lots of Junk. Lots of "Full retail" pricing. Most of the tables were someone cleaning out there garage that had nothing I wanted/needed or were dealers trolling for the uneducated consumers.

I like to go look, but I haven't left with anything in years.

Smoke

 

[OEF_VET]

I go every chance I get. For $6, I get out of the house, fondle lots of guns, hang out with some good friends, and once in awhile I'll actually happen upon a good deal. Normally, the best deals I find are on ammo. If I were to order bulk 7.62x39 online versus at the show, I'd end up paying a lot more with the shipping charges.

Also, the areas best and biggest reloading store sets up a table every month. If I'm thinking of adding a different caliber or doing up a different load, they've always been willing to help me out, in a very patient and thoughtful way. They talk to me like a customer should be talked to, not like a nuisance who isn't worthy of their attention. For that reason, I buy the majority of my reloading stuff from them.

So, yeah, you'll often find people trying to rip each other off and dealers of lots of non-gun related stuff. But, those parts are heavily outweighed by the good deals and friendship.

For those of you in places that charge $10+ admittance, make you walk a mile to park, or are generally unfriendly to gun shows, you're welcome to come check out Tennessee. Our pro-gun culture is great and it reflects itself in the offerings at the gun shows.

Frank

 

[BryanP]

I haven't bought any guns at a gun show in quite a while, but I like looking at the toys. And as OEF_VET said, it's the best place to get cheap ammo. I can get cheap .45ACP at Sprawl Mart but if I want 500 rounds of 5.56mm or 7.62x39 or .357 at a decent price then the local gun show is the way to go. I also buy parts, accessories, AR and AK mags, bags, whatever.

It's also nice when I run across OEF_VET or Bowlcut & Darrin or the Slingers or someone else from here I know. I ran in to a friend (from a different hobby, even) I haven't seen in several years at a recent gun show.

So yeah, it's worth it.

 

[Harold Mayo]

My mama always said, "Gunshows are like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get..."


I go whenever I can. You never know what you're going to see or find.

Do I think that I'll find bargains? I don't expect to do so. Why would I? A gun show takes a dealer out of his shop and causes him to spend MORE money than he would by staying home. Why would a dealer reduce his prices except to turn inventory more quickly?

Private sales? I appreciate them and THAT is where you can find deals. Pre-ban Bushmaster CAR for $600? Found one...complete original rifle with all the relevant goodies. Have found Colt and Olympic prebans for around that price, too. Series 70 Colt in LNIB condition for $450? Found one. HK91 with extra furniture and accessories for $1500? Found one. You never know what you're gonna get if you look hard enough or often enough and know your guns. There are a lot of people out there who ARE NOT gun nuts but who bought something years ago and never shot it who come to gun shows just hoping to get their money back. There was a kid at the Indy 1500 a couple of years ago with a preban Bushmaster CAR that was NIB. He was looking for a Benelli M1 Super 90. I bought a Benelli off of a dealer and traded him straight across. He was happy and so was I.

There are PLENTY of disappointing shows, of course, but there are plenty of disappointing trips to the gun store, too.

 

[bubbygator]

Like Harold Mayo said - Private Sales !

My area newspaper stopped advertising gun sales; so the local gun show is the only way to find private sales that avoid high State Tax & high FFL transfer fees. Yeah, I know the FFL's are only making a living, and provide us all a good service; but if you can find a sale/trade privately, it sure makes $$ sense to do so. Internet sales are no real answer to Face-To-Face deals.

 

[Hawk]

Gun shows are still the venue of choice for exotic wood grips / stocks. Buying these over the internet is still a crapshoot unless the exact article you're buying is pictured.

Green followers for AR15 mags and standard 1911 mag catches are examples of "little things" that can't really be purchased over the internet unless you've got something else to combine for a minimum order.

'Course, once in a blue moon, there's the hot deal on a firearm.

 

[skynyrd1911]

gunshows

I try to go to as many as I can. Even if I don't plan to buy. You never know what you might find. Went to a show out of town once and had two dealers from my own hometown there. I would get a price from one and walk over to the other and tell him what so-n- so was going to sell it to me for and so on. I walked back and forth several times till I got a GOOD deal on a Ruger P95 for my wife. I actually got it cheaper there than I would have if I had walked into their stores back home. I also like the PRIVATE sales. I'll stop now............. Thanks for letting me participate, skynyrd1911

 

[Hutch]

As the greatest philosopher of our times (Yogi Berra) said, "You can sum it up in one word: you never know". You never know what might show up. I've seen folks walking around looking to unload some of their goodies for quick cash. Sometimes I'll help them out. Sometimes you'll find a guy selling off his old S&W diamond-relief grips, cause he's put Michelins on his prewar Combat Masterpiece. I've seen ripoffs and deals so good I tried to talk the seller out of it. Really. Not to mention all the acquaintances you run into, 4-5 times a year for 20+ years. If I'm not tied up, as in not trussed up and flex-cuffed, then I'm going. You never know...

 

[jimbo]

I can honestly answer "no." I've lowered my expections appreciably over the years.

If I find .45 ammo and cleaning patches for a fair price, I'm happy.:banghead:

 

[williamcrane]

Gun Shows

Here in Philadelphia we have few gun shows; most are held in the suburbs like King of Prussia. I have gone to several of these - like a lot of the others here, I enjoy looking at the guns, etc, but have yet to buy one at a gun show. I find browsing the local gun stores more likely to turn up a good deal on a used firearm than at a show. I have purchased some reloading supplies at the shows, though.

All in all, my expectations are the same as reading gun magazines - to see what's there.

 

[squibload]

[harry chapin music]

My dad and I get together less and less as we get older...but there's nothing like a gunshow to walk through for good conversation.

He's a wood-and-blueing guy, I'm a plastic and hi-cap guy. But I feel like we're closer than ever when we walk a few rows at a show.

He's an FFL in NY, but he's excited about coming down to walk the Harrisburg, PA show with me. We BS the whole time...I love it.

[/harry chapin music]

Otherwise, I have no expectations. I show up with a credit card in a buttoned back pocket, with $50 in cash for the little stuff that sometimes presents itself...and a lukewarm hotdog...

 

[JohnBT]

I love gun shows. Been going for 30 years and I love them. Things change, including gun shows, but that's okay because there's still lots of stuff to look at.

I wish more folks would stay home and mow the yard or wash the windows because then the shows wouldn't be so crowded.

John

 

[Penforhire]

If I'm ready to buy something new from a local shop I'll always get a little better price at the show. They seem to realize there's competition and are much more willing to deal. I try to deal at most retail locations and just get laughed at.

 

[Atticus]

If you go expecting nothing, you won't be dissapointed.
I get burned out on gunshows at times ...but generally I have a good time, and usually find something interesting to buy. As other have said, it's all about private selling and buying. The dealers (like all dealers) want to pay you 60%, or less, of your gun's value and charge you 100% for theirs. I just wish they wouldn't stop me every 10 seconds to ask what I have for sale. I usually tell them I just bought it.

 

[standingbear]

naaaw..I love paying 7 bucks to see a few guns..some benie babies,watches,assorted literature and a bunch of junk. I used to go to learn about different guns and perhaps to buy one in the process.the people at the tables were willing to chat awhile then and make a fair offer.then it was just for accessories..then it was just ammo..after that,I quit.the prices jumped to far more than the local guy sells them for,the people in the show were often rude and later..alot of flea market stuff moved in.It got to be a toss up staying home and hiding in the rec room to escape a hen party or going to a gunshow and feeling insulted after being there a half an hour.so I quit...go over to the local shop and hear the latest jokes while test firing his bb guns and getting the latest news on new guns he has.