Central TX - Anyone going to Bell Co. Gun show?

[DigMe]

I've been seeing the TV commercial about the upcoming gun show at The Bell County Expo Center this Saturday. This is the one put on by "The Real Gun Show." Anyone going? I think I'll head down there. I went to this one last year and I thought it was pretty decent for a smalltown gun show and I ended up getting an excellent trade for my old S&W Sigma .40VE. Either way I think it was way better than the Saxet shows. The only thing I didn't like about it is that none of the dealers inside sold ammo. They just had one dude in a tent outside and I guess he was the only one authorized to sell ammo. Needless to say business was good for him.

I'm due for a gun show anyway.

brad cook

 

[KFD147]

I am going it is definately better than making the trip to the Saxet show in Austin. Besides I live just right around the corner. I have noticed that a few of the same vendors that are in Austin have been at the Belton/ Temple shows. As for the ammo not beeing sold inside, I think that the shows insurance or the Expo insurance carrier will not allow ammo to be sold inside the building along w/ the firearms. It has been like that for as long as I can remember. By the way, my brother went to the Saxet show last weekend and noticed that they now are displaying a nice 30.06 sign at the entrance. The Real Gun show has put up signs about no CCW, but the facility is a county owned building so the can't put up the 30.06 signs. I hope to see you there Brad.

Thanks
Jason

 

[MrMurphy]

The ammo outside thing has been that way since at least 2000 (first time I went).

I sold a .30-30 there in 2002 or maybe early 2003, but it's only half decent as prices go. Not bad, but there are better shows.

 

[DigMe]

Not bad, but there are better shows.

I think that goes without saying. It's BELTON!! I was just saying it's a decent show for being a fairly small-town thing.

brad cook

 

[crt360]

I went a few years ago. I think there was a women's arts & crafts fair in the same building at the same time. It was pretty funny watching guys toting old rusty shotguns, mini-14's, etc. into the wrong show entrance (and the look on some of the non-gunshow persons' faces). It's certainly not bad for being in Belton, but I didn't see much I hadn't seen before. If I had the time to go there and spend a few hours I probably would.

 

[TheDutchman]

Belton the Arm Pit of Central Texas

 

[HankB]

I attended the show several years ago. Their ads at the time touted "500 tables."

IIRC they had less than half that many.

I haven't gone back.

 

[cpileri]

I'll be there.

Well, I'm going.
How do you get there from HWY 190?
C-

 

[mec]

"Belton the Arm Pit of Central Texas " Yes But Copper-Ass Cove is the rectum and Killeen is the scrotum.

The Real Gunshow people do a good job organizing these things. The no-ammo rule does keep some people away from the belton show but it could have some nice possibilities anyway.

 

[DigMe]

cpileri,

There is a back way from 190 but I can't remember the streets. If no one else knows then take 190 and get onto I-35 south and exit 292. The expo center is ther on your right, you can't miss it.

brad cook

 

[cpileri]

thanks

The non-backroads way will work for me.
Even got permission from the wife to go.
C-

 

[scotjute]

It's on Loop 121 right at I-35. The Loop does go around and cross US 190, so you can come in from that way. Its usually in the building next to the big silver dome. Its probably the best gun show in this area.

 

[KFD147]

I think The Dutchman has a problem w/ other cities outside of the Austin city limits. You just wish you could live where they don't shout "Save the Salamander!"

Jason

 

[cpileri]

You all going saturday?

Or Sunday? am or PM?
I can't really say, though I am leaning toward sat AM.
It would be nice to meet some of you, if you're up for that.
Should we all wear pink CareBear's tee-shirts so we can identify one another?
C-

 

[DigMe]

I'm going on Saturday around 11:00 or noon but I'll be bringing a friend who's not a member here and I don't think he'd be particularly interested in getting together with a group of THRers. Let's see...I'll wear a maroon Texas A&M shirt with "Texas A&M" letters sewn onto the front so if you happen to spot me you can say "Hi". I'll try and remember to post a picture of myself here when I get home today so anyone that might want to chat can recognize me. I'm a young guy, pretty skinny, almost 6 feet. Dark hair, slight bald spot, receding hairline...ok now I'm getting depressed so I'll just post the pic.

brad cook

 

[cpileri]

yeah

I was just thinking about a hi-and-handshake kind of thing. I will be with one of my children, who wont want to go do any adult things either.

As for me, I am fairly non-descript. Medium height, heavy build, white guy. I usually wear shorts (I just don't like pants, OK!), and a flanel shirt buttoned partway up from the bottom, over a t-shirt. I always wear a fanny pack.

And I will have in tow one of the most perfect children in the whole wide world.

C-

 

[ChickenHawk]

I've always enjoyed the Bell County show, and try to attend one every other year or so. I think it easily beats the Saxet show we have here in Austin every month.

The ammo thing is because the show is in a county building, and selling ammo inside isn't allowed. The Austin show is in a "private" facility (the Crockett Center) so they can sell ammo inside.

I hadn't realized the show was this weekend. Maybe I'll take a trip up there if I can talk my wife into going with me.

Those who are asking for directions can probably find what they need at the Bell Count Expo web site: http://www.bellcountyexpo.com

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

 

[KFD147]

The Dutchman, 2 little ones(4.5y/o Boy& 1y/o girl) and myself will be going around 10 or 11 am on Sat. We have a few pistols to trade. Don't quite know what we will be wearing(maybe something warm), but we will have a large stroller.

Jason

 

[DigMe]

Here's a pic of me for reference:

deleted - no longer relevant

brad cook

 

[cpileri]

trade?

What are u trading? I am in the market for a glock 9mm, preferably full sized (17,19).
C-

 

[KFD147]

The Dutchman has a S&W M19 4" P&R in exellenct condition. I don't think it has been fired, but it does have line around the cylinder. Other than that the pistol is a damn fine specimen.

 

[KFD147]

Well went to the show today. Nothing that really stood out as a bargin. The selection was very limited and saw the same pistols at different tables over and over. One of the dealers said that it was smaller than last time. There were lots of people carrying firearms to trade. But I did not see anything that I liked. The Dutchman did manage to sell the M19. Did anybody see a Colt Defender there? Most of the compact pistols were either Kimber or SA. I did see a couple of Delta's for about a grand.

Brad I don't think that I saw you. Did you get to make it? I was the gentleman w/ the stroller pushing my blonde daughter and my blonde son tagging along. I was wearing a blue ballcap and a brown pull over fleece.



Jason

 

[cpileri]

I liked it

I saw a number of people with personal guns for sale, too as well as a bunch of folks puching babies like myself- but didn't recognize anyone from here.
I thought the show was pretty good.
Mostly guns, not alot of non-gun tables. Bigger than I expected.
Maybe my standards are kinda low living as I did in Maryland for 3 years prior to this last year but I did enjoy myself.
C-

 

[cpileri]

I liked it

I saw a number of people with personal guns for sale, too as well as a bunch of folks pushing babies like myself- but didn't recognize anyone from here.
I thought the show was pretty good.
Mostly guns, not alot of non-gun tables. Bigger than I expected.
Maybe my standards are kinda low living as I did in Maryland for 3 years prior to this last year but I did enjoy myself.
C-

 

[DigMe]

Hey ya'll. I'm sorry if anyone decided to go because of my post and then was disappointed. There were many more tables last time. I asked the ammo guy out front what the deal was this year and he said that there was a megashow in Houston this weekend and a lot of the dealers went to that one instead of this one. It was disappointing compared to last year but I still enjoyed myself.

I only ended up buying ammo.

One thing I HAD wished I'd seen is a guy from xdtalk.com picked up an M44 carbine from 1944, all matching with laminate stock for $50. That stinks because I was specifically looking for a sub-100 dollar old carbine!

brad cook