first gun show--advice

[rshackleford]

thanks to president barry i have just started getting into rifles and hand guns. i even went out and got a concealed carry permit.

anyway, there is a gun show coming up in a neighboring state about an hour away.

what should i be aware of when attending?
what is the "gun show loophole"?
can i purchase a handgun there out of my state of residence?
can i purchase anything there out of my state of residence?
should i expect good deals or ripoffs?

thanks.

 

[John828]

what should i be aware of when attending?

The high prices, the long lines, the non-gun stuff, the dealers who won't talk to you, the dealers that tell you your gun is crap but if they buy it will mark it up 300% and put it on their table, etc. ad inifitum.

what is the "gun show loophole"?

A myth

can i purchase a handgun there out of my state of residence?

Probably not

can i purchase anything there out of my state of residence?

Jerky, soda pop, a knife, magazines, various doodads and gewgaws, parts, etc, ad nauseum

should i expect good deals or ripoffs?

ripoffs




My advice? Don't go. Or wait for one that is closer and in your state.

 

[Rush]

Last question first; you should expect market prices more or less.

Legalities of purchases I will let others address.

Bring a lot of cash. People will accept checks, if they perceive they can trust you. But cash is more comfortable.

Don't carry a loaded firearm in there.

Don't be shocked at the "radical" stuff you see. Civil war memorabilia, (sad that's radical these days), anarchist literature, lots of great bumper stickers.

Don't be fearful of the "culture" that predominates - white male "rednecks" and "gun nuts". We aren't violence-loving terrorists; we're actually a better caliber of character than the general populous. You might even see a few women and/or blacks there. It's all good.

 

[TehK1w1]

the big things to know are that:
1) It is very much "buyer beware" at a gun show-know what you are looking at before you buy it, and check it over real well for damage.
2) Prices are usually a little higher than at a store it seems, but good deals can be found -know what a gun is worth before you buy it, as there are some real ripoffs out there.
3) Not sure about the out of state handgun thing, it may very well be illegal.
4) purchasing a rifle out of state may or may not be legal it depends on you state and which state you are in at the time, ditto for high-cap mags.
5) The "gun-show loophole" is a fabrication made up by the Brady campaign, they are simply referring to the fact that in most states a gun sale between two private individuals does not require the buyer undergo a background check. The Bradys seem to think that this only applies at gun show for some reason -check your state and local laws about private gun sales

It would help if we knew what state you are in.

 

[dirtygrunt95]

If you want to purchase a firearm you will not be able to,leave with it, it has to be sent to an FFL(Federal Firearms License) holder in your state who you will have to get it from. There is normally a transfer fee that the FFL will charge. Most anything else you want to buy there you should be able to leave with. I suggest you take your time looking around first before you commit to anything. And the answer to your last question is yes, you can find deals and you can be ripped off both. If you have an idea what you're looking for take the next couple of days and do proper research on it and you should do fine. Also if you know someone who might be knowlegable about guns you're interested in take them along.

 

[Olympus]

Congrats on the CCW permit. I think that was a smart decision, not necessarily because of the new president, but it's just a good thing to have in general. As far as gun shows, a lot of this is going to depend on your state regulations I think. I guess the first thing you should be aware of is that finding any kind of "bargain" will be rare. Most of the prices are inflated tremendously. The best thing for you to do is research a few guns that you are interested in beforehand and get an idea of the going price before going to a show. Gun shows aren't necessarily the best place to try to determine market price for a particular gun.

The gun show "loophole" as decribed by Wiki: The "gun show loophole" is a term coined to describe the legal sale of firearms between private individuals at gun shows in states where this is legal. When these sales take place at a gun show, some perceive a "loophole" in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), although these laws have never applied to individual-to-individual sales of personal firearms.

All of your out of state purchases will be easier to answer knowing your state regulations. Here in Missouri, if you purchase something from an out of state dealer, you then have to pay a transfer fee to transfer your weapon to a Missouri dealer. It's usually $15 to $30 but it's an extra step that I try to avoid if at all possible. There usually gets to be too many steps involved from buying from out of state dealers for me to be interested. But the choice is always up to you. You'll just have to research what the regulations are for your state.

You really shouldn't go into the show with the idea that you'll leave with a deal. If you do, you'll almost certainly leave disappointed. Bargains can be found, but they usually take a lot of practice, a quick eye, and good negotiating skills. For the most part, you likely won't get any better of a deal than you would just going into a regular gun shop, but it's always fun to walk around the show and look. Maybe if you can find more than one dealer with the same gun you're interested in, you can play one off the other to try for a better deal.

 

[rshackleford]

i got the ccw not only because of barry but also my friend anthony from the radio. btw happy wow.

anyway..

i live in montana and the show is in north dakota.

thanks for all the great response.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If you are going with the intention of buying something, have some idea of what you want and how much you can budget. Bring cash if you have it. Many dealers charge an extra 3 or 4% for a credit or debit card purchase. (Considering that CC companies skim off that much anyway, I am fine with it, as long as it is spelled out beforehand.) Also, it gives you a bargaining chip if you want to haggle. "Hey, I've got X amount of cash in my pocket, you wanna deal a little?" Many will not, but some will. Gun shows are not like Arab bazaars where you are expected to haggle.

 

[expvideo]

My advice for a first gun show is to relax. Take your time. There will be all kinds of distractions and you don't want to freak out at the first cheap gun you see on the first table. You may find a great deal, or you may go the whole show and only buy the beef jerky. I would advise that unless you find something that is exactly what you were looking for at the best price you've ever seen, you should probably walk through the whole show and see all of the tables before you buy something. That being said, early bird gets the worm, so try not to miss a good deal.

 

[cuervo]

If you purchase a handgun, it will have to be from a dealer with an FFL. He will then have to ship it to an FFL in your state of residence, who will then have you fill out the 4473 form and pay a transfer fee. By the time you add on shipping and the transfer fee to the local dealer, it probably won't be worth buying a handgun even if you find it at a good price. The transfer fee can be whatever your local dealer wants to charge, so sometimes it's worth shopping around. Pawnshops often charge lower prices than full-service gun stores. Expect at least $25.

You can use the show as a chance to handle a variety of handguns and see what fits you best, see how prices are running, and then find the same model from a dealer (or private seller) in your state.

You can purchase a shotgun or rifle (long gun) from an FFL at the show, if said dealer will sell to an out-of-state resident. Some will and some won't. It is legal, but the dealer has to follow the laws of both his state and the buyer's state, and some don't want that hassle.

You CANNOT purchase any firearm from a private seller since you are not in your state of residence, unless you arrange for the seller to ship the gun to a FFL in your state. At that point, you are again adding on shipping and transfer costs so probably not worth it.

The "gun show loophole" is a political term that is part of an effort to abolish the private sale of firearms. It would require all sales to go through FFLs. Some gun shows already have this requirement, some don't. It depends on the state and the promoter. Depending on your state, it is legal to pay somebody for a gun and buy the gun with no paper work. It doesn't matter if this happens at a gun show, parking lot outside the gun show, or at his/your house.

 

[Hawkram]

Linger Longer

 

[expvideo]

If you can avoid it, I would say don't buy anything at your first gun show. I would use it as a good practice run to see how gun shows work, and to see what kind of deals are available.

 

[Lumpy76]

W o w!!!

 

[rshackleford]

whats wrong with the guns we got? they shot pretty good. what were some of them guns?

anyway, thanks again for all the great info.

 

[poppy]

First, cuervo gave you some good answers, but..

It helps us help you if you tell us what states you are talking about. Many answers to your questions are entirely dependent on your state of residence.

For example some states require an FFL transfer for everything. We can help you with state requirements if we know the state.

In general, I have these suggestions:
1. Go to a show in your own state, if possible. That way (if there are no state restrictions) you can purchase from a private seller from your own state, without worrying about sales tax or transfer fees, etc.

2. Don't buy anything unless you really know the value. Better yet, take a friend along who knows the market and how the shows work. This is especially important for used stuff.

3. As others have said, take cash. Even a vendor who takes credit cards usually adds a 3-5% upcharge for using the card, even though that breaks their agreement with the bank.

4. You can have a great time without buying anything. I don't always come home with a purchase, but I always enjoy the show.

 

[DKeener]

Bought a knife at a gunshow once.
Its just like going to the fair as a kid. Keep your money deep in your pocket, Look carefully, Think hard.

Remember, its bad juju to come away from a gunshow and not buy anything, even if its just a cheap knife or some beef jerky.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

leave credit cards at home don't tell wife where you are going and have a plan for hiding purchases and infiltrating then into house under cover in a way that makes "i've had that for ages" plausible, or at least not easily refuted

 

[ChromeLibrarian]

I go to gun shows knowing what I'm looking for. Then I research ahead of time to find out what the going price is on the items I want. I never go to a gun show just to see what I can buy with the money I have available. That's how you get ripped off. On very rare occasions I have run into things that I wasn't looking for, but which I knew were under-priced, so I bought them.

 

[Grey_Mana]

I was tempted to make a new thread, but I'll try asking in this one instead:

1) Anyone have advice for telling if a gun is used up/worn out?
I'm planning to go the the Chantilly gun show, where they mandate zip cords to prevent customers from dry firing.

2) For a 3 day show, is it better to go early (before they are picked over), or late (when the sellers might be more willing to accept lower offers)?

3) In my job and personal life, I take lots of notes. Am I going to be stand-out crazy (you know what I mean) if I jot down notes to myself at a gun show?

Any other advice welcome. Aside from the usual fantasies of great guns dirt cheap, I'm hoping to find a carbine. I've seen Kel tec & hi-point, what else should I be looking for?

Thanks!