I'm going to my first gun show next week (Grand Island Gun Show in Nebraska). I'll be going with an experienced hunter/shooter. I have already bought my first gun. What else are shows good for besides actual guns? I'm considering ammo and magazines. The fiance will flip if I come home with a Makarov or AR-15. What should I expect?
First Gun Show
- Thread starter strat81
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Get a comfy surpluss sleeping bag so that if they flip you can sleep in the yard comfortably.
Depends upon the show. Some of them are like flea markets. Others are treasure troves of antique and surplus items. Others will be full of milsurps and others will be full of duck/deer hunting materials.
Depends upon the show. Some of them are like flea markets. Others are treasure troves of antique and surplus items. Others will be full of milsurps and others will be full of duck/deer hunting materials.
Mulliga
Member
Depending on how big the gun show is, you can usually get a deal on ammo (especially if you buy it by the case) - and even if it's only the same price as online, at least you don't pay shipping. Mag deals are hit and miss, but in terms of variety of mags, gun shows can't be beat (I once visited a local gun show, not very big, and found a couple mags for my seventy year old CZ-27).
There will probably be accessories-focused tables - holsters, scopes, you name it. Know what the going prices are and look at everything before you buy, and you should be okay.
There will probably be accessories-focused tables - holsters, scopes, you name it. Know what the going prices are and look at everything before you buy, and you should be okay.
SoCalShooter
Member
My rules for gun shows.
1. Always check the chamber on any weapon you decide to pick up.
2. Always check internet prices first
3. Always do an entire walk through first before you buy anything
Sometimes the gun show aint the cheapest place to get stuff atleast not at the gun show here in SD. The 8 HK .45 mags I have cost me 10 bucks a piece, they are legit HK mags...got'em off a guy who lives down the street and sells off of ebay. Mags at the gunshow were 25 a piece.
1. Always check the chamber on any weapon you decide to pick up.
2. Always check internet prices first
3. Always do an entire walk through first before you buy anything
Sometimes the gun show aint the cheapest place to get stuff atleast not at the gun show here in SD. The 8 HK .45 mags I have cost me 10 bucks a piece, they are legit HK mags...got'em off a guy who lives down the street and sells off of ebay. Mags at the gunshow were 25 a piece.
sm
member
Fiance' ?
Sets down single guys guide to gun shows, grabs guide to married guys, wait, that won't work, Fiance' - got it
1. Listen real darn carefully for the next week. to Fiance' The fact you should be doing this anyway is beside the point. Listen, and pay attention to Fiance until show.
2. Buy whatever the Fiance' mentioned, pointed to or gazed at. I mean before you go , buy this whatever it is, and hide it in your car.
See, you will make the typical dumb male mistake of thinking you can get one at the gun show, and this item will not be there, or you will forget.
3. Okay the Gun Show has this item or another item she mentioned, gazed at , or somesuch. Get it! first thing off the bat. Run to car, and put into trunk.
Okay so you now have two items she wanted. No problem, being a guy, you will screw up soon enough and will already have a back up gift. Pay attention to this "having a backup item(s) bit, you are a guy afterall...
4. Now go buy a vanilla ice cream cone, and know you "done good". Buy the Beef Jerky, get the toy for the dog ( if any) and go wander around.
Don't really matter what you buy, or don't buy after this point...
Then you head home....
"Oh honey! You paid attention to me! How sweet <goopy gushy mushy censored sounds here>.
Next morning You could have bought a Battleship, and Fiance won't care, you remembered some minor little something she wanted, just some little thing, because you listened and paid attention to her.
This all ladies really want, to be listened to and respected.
Safe bet with winter - thin driving gloves that match their coats, sweaters and such.
Have fun -
Post pics of Battleship Please.
Sets down single guys guide to gun shows, grabs guide to married guys, wait, that won't work, Fiance' - got it
1. Listen real darn carefully for the next week. to Fiance' The fact you should be doing this anyway is beside the point. Listen, and pay attention to Fiance until show.
2. Buy whatever the Fiance' mentioned, pointed to or gazed at. I mean before you go , buy this whatever it is, and hide it in your car.
See, you will make the typical dumb male mistake of thinking you can get one at the gun show, and this item will not be there, or you will forget.
3. Okay the Gun Show has this item or another item she mentioned, gazed at , or somesuch. Get it! first thing off the bat. Run to car, and put into trunk.
Okay so you now have two items she wanted. No problem, being a guy, you will screw up soon enough and will already have a back up gift. Pay attention to this "having a backup item(s) bit, you are a guy afterall...
4. Now go buy a vanilla ice cream cone, and know you "done good". Buy the Beef Jerky, get the toy for the dog ( if any) and go wander around.
Don't really matter what you buy, or don't buy after this point...
Then you head home....
"Oh honey! You paid attention to me! How sweet <goopy gushy mushy censored sounds here>.
Next morning
You could have bought a Battleship, and Fiance won't care, you remembered some minor little something she wanted, just some little thing, because you listened and paid attention to her.This all ladies really want, to be listened to and respected.
Safe bet with winter - thin driving gloves that match their coats, sweaters and such.
Have fun -
Post pics of Battleship Please.
I have NOT found ammo bargains
at the approximately 12 gun shows I have attended this year only. I am talking about 45-70, 45 Colt, 38 Special, and 9mm as well as 22 LR. I have not looked at exotic ammo and I was surprised, because I thought I might find some low-ball prices but no....I can do better other places. Just my limited experience.
at the approximately 12 gun shows I have attended this year only. I am talking about 45-70, 45 Colt, 38 Special, and 9mm as well as 22 LR. I have not looked at exotic ammo and I was surprised, because I thought I might find some low-ball prices but no....I can do better other places. Just my limited experience.
MartinBrody
Member
I love gun shows. You get to see a lot of guns 'in person' that you may have only seen in magazines. You may also see something new that you wouldn't have thought would interest you. People watching is also fun.
Over the years prices have gotten higher in my opinion. Usually I have a couple things in mind to buy that are too heavy or expensive to ship and you can't get in a local store. Cast bullets are heavy and thus expensive to ship. Primers are costly to order online as well b/c of restrictions. Most gun shops only carry a couple powders and a gun show will have all of them. Depending on the size of the show you will see a lot more variety in the things you use commonly to shoot: more cleaners, ammo, targets etc. You may find something new that works better than what your gun shop carries. I like to check out the books and old magazines too.
I don't like to buy guns unless you know you won't see it locally. If you have a problem with it you may have no recourse when dealing with a dealer 6 hours away. The prices are usually not good enough to justify buying a 38 snubbie at a show instead of your shop.
Have fun and take your time.
Over the years prices have gotten higher in my opinion. Usually I have a couple things in mind to buy that are too heavy or expensive to ship and you can't get in a local store. Cast bullets are heavy and thus expensive to ship. Primers are costly to order online as well b/c of restrictions. Most gun shops only carry a couple powders and a gun show will have all of them. Depending on the size of the show you will see a lot more variety in the things you use commonly to shoot: more cleaners, ammo, targets etc. You may find something new that works better than what your gun shop carries. I like to check out the books and old magazines too.
I don't like to buy guns unless you know you won't see it locally. If you have a problem with it you may have no recourse when dealing with a dealer 6 hours away. The prices are usually not good enough to justify buying a 38 snubbie at a show instead of your shop.
Have fun and take your time.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I hope your first GUN SHOW turns out a lot better than the last one here
in Birmingham, AL on Oct. 14th & 15th. Prices were high, with just a bunch
of old farts sipping on milk and eating cookies. Not much of a selection of
handguns~! Mostly long guns, assault rifles, swords, knives, old coins,
books, and leather goods. One guy had a few over priced Colt's in mostly
pristine condition, but you would have to had to rob a bank in order to
afford them~! And, I don't do things like that; so I left his old Colt
collection in his possession.
FWIW, the only thing I bought was two books; one on SIG's, and the
other on AR's.
in Birmingham, AL on Oct. 14th & 15th. Prices were high, with just a bunch
of old farts sipping on milk and eating cookies. Not much of a selection of
handguns~! Mostly long guns, assault rifles, swords, knives, old coins,
books, and leather goods. One guy had a few over priced Colt's in mostly
pristine condition, but you would have to had to rob a bank in order to
afford them~!
And, I don't do things like that; so I left his old Coltcollection in his possession.
FWIW, the only thing I bought was two books; one on SIG's, and the
other on AR's.
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