Going to a gun show for the first time

[West Texan]

Me and a couple of buddies are heading to a gun show tommorrow and this will be my first one. I grew up shooting and hunting but as I got older I got away from it. Over the past year I have started buying a new handgun every chance I have the extra money and it seems to be becoming more of an addiction each time. Just looking for some advice from the experts out there on what I can expect and what are usually good buys at these shows.

 

[Vonderek]

Down here in south Florida there are no good buys really. Some guys, same stuff. It's really more for entertainment...if you got a couple hours to kill and don't mind paying the parking and entry fee. If you are looking for something in particular, do your research online beforehand so you will be able to negotiate. Everybody thinks they are selling gold there and have their stuff priced accordingly. Go in with low expectations and have fun. Buy some beef jerky.

 

[wbwanzer]

I agree with the post above. Rarely a good deal at a gun show, at least where I live. It's just a fun way to kill a few hours and be around lots of guns.

 

[frankenstein406]

I usually end up selling stuff but rarely buying except ammo or awesome deals on beef sticks.

 

[Vaarok]

Peoplewatching and random conversation. Mostly it's a social event. Absolutely everyone there is probably a firearms enthusiast, has time off, and is enjoying themselves with the exception of a few cranky vendors. Go forth and have a good time. Don't buy anything you don't know about unless it seems really neat, but same way you'll probably see something neat you'd never heard of before.

 

[HankB]

If you're shopping at a gun show . . .

1. KNOW what the prices are for items you're likely to want.

2. If buying a used gun (particularly a milsurp) - buy the gun, not the story.

3. You have to be willing to walk away from a deal that doesn't seem too great.

4. LOTS of "unique collector's items" were actually fabricated in somebody's garage.

 

[DammitBoy]

5. ignore the naysayers, a positive attitude goes a long way

6. be systematic, look at every table and see the whole show before you commit yourself to a deal. take notes on exceptional items/deals you see and where that table is/was

7. be friendly and polite

8. don't forget to pay attention to individuals walking around selling their guns - here be deals

9. dicker and barter and finagle - never pay the price on the tag

10. take cash and more than you think you need

 

[THe Dove]

Amen on taking cash and more than you think you need!!!

Also, I agree that most fire-arms at the gun shows around here are not a big money savings adventure. However, I do seam to find good deals on accessories (ie; holsters, bulk ammo such as SKS, etc...)

 

[ShawnC]

What they say above. Pick a few guns you want to look for specifically. Research them like crazy and know what you are willing to pay, based on what you've researched. Don't impulse buy unless you are sure you're getting a good deal, because when you look it up later you don't want to find out you overpaid. Remember a gun is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and that someone is you.
I usually go to shows for surplus ammo and to looky loo . Occasionally I'll find a cool t-shirt or some neat little gadget that catches my fancy.

 

[Ranger30-06]

I disagree with the overpriced comments. I got my Saiga for a lot less at a gun show than if I had bought it at a gun store. The biggest things to remember are:

• Haggle. The sticker price is 99% of the time a lot higher than what is should be.
• Be polite, but firm. Don't be taken for a sucker.
• Check as much of the gun out as possible. There are quite a few jerks that try to pawn off junk guns for way to much money.
• Check every booth before buying a gun. The guy on the other side could have a better condition gun for less. You never know till you look.
• Lastly, if the seller gets smug, leave. Usually they are trying to pull something over on you or simply have no respect for their customers.

 

[Noah]

8. don't forget to pay attention to individuals walking around selling their guns - here be deals

I went to a gunshow really wanting an H&R single shot, and there were only 2 there for $100+ apiece. I wasn't thrilled with that, but I saw a guy walking around with a 36" barrel Topper, and went to ask him what he wanted for it and if he was selling. Right before I got to him, he tried to sell it to a quote, cranky vendor. He wouldn't buy it for $85, and I offered him $80 and got, in my mind, a good deal. Incidentally, a week after I bought a Pardner and a Topper at that show, my grandfather gave me two more Toppers. Next gunshow I go to I'll try to sell some of them, don't really need four of 'em, and maybe my cranky W290. Then again, no one would buy it, it looks great, but jams and misfires like mad. Part of the feed system is bent, so about every round gets stuck... It worked fine a bit ago. Either way, even before it broke, it needed stripped and scrubbed every 50 rounds or less. But I'll stop whining about it now haha.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

As a vegetarian and a person that doesn't collect pocket knives or worn out military duffle bags I can't think of a reason to attend a gun show.

 

[Diggers]

HAH thats funny.

The last one I went to I paid 10 bucks for parking and 12 bucks to get in the door, just to walk around and look at a bunch of stuff priced higher than local gun stores and a bunch of junk and a bunch of dried meat.

Totally not worth it. Hope its different in other states.

 

[DammitBoy]

Negative vibes always net negative results

 

[orionengnr]

Hope its different in other states.

It is.
I'm not going to say I can go to a gun show every weekend, but if I wanted to, here in the DFW area, I could go to two, three, four per month (depending on the month), all within an hour's drive. And I did, for quite some time.

Up until two years ago, none cost more than $7 admission, no parking fee. Starting about a year ago, they went up to $8 and one charges $5 for parking (this was done by the city, not by the gun show organizers).

However, we are now a single income family, and my disposable income has been dramatically reduced.

So now I am a bit more selective, and only go to one every two or three months. I still find it enjoyable, and worth the effort. I just have to look harder to figure out which one of several good deals to buy. And I generally walk in with only a C-note or less, so the good deal guns I would have seriously considered or bought outright 3-5 years ago...well, I just shake my head and hope that someone else will have the good sense to grab them.

For me, gun shows are a bit like sex. The worst I ever had was only excellent.

 

[lathedog]

Most sellers at gunshows seem to fall into one of two categories:

1. Wife nags and yells for them to sell stuff, so they go to appease the wife. Really not interested in letting go of anything. Set price at number that even mathmeticians can't count to. Go home and tell wife they tried.

2. No one loves them except friends at gunshow. Go get table so they can get a good seat for two days of social life. Really not interested in letting go of anything. Set price high enough that for that price, sure they would sell whatever prized object they brought to the show.

I really trip out at gunshows like I have slipped into an alternate universe. I still go and I still find deals, but you have to be patient and spend the time to talk to people. There are always a couple of really neat folks to talk with, and many sellers have items for sale that are in a box under the table. This will be stuff they brought to sell but do not think is worth much, and sometimes it is something you want or need or covet.

 

[j2crows]

Be sure to ask for permission before you pickup a weapon off a table.

 

[mortablunt]

Gun shows are fun and a great way to handle a lot of guns that aren't yours. You can walk out with some good things so long as you don't have absolute lowest price anywhere OCD. Ask for permission before you pick guns up, Pottery Barn breakage policy is in effect, and be polite. If you want something, walk around and look before you buy. If someone doesn't let you handle before purchase, that's a bad sign.

 

[BambiB]

Lots of times the best day to go to the show is the last day of the show. The serious sellers frequently would rather knock a few bucks off than pack it up and haul it to the next show. This is even more true on a quantity buy (several thousand rounds of ammo).

If you want to have some fun, tell the guys at the show you're gonna vote for Obama. (But only if you've already decided you don't want to buy anything.)

 

[mortablunt]

^ For extra trolling, tell them that you see no conflict between Socialism and private gun ownership and then whip out your SPUSA membership card.

 

[Fishslayer]

I would jump at the chance to go to a Free State gun show. Here in Kalifornistan... well... like the guy said... sunglass cleaner & dried meat.

The idea of going to the show, striking a deal and actually WALKING OUT with my purchase... sigh...

I hang out on another gun forum and occasionally see gunshow & pawn shop deals they've scored. Ya never know. Like the Lotto the only 100% certainty is that if ya don't go, ya won't score.

 

[Nullcone]

The shows here are usually pretty huge (multiple buildings or big stadium) so I used to take a tiny notebook/pen combo. If I saw something interesting, and it always seems I did, I could compare prices and such or just be able to go back and find the dang thing.

Of course, most cell phones work for that now.

Crossroads shows seem to bug me so I always hit the CS booth and let them know I don't like dealing with the jerky and bronzes of cows and suggest at least they segregate the crap into its own area. They'll usually chuckle, apologize and toss some comp/swag at you.

Make a note of where the books are being sold... vendors are usually cool with a quick look up of gun values (more useful for older, rares ones of course); I usually buy a cheap mag or 2 I know I haven't read before if they're nice about it.

 

[stratman26]

there are deals, you just have to do your homework..... if you see something you like, take a good look at it then google it on your phone to see if its a good deal. worked for me when a guy had no idea of what he had, however I have bought guns here at stores for hundreds less than at the gun shows. go there, have a good time, and as others have said, beef jerky!

 

[Sav .250]

Used stuff.....buyer beware.

New stuff.... check out all the tables.

 

[kimberkid]

My advise is;

1. Go with no expectations.

Last gun show I went to I expected to find some green low profile picitinny rail covers (ladders) for a AR57 ... If I found them, I was going to get a green stock and grip as well ... but over 120 tables there were black and tan but no green to be had.

2. Know a good deal when you see it ... and buy it (and don't rely on the sellers story)

Don't be one of those guys that go through the show and look at every table first ... then go back to buy; If its a good deal, more often than not it will be gone.

3. Have Fun ...