Gun show deals...or lack thereof.

[Bill_in_TR]

Went to a local gun show today. There seemed to be a pretty good selection of powders available but they wanted $50-55 per pound. Seems strange because I was at the LGS last week and their selection was decent and selling for $36-42 per pound. Still not great but better than at the show.

Primers were available at a few booths but they wanted $125-150 per thousand. They weren't selling much. One booth did have a bunch of Ginex primers for $80 per thousand. I have never used them so I picked up 1000 SPP to try. More than I really wanted to pay but better than what I am seeing elsewhere.

I remember when you went to gun shows bargain hunting. Not much of that any more. I looked at a few items and when I Googled the item it was available for less even including shipping. Sometimes a lot less.

Oh well it was still a fun morning looking and wishing.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I never went for bargains. I went for selection since we have no retailers in northern Virginia. But I quit gping during the pandemic shortages since no selection to select from. It’s a good sign that components are at least showing up.

 

[Otto]

The shows in my area prohibit concealed carry and zip-tie your guns at the door. So I don't even bother going anymore.
Why would anyone patronize a gun show with a sign like this posted at the entrance? I'm not that hard up for entertainment.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Gun shows haven't been about bargains for a long time, in my opinion. And I started going to them late 80s/early 90s.

Most "bargains" in my experience are to be found in the various knick-knacks to be had, cool little tools and such to toss in my tool boxes.

Ammo? Rarely. I did, however, find several boxes of Gold Dot 230 grain .45 ACP I'm betting was mis-marked very low. I did buy that up.

If general ammo/guns aren't priced any better than what I can get in local gun shops, I'm not buying.

I use gun shows as cheap entertainment for a few hours, a place to examine/handle guns I might want to buy, and look for hard to find items I'd actually be willing to part with some cash for.

That's it.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

Gun shows haven't been about bargains for a long time, in my opinion. And I started going to them late 80s/early 90s.

Most "bargains" in my experience are to be found in the various knick-knacks to be had, cool little tools and such to toss in my tool boxes.

Ammo? Rarely. I did, however, find several boxes of Gold Dot 230 grain .45 ACP I'm betting was mis-marked very low. I did buy that up.

If general ammo/guns aren't priced any better than what I can get in local gun shops, I'm not buying.

I use gun shows as cheap entertainment for a few hours, a place to examine/handle guns I might want to buy, and look for hard to find items I'd actually be willing to part with some cash for.

That's it.

I'm not saying bargains were common. But as recently as 4 or 5 years ago I regularly saw items of interest that were going for a good price, including ammo. You had to look for it but the bargains were there. But for the most part prices were similar to what was at the LGS. But these days they seem to be significantly more on most stuff. But I definitely agree about the entertainment aspect and the little odds and ends to be found.

 

[ilbob]

I pretty much stopped going to gun shows quite some time ago because they're just weren't any bargains and a lot of the stuff was just junk. They'd become kind of a flea market for miscellaneous army surplus stuff and parts. Not much in the way of guns ammo or components.

 

[Walkalong]

Gun shows used to be the place for cheaper components, especially cast bullets, brass etc. Like many here, I've been going to gun shows since pre-internet. Deals were to be had on used guns, and you could find guns you wouldn't find around town at pawn shops and FFLs.

That changed after Clinton, used guns got scarce, especially nice ones, folks were hanging onto them. Gradually gun shows stopped being a place for deals on most common stuff. Deals could still be had on odd stuff that wasn't popular though, like my $300 FN-1922 .32 ACP, or my $300 S&W Victory model .38 S&W.

I have actually skipped some gun shows in the last 3 or 4 years.

 

[Mark_Mark]

When I lived in Fayt-nam as a child, we had a huge 7 days a week indoor flea market. And 20% of the booths were military surplus, A2 uppers, triangle stock, all kindda stuff you could only imagine, and everything was negotiable.

Gun Show now, I just get that really good cup of $.50 coffee and just chat with friendly people

 

[Mk-211]

Being from SoCal and having been to the Pomona gun show at the fairgrounds...

I remember what a great show it was, the great deals they had and some of the characters. 8 miles of tables and we walked through all the buildings in about 5 hours.

I stopped going when CA stopped allowing the use of fairgrounds and other properties used for them.

Now most are over priced guns and ammo mixed in with beef jerky and beanie babies.

 

[Frulk]

I only go for odds and ends. Mostly range bags and shotgun scabbards. Stuff like that. The occasional Book. Around here almost exclusively anyone with a table is ‘in business’.

Back in the late 70s in Denver there was a huge flea market on north Federal Blv. Almost exclusively it was the little guy selling stuff he scraped together out of his garage or basement. Guns were seen frequently but not in very large numbers.

Usually someone trying to make rent or put food on the table (tail end of the Carter years). Even flea markets have changed. Almost exclusively mom and pop businesses these days like the kind you see South of the border. Can’t recall if I ever saw a gun being sold at one in the last 5 years or so around here.

I buy all my used guns now off a local internet site. No gun shops sell used around here anymore except for Cabelas and I don’t buy from them.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have never been to a gun show. There are several around here every year, but I have never had the desire to go.

Stay safe.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The shows in my area prohibit concealed carry and zip-tie your guns at the door. So I don't even bother going anymore.
Why would anyone patronize a gun show with a sign like this posted at the entrance? I'm not that hard up for entertainment.

View attachment 1096176

Kind of ironic the section is 30.06.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Kind of ironic the section is 30.06.

Which are very hard to conceal.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Which are very hard to conceal.

You mean Bond Arms doesn’t make a .30-06 derringer? I’m shocked! Shocked I tell you!

 

[Bill_in_TR]

You mean Bond Arms doesn’t make a .30-06 derringer? I’m shocked! Shocked I tell you!

I think I saw one at the show.

 

[Seedy Character]

The shows in my area prohibit concealed carry and zip-tie your guns at the door. So I don't even bother going anymore.
Why would anyone patronize a gun show with a sign like this posted at the entrance? I'm not that hard up for entertainment.

View attachment 1096176

When you have yahoo's that muzzle cover the crowd and test safeties by pulling the trigger. I have been to 2 gunships where holes were shot in the ceiling. A packed show and suddenly everybody is under a table, is not my idea of fun.
Seen a guy walk up to a table, pick up a M28, open cylinder, load a round and shoot the ceiling.
Security cuffed him and had him against the wall, was about to escort dealer out and I spoke up.
Idiot went to jail, dealer was shaken, but allowed to stay. He didn't budge his overpriced M28, though.

I have no problem with their sign or zip ties.

ETA: I have been going since early '80s. Made some awesome finds. The July show at the Astrodome was 3x bigger than Tulsa Wannamacher is, now.
I still go, I still find good buys, I do not go to every show, like I done 30 years ago.

 

[jmorris]

The last time I remember “deals” at gun shows was before Clinton was POTUS. They seem more like Mary Kay parties for guys now. We’re one can buy common things everyone else also does but at exorbitant prices.

I still go from time to time just for the activity but I have long ago quit going to find that “deal”.

 

[nofendertom]

Bargains and deals are relative :
If primers are $125-$150 per thousand, then $80 is a bargain.
If that pristine Mod 27 is $1250 and you get it for $950 it is a bargain.
It is just that prices are up, so the price of the "bargain" is up too.

 

[CQB45ACP]

So here are two reasons I like gun shows…not particularly bargains but there are no brick and mortars anywhere near me that have Wilsons in stock just for lookin.

 

[CQB45ACP]

And here are two more—another Wilson and a Les Baer bought at the gun show.

The third is an Alchemy I bought sight unseen and the fourth an Ed Brown from Brownell’s.

I love the so called Nation’s Gun Show here in Northern Virginia.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

Bargains and deals are relative :
If primers are $125-$150 per thousand, then $80 is a bargain.
If that pristine Mod 27 is $1250 and you get it for $950 it is a bargain.
It is just that prices are up, so the price of the "bargain" is up too.

I agree with what you're saying of course. I was basing my opinion on comparing prices at the gun show with prices of items that I know are available at the LGS's around me.

Yeah those $80 primers were a relative bargain even though it broke my heart to pay that much. I wish I could have afforded to get more.

 

[jdc1244]

Gun show – nice place to visit, wouldn’t want to buy there.

 

[irishlad]

Being from SoCal and having been to the Pomona gun show at the fairgrounds...

I remember what a great show it was, the great deals they had and some of the characters. 8 miles of tables and we walked through all the buildings in about 5 hours.

I stopped going when CA stopped allowing the use of fairgrounds and other properties used for them.

Now most are over priced guns and ammo mixed in with beef jerky and beanie babies.

It was unbelievable how big that gun show was. It was back in the 70s and 80s when I went.

 

[Mk-211]

Started going back in '89 until it left to Las Vegas. Went there for a couple years.

https://smallarmsreview.com/the-great-western-show/

 

[CQB45ACP]

It was unbelievable how big that gun show was. It was back in the 70s and 80s when I went.

Sounds big but how big?