Gun show enthusiasm waning

[another okie]

It's us that has changed, not the shows. When you first are interested in guns gun shows are magical places. Not just for what they sell, but for the chance to be around lots of like-minded gun owners. You see a large variety of guns in person, as opposed to in pictures, and you see the huge variety of accessories for them.

Once you have most of the guns you want or need and know how to buy ammo and to find gun discussion on the internet, the shows no longer have as much attraction.

 

[Vaarok]

I've probably obtained a fifth to a quarter of my collection between the Syracuse NY and Oneonta NY gunshows.

And there's never a show where I don't find some underpriced bayonet or a couple useful small parts.

If you're in it for new remchesters or ammo, no promises, but if you're savvy and into surplus, I've yet to find a really bad gunshow. Though the Albany NY tends to be pretty poor.

Most importantly, I work on a farm. Work's a quarter mile down the road, and I spend seven days a week there. If it only costs me $30 in gas and $8 to get in, and it kills an afternoon doing something unusual, that I love, with like-minded people, and gives me stuff to play with for a week or two afterward, I call that a great deal.

 

[Cannonball888]

I just couldn't resist posting this classic again.

Ode to the Gunshow
By McUZI (edited for language)

Saturday's a coming And I can't wait
Gunna hurry on over, Cuz I can't be late
I'm going to the place We all love and know
The local overpriced nightmare gun show

I had to park my car twelve miles away
The walk to the door takes me half a gosh darn day
I go to the door and pay my entrance fee
Walk around the floor, to see what I can see.

I get a sample Beef Jerky that taste old and stale
Some lady's selling left over garbage from her last garage sale
I see a table with some hardware that's looking mighty fine
I pass a pair of homies gawking at a Tec-9
I get to the table and what do I see?
A gun I've always wanted. There just for me.

I ask the dude behind the table, (How much is this thing)?
I was hoping that the price was right and wasn't going to sting
He thought for a second, and rubbed his Grizzly Adams beard
His demeanor got somber, and his face looked weird

"This very gun was used by a NAVY SEAL
but I'm in a good mood, so I'll cut you a deal
Ordinarily, I'd need to get a grand for this gun
But I'll sell it for $800, howse that sound to ya son?"

I about soiled my pants!
"$800? EAT MY SOCK!
It's a worn out police trade-in ratty old Glock
I think you were drinking when you wrote your price tags
So you can keep your stupid Glock and your lame post-ban mags"

But I didn't despair, I just went on my way
The Class-3 table ought to brighten my day
The man behind the table was a sketchy old cat
With dark tinted glasses and a MOLON LABE hat

He stood there looking proud at all his full-auto goodies
The kind of guns that could give a gun-nut woodies
I asked him how much he wanted for the Colt M-16?
He snapped his head around and started to scream

"THESE GUNS AREN'T FOR SALE!
DIDN'T YOU KNOW?
I ONLY SHOW THEM OFF AT EVERY GUN SHOW!
I HAVE NOTHING IN THIS WORLD, NO KIDS, NO WIFE
WITHOUT MY MACHINE GUNS I'D HAVE NO LIFE!"

His arms were flailing 'round like a bat out of hell
And just at that moment, I caught a horrible smell
I felt kind of bad, but it still made me laugh
What he has is machineguns, what he needs is a bath

So I pulled up my shirt to cover my face
My eyes were tearing up like I got nailed with mace
I walked off quick, the smell was just too rude
Till I got to the table of the C&R dude

"This rifle is handpicked and personally chosen
by the Czar of Russia as the Worlds finest Mosin
Now lest you think it's out of your price range
I'll let this gem go for $200 and change"

I said "Dude, your nuts. Out of your freaking mind.
Those guns sell for $50, for the exact same kind"
He got really mad, and threw a hissy-fit
So I told him he could keep his outdated old kit

I needed some ammo, so over I went
To the ammo display in the green army tent
The ammo guy named Tom told me to come in
And look through the baggies in the little blue bin...

He said his 10mm ammo should be somewhere in there
Loaded by his drunk brother Willie, hot enough to kill bear.
I politely declined, and wandered back out on the floor
And slowly but surely made my way back to the door.

As I left the building. the promoter said "Have a nice day"
To which I replied "Your gun show was lame"
They asked if I had plans on ever coming back?
Yeah. Maybe the next time I'm strung out on crack

The moral of the story is "modern gun shows suck"
And are no longer the place to go if you want to save a buck
While there are things there that we'd all like to get
It's all just overpriced crap bought off the internet.

 

[Bob]

I quit going to gun shows about 10 years ago and don't miss it a bit. The quality has been removed from the shows and the costs of parking and entry are exorbitant. I have some really good local retailers that I support instead.
Bob

 

[Vader]

I also quit going to shows in so. Florida for the same reason stated on all the posts. Except for next week. I'm picking up two Spike's Tactical ar lowers from a group buy and the price is great including tax and NICS. Other than that I may loaf around for a while and see what I've been missing (not much I think)

 

[cracked butt]

I just don't have time for the turner diary/beanie baby/turkey sausage/moccasin/nazi paraphenalia/cheap holster/low quality chinese knife dealers. The guys that have guns to sell usually have craptastic overpriced remington 700s with tru-oil finishes, overpriced milsurps with missing parts, or homebuilt AR-15 uppers of questionable quality for sale. I occasionally buy things I have a use for for a decent price like canvas M1 slings, stripper clips, and various gun parts, but that might be a once-a-year trip for such items.

 

[thebaldguy]

I still like going to gun shows. I usually go with a shopping list and stick with it. I do a little research on items I might get. I've seen used Marlin lever action 30-30 rifles going for more than new. I've seen ammo and other guns at pretty good prices. I do a complete walk through before I buy anything to check prices out. I usually get a cheaper (under $20) folding lock blade for myself or for a gift, and maybe a few pepper sprays for some friends. My girlfriend picked up a nice women's wallet at a great price.

I guess for free parking and a five dollar admission it's not too bad of a deal if you can find a deal.

 

[Hk91-762mm]

My primary Hobby Is setting up at Gun shows -Its been awhile though.
Dont Blame the dealers for prices-Please! I rent 3-4 tables at 75 To 100 $ each .4 hr drive -1 tank of gas -2 nights in a motel[And you have to take the wife for dinner Just so she will keep coming with you and help]
The last time I was talking to a promoter I asked Him what it cost to rent the fort Washington convention center -He said 25 I said 25 hundred ?? He said NO 25 THOUSAND!
Most of the Blame goes to The Democrats -----They are the ones who have reduced the no# of FFL by 70% Less dealers Less merchandise to shop When the no. of dealers went down so did the gun shows.
Billy Boy was the primary instigator of this Bush Just let the ATF continue there tirade.
As to the WEB Now we have the major wholesalers cutting out the dealers and selling Direct to the customer --Soon the few remaining Gun show dealers will go the way of the full auto and then you guys will be at the mercy of the NOW only dealers who will have little compitition Check prices in a few years when The gun shows End -!
Dont forget the Few deals that show up at a gun show -Someone selling there old and rare Firearms collection you cant buy from a web supplier

 

[ThomasT]

Well i guess my take on gunshows is a little different than most.

Like you, i go to find a bargain. And i do on occasion. There wa a guy selling a SS 10/22 with a scope and sling for $180.00 in the line to the show. I waited by the door for him to come in. He never did. Someone else bought the gun. I have kicked my own butt ever since.

The main thing i get from gunshows though is this. When i leave there after looking over all the guns for sale, and the junk, and desperate sellers, is i am so thankfull for the safe full of really nice firearms that i already own. I am lucky.

No, gun shows aren't what they used to be but be glad they still have them. Its the rare find and a bargain i sometimes get that keeps me going back.

 

[Girodin]

I went to the last cross roads show. The only thing that was a good deal was on a FN FS2000, something I have little interest in. Most things were more expesnsive than they could be found elsewhere and there was very little of what I was looking for, the selection was not too varied.

In terms of Ammo it was about the same as online (but you had paid $9 to get in meaning it was more) and more than I found it locally.

I was hoping to pick up magazines but prices there were just plain laughable.

I did do 20 pull ups at the marines' booth and got a prize. I also found call of duty for a very good price so it wasn't a total bust.

If I want to see lots of over priced guns with tons of people bumbing into me while I'm trying to look I'll just go to Cabelas.

 

[Old Dog]

What? I had to go to work and missed the start of the monthly gun show rant thread?

Y'all should should come up to W. WA for our WAC shows. Free parking, 35 bucks for annual membership (gets you into every show, 9 to 12 shows a year in each of the two locations, Puyallup and Monroe). Still a few good deals to be had and some nice folks.

 

[coyotehitman]

As for the petition solicitors, I walk briskly away and pretend not to hear them - just as I do with other panhandlers. I am not there for "politicking" - there is plenty of time for that in the voting booth.

They usually always break the ice by asking if I am a registered voter, my reply of "No, I'm a convicted felon" usually turns them off.

 

[coloradokevin]

I haven't gone to a gun show in a number of years, but that is primarily due to the fact that I work weekends.

I used to frequent gun shows when I lived in OH, but was never a big spender at the shows... Back there (and then) the shows were costing $5, women were free at some, and parking was free. So, for $5 I could entertain myself and my girlfriend (at the time) for the afternoon, and we could look at gun stuff.

I thought of the $5 as an entertainment fee more than anything. Back then the ammo was cheap at gun shows, so I did purchase a bit of that from time-to-time.

Some of the vendors were horrible back then too... Lots of overpriced cheap crap, and silly stuff that no respectable gun owner would buy.

One guy tried to sell me an Enfield one time, handing me the rifle and saying "Just check out how new that bore looks". He must have taken me for some kind of complete idiot, because it was the most corroded piece of junk I'd ever seen (probably shot with corrosive ammo, and not cleaned from the looks of it). But, I suppose some new shooter could have been convinced that it was a good deal.

Anyway, to make a long story short, gun shows are a mixed bag. They can be fun and interesting, but I'll usually go to the more reputable retail stores when I want to buy something.

 

[Ala Dan]

Yep, gun shows ain't what they used too be~!

Last one I attened in Ocotober of '06, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic
Center was nothing more than a bunch of old farts with high dollar firearms
for sale; sitting around eating cookies and drinking milk~!

 

[legion3]

Here in Central Florida from Tampa to Orlando the shows are OK. Some venues charge parking and some don't and the entrance cost is usually $6-8 dollars. We have three different outfits that do the bigshows and a few smaller shows in the smaller town.

Not to bad of a way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday or Sunday. About the same cost as any other entertainment.

Deals can be found at our gunshows and most are willing to dicker. Each county in Florida also has its own gunshow rules, such as in Orlando handguns can be sold privately to a CCL holder, but all others must do the check and wait, but in Tampa handguns cannot be sold without the 3 day wait. Lakeland has no rules on private sales and neither does Bradenton.

So the shows vary and the venues are not to far apart.

 

[RP88]

I've been to one (Virginia Gun & Knife show), and only considered buying from two or three of the vendors. Out of the whole show, 80% of the business at any given time was happening around Dark Sun's table and the other (forgot name) right next to them.

The only reason why I'm gonna go back to the show when it comes back through is because the admission fee is much cheaper and convenient than driving all the way to Richmond to their store from my location.

 

[dstorm1911]

the show here in Tucson today just plain sucked, prices way above market, I bought a thousand primers to at least justify the $9 entry fee...... after taxes my 1K primers only cost me $4 more than I coulda got em at Sportsmans warehouse for........

 

[searcher451]

There's a regional show this weekend in my neck of the woods, and it was easy enough to pass by for all of the reasons mentioned above. When you add in the ridiculous costs of gasoline, parking, and general admission to the skyrocketing prices that dealers want for their gun show offerings, it gets easier all the time to pass them by. I often get the feeling that the dealers are looking to retire on the very deal they are offering to you.

 

[barkingowl]

My wife shops the gun shows for tumbling media for her craft projects. I go for books. I can get better deals on guns & ammo on the internet.

 

[WinchesterAA]

Since gunshows suck and the parking and entry fees alone throw off any savings you'd have from buying off the net, and most retailers in the Houston area not only have -

The same stuff (Hi-point, taurus 1911s, kel-tecs, couple of revolvers, and a bunch of glocks, and usually a few other 1911s on consingment for way past what they're worth)

Where can a guy go to get what he wants? There's nothing unusual in these stores, rarely a wooden stock anywhere, just polymer stocks..

One gunshop looks identical to the next, cept one place is 50$ higher or lower than the other for the same thing.

"We can order that for you" is what I always get..
I guess I could say "Yeah, I can order it too!" but I'd probably be going to them as my FFL anyway so no point really..

What exactly is goin on? Are people getting dumber and thinking this is what it's about? Owners getting tired and lazy? Using non-existant inventory as a CYA measure in case nobody comes to their shop?

 

[Harold Mayo]

You have to actually know what you're doing at gun shows to enjoy them. If you think that you're going to go to any gun show and find some low price on a new gun that is JUST the one you've been looking for, think again. It doesn't work that way.

If you go to enough shows, you'll start finding the guys who will have a better price or who will barter with you. You'll find guys who continually bring and sell something relatively specific that you just CAN'T find elsewhere. Stuff like that. Back in the ban days, certain shows were apt to bring in locals with pre-ban stuff who didn't know its value and who would part with it for half of what the market value was at the time. Nice ways to make money and/or get what you want.

I guess if you haven't grown up in it and your expectations are that you're going to get something for nothing, then I can understand some of the comments.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

Me and Treo frequent the same gun show's in Colorado Springs. I think they are pretty good overall, but I have noticed that the gun prices are no better than what you will find at Specialty Sports Supply, the largest gun dealer in Colorado Springs. I bought an XD-40 at Specialty Sports for $526 out the door, the last gun show had them for $519+tax. The ammo prices are also inflated, the ammo vendors wanted $225+ tax for a case of Wolf 7.62x39, I can get it from Sportsmansguide with shipping for $210.

I mainly go to the gun show's for the camraderie, to browse and fondle some guns, and the biggest reason.....PRIMERS. The last gun show had Winchester SP primers for $21.95 a brick, I bought two. Sportsmans Warehouse has the same primers for $30/brick. I've also found good buy's on component bullets as well, $90/1000 for plated 40 S&W.

 

[Rem700SD]

I still go to Gun shows not for the savings, but for the variety. There's a shortage of good, independent gun stores in Houston. For the same distance I drive to a good gun store( who's prices are not competative), I can go to the Pasadena gun show. Many of the local FFL's have closed their stores, and only do gun shows. In other words, I have to catch my local dealer AT the gun show! Go Figure.

 

[Avenger]

I've given up too. The only thing I've bought at the last 5 shows have been the few titles from the old Ballantine "History of Conflict" series that I didn't already have. I generally do a quick spin through the room just to see if anything catches my eye.
All I ever find are used-up .22s, Mossberg 500s with tons of Mall Ninja crap on them, and cheap AKs with crazy prices.

And I'm still trying to figure out why the only people who I ever see buy any of the Nazi "memorabilia" are BLACK.....

 

[GD]

I collect Military Surplus rifles, primarily Finnish. In the past 6 Chisholm Trail gunshows in Wichita, I have found the following:
M28/30 $90
M28 $150
M1888 GEW in excellent condition $100
1917 Sestroysk M91 $40
1916 Sestroysk M91 $40
1895 Tula M91 $100
1944 Tikka M91/30 $90
1945 Izhevsk M44 $50
1943 BNZ K98k Mauser $130
MAS M49/56 in .308 $175
1923 M98/22 in unissued condition, perfect tigered walnut stock $85
and more if I could remember all of them.
At this years spring show I picked up a beautiful 1942 Walnut stocked K31 for $125 and 7.62x54 Czech ammo at 12 cents per round. Last year I picked up 60 round battle packs of Swiss GP11 for $18.

So, go ahead and complain about the lousy deals at gunshows. Just leave the good stuff for me!