Gun Show

[model4006]

There is a local gun show here but i have to work during it. should i try to get out of work to get there to look for deals or am i wasting my time? are most gun shows the same or are they all different? this is at a local expo center which is fairly big. id hate to try like hell to get out there only to be disappointed.

what are your experiences with gun shows?

 

[tank mechanic]

I love going to gun shows both big and small. I spent three hours at one that only had twenty tables. I would definitely recommend going if there are not any more planned for the immediate future. But if there are some more planned in next month or so and it is on a better day then you should wait.

 

[Big Duke Six]

If you are referring to the show in Springfield, Ma, It's usually a good show.
Probably some good deals if you know what you are looking for.
Picked up a nice M-1 carbine there not long ago

 

[hockeybum]

ive never bought anything at a gun show. but im not really alllowed to buy anything since im only 15... but my dad found a really good deal on a pistol at one. he traded in idk what, and got a sig or something like that. they're lots of fun just to meet the people and get to see what kind of weapons everyone has

 

[Outlaws]

It just depends. If you already know what firearm you want, and you know you can find it at a shop without trying too hard, there is very little reason to go to a gun show IMO. (parking and entrance fees easily overcome almost ANY "deal" you may find) But if you want that gem mint 03A3 or just a Swedish M96 (which I went for and left with), a gun show is about the best place to go.

Where do you live? I just went to the one here in Phoenix yesterday. All the handguns seem to be new and lacking any good deals. Used handguns are your typical selection of foreign stuff.

Lots of AK's and SKS's. Lots of hunting rifles. AR's and the accessories are everywhere. And for some reason, every other table has nothing to do with anything.....really, I don't want a "Guitar for Dummies" starter kit and I don't want some fugly crystal glass stuff. And the cheap crap knives are getting out of control. How those people afford $80 a table to sell that crap is beyond me. But hey, they had plenty of Star Wars toys.

 

[hksw]

are most gun shows the same or are they all different?

Judging by some of the posts on other threads, how good or bad they are depends on your location. Some folks have seen the prices as being no better or worse than local gun shops. Others, including myself in NE OH, have seen better pricing than local shops. I've also seen that it also depends on the gun show promoter as they pick who gets tables in their shows. The size of the show, IMO, helps as the bigger the show, the more competition.

 

[Fu-man Shoe]

It depends.

Are you on salary?

If so, then *HECK YEAH* go check out the gunshow.

If not, you're better off clocking in the hours and actually
making some money rather than going and blowing your
hard earned cash on a bunch of junk (and maybe the rare
gem or two...)

...

But hey, if nothing else it's a pleasant way to spend an
afternoon. Browsing a bunch of musty old crap, shootin
the breeze with likeminded folks, seeing what's new and
and what's old...seeing what ridiculous prices some of the
dealers try to get away with...you might even get you
some beef jerky or a new holster.

Sounds like a good afternoon to me.

 

[model4006]

im in youngstown ohio the show is in niles

 

[preWWWIIbuff]

GO MAN GO

Knowledge is king.
I just love to go to gun shows.
You never know who you will meet.
You never know what you are going find. Like the guy at the Libby Mt show who had a bunch of Remington 8/81s That may sell replacement sight for mine. Seattle to Libby and worth it all. For me at least.YMMV
You never know when they will be a thing of the past.
And do you KNOW were you will be next show
If you have to ask why go to a gun show I guess I have to ask why not spend all of your time at work never see the grand canyon do not go to Yosimty do not go to the range
Sure there my be beeennnieee dolls and glass crap seen as over priced targets to me.
I don't walk out of a store because they sell women's shoes and I don't were those. I look at what I want/need:banghead:

p.s.

jerky is lunch talk about needing bought 10 lbs for the hunting lodge and try the sweet the hot, the sweet hot h.ll any/all the flavors b4 I go to his compaction

GO MAN GO GET OUT TO THE SHOW
GO TO THE RANGE
SEE FOR YOUR SELF
your spelling my differ BD

 

[Dean C]

preWWWIIbuff wrote "I just love to go to gun shows.
You never know who you will meet."

Ya' going to the Monroe show today?
Who knows, ya' might meet me there.
dean

 

[hksw]

I was considering going to Niles yesterday and meet up with a couple friends but got caught up doing other things. One friend bought a Mini14 with (what sounded over the phone like) factory folding stock. It was sold off by a LEO to BBC, one of the regular dealers that sell at Nile Gun Shows promoted gun shows (which include Berea, Akron, and others). Have bought a few things from BBC and are great to work with. Their prices, particularly ARs, are generally pretty good as compared to other dealers their and definitely against shops. If you buy enough from them like my friend does, they'll even cut you an even better deal (maybe an additional $20-$50 depending on original price).

Only problem wit the Niles show is its proximity to the Eastwood Mall. Traffic can get long. But, it is also an alternative after or before the show to do other shopping. There's a Best Buy and a Gander Mountain close by as well as a SAM's Club down the road plus numerous eateries to pick from.

 

[fineredmist]

Gun shows can be a interesting way to spend your afternoon but know prices and values if you are looking for something in particular. The "bargains" are few and far between at most shows. I have noted that some prices are actually higher at the show than at the local dealer. Buyer be ware is the rule at shows.

 

[rangerruck]

gunshows are good because, you will ususally see something there that you wont see anywhere else. Also you have a good chance to make a really good deal on something, if you know what you are doing, and find the right piece, the right guy, etc. So yeah, I like going.

 

[Ala Dan]

Gun Shows

Good for parts, equipment, or books; bad for firearms cuz they usually have
a poor selection, at inflated prices. Better off trading with your local dealer.

 

[wally]

Around here its different. Trivial to beat the local store's prices by 10-25% on current production guns.

BUT, you must know what real prices are for what you are intrested in as for every good deal there are two or three bad ones sitting on the tables.

I enjoy them even if I don't buy anything, I'd rather waste a few hours walking around a gun show than sitting at the movie theater.

--wally.

 

[model4006]

It was a joke, overpriced everything and alot of the guns i saw were brand new, with brand new prices. why have that at a gun show, thats called a gun store. ammo was more than gander mtn charges. waste of time and 5 bucks.

 

[Outlaws]

waste of time and 5 bucks.

$5??????????

Ours was $14 plus $6 for parking. I don't ever want to hear anyone here ever state they wasted $5 on a gun show again. Thanks.


$5......:banghead:

 

[model4006]

if it was a waste it was a waste, and guess what? it was a WASTE! sorry that your gun show costs more.

 

[Hoppy590]

im thinking about going to the one in (west) Springfield MA. but my drive home ( im from that area of Mass) from where my school is ( other end of the state) would negate any deals i find. not to mention entrence is like 10$! but sure could go for a k31

 

[hksw]

What firearms were you looking at to compare prices with?

 

[scout26]

WOW $20 for a Gun Show ?!?!?!?!?!?! We (my son and I) went to the one at the Dupage County (Illinois) Fairgrounds. $5 for me to get in, (he's 6 so he gets in free.)

Let's see what we bought:
A WWII vintage Third Army Patch that my son picked out a tray of patches ( "Look Dad, a BIG 'A' !!! " ) $1.00
A set of Lee Powder Dippers $5.00 (wasn't really looking for them, but for 5 bucks, half the MSRP)
Lee Powder Funnel $1.00 ($3.00 on the Lee website, + shipping) never can have too many powder funnels.
1lb jug of IMR 3031 powder $16.00, almost bought some for $21.99 at Gander Mountain the previous weekend, but decided to wait. Glad I did, saved $6.00. Last month I got four 1 lb jugs of Clays for $40.00 as the guy was packing up.

Total Damage: $28 for 3 hours. Can't go to a movie for that.

Plus, Mom and Daugther got 3+ hours of *bonding* time, me and my son got to look at some cool toys (to include the tables with the RC cars and other *collectibles* like Star Wars toys, etc.). Sometimes my daughter goes with if Mrs Scout needs some "Mom" time.

Even if I don't buy a thing, $5.00 is cheap for a couple of hours of *entertainment*. (Beats giving money to Hollyweird.) Every now and then I find a deal (got an Iver Johnson 12 ga Hercules SxS and another old hardware store SxS shotgun for $100 a couple of years ago). Normally reloading supplies are cheaper at the show but harder to find (especially shotshell supplies/components). Lots of books and militaria, vintage WWII (Lots of US, German and saw two tables with nothing but WWII Japanese stuff.)

Guns are hit and miss. I saw a couple of *fresh from CMP* M1's for $1000. a couple of 870 Express's for less then $250. If you have some ideas as to what you want you can probably do pretty good if you find them, and you can also find that *diamond in the rough*, that just needs a good cleaning and a loving home.