Gun SHow

[Crazy Horse]

So, there was a Gun show today and I decided to go. The line was outrageously long and parking was almost non-existent. I was looking for a good range bag and naively hoping there would be some reloading supplies. When I finally got in, It was a madhouse. I walked around the isles and noticed that 80% of the dealers had jacked up their firearm prices by 30%. Firearms that I see online from makers such as Canik, SAR, and Girsan for 300-400 were 599-700. Crazy.

Sadly, the reloaders that sell there didn't have a stand inside, but I did goto the increased number of ammunition vendors (typically only one or two vendors, but now there were around 8 vendors. Yeah, one box of 9mm ammo Fiocchi brand.....40.00. Crazy. a box of 200, 223 rounds 174.00. Insane. On a good note, I was glad that I reload. The only sane prices I saw were 45acp for 19.99 for a box of 50. Undoubtedly will be going up by tomorrow.

All in all, I didn't get anything I went for, but at least I didn't feel too bad. Imagine being a new gun owner needing ammunition. You get there and find out the cost of 9mm ammunition is 4 times as much as it was in February. Really sad to see such price gouging.

Really hope it ends by the end of the year.

CH

 

[PWC]

I have not been to a gunshow in more than 20 yrs. Crossroads of The West in Phoenix was the last $7 to park 1/4 mi away, $14 to get in. Probably more now. Son-in-law and grandson, noticed guys in suits walking around the lot with clipboards, writing down license plates. Walk around; all over priced, or more than I'm willing to pay anyway. Needed a carrier for an original Win 1886 in 45-90, parts man had a complete action, and lots of parts, but no carrier.

Comments since, on this and other gunboards indicate our xperience was not unusual except for license plate takers.

 

[LiveLife]

Gun show today ... Yeah, one box of 9mm ammo Fiocchi brand.....40.00

I spent over $175,000+ during my lifetime of reloading 600,000+ rounds with most of cost going to components.

Soooo, instead of saving like $150,000, I told my wife that with current pricing, I saved her like $600,000 over buying retail as I am already stocked up for retirement reloading years.

For some reason, she is not laughing.

 

[Obturation]

Try a gun show in Illinois ... It's tough out there.

 

[Crazy Horse]

I spent over $175,000+ during my lifetime of reloading 600,000+ rounds with most of cost going to components.

Soooo, instead of saving like $150,000, I told my wife that with current pricing, I saved her like $600,000 over buying retail as I am already stocked up for retirement reloading years.

For some reason, she is not laughing.

My wife was not too happy initially, but has since then seen the savings. Now she keeps wondering why I still goto the range and shoot with supplies getting harder to find. I told her I'm good for awhile so long as I eventually find supplies to replenish. In the meantime, I shoot a less. Now instead of going just to plink, I practice a number of drills to ensure I maintain competency. Not only do I save money, I maintain proficiency while shooting less bullets.

 

[Crazy Horse]

I have not been to a gunshow in more than 20 yrs. Crossroads of The West in Phoenix was the last $7 to park 1/4 mi away, $14 to get in. Probably more now. Son-in-law and grandson, noticed guys in suits walking around the lot with clipboards, writing down license plates. Walk around; all over priced, or more than I'm willing to pay anyway. Needed a carrier for an original Win 1886 in 45-90, parts man had a complete action, and lots of parts, but no carrier.

Comments since, on this and other gunboards indicate our xperience was not unusual except for license plate takers.

Price for parking is still free for veterans and motorcycle riders. The entrance fee did go up from 5 to 8 dollars. As far as the men in black. I've never seen anyone taking license plates. Heck parking was so jammed, I don't see how they could keep up. I was shocked that parking extended well beyond the lot. If I lived nearby, it would definitely frustrate me.

It still is nice to go once and awhile for things such as magazines, holsters, and other firearm associated equipment. I have purchased firearms there in the past, but one has to shop around.

Oddly enough there were two vendors who are regulars and have competitive prices (to the internet). However, this time they were located away from the main entrance. Their firearms were priced what I would consider fairly, but they didn't have the normal quantities. As for their being moved, It seemed like the main entrance was reserved for the price gougers. It is good to go once and awhile to comparison shop, but this time it was a bit more sobering as prices were way out of proportion and ammunition was ridiculously priced.

CH

 

[Poper]

I spent over $175,000+ during my lifetime of reloading 600,000+ rounds with most of cost going to components.

Soooo, instead of saving like $150,000, I told my wife that with current pricing, I saved her like $600,000 over buying retail as I am already stocked up for retirement reloading years.

For some reason, she is not laughing.

I tried this, too.
SWMBO did not smile even a little.

Luckily, I inadvertently stocked up on powder just before the China Virus fiasco. I bought 8 ponders of IMR4831, I MR 4964, IMR4451 & IMR4166 thinking I was on my last 1 lb bottles. Then I found a box stashed way back in a closet from the move the year before and viola`! There were my missing 8 lb jugs!!!

I should be set with powder for another 4 or 5 years! My LRP stash of 16k, SRP 4k, SPP 6k and LPP 2k should get me through this drought, too. I have enough brass to last another lifetime and the bullet stock appears to be adequate, too.

 

[Skgreen]

Gun shows can be tempting, but I wasn't all that impressed even before this latest crunch. (Hard to beat online prices)
Been contemplating going to one just for S + G.
Started thinking,,, Probably shoulder to shoulder crowds, no parking, and of course, ridiculous pricing due to current events.
Thanks OP for confirming my suspicions.
In other news, My Wife and I arrived at a LGS shortly before they opened this AM.
Previously been going there every couple weeks on my lunch hour, with SPP nowhere to be seen.
Today, they had 5k of CCI 500's on the shelf w/1k per person limit. $34.95, Wife and I each grabbed a box.
Timing is everything.

 

[3Crows]

Much of the ammo and supplies that disappears from retailers in these panics due to "professional" resellers shows up for resale at gun shows. I would suggest do not purchase ammo from any place that did not purchase it from some place other than Walmart, Cabela's and honest local gun retail outlets.

 

[Archie]

It IS a bad time to buy ammunition. Nor is going to a gun show going to open a world of vendors ignorant of market fluctuations.

Going to gun shows has never been a reliable way to buy new or current arms or ammunition at bargain basement prices. Even beef jerky is cheaper at the supermarket.

I go to gun shows to find 'old stuff' not found in new gun outlets. I love to talk with those who love and know the subject. I enjoy the atmosphere. But I live in a rural area. I've been to 'big city' gun shows that weren't as comfortable.

 

[Jack B.]

The last gun show I went to was about 2 years ago and if I had been in the market for candy I would have done well. More candy than guns. Prices for the most part were still to high. I didn't buy anything so I don't know if I could have haggled any of the prices down. 5 bucks to get in, parking free. Won't be going to a gun show any time soon. I reload and don't need candy..

 

[ballman6711]

I've always enjoyed going to gun shows, although I haven't been to one in a year or two. I probably wouldn't go to one right now due to the shoulder to shoulder shopping combined with Covid-19.

Yeah, the prices can vary wildly. Sometimes you see more knicknacks than firearms and related items. And the cost for parking and admission can be $20 or more in places. Not to mention the prices you may see once inside.

But what makes gun shows great is the ability to see so many different things under one roof. So much more than any single LGS or big box store. Holsters, slings, and magazines for rifles and pistols that are hard to find elsewhere. Antique firearms, both rifle and pistol, that one wouldn't see elsewhere. Specialty items that can be very useful but may have limited uses. The occasional item that you've been looking for that you haven't been able to find anywhere else, or the occasional deal that you just can't pass up. Maybe a box or two of ammo for that 44-40 or other obscure caliber that simply can't be bought (or found) anywhere else.

And let's not forget talking to the one or two old timers that always have a table or two. We all know them. They rent a table or two, and lay out a few vintage items (guns, ammo, old time sheriff badges) for ridiculous prices, not really intending to sell anything but rather to have something to do to fill their time. And they always have stories to tell, and seem to enjoy telling them. And they can be a great source of information as can many others there.

But, for a day out (or even just a few hours) where you just window shop it's a great time. It cost more to go to the movies nowadays. And you may just find that one thing you've been looking for at a great price. Given a choice I would rather attend a gun show than go to the movies.

Gun shows have certainly changed since I started attending them 30+ years ago, but they can still be a great way to spend a morning or afternoon (or an entire weekend). They can be a solitary activity or you can go with one or more friends. Sometimes they are in a huge convention center with hundreds of tables and vendors, other times they are at small volunteer fire stations with 20 or so tables. But one thing that hasn't changed is the wealth of information and diversity. Friends and strangers alike have spoken to me at these shows. Sometimes they're blowing smoke about this or that, sometimes they can turn you on to an amazing deal a few tables or aisles over. I've met and developed relationships with vendors, and over time have gotten great deals or hard to find items from them. One never knows.

Just my take on gun shows. Others here will certainly have their own opinions, and I'm sure they all differ to some degree or another.

chris

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I do like gun shows, I sometimes go on the last day and the venders seem to be more willing to deal in the afternoon of the last day just to make one more sale.
But I will not pay inflated prices for something that is part of a shortage, that they helped create.
I don't like crowds of people either for the most part, and most of the time I spend at a gun show though is a waste of my time. I rarely go anymore.
With the Covid 19 thing I won't go now at all.

 

[cfullgraf]

Between the panic buying and the pandemic, I've decided to avoid gun shows for a while. I figure there will be nothing to buy and I'd hate to get sick from the folks not practicing safe social distancing.

 

[dcarr]

Between the panic buying and the pandemic, I've decided to avoid gun shows for a while. I figure there will be nothing to buy and I'd hate to get sick from the folks not practicing safe social distancing.

The ones not practicing safe social distancing are not wearing masks either.

 

[Kevin Keith]

I wouldn't go to a modern era gun show unless I was in the market for over priced beef jerky, candy, or aluminum siding. Fort Worth hasn't had a good show since the 1980s if you ask me. And these vendors don't give a durn about dealing on Sunday before closing...they'll have a new batch of suckers in Lubbock next weekend.

 

[Charlie98]

So, there was a Gun show today and I decided to go. The line was outrageously long and parking was almost non-existent. I was looking for a good range bag and naively hoping there would be some reloading supplies. When I finally got in, It was a madhouse. I walked around the isles and noticed that 80% of the dealers had jacked up their firearm prices by 30%. Firearms that I see online from makers such as Canik, SAR, and Girsan for 300-400 were 599-700. Crazy.

Sadly, the reloaders that sell there didn't have a stand inside, but I did goto the increased number of ammunition vendors (typically only one or two vendors, but now there were around 8 vendors. Yeah, one box of 9mm ammo Fiocchi brand.....40.00. Crazy. a box of 200, 223 rounds 174.00. Insane. On a good note, I was glad that I reload. The only sane prices I saw were 45acp for 19.99 for a box of 50. Undoubtedly will be going up by tomorrow.

All in all, I didn't get anything I went for, but at least I didn't feel too bad. Imagine being a new gun owner needing ammunition. You get there and find out the cost of 9mm ammunition is 4 times as much as it was in February. Really sad to see such price gouging.

Really hope it ends by the end of the year.

CH

I remember the gun shows in Dallas during the Obama Dark Ages... you were lucky to find any reloading supplies, let alone an 8# jug of powder, and I remember seeing a 1000rd case of 5.56mm... for $1000. I didn't buy a whole lot back then. After the 2016 election, things changed almost overnight... stuff was everywhere. That, of course, has changed again...

I stopped in my LGS yesterday... not really to buy anything, but just to see... people standing in line.... for what, I don't know, because there was not much on the shelves. They had some powder, and expensive bullets, but the ammo shelves were relatively bare, as was the display counter and wall rack... mostly consignment stuff for obscene prices.

 

[Otto]

The ones not practicing safe social distancing are not wearing masks either.

The last gun show I went to, a guy accidentally shot his father-in-law in the parking lot with a newly purchased rifle.
I'm betting he spent the night on the couch for that one.

 

[Sniper66]

I love gun shows. At the Wanenmacher show in Tulsa parking is free and $10 gets you in. That is dirt cheap for the largest gun show in the country. I feel bad for those of you who live in more crowded, less accessible locations. I drive 4 hours to Tulsa and would drive twice that distance to go. Crowded? Yes, but manageable if you work at it. After attending nearly every Tulsa show of the last 15-20 years, I've developed a strategy. My occasional frustration is easily countered by my awareness of the immeasurable privilege of wandering FREELY through 11 acres of guns, guns, guns. I step into the building, take a deep breathe, and behold a spectacle that only happens in America.

 

[buck460XVR]

I drive 4 hours to Tulsa and would drive twice that distance to go.

I would have to drive 11 hours to get there and would not have the slightest consideration of driving 1/4 that to get there. Sorry, but IMHO, Gun Shows have gone the way of County Fairs. Used to be something special, now just a faint shadow of what they used to be. Just too many better options out there, at least for me. I have two large LGSs close to me that sell at online prices and have just as much access to firearms and components as anything online. One boasts of having 3000+ guns in stock and while now during this shortage, that number may be less, they still have more selection and better prices than any gun show I have been to. Last few gun shows I have gone to basically were all about Jerky and Flea Market items. The idea of wasting 8 hours and the cost of gas would weigh highly against the $10 cost of admission. But that's just me. While I enjoy the ogling and fondling of firearms, I can get my fix from those two locals, without the crowds, the driving and the hoopla. I'd rather spend the time to walk 11 acres of ground hunting/shooting Sporting Clays and using my firearms, than just looking at overpriced firearms, backpacs and jerky....... but that's just me.

 

[bannockburn]

Last gun show I went to was probably 9 or 10 years ago. Did great, finding a NIB Beretta Stampede in .45 Colt and a LNIB Rossi Model 92 large loop lever with a 16" barrel, also in .45 Colt. Both were reasonably priced and I definitely felt like I came out ahead with both guns!

Other than that I have been able to find just about everything else either at the local gun shops or online. No real pressing need to go to a gun show anymore, especially given the way things are right now.

 

[PWC]

COUNTY FAIRS! The most apt description /comparison to gun shows I've heard. Used to go to see the 4H and FFA animal offerings, canned goods, quilting, "who grew the largest pumpkin/watermellon/roasting ear/cucumber/squash." Always accompanied by a rodeo; greased pig chase, kids wrangling sheep, bake sale, box lunch sale.

Now....not so much....mostly midway rides and imported merchandise for sale.

Sorry, if this is off topic, but the county fair brought back a flood of memories.

 

[indy1919a4]

I go to gun shows not so much to find the things I need, (Which does happen) I look for things I have never seen before to know what I need...