Gun Shows: How far is too far?

[willypete]

I wouldn't drive more than half an hour, but I'm in a sweet spot geographically, because there are three convention centers around me that routinely have decent shows.

Sounds like if I were in your situation, I'd be tempted to drive the distance just to check it out. Gun shows can be fun, and I've found it's not necessarily about finding great deals any more (although I have found a few ). I like to wander around, check out prices, hear conspiracy theories, and chew the fat with some friends that I might not see otherwise. I figure the few hours of entertainment is worth the <$10 entry fee. Haha, I just thought about that, most movies around here cost more than a gun show!

 

[EddieNFL]

For that matter, I think most of the complainers are already planning for the next one.

Statement makes no sense.

 

[CapnMac]

Well, the poll did specify "good" and gun show.
I've gone 200 miles to hit up some of the bigger militaria shows. At least i did back when i was employed and could afford to.
But, this is also Texas, anything under 4 hours' drive is pretty much a "day" trip.

This Second Depression seems to have dried up a bunch of the traveling shows that would come to my town and the surrounding ones in the 30-40 mile range. The traveler shows seem to have gravitated to the small rental halls just out side the bigger metro areas.

 

[XxWINxX94]

Well, I did go to that show and boy am I glad! There were about the same amount of guns as my local shows, but they were GOOD guns. The kind I like, lots of colllectables, relics, military stuff, etc. However, there were the occasional absurd prices on certain stuff. Overall, not to many complaints, and I had a great time. In addition to this, the show only cost $2 to get in! This is less than the $5 I'm used to at the more local shows.

Ended up selling a Browning model 53 by just carrying it around, and settled on a more than fair price. Really satisfied with that.

Also picked up an Ultra-vintage L.C. Smith 0 grade damascus shotgun for pretty cheap, which I will put up in the shotgun forum as soon as I get some pictures.

Keep the responses coming!

 

[marv]

I drove an hour each way yesterday to attend a show. Waste of time and gas.

 

[Kurt S.]

When I lived in the NW suburbs of Houston, the shows were mostly more than 15 miles away- Brown Convention Center downtown (17m), Reliant Center (about 20), Conroe (25 or so), Pasadena (close to 40). Made them every chance I got.

Now that I'm out here in Brewster County, Midland/Odessa is about 150 miles, El Paso over 200. Even though I'm retired, it's a little difficult to get to those.

 

[wundudnee]

I love gunshows. A lot of them are pretty lame, however I always find somebody to share information with. Some of the small shows around here are good as they tend to bring in locals with their stuff. I live in NE Ks. and regularly attend the Missouri Valley Arms collector show, it's an excellent show. Next week I'm driving 250 miles to Tulsa and I do it every year. Eleven acres and 4000 tables. I've never went to that show and not brought something home. In Tulsa you'll see one of everything you've ever had and many things you've never seen. It's crowded, some prices are high, it can be hot and sometimes you don't find what you were looking for, but with an open mind it's a very satisfying time.

I never take enough money, but I always have a good time.

 

[Ignition Override]

Living in the Memphis area, the only good show I've attended was in Ft. Worth on Jan 1st, but it was sort of on the way back from elderly in-laws in San Antonio. The selection was about four times larger than those near here and Jackson, TN.

Might try a visit to St. Louis, or Nashville (Franklin was about like all shows near here).

For milsurps, the best in the country is reportedly in Louisville, maybe once per year.

 

[tazbigdog]

Depends...on whether it is a good gun show, how long since you've been to the last one, if you're looking for something in particular, whether your driving by yourself or with friends, etc.

Live in Austin, driven up to FT. Worth (3 1/5 hour drive) for a 1200 table show.

Have fun!

Jeff

 

[RugerBob]

We have a person who puts on about 10-12 shows thru Maine, New Hampshire and Mass. The same person usually has the same dealers, therefor, the same stuff. I usually hit 2 of the shows within 45 min drive one way. Then there are some shows close and up to 2 hours one way that I go to that are put on by the local gun club of that area. I like them shows as I always seem to get the best deals on brass and other components.

 

[doubleh]

The one show we have locally is about 20 miles as the crow flies. Lot of cheap gun cases, old magazines, various junk, and some overpriced guns kept me from going last year. The same outfit puts on the other area shows which are all over 100 miles away. Same people and the same thing as at the local show so I just quit going to those also.

 

[ColdDeadHand]

When it comes to the Great Tulsa Show (next weekend), there is no distance too far (In my case about 250 miles).

I agree here, this one is worth it, and exactly why I voted the way I did in this thread's poll.

I have made the trip from St. Louis, MO to Tulsa, OK maybe 3 or 4 times in my life and it's never dissapointed.
Wannenmacher's? It's around 7 acres indoors, climate-controlled.

Old guns, new guns, gun parts, ammo, knives, you name it. Even a smattering of jewelry, I guess for if you bring your wife?

 

[ForumSurfer]

The last 3 gun shows that I have attended really put me off. I have resolved myself to not go, never ever never ever again. I decided it isn't worth it, and here's why:

• Right off the bat...factor $15+ to get in the door.
• Every booth I went to was selling accessories for %5-%15 more than online e-tailers. I checked prices as I shopped on my phone. Counting the $15 above, i would come out cheaper to sit at home and pay shipping charges. 1 was ridiculously rude. He was selling magpul stuff and I inquired about the magpul mbus that was missing a price tag. He responded with "Why? It's crap. It has no elevation adjustment, why on earth would you want this pece of junk?" He didn't offer to sell me something nicer, just kind of stood there. I guess he was having one of those days?
• Lots of vendors on-site selling night sights mounted at a decent price. This is good...but I can mount them myself and the sights themselves were %15 higher than e-tailers.
• I went to two show hoping for a good deal on an AR upper, lower or complete rifle. I never saw anything that my LGS couldn't beat.
• Ammo prices stunk. Again...slightly more than e-tailers. Saved money on shipping...but lost money on the entrance fee.

The only thing they had going for them was lots of jerky and some decent deals on milsurp, which isn't my thing. I have an enfield...maybe one day I'll add a mouser and a garand.

I think the internet is slowly killing gun shows. Thanks to the internet, Joe Schmoe in Alaska can pay the same price for an item that Peter in Florida bought. It keeps vendors in check, but it hurts some vendors who can't do the volume necessary for volume prices. I'll spend %10 more sometimes to do what I can to support my LGS...but I'm not supporting the roaming vendors at gun shows.

Maybe I just need to give in and go to one of the huge gun shows out town. But the ones that come through my area have put me off of gun shows entirely.

 

[Claude Clay]

i didn't vote cause i haven't gone to one since 07. in 03 i said no more but it took 2 more before i would listen to my self.
but if it pleases you---go.
consider the cost of fuel, possibly lodging and entrance fees like you would any other cost-of-having-fun.
and whose to say your area may be still dynamic; unlike anything within 100 miles of Hartford, Ct which the dog covered up and moved on years ago from.

 

[Nuclear]

It costs me more to go to a movie nowadays, and there is the people watching opportunities on top of the possibility of finding a deal or something special.

There are two gun shows I go to down here and one of them is easily over 20 miles on the highway.

 

[DammitBoy]

I've driven two hours one way to go to a gun show. And it was well worth the trip.