Gun Shows worth it?

[jmr40]

If I expected to kill a record book buck every time I went hunting I'd get discouraged and stop hunting after a short while. But if you spend enough time in the woods it increases the chances a lot more than sitting on the couch and watching football. Gunshows are the same way. If you go expecting to find a Unicorn every time you'll get discouraged and stop going.

I always go and take several hundred in cash and often some trade bait, or at least something I'd like to sell. I usually come home with what I left with, but you never know unless you go. I've sold some at a profit, and most all of my favorite guns have been picked up at bargain prices at gunshows. I almost never buy new.

 

[wally]

They used to be good for ammo, & reloading supplies, but since the panic, if you need it and can pay the price you could find a lot, but if you are not desperate you are better off waiting for the on-line suppliers to get stuff back in stock.

I have found .22lr ammo at ~$0.05/round, about the same as Academy but I could buy all I could carry instead of the one box limit at Academy which made it worthwhile.

There is still tons of $0.10/round .22lr at gun shows, hopefully it continues to sit and rot that those prices so the speculative buying to resell will end.


I check on-line gun prices for what I might be interested it before I go and usually can meet or beat them at local show if they have what I'm looking for with the bonus of inspecting it before buying.

If you don't do your homework its really easy to find a bad deal.

 

[JohnKSa]

Depending on the:

• Area
• Reason you go
• Particular show in question

...then maybe yes, maybe no.

In this area, you can almost always poke around at a big show and find a better price than you're likely to find at a local shop. Primarily because the dealers that attend typically drop their prices for a show.

Even if you can't find great deals, the cost is lower than what it costs to go to a movie these days. A decent show offers some good entertainment if you like looking at guns and knives and accessories.

Some shows are definitely better than others. If I'm just going to look around, I usually wait for the 2000+ table show at Dallas Market Hall. But if I'm just looking for a good deal on something fairly common, a closer show with a lower ticket price will probably fit the bill better.

 

[tubeshooter]

I still like my local gun show.

I don't expect awesome deals every time, although I have been pleasantly surprised occasionally. I do like to be able to price and fondle various specimens. There are two tables that usually have good stock at good prices; I have done plenty of business with both.


I like shows not so much for the arms themselves, but also the other various items like:

• (Pocket) Knives
• Ammo (especially bulk)
• Ammo cans. I love ammo cans.
• Holsters
• Grips
• Good gun belts
• Survival tools
• And just general cool/military stuff.

Yes, it is usually technically a "loss" at $7-$8 entry. Parking is free where I am. Still a decent way to spend half a weekend day as far as I'm concerned. And I have found enough overall "deals" to be well worth it to me over time.

 

[dekibg]

yep, they are great if you are interested in used SW SD9 for $450, or falling-apart box of 50 22lr rounds that is about 40 years old for "only" 8 bucks.
visitors are clones of this guy :
-middle aged
-slightly overweight
-camo jacket
-camo baseball cap
-grayish mustache and beard
-prescription glasses

 

[rcmodel]

visitors are clones of this guy
-middle aged
-slightly overweight
-camo jacket
-camo baseball cap
-grayish mustache and beard
-prescription glasses :

Maybe where you live.

Around here, they are just as likely to be gang-banger dressed with baggy pants at half mast, and acting out.
Or teenage ninja turtles trying to show off their cool ninja sword moves & Cries in front of their friends, in front of the cheap sword table, in a crowded aisle!!

Then you got the TackyCool 25 year old guy three aisles away putting a laser dot on your chest as you duck under the ninja swords.

rc

 

[2bfree]

Last one I went to, about a year ago, I found the one thing I was looking for, some .300 Savage brass, $15 for 165. Besides, I enjoy looking around, you never know when I might see something I can't live without that I never knew about. I won't go just to look around.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I hit the Denver Tanner Show in July. Its a huge show, and you quickly learn to scan tables rapidly. The table from a brick & motar LGS held a very tight 95%+ S&W 10-8 with factory magna grips for $325. It came home with me without hesitation.

 

[joem1945]

For fun I took a pristine M1941 Johnson to a small show. I had a blast acting like a country bumpkin not knowing what I had. It was a hoot. Had more dealers around me than a fly on you know what.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I picked up a Walther PPX 9mm at a gun show about 2 month's ago. The dealer dropped the price $100 from $450 to $350, I said....SOLD.

 

[Drail]

All of the gun shows here in the Midwest have turned into used car lots. Lots of worn out junk and annoying salesmen. And I also see precisely what RC described above. I swear the next time some clown points a laser at me.........

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Before I was married, I went to quite a few. After getting married and having kids, I stopped going. I don't have much free time anymore and don't want to spend it at a gun show.

 

[CapnMac]

Was just at the Will Rogers show in Ft Worth last week.
Crowd was not what I expected (pleasantly so). Almost no 'tactical' guys, not vatos, not even that many hillbilly rednecks, either. Saw quite a few women, and young adult females--and not poking about like they were at a freak show, but knowledgable and comfortable with guns and "gun people."

Militaria is no longer at any of the Texas shows I've been to in the last 3 years. And, I started, back in the eighties goning to shows just for the militaria.

Will Rogers was a full show, every table sold--yet, there were only 5 GI M-1 Carbines on the floor (and none under $1200). There were 8 or 9 M-1 Garands, none of those under $1500 (so a trip to Anniston remains in my future).

I had a purpose in going; it was to play "stump the magazine guys." (New to me early P220 with heel magazine release from my LGS.)
Surprise to me--only three magazine guys. Found a guy who had a couple magazines to help me out.

So I did pretty good--$10 to park; $9 (dollar off for being military; and a pair of magazines at $39 apiece. Saved me versus getting Browning BDA mags at $45 before shipping, count me satisfied.

Your Mileage May Vary.

 

[TwinReverb]

I'd say attend one and make up your own opinion.

For me, no. They usually have used guns selling at new gun prices, and the entrance fee is too much money. On top of that, they disarm you at the door.

All in all, nope.

 

[e rex]

I only go to the ones that serve pie and coffee.

 

[bannockburn]

Use to be a good way to spend some time with my shooting buddies on a Sunday morning. Could usually find something like a part for a gun, ammo, or some reloading supplies that one of us needed. But after awhile a lot of the decent dealers stopped doing the shows (can't even imagine having to lug all of that ammo around), the shows ended up being the same old vendors with the same old tired overpriced stuff on their tables, and of course, the Internet! So I found better things to do with my Sunday mornings and haven't missed the shows at all.

 

[wally]

I went to the GRB show yesterday and its the best evidence I've seen yet that the .22lr situation may finally be improving. Tons of over-priced Adacemy and Walmart bulk packs and no buyers I could see.

But I did see a decent amount of 500 round Thunderbolt bulk packs for $30 out the door. They had a fair amount on the table. Anything but Thunderbolt I'd have got all I could carry (about 3 packs given the construction out front and how far the walk to the car would be). I'd given up on Thunderbolts a long time ago and the recent Golden Bullet while much better than when I quit buying it, was still not improved enough for me to take a chance on trying Thunderbolt again.

This is the third show in a row I've seen bulk pack ammo at prices competitive with Academy without the one box limit. But you have to look, as its still lost in a see of flippers trying to flip. Academy has had bulk pack every time I've been in recently, but the 1 box limit means its only when I'm also going there for something else -- just not worth a trip for one measly box of bulk pack.




For the first time in a long time there were several choices of pistol powders but still no Unique, I often buy 4 or 8 pound containers from this guy as he is generally close enough to the on-line prices to be cheaper after adding the HazMat fee unless I'm buying like 32 lbs or more)

 

[OcelotZ3]

There is a gun show in Albany, Oregon which is usually pretty good. I've found a number of unique items there, not seen anywhere else, for reasonable prices. Last show I picked up a French MAB target pistol that had been imported from France. Tried it out today and it's extremely accurate (much better than me).

Before that, I picked up a custom made flintlock rifle for $400 which many people say is worth $2000-3000 given the engraving & carving on it, as well as fit/finish.

 

[NCSUPackman]

I usually use the shows around here when I'm looking for magazines/holsters/accessories. I can usually find a decent deal on those. Sadly, most of the shows have dealers bringing new production guns to the tables at retail prices.

There is a new company that started a smaller show near my town that actually was a true gun show. Almost every table were people selling their collections and hardly any dealers with retail prices. There were deals to be had but sadly I was lacking in funds

 

[WestKentucky]

If face to face transfer is legal then absolutely go. The 10 bucks admission is good for you to see a whole bunch of stuff you may find interesting. I typically avoid tables other than to meander and see what peaks my interest. The deals are going to be walking around. Don't be afraid to ask if someone is selling what they are carrying.

 

[Swing]

I stopped going to gun shows seven or eight years ago. I don't miss going, no not one bit.

+1. For me, they were a lot of fun back in the day, but started to get pretty bad in the last decade or so. I think the last one I went to was in the 2006-2007 timeframe. Almost all were overcrowded, overpriced, had crap selection of the same plastic-fantastic guns, tons of non-gun garbage, very few high end/rare items, and, of course, the assorted goobers and wackjobs were there. Coupled with the fact that nearly everything can be bought online and either shipped direct (e.g., ammo, parts, accessories, etc.) or through a kitchen table FFL (firearms), there is even less point now. So, meh, I consider them a complete waste. To each their own though.

 

[Twiki357]

I haven’t been to one of the big shows for at least 7 or 8 years. Just to expensive to get there and everything is overpriced.
I do go to almost all of the small local shows. Less than $10 bucks admission and free parking. I never expect to get a bargain, but often do. The last one, I got a model 19-3 2.5 inch barrel in excellent condition but very dirty for $475. So you never know if you don't go.

 

[alexander45]

Last one I went to was decent my brother picked up a new taurus g2 with two mags from a local dealer for $200 there was a ruger mk1 22lr in good condition for $199 but also alot of over priced stuff that wasnt moving quite alot of the accessories were decently priced drag bags I seen on sale online for $50 piled up for $36 each, then small piles of over priced 22 no one was touching

 

[kozak6]

Entertainment value only. The admission fee is cheaper than a movie, and it will be more entertaining than some movies I've seen.

A good deal is gravy and not be be expected. You'll be lucky to get a fair price on something you actually want. If you are looking for something specific, you will find only one of them in the wrong caliber for a firm $200 over MSRP.

At the last show, I was hoping for 7.62x25 JHP's. The ammo guy shrugged and told me to order it from J&G Sales .

 

[Double_J]

I go to the local show only for reloading supplies as it is cheaper than paying shipping and hazmat fees. Last show I went too I also picked up a few misc. parts for my brothers ar-15 and my 1911. I looked at the other tables but they were stupid expensive or absolute junk. The best way to explain it is a giant flea market filled with guns.