Gunshow Buys

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ObsidianOne

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Went to my first gunshow in a LONG time (about 12 years). Was kinda small, but was fun to walk around and check out everything.
Guns all seemed priced appropriately, though I expected them to be cheaper since it was a gun show and all.
Picked up two boxes of .38 Special for $13.99 a box of 50 rounds, some .22 cleaning patches, and two tin signs for $10 a piece.
What are some of the deals that some of you have taken advantage of or what was your latest pillage from a gun show?
 
I was at one at the beginning of Dec. I sold a couple of old bowie knives, but never bought a thing. Anything I saw that I liked was priced too high. I didn't see some of the good deals I've seen at other shows. Every show is different, there's another one this month, I may try again.
 
Ask me next Sunday :D

If I can find a Hi Point pistol for under $130 OTD for the truck, I'll get it (note: riding with a friend who was going anyways so aside from my ticket, it won't have cost a thing).
 
au01st said:
Ask me next Sunday

If I can find a Hi Point pistol for under $130 OTD for the truck, I'll get it (note: riding with a friend who was going anyways so aside from my ticket, it won't have cost a thing).
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Why oh why would you want a Hi Point? :rolleyes:
 
Last gun show I went to, I picked up a Remington m700 .243 for $315 otd. Used the action for a build. Will be going next weekend to look for one more for another build. Would really like to find another donor cheaper, but probably never happen. But you never know what you'll find.
 
Last one I went to was when powder was still in somewhat of a shortage. I picked up some IMR 4350 because the local shops didn't have any, so it wasn't a wasted trip. I was looking for a big bore Ruger single action, but the ones I found were priced as high or higher than new and were well used.
 
Last few shows I have gone to the prices seemed outrageously high on the guns. Some of the accessories were fairly priced. Not as many good deals lately as there once was in the years past.
 
Why oh why would you want a Hi Point?
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Because they are good, American made guns that are reliable and accurate and have owners that care about their product and customers.

Why would you NOT buy one? Vanity?
 
my advice would be to rent one table and just throw some stuff on it you want to get rid of. might cost you 50 to 70 or so for the table but if you go in with a friend and you pay for both days you are really not paying that much.

Here is what you get for that money.
#1 you get to shop the show on set up days
#2 you get in early on show days and get to park closer in most cases and you get to shop it early that day also.
#3 all of the guns people bring in walk by you
#4 most dealers are willing to discount items to other dealers
#5 you just might get rid of some items you did not need anymore

look at it this way: if you are there on set up day or early on the first day of the show that is a great way to find smoking deals. trust me when I say if something is a smoking deal before the show opens it usually is gone before the show opens.
after you do a few of them you will get to know the regulars and that will let you find the new folks setting up and that is where you will find a great deal sometimes.

Also by seeing the guns and items walk by you will see many guns for sale. I will usually only buy guns walking around from my table if it is a really good deal or a real colectible firearm. make a fair offer if you are interested. they may just sell it to you or come back.

your first purchase will more than pay for your table.
 
mcdonl said:
Because they are good, American made guns that are reliable and accurate and have owners that care about their product and customers.

Why would you NOT buy one? Vanity?
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I've never owned one, never shot one, so realistically everything I "know" has been based on the opinions of other experienced gun owners.
It's been explained to me that they use the same dreadful "pot metal" in their slides, as Davis Firearms did (dealt with 3 cracked slides in a .380 from them before finally taking the gun to a firearms dealer to be destroyed).
I've been told by many people whos opinion I view as experienced gun owners that actively shoot, buy, and collect firearms, that I should not trust my life with a poor quality firearm such as a Hi Point.
Again, this is what I've been TOLD, not my experience, nor do I claim to know whether said firearms are "good" or "bad".
 
I don't know too many poor quality products that offer lifetime warranties. Wouldn't make business sense unless you plan to run a ponzi scheme and disappear before anyone comes looking to make good on the warranty.

I've heard lots of people tell me not to buy a Hi Point. When asked if they ever owned one, they scoff in disbelief. Everyone I've talked to has recommended them as good for what they are. That is what I'm looking for.
 
I bought 200 rounds of Argentine 7.62 NATO today along with a great (nearly new) 30 cal can for $4, and a USGI M1 carbine mag for $15. It was my first show and was a lot of fun.
 
Cuppla years ago I had a friend meet me at the range for a shooting session. He brought a 9mm High-Point. I laughed till I almost cried when he pulled that thing out of his range bag.

My chin dropped to my chest when I saw him empty the first magazine into a half-dollar sized group at 21'.

We put 500 rounds thru that ugly thang that day (ran outta 9mm or there'd been more) without failure of any kind.

As soon as I had the time, I drove up to Bud's Gun Shop and bought me one them critters in .45 ACP. I have just under 2,000 rounds thru it so far with no failures of any sort; wish I could say that about some of my way more expensive .45's.

It's huge, ugly as sin and Heavier'n Hell, but it shoots straight and never fails to go bang when you pull the trigger. I can't imagine a better truck gun.

Besides if you run it dry shootin' at the bad guy, it'll make a very effective club that you can beat that SOB to death with.
 
I enjoy looking around at gun-shows, but I think that the better deals can be found at pawn shops this time of year.
 
I'm not seeing deals on firearms from the guys that have gunshops in the area. I frequent a few shops around here and the prices on their guns at the show are generaly the same price that I saw in the store. :scrutiny:

Ammo can be picked up cheaper, usually from a guy that's only selling accessories. Also see some good deals on most used equipment, holsters & etc. :)

One good deal that I Passed on, actually I showed it to a friend who pounced on it, a GP100, Blue, 4" bbl, in like new condition. My budd snatched it up for $375.00 even. :what:

I had told him that if he didn't buy it I was going to.
He's lucky to have a friend like me! :neener:
 
Mixed bag, some guys think they are selling first edition collectors items, other things are reasonably priced, once in awhile a real good deal....
 
Nowadays, the only thing I find at better than gunshop prices is ammo. In the old days of Bill Goodman's shows, I scored great deals on some fine weapons. Three that come to mind are Colt Delta Elite-$425, Colt Mark IV-$459, SAR-48HB-$645, all new in box.
 
The last one I was at it seemed like no one was willing to negotiate price one anything.

One guy had 3 "old" boxes of Winchester 45 colt ammo marked $20 a piece, I offered a $50 bill for all three, no dice. :(

Not to mention the table that had Winchester 10mm silver tip ammo marked $36 for a box of 20. :what:
 
Did you buy any beef jerky, or get a foot massage while you were there?
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No, but I did have a guy clean my glasses, buff the wheels on my car, and this lady sold me a candle. Not really, but they were there.
 
Anymore, I think a lot of people have this flawed perception that simply because
they went to a gun show(or a garage sale, or a sheriff's sale) they are automatically going to SAVE MONEY.

I see what a lot of these guys are charging for stuff, and I cringe. Other people just rush up and pay it, like it's some outlandishly great deal. They obviously don't know the value of what they're buying.

Like somebody else said, prices are usually on a par with a gun shop. (Many times, higher.)
 
Again, this is what I've been TOLD, not my experience, nor do I claim to know whether said firearms are "good" or "bad".
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Fair enough. I have shot 2000-3000 rounds through my C9 and many more through the carbine without any malfunctions. But, I am certain I am not on your list of those you would take advice from but if you ever come across one and you are going through the lists of things you have read, count this :)
 
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