I can't believe crossroad of the west gunshow is so expensive. My wife and I went today, and it was $16 for the two of us to get in. I was looking for a colt ar15. As soon as we walked in, I could tell ARs were slim pickens. Not one booth had a colt either. I was thoroughly dissapointed with how much it cost to get in, and we were literally there for 10 minutes. Exactly why I buy my guns online. It's easy to find what you're looking for.
gunshow experience
- Thread starter avs11054
- Start date
- Status
bredda
Member
Signs of the times. The last Will Rogers show in Fort Worth not only was eight bucks a piece, they wanted five bucks to park. I figured that's a little much to see buffalo jerky, ball caps with rattlesnake heads on them, and rubber band guns so I passed.
The only gun show I have ever been to was a multitude of booths dedicated ARs, other modern style military rifles and old Mil-surp. A booth selling, new CZ rifles and a couple of booths selling a hodge podge of auto handguns. The rest were arts and crafts and military badges, and anime replica swords
Black Butte
Member
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2008
- Messages
- 888
Consider yourself lucky. In Illinois, you would have paid $10 for less than 200 single eight-foot tables, and it would have taken you more than 60 days to get a FOID card that has to be shown at EVERY table if you want to touch a firearm or ammunition.
InkEd
Member
Your tickets were cheap. However, it is the general consensus is that gun shows have become a waste of time.
I definitely am lucky to live in the free state of Arizona, but if there were 200 tables at this gun show, I wouldn't believe it. And not all the tables even had guns. And as stated, ARs were few and far between. I always figured a gun show would be the place to go when I needed to find "that one" gun I was looking for, but I guess I was wrong.
Nushif
Member
That may be why there's so many letdown folks here.
I go to a gunshow to fondle, and look at all kinds of different guns that I'd never see at just my local store. It's like opening the phonebook on a random page and then being let down because the exact name you wanted wasn't on your page. 8(
The only one that might be true at is Tulsa: www.tulsaarmsshow.com. With 4000 tables, the competition is right smart. I've found a few deals there.
We had one here in town this weekend, a nice sized show, but the firearms prices are all high. I think there are just enough ignorant people who want to own a gun around, to keep these vendors in business. I mean, an obviously well-used 9mm Hi Point carbine for $250?
I generally go for the entertainment, and sometimes there are deals on ammo and components.
kennedy
Member
remember, a day at a gun show is better than a day at work
dodgensince74
Member
avs11054 , I believe the gun shows at the fair grounds are bigger, its been a couple of years since I've been to one but that is how it was back then, the Mesa shows were always much smaller then the fairground shows. Same price to get in but have to pay for parking at the fairgrounds.
Ignition Override
Member
avs11054:
After the AR buying-panic in late '08/09, lots of those guns have been dumped on the market, and about twelve companies are building them.
Reportedly two of those AR companies are near filing Chapter 11.
If that is true, how could they be so scarce, unless something to do with Mexico had created lots of demand, before they could be sent to the show?
Our recent shows had lots of them.
After the AR buying-panic in late '08/09, lots of those guns have been dumped on the market, and about twelve companies are building them.
Reportedly two of those AR companies are near filing Chapter 11.
If that is true, how could they be so scarce, unless something to do with Mexico had created lots of demand, before they could be sent to the show?
Our recent shows had lots of them.
InkEd
Member
Gunshows have become obsolete.
Gunbroker and similar auctions have become to get used guns.
Online stores like Bud's Gunshop drop-ship new guns for a few dollars over dealer cost every day of the year.
Some local gun stores stay competive by offering good service and/or the ability to actually handle the gun before you buy it.
Lastly, you can purchase vacuum-packed beef jerky in a variety of flavors at Wal-Mart.
Gunbroker and similar auctions have become to get used guns.
Online stores like Bud's Gunshop drop-ship new guns for a few dollars over dealer cost every day of the year.
Some local gun stores stay competive by offering good service and/or the ability to actually handle the gun before you buy it.
Lastly, you can purchase vacuum-packed beef jerky in a variety of flavors at Wal-Mart.
Beg to differ that gun shows are obsolete or a waste of time. I have learned not to go to the little ones, but we have a couple of good shows here each year, that's where I see and handle guns I have not seen elsewhere, find bulk ammo and see what guns I already own are selling for. It's not uncommon for me to leave a show without buying anything, but I almost always learn something at a show and I try not to miss them.
wundudnee
Member
I love gunshows. I go with no real expectations and am sometimes pleasantly surprised. I have gotten to know some of the regular dealers around here and usually end up talking guns rather than buying. I like the little small town shows, they seem to bring in a lot more local private stuff. I go to Tulsa every year and if I counted the cost of the trip, motel, ticket, steak supper, I probably haven't ever got a bargain. I have come up with some nice firearms over the years. It's my hobby, hobbys cost money. If everybody that complained about gunshows would just stay home the aisles wouldn't be so crowded.
Here in Oklahoma we are having 3 gunshows a month in the city. $12 to get in and your done in 35 min even if you stop and check out every table. There are a couple of people trying to make it better, but good grief 3 a month. Gun shows used to be something to look forward to.
REL1203
Member
The big ones here in Northern VA cost $12 to get in, but there are over 800 tables though and it takes all day to see it, so i think its worth it...
It's like everythig else, it depends on the show. You want to go to the larger ones where the larger dealers are. Most of the small dealers actually buy from one guy near in the South FL area. He has 8 retail stores and 4 ranges. I was told when he went to shot show, most of the reps just dropped what they were doing and converged on him. He rides a treadway around. That's where you are going to get your bargains,and they have everything, AR's shotguns, Kimbers, etc. How can a small guy compete with him, I told him the guy down there had an LCP for 269, he came right back with $250, so how do you beat that.
Don't know. As stated in my OP, I was looking for a colt AR. More specifically, I'm looking for a Colt LE6920 or LE6940. I've checked with 5 dealers here in AZ and not one of them has any colt AR, let alone a 6920 or 6940. I checked with another one that had the SP models, but I need the LE model. Gunbroker also seems to not have as many of them as I saw a few months ago, or maybe I just did a different search this time.
stickhauler
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2009
- Messages
- 538
Buds Gus has them:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=colt+6920
$1,100.00
In stock.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=colt+le6940
$1,504.00 Out of stock currently, but they'll let you put it on the wish list, and notify you when they're in stock.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=colt+6920
$1,100.00
In stock.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=colt+le6940
$1,504.00 Out of stock currently, but they'll let you put it on the wish list, and notify you when they're in stock.
avs11054 said:
If I were looking to spring the $$ for a new Colt, I'd be getting the SP 6940. http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtRifles/ColtSporters.aspx
Tim the student
Member
Anymore, if I go to a gun show, it is for entertainment coupled with the hope of finding something I'm looking for, or a deal on something.
I tend to view them more like I do a movie - I'm paying a few bucks to be amused for a couple hours.
But, I guarantee I won't be paying for parking, nor will I pay more than 8 bucks to get in. When they charge more than that, I'll generally stop going. They aren't that fun, and the good deals seem to be getting fewer when compared to other avenues available. (And jeez, I get tired of seeing $800 rack grade M1's sold by guys that say the CMP is for suckers and overpriced ARs sold by guys who swear they will be outlawed no later than the end of the show.)
I tend to view them more like I do a movie - I'm paying a few bucks to be amused for a couple hours.
But, I guarantee I won't be paying for parking, nor will I pay more than 8 bucks to get in. When they charge more than that, I'll generally stop going. They aren't that fun, and the good deals seem to be getting fewer when compared to other avenues available. (And jeez, I get tired of seeing $800 rack grade M1's sold by guys that say the CMP is for suckers and overpriced ARs sold by guys who swear they will be outlawed no later than the end of the show.
)MattTheHat
Member
I went to a show here in Dallas yesterday. Ticket cost was $8. I ran out of time before I ran out of tables, but I did find a couple of guns that followed me home, including a 100 year old Marlin 1898 shotgun for $150.
I'm still trying to figure out the mentality behind the folks who come out and mark their stuff about double what it's worth. I don't mean double what *I* think it's worth, I mean double what other folks are offering similar items for. I usually contain myself pretty well, but I actually let a giggle slip out when I saw a guy with a couple of very well used Colt Delta Elites for over $1300 each!
So, a couple new to me guns, a new knife, an interesting one-size-fits all holster, and a good chuckle or two. Seems like a steal for $8.
-Matt
I'm still trying to figure out the mentality behind the folks who come out and mark their stuff about double what it's worth. I don't mean double what *I* think it's worth, I mean double what other folks are offering similar items for. I usually contain myself pretty well, but I actually let a giggle slip out when I saw a guy with a couple of very well used Colt Delta Elites for over $1300 each!
So, a couple new to me guns, a new knife, an interesting one-size-fits all holster, and a good chuckle or two. Seems like a steal for $8.
-Matt
- Status
