Houston Gun Show Aug 1

[whatever]

I will probably be buying my first handgun soon, and this gun show is about 5 minutes from my house. Since I don't really know what to look for or what prices are fair, will I be better served buying from a shop somewhere or will I get a good deal at the show?

What do I need to buy a gun from a show? Do I need any special papers or anything like that?

Can anyone recommend some good shops in Houston? I live downtown as a point of reference.

Thanks for the help.

 

[StephenT]

Hi and welcome to the board. Unfortunately, there are no "bargain" gun stores in Houston (e.g. Bachman's Pawn in Dallas), so the gun show at the Brown convention center is your best bet for a good deal. Generally, the best prices should be at Bachman's Pawn or Walther Doc's stalls. Sometimes, there are used guns for fair prices as well. Just shop around the show for the best deal. Most stalls will charge 3% extra for credit, so it's best to pay in cash. The show on August 1 at the convention center is definitely much better than the one in Pasadena this weekend.

What are you thinking of getting? Maybe some of us can give you an approximate idea of what it should cost.

 

[StephenT]

One more thing I forgot to mention, just bring your Texas driver's license or CHL. No other papers needed.

 

[whatever]

Since this will be my first handgun, and will be used by my wife, we are looking at buying something under $300. Doing some quick searches on this site, it looks like a Bersa Thunder .380 would fit the bill nicely. I'm not exactly sure what to look for, but something along those lines would be ideal. We want something for home protection that is small and can be easily hidden.

I've shot other handguns many times, and I've been most accurate with the .380, of course that was a long time ago, but for about that price range I feel I'm pretty limited.

Do you think they'll have a Bersa at the show? What would a used one go for?

I'm always open to suggestions.

 

[StephenT]

I've got a Bersa 380 and think it's an excellent gun. You should be able to get one for about $200+tax at the show. If you and your wife shoot it well, then go for it. Otherwise, used revolvers in 38 Special or 357 Mag are often good deals. A used Ruger Security Six or Speed Six will go for the low to mid $200s. I would load it with 38 Special for defensive purposes. A 12 Gauge shotgun might also be a good option for home defense.

 

[whatever]

for the 200, do you think it will be new or used?

I would love a shotgun, but my wife is concerned with safety. She thinks it would be easier to hide a small handgun than a shotgun. If I'm going to get a gun at all, she has to be convinced it is as safe as possible. She has never shot a gun of any kind in her life.

 

[StephenT]

The Bersa 380 will be new at that price. Bachman's Pawn should have it for about $199+tax. The black mate model looks the nicest.

 

[cola8d8]

Call Champion Firearms in College Station (979-693-9948) and ask for a price. I do not work there and have no affiliation with them other than I have bought from them in the past and they always had the best prices I could find. They also have an indoor range attached to the store and many "rental" guns you can shoot before you buy, if you choose to purchace a gun of the same modle. Not too far of a trip for you.

 

[Ghentry]

I purchased a NIB Bersa at that show last year for $180+tax. Other tables were asking upwards of $240, so shop all of the tables.

Regarding the Bersa - I just sold mine two weeks ago. It was very reliable, easy to clean and operate, but neither my wife nor I liked the way it felt in our hands. Nothing against the gun, just a personal preference. If you do buy the Bersa, I still have a very good holster for sale which I used for concealed carry (this gun hides very nicely by the way).


Bersa Holster

Good luck

 

[one-shot-one]

check

check your yellow pages for gun stores in the area (Carters, Collectors ect.) go and look at the prices, if your memory is like mine take a pen and paper to write down the best buys. then go to the gun show (take your price sheet with you) and if you see some thing you want you will know if your getting a good deal.

 

[browningguy]

I bought a Bersa 380 at the gun show at Reliant about 6 weeks ago and it's been an excellent small pistol. My regular carry guns are a 40 cal. HiPower and a full size EAA Witness 9mm. That little Bersa is sure easy to carry. I put about 400 rounds of mixed ammo through it the first weekend to check it and it fed everything perfently. Mine is the Nickle frame and blue slide, two dealers had them for $179 each. My youngest daughter (21) also likes it, decent sights and pretty easy to manipulate.

I love to go to Collectors to look, but their prices are so high I've never been able to buy anything from them.

Carter country can be ok at the I-10 location although I haven't been to the others.

You might check out
http://www.jimpruett.net/

Pruitt is located out 290 (probably a 30 minute ride for you) but they are friendly,reasonably priced and knowledgable. I do buy quite a bit at the shows because I know what I'm looking for, I'm not sure if the dealers can afford to spend enough time with you to make sure you get what is right for you though.

Good luck, after buying make sure you get to a decent range to practice. I was at American Shooting last weekend and one of the range officers was spending a lot of time helping a new shooter sight in a new AR15, I like to see places that help newcomers.

 

[StephenT]

FYI, I was at Carter's this afternoon and noticed that the Bersa 380 was selling for $239. Wait a few days for the show and save $40-50.

 

[cz75bdneos22]

academy sell the @ $199 + tax.
gun show prices might be $20 less, so factor in the price of admission and parking.
if you are dead set on a show purchase, then bachman or doc's will be the better options..i've bought from them before.

 

[whatever]

If I buy from Academy is there a waiting period? What if I buy from the show?

 

[Sistema1927]

Food for thought.

You said that your wife is concerned about safety, and thinks that a small handgun would be safer than a shotgun. Probably not, since with a small handgun you have more issues with muzzle control. It is very easy for one to point a handgun where you don't want to, simploy because the length is that much smaller. It is easier to see where you are pointing with a shotgun, and, truthfully, a good pump shotgun is a much better home defense weapon than any handgun, especially a .380.

 

[Thumper]

If I buy from Academy is there a waiting period? What if I buy from the show?

If you buy from an FFL and you don't have a CHL, they'll run a background check. If you have a CHL, there's no check.