How are the prices at gun shows?

[Hellbore]

There is a big gun show coming up in a few weeks.

There is a S&W 629 .44mag revolver I have my eye on at the local gun store. I want to buy it so bad.

Would I be better off waiting for the gun show, to see if there are better prices? Do gun shows usually have lower prices, or how do they compare in general with gun store prices?

 

[Rexrider]

Generally speaking, for a new firearm.....

Unless your local dealer's prices are way out of line, it is unlikely you will find a better deal at the gun show.

Don't forget to take parking and entry fees into consideration.

I like going to guns shows. But I go for stuff like ammo, mags, holster, etc. Sometime I go when I have no idea what I am looking for.

Since you know what you want and you know where it is, you may want to support your local shop on this one. Dealer cost for firearms is the same whether it is sitting in a shop or at a show. Actually you have a better chance of finding one more expensive at the show. Go figure.

Good luck.

 

[jefnvk]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

If you get a good dealer, their prices won't be any higher than they are in the store. Sometimes, they have gunshow discounts. One of my guns was $390 at the gunshow, while others were approaching $500. It was the same price they sold it for in their stores, and since I didn't have the money with me, I drove the 45 minuets to their shop later in the week.

OTOH, there are more than plenty of people who would charge someone not in the know twice MSRP and not feel bad about it.

Big thing is to know the value of what you want before you go, set a limit for that item and don't spend anymore than that.

 

[Glock19Fan]

If you want THE best price, look into private sellers. They sell direct, and the price is usually lower since they usually arent selling for profit.

Just before coming here today, I saw a blued S&W 629 with a 8 3/8 inch barrel with some nice grips for sale at www.glocktalk.com for $500. I would buy it in a heartbeat, if I had the money.

Keep your eye out for the "For Sale" ads in the forums. There are some really great deals out there.

EDIT: Jefnvk madea good point. Whatever you plan on buying, find the MSRP of the gun, the average cost of most dealers, and find out what you think it a good price by that info.


Good luck, and happy shooting!

 

[GEM]

In TX, the shows are consistently better than the shows. The good stores are about $30-50 higher on a midlevel handgun.

We have a fair number of MSRP stores, usually staffed by commandos.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The sticker price at both gun shops and gun shows is often the sucker price. It's where to start haggling.

 

[Sunray]

Prices at gun shows vary from place to place. In the old days, up here, dealers were not allowed to sell at gun shows. Had to do with their business licence as I recall. Now, they can and do. Prices at gun shows are the same as in the shops. Even the guys who don't have a shop are asking full retail prices for the stuff they have on their tables. Mind you, gun shows here aren't at all like U.S. shows. Gun shows run only on Sunday mornings, usually from 8 'til noon, every other month or so and the biggest might have 100 tables.