I am finally Closing the "Gun Show Loophole"!

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AKElroy

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
3,425
Location
Past & Future Republic of Texas
I have purchased many guns and other stuff from gunshows over the last 25 odd years, but I have NEVER seen the ridiculous prices I saw this weekend.

Mid 1970's top eject model 94's for $600+, Hi-point carbines (9mm, used, the old style) for $385,(all over the net for $199) Marlin 44mag $600 +,(Walmart has them for what, $395?), Rough WASR 10's for $395, New various Glocks $595.00, (Academy regularly has the same models $485). I could go on, but you get the picture.

I am a pure capitalist, so I do not begrudge a dealer a decent buck. But when an item is on a used table for nearly twice new retail, you know they are looking for a chump. Just sad. Guess GB, GA & Bud's are winning this battle.

Anyone actually seeing deals at Gunshows anymore?
 
My opinion is that gunshows have really sucked for at least the last 25 years.

I am pretty cranky, but dn't think I'm far off.
They were fun, before jerky and beanie babies and the wannaee black ops stuff.
 
What about a $400 AK in good condition?
I saw a Tokarev SVT 40 at the show for $550.
There were Mosin Nagants for about $185.
A good condition Turkish Mauser for $215.

You could just be noticing the effects of inflation and the relative cost increases of firearms more acutely now.
There are a lot of people there for the money who try and succeed in scamming the ignorant and the spendthrifts. However, if you're not a fool, then you can get good deals. I tend to stay away from stuff that's "tactical" or "elite". I have no serious use for a black ops style rifle with optics, grips, and rails. I ain't no military son- I'll let the real soldiers have that stuff. Boring but practical is my calling card. It's a great way to save money.
 
Last edited:
best deals I've done were out of the back of my car...
And I made a buddy who I might be able to hook up with to work his table, AND get in the show early, that's worth helping him for a few hours.
 
Prices at the last four gun shows have been pretty well stratospheric. Any of the guns I looked at could have been purchased at our local gun shops for less than these guys were asking. Used pistol prices where as high as what you'd pay for new. It's hard to see how these people can get these prices when anyone can get a reasonable price range just looking on the 'net.
 
Lots of gun show people still talk about high prices as if the '08 presidential election were almost yesterday, and they vaguely suggest that there are still similar shortages.

It's as if they suspect that you might not know any better.

There was a good deal ($350) on a nice Enfield #5 "Jungle" in Sept. '09 at the Memphis show.
Luckily the rifle had no rust under the shiny dark wood when I checked months later.
It had been stored in Malaysia after the '56 Communist insurgency.
 
Last edited:
At the shows I go to, some of the booths have ridiculously overpriced guns, new or used, and some of them are decent. I've seen a few really good deals and many that were priced just a little over what I see online, which in my opinion is worth it to be able to check it out in person BEFORE paying for it. It all comes down to which table your at. The worst thing I've seen is that a certain table always has the same mis-marked and over-priced S&W victory revolver that they have labeled a "S&W model of 1917 Victory 38spl" and are trying to charge $600+ for it. It surely isn't a model of 1917 anything and last time I checked online, a victory revolver with normal military proofmarks in the condition it's in would only be worth $450-$500, not $600+.

However, I've seen other tables with used Colts, S&Ws, etc. for decent prices, including a S&W model 13 in decent condition that was really priced to sell and I still wish I had had enough money that day for an impulse buy. I have not seen that one again since that particular weekend and am sure somebody with more expendable income snatched it up. So yeah, for me, it all depends on which booth I'm in front of and the show itself is definitely still worth going to just to look around and buy some cheap ammo from the Miwall booth.
 
If I don`t like the "price", I don`t have to buy. I understand what your saying and agree to some extent.
Supply and demand controls a lot of those prices. The vendor can "ask" what ever he likes but when his sales slow to a crawl, you can bet the price will drop.
 
Part of my gun show fun comes from looking at the overpriced stuff and wondering how those vendors ever sell enough to pay for their table. I see a lot of guns priced at about what they are on GunBroker or a little more though. When you add in shipping to the online stuff it sometimes comes out to be more than what the gunshow guys are asking. I dont mind paying a bit more than what is shown online because I get to actually look at the piece and not risk having to ship a misadvertised piece of junk back and hassel of trying to get my money back. After saying all that, I know what you are saying too. Lots of vendors are looking for suckers. By the way, I like your location !
 
It is my opinion that the far majority of private sellers at the LGS are there as a weekend hobby and are not really interested in moving goods. They enjoy the comradery and chatting up all of the people that walk by. They have enough money that they aren't serious about making money at the shows, just want to hang out and show off their goods. They also enjoy getting all the primo deals for themselves before the general public is allowed to enter the show. The outrageous prices reflect this position and I have seen little to contradict it. I have had several sellers tell me that they don't intend to sell their guns, but if someone wants to barter them down a bit an still pay over-price for something that they will sell. They could care less either way really.
 
Everytime I go to a gunshow, I find 99.9 percent of the guns to be overpriced, at least in my mind. However, I usually find a deal and walk out with something in my hand.
 
It's a hit or a miss for sure.
Most of the dealers are over priced.
However there is always one or two that is very reasonable with new guns.
That's how I bought my PM9 with night sights and that morning before I even left for the show I checked Bud's and the GunBroker dealers just to get an idea what the PM9's were going for.
I came out cheaper through this particular dealer by at least $35.00 and no shipping or transfer fee.
Of course there was the high Texas 8.25 % tax.
But you are right most dealers are running people out of the place with their pricing new or used.
 
At a show I went to recently, there was a decent looking Beretta 92 for $400, and a 6" GP100 ( blue ) for $350. Most items overpriced, for sure, but there are some deals that can be found. Besides, the shows aren't just about guns- there's all kinds of other things one can find ( especially at the larger ones ).
 
I very rarely purchases guns inside the shows from the dealers, almost all of my purchases of firearms have been either from another attendee or out in the parking lot. I only go in the shows to browse and buy ammo, accessory's and beef jerky.
 
As for Gun Broker I see a TON of auctions that end with no bids. Doesn't seem like a great spot for deals either.
Click to expand...
The thing with auction sites is you have to be a hawk and look often. You also have to be PATIENT. Not 'needing it now' helps a lot. If you can wait for the right time, and have the time and patience to keep at it on a daily basis, you can find deals. They are out there. They just don't last long when they come around.
 
The auction might have ended at the time span the dealer/owner placed it but they usually immediately relist the item.
As a Gunbroker member I can backtrack the auctions by many weeks to see what sold and for how much.
 
I've done pretty good at Gun Broker in the last 6 months, after I figured out how it works, the things I wanted and what would be a 'reasonable' price (at least to me). My four best deals were the near-new Ruger MKIII 512 blued bull-barreled for $200, the scoped Sears/JC Higgins/Marlin 336 for two fifteen, the very nice JC Higgins 12 gauge for $75 and the scoped Husqy 8mm bolt action for $325.00.

The funnest part to me is 'the hunt'.....
 
Perhaps gunshow prices are higher because they expect people to negotiate the price down. I've done this on overpriced guns and walked away with a deal.

The key is to go on the last day and know the gun's value.

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
 
"Guess GB, GA & Bud's are winning this battle."


Which are GB and GA? I'm familiar with Buds Gunshop.
Click to expand...

I think gun shows have never changed.

The reason people are complaining now is due to the advent of the internet gun shop. Without a physical front store, they can reduce costs and with literally thousands of competitors online their prices forcibly competitive.

Compare that to a brick and mortar gun shop. There's maybe a dozen gun shops in an area competing. They already are at a disadvantage for having higher operating costs. On top of that they travel hundreds of miles to setup displays at gun shows. Of course it's going to be more expensive at the store, they have to add the cost of bringing the guns to you to see.
 
Gun shows don't seem to be the place for deals on guns anymore but they still have decent prices on ammunition, magazines and other accessories. You aren't going to see prices lower then the mail order places, but you don't have to pay shipping either.

I've been to many gun shows in recent years with every intention of buying a gun or two but I haven't bought anything but a stripped lower, primers and ammunition. Although I paid fair prices for that stuff, it surely wasn't a super deal.
 
Gun shows don't seem to be the place for deals on guns anymore but they still have decent prices on ammunition
Click to expand...
Last gun show I was at was selling ammo for 50-70% higher than what I can get it for locally at the store. Only decent priced stuff was reloads and I don't trust reloads from Bubba
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

MikeInOr
Gun show loophole?
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Replies
214
Views
6K
SunnySlopes
S
W
  • Locked
There's a Gun Show this weekend...
Replies
2
Views
442
Wheeler44
W
R
  • Locked
What gun am I looking for? *Long*
Replies
17
Views
717
Dionysusigma
D
J
  • Locked
Gun show today
Replies
2
Views
542
Just Jim
J
R
  • Locked
Gun show report
Replies
1
Views
433
f4t9r
F
Back
Top