I'm cured! No more gun shows for me...

[deerhunter61]

Funny....

The way Gun Shows are being described here is the same as they were 20 years ago...My father-in-law, brother-in-law and my buddy were saying the same things then. If you are going for anything more than the entertainment value then your expectations are set too high.

I enjoy going and probably go to one or two a year but when I do I am just going to see what they have. If I run into anything and buy it then I consider it a BIG bonus. These folks are just trying to make a living and if they can get people to pay their prices more power to them.

As far as the Aimpoint scopes...he might have actually been honest about what he needed to get in order to make a profit...you do not know what HE paid for them...if he overpaid then he would need to get that much to make money off of them.

 

[Hoppy590]

The only reason I go to gun shows in my area is to stock up on reloading supplies without having to pay HAZMAT fees.

if your paying Hazmat fees, your getting hosed. Ammo is Other Regulated Material- Domestic (ORM-D) and should NOT be charged hazmat fees. ( UPS that is. Fedex screws you, USPS wont even take it as far as i know)

 

[Norinco982lover]

I go so I can handle all the Cold Steel knives. Found a new Recon 1 older production run (made in different country) for $45 instead of $70 they normally are. Course that was 2 years ago. I've been carrying it everyday since then.

 

[inherentical]

if your paying Hazmat fees, your getting hosed. Ammo is Other Regulated Material- Domestic (ORM-D) and should NOT be charged hazmat fees. ( UPS that is. Fedex screws you, USPS wont even take it as far as i know)

Loaded ammo, sure, but I think powder and primers will incur the hazmat fee.

 

[Cannonball888]

I only go to exploit the jerky loophole.

 

[yourang?]

i, too, went to the syracuse show this weekend

6 bucks to get in and free parking

went with some particular items that i was looking for
(i could have found them on the web, but with postage
and shipping to mulitple places, it would have been more expensive)
add to that the gas factor and maybe 50/50 for any real savings

but....it is also a social thing too....going and seeing the vendors and
talking a bit, walking around, looking at some great stuff

i had already spent my "allotment" for guns a few weeks ago
so it was more like small stuff i was looking for....but as was stated earlier....a thirty round pre ban mag would never get shipped into ny, although they can be sold at the show...so for that alone, it was worth
the trip

of course, you never really know how well they are going to work,
so it is a gamble, of sorts, but it is still fun to go

some of the smaller local shows might not have as much to choose
from, but even they are sometimes interesting...you never know
what you are going to find

the show made it on the news on a couple stations, but only very
short 20 second clips...but they didnt have anything bad to say,
so that was good too....there was only one guy that they had
talking about how the shows of old were places were people came
to swap and sell, but nowadays, that really doesnt happen as much
as it used to...now it is the vendors that come to sell and the
people come mostly to buy....

 

[damien]

I'm cured too. Use to go to the show in Kane County. Now I find that knowing some of the local shops that have good prices on bulk ammo, such as R-Guns and the GAT Guns ammo truckload event gives me better deals on the ammo anyway, and the prices on guns at the shows were never better anyway.

 

[#shooter]

I don't think gun control groups or politicians need to eliminate guns shows, I think the internet (craigs list, auctions, specialty sites, etc) will close them down eventually.

Guns shows are expensive, crowded, and have limited value. At the Indy 500 gun and knife show there seems to be more non-firearm vendors every year. The smaller gun shows at the armories are going away as well.

 

[JKimball]

I've seen J&G Sales at that gun show. (It's been a few years though since I've been there.) I think you could justify going to the gun show to avoid a trip to Prescott if you're looking for milsurps.

 

[jhco]

i agree gunbroker is my new 24/7 gunshow

 

[Hk91-762mm]

You mean you can actually get a deal on the web??
They dont send you broken guns ??
They dont send you guns that are not what the photo shows?
You dont pay first and never get your stuff?
You dont have to go back and forth with the owner of the Craig list or what ever fighting for a refund on the junk they sent you??
Must be you guys have had a good luck --I hope it lasts !
Me i figure Id be the one who gets shafted .
Besides How are you gonna get a deal with everyone bidding on the same gun--I have been to auctions where an sks sells for $375 bucks -Yeaa Good deal.
Color me suspicious

 

[20nickels]

While I'll agree that many dealers want the Moon for their wares, they can ask whatever they want. The funny part is when they complain they aren't making any $$. It's the dealers that do not change their pricing from store to show that are profitting. If you don't like the price, make an offer.

 

[tinygnat219]

The Big Gun shows are worth going to.
This last time, I didn't buy anything which has to be a first.

The one prior to that, I found a "First Series" Colt Woodsman for 300 bucks. Yeah, it needs some bluing work, but the SN shows it was made ca. 1929.
It also sings when it shoots. There are bargains there, but you have to look.

i agree gunbroker is my new 24/7 gunshow

MAN, you need to get out a bit. Gunbroker is full of the same overpriced crap. At least at a gunshow, I can handle the thing I want to pick up and not pay shipping, or an FFL fee.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

IIRC the same people who operate that show are going through court proceedings trying to overturn a California county's ban on gun shows.

 

[jhco]

well im not looking for things that everyone else will bid on im looking for certain things to fill niches i have in the collection but your right they arnt all deals
but some are

 

[Bear2000]

Given the expense of going to a gun show, it's much cheaper and convenient to buy powder and primers online as well.

 

[mr.scott]

While some dealers at shows have higher prices than the internet, most are on par with or only a few $ more. I'll pay the local guy because I can inspect what I'm paying for, and I don't have to pay shipping and FFL fee's.
Call me old fashioned but when I spend money I like to have something to show for it when i sign the check.