Nations Gun Show - Absurdly Crowded

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Bhpruett

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I have tried to go to the Nations Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia for the last two days, but both times, well after opening, the crowds are lined up around the block in both directions waiting to get in, and there is no parking within a reasonable distance. This is not the first time this has happened. I never experienced this when I lived in Atlanta, and can only figure that the reason this happens here is the dearth of gun stores in the area.

Does anyone know if the gun shows in Richmond are more civilized? I would gladly drive a couple of hours if I could park within 100 yards, not have to wait an hour to get in, and have a little room to move around once I got inside.
 
my daughter mentioned that it was noisy & crowded. she is at the NRA booth so did not come in the front way. she has yet to have time to browse but i've given her a list of things im interested in. mostly mags and out of production ammo.
 
Try getting there before it opens. About all the guns shows I've been to, it's not to bad to get in if you are there within a half hour of opening. All have had long lines after that and remain long lines for a good part of the day.

Last show I actually arrived before they opened, was second in line. First time ever I got to browse, even if beifly, in un congested isles.

I'm not sure what's not civilized about it either way though. It's guns, and it's people interested in them.
 
It was really busy yesterday. I had an agend, a list, and money. First time I wished Gunshows had shopping carts.

It was more like a clubbing event down in D.C. than a gunshow, but I have to admit that they had almost EVERYTHING you can imagine.

I found that they were running a pretty good operation and just needed a bit of patience.
 
IMHO the gunshows in richmond are pathetic. Unless you want jerky and junk..don't bother. I quit going a couple of years ago.
 
I wish I could have gone, but nobody would cover my weekend shifts. I'm not going to see a decent gun show until summer! There is also a gun show going down in Anapolis this weekend, but most people say that it is not very good, and it would cost me a fairly high amount in Zipcar fees to go, so I abstained.

The lines for The Nation's Gun Show were never too long in my opinion. I always tried to show up early, so it just might be me.
 
I was there yesterday, and it didn't seem more crowded than usual (which is to say, it's always crowded). I try to get there before 3:00 pm on Friday, which is when it opens. It's true that there were people waiting to get my parking space when I left.

The contents of the show were the same old, the same old. I didn't find any of the things I was specifically looking for. It probably would have been more worthwhile if I was a little less advanced in my collection.
 
I usually catch the last few hours of the show -- on Saturday, or even better, Sunday. By then, the crowds have thinned out quite a bit.

Yeah -- this approach doesn't leave quite as much time for browsing -- but I'm usually focused on certain pieces (or product lines) when I go, so I'm able to "filter out" a lot of merchandise as I walk through.

It might also mean I'm missing out on some deals that I might not otherwise -- but honestly, with the volume of stuff they have sitting out, I've been quite happy with what I've found on the last couple of outings. :cool:


.
 
The gun show in Fort Worth was more crowded than I've seen in several years.
When a lady bought a gun from one of the bigger dealers she was told they were so busy it would be over an hour before they could get to the 4473 and the dealer had five employees doing just paperwork.
 
Ones in Memphis tn area do not seem to be what I would call crowded. Also not what I would call good deals either
 
I went today, got there around noon. Stood in line for 20 minutes, got to about 10 people from the door, then realized I forgot a second form of ID. Turned around and left, wasn't worth my time to go inside and try to wade through a sea of people around every table only to not be able to buy either of the guns I was looking for.
 
I didn't go this time, but the show is always crowded. If you renew your NRA membership you get in for free and bypass the line. The lines move pretty quickly though. Parking is always a challenge. I don't ever buy anything more than a few mags, some ammo, or cleaning products maybe. There really haven't been any deals there since before Obama was elected. I go more for entertainment purposes, but always expect the crowds.
 
I went to the Nations Gun show this afternoon. I had just a couple of hours of free time. No exaggeration, most of that was used up just approaching the show. I gave up in the end - got back home about 45 minutes ago.

Sat in traffic approaching the show, sat in a parking lot traffic jam (just like Christmas shopping madness in the parking lot), walked about 3/4 mile to the show, stood in line outside for 25 minutes, barely moving, and then the weather started sleeting.

Show organizers might consider if they can improve some of the logistics, like how fast they can move the line through the doors. Granted, probably not much they can do about traffic in Northern VA :p but they can get more people taking entry fees up front, or something...

Dealers might want to talk to the show management about that. Just sayin' .. I was a bona fide buyer, with cash in hand trying to get to Trader Jerrys and a few other tables, and just gave up trying to get in.

So, I think I'm done with the Nations Gun Show. Too bad my favorite dealers are way on the other side of the state, or I'd visit them directly.
 
If I ran into that at each of those gun shows, I have to look into renting a mobility scooter.
 
About a 5 minute wait to get in this morning around 11. Probably more people than I have seen in years past but manageable. Pretty standard par for the course pricing although I did notice a second Powder and primer vendor there this time.
 
Crowded gun shows are a good thing. Right?
Click to expand...

My thoughts on the matter exactly. On one hand, it's a PITA to squeeze through the crowds, but OTOH it's heartening to see how many more people are exercising their RTKBA nowadays. :cool:
 
Having only been to a few poor shows, is there really any point in going, what with internet prices usually being lower? Or are there good prices at some shows?
 
I used to live in Richmond; the guns shows there were decent but pales in comparison to those you see in a large metro area. It’s a trade-off; more stuff means more people.

My goal was to travel to the Hillsville, VA flea market & gun show held on Labor Day weekend; the mecca of guns shows in Virginia. I never made it.:(

However, with 500k people expected this year, it might be a tad crowded.
 
What good is a huge show if you can't get in or get near the tables? The only way I would go to the D.C. show would be if I could rent a hotel room within walking distance and make a 3-day weekend of it.

And then there's the irritating shuffle. I find it hard to search the tables for used treasures when the crowd is 3 deep, shoulder to shoulder and all you can do is shuffle along, stop and go, stop and go.

D.C. traffic doesn't bother me much, I got my license in Bethesda on the day I turned 16. I'd had a learner's for 6 months and already been driving on the beltway. Okay, I'll admit that fishing or spending the day on my sofa is more relaxing than driving around D.C.

John
 
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