No more gun shows for me
- Thread starter Meeks36
- Start date
W.E.G.
Member
Today's $20 is yesterday's $10
Gun shows don't entertain me the way they used to.
Gun shows don't entertain me the way they used to.
tubeshooter
Contributing Member
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2006
- Messages
- 2,142
In all this time (maybe 20 years), the shows have only gone up a dollar on me.
$20 instead of $10 is pretty steep - but I still wouldn't stop going to my local shows. I'd probably just go half as often...
$20 instead of $10 is pretty steep - but I still wouldn't stop going to my local shows. I'd probably just go half as often...
For me it’s just to waste time with my wife. See something i’m interested in and look it up online.
mcb
Member
That last time I was at a gun show I paid a vendor $150 dollars and walked out with a Nagant M44 and 880rd of ammunition. It's been awhile.
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Chuck R.
Member
I pretty much quit going a while ago.
Every once in a while a friend will convince me to go with him and on those days I end up buying jerky.. The prices just aren't that good unless you find someone carry something you're interested in.
Every once in a while a friend will convince me to go with him and on those days I end up buying jerky.. The prices just aren't that good unless you find someone carry something you're interested in.
Yes, entrance prices have gone up along with every other expense.
Our local shows post discount coupons for the shows that take a buck or two out of the sting.
Our local shows post discount coupons for the shows that take a buck or two out of the sting.
Rebel Dave
Member
It's not worth the time and effort, or gas to go to gun shows. Havn't been to one in about 20 yrs.
Dave
Dave
RetiredUSNChief
Member
Good question. But the answer is highly personal.
How much is an hour/two hours/half day of entertainment for you?
Do you have a specific purpose in going to a gun show beyond the browsing entertainment?
These days, I mostly go to gun shows for the entertainment value. I don't have to buy anything. It's also a great place to go to find/handle that next potential purchase to get a feel for how it handles and whatnot before committing several hundred on buying something else that would otherwise be sight-unseen.
How much is an hour/two hours/half day of entertainment for you?
Do you have a specific purpose in going to a gun show beyond the browsing entertainment?
These days, I mostly go to gun shows for the entertainment value. I don't have to buy anything. It's also a great place to go to find/handle that next potential purchase to get a feel for how it handles and whatnot before committing several hundred on buying something else that would otherwise be sight-unseen.
Taurus 617 CCW
Member
I have stopped going to gun shows for the most part. Same high priced things I can find in local shops without an entrance fee. I miss the days when guys had tables with nothing but parts and mags. I would dig through snd find all kinds of treasures. Larger shows still have some goodies. The Denver show was still worth it if anybody makes it out that way.
NorthBorder
Member
I haven't been to a gun show in maybe 15 years. I could never understand why I should pay an entrance fee to shop. But it must be an otherwise profitable business.
kerreckt
Member
I quit going about 10 years ago
BreechFace
Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2020
- Messages
- 3,509
Gun shows are lame. Not worth going.
Much of the tables are older generation folks who think way to highly of their wares and price them out of reality. Or a bunch of AR parts that are over priced.
Used to love going to gun shows. I don’t see them being a thing in 10 years. Or at least relegated to once a year regionally if at all.
Much of the tables are older generation folks who think way to highly of their wares and price them out of reality. Or a bunch of AR parts that are over priced.
Used to love going to gun shows. I don’t see them being a thing in 10 years. Or at least relegated to once a year regionally if at all.
Ignition Override
Member
Our only actual show is a 1:15 drive from here, in Jackson TN. For a pretty small show there are lots of regular milsurp rifles and accessories.
“For A Few Dollars More” (gun pun intended: Eastwood/Claudia Cardinale?) it still beats merely reading about guns on the Internet and looking at this computer screen.
And it gives people a "mission" for the day with other guys--away from the routines of retirement, ie "Groundhog Day".
....and No Wives at shows....! 
This borrowed image from "Armslist"
shows approx. 15% - 20% of how many milsurps (and most of the types) the show normally might have:
“For A Few Dollars More” (gun pun intended: Eastwood/Claudia Cardinale?) it still beats merely reading about guns on the Internet and looking at this computer screen.
And it gives people a "mission" for the day with other guys--away from the routines of retirement, ie "Groundhog Day".
....and No Wives at shows....! This borrowed image from "Armslist"
shows approx. 15% - 20% of how many milsurps (and most of the types) the show normally might have:
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Highland Lofts
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2019
- Messages
- 3,035
I slacked off when my BIL died about eight years ago. I started going again a couple of years ago when my grandson slowed interest in them. Now we generally go twice a month and I have two friends that will go with up once a month or so.
I pick up a few decent items at a good price now & then.
But it's mainly to visit with guys who has the same interest as I do and to get my grandson in to this part of the gun world.
Out entry fees are still $10.
I did pick up a brand new single-stage Hornady lock n load press last month for only $40.
Didn't need it but couldn't pass it up.
The last gun show we went to I picked up a few small things just to bring something home.
We will be going to the Falcon gun show in Granite Falls WA. This coming Saturday January 20th. I'm going to meet a guy that will have a couple of tables there and I will be picking ip some 32 long and 32 H&R magnum cases to feed the 327 Federal magnum revolvers in the stock pile of revolvers.
I still enjoy looking for deals all consolidated under one roof.
I constantly look on the reloading threads on the gun forums for deals on reloading stuff.
I just bought a RCBS powder measurer stand and a primer flipper from this forum this week and I'll be picking up a set of Lee 7.62x54r dies this weekend from a semi local gun forum.
I don't really need these items, but they will come in useful some time down the road.
I pick up a few decent items at a good price now & then.
But it's mainly to visit with guys who has the same interest as I do and to get my grandson in to this part of the gun world.
Out entry fees are still $10.
I did pick up a brand new single-stage Hornady lock n load press last month for only $40.
Didn't need it but couldn't pass it up.
The last gun show we went to I picked up a few small things just to bring something home.
We will be going to the Falcon gun show in Granite Falls WA. This coming Saturday January 20th. I'm going to meet a guy that will have a couple of tables there and I will be picking ip some 32 long and 32 H&R magnum cases to feed the 327 Federal magnum revolvers in the stock pile of revolvers.
I still enjoy looking for deals all consolidated under one roof.
I constantly look on the reloading threads on the gun forums for deals on reloading stuff.
I just bought a RCBS powder measurer stand and a primer flipper from this forum this week and I'll be picking up a set of Lee 7.62x54r dies this weekend from a semi local gun forum.
I don't really need these items, but they will come in useful some time down the road.
Ignition Override
Member
Highland Lofts: Exactly, it's the men's sporting club. Personal contact instead of digital gun topics (sit at home like a Gen Y/"Millenial"). My only real gun club buddy in a nearby suburb has difficulties (issues with a grown, dependent son) meeting me at the club-and most of his gun interests are different.
The majority of wives have no interest in discussions about weapons, even when Her Father (career Quartermaster, attached to the 101st from May '44) walked into the Haus of Luftwaffe Marschal 
Herman Goering in May of 1945 and "liberated" a few of his handguns.
The majority of wives have no interest in discussions about weapons, even when Her
Father (career Quartermaster, attached to the 101st from May '44) walked into the Haus of Luftwaffe Marschal Herman Goering in May of 1945 and "liberated" a few of his handguns.
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AlexanderA
Member
I used to go to all the local gun shows, an average of once a month.
But I haven't been to a gun show since early 2020, around the time Covid hit.
Reasons:
1. My collection has reached the point that there is hardly anything further that I would want, at least among the things that are available at gun shows.
2. Costs and prices at gun shows have gone way up. I hate to pay $20 for admission and come away with nothing.
3. Much easier to browse Gun Broker.
4. At age 78, my arthritic back makes it painful to walk the aisles at large gun shows. (My limit for standing / walking, without sitting down to rest, is about 15 - 20 minutes, on an average day.) And I refuse to be one of those people that you see at the shows, puttering around in their motorized wheelchairs.
I do miss seeing my friends at the shows. But they're starting to age out / die off too. It's depressing.
But I haven't been to a gun show since early 2020, around the time Covid hit.
Reasons:
1. My collection has reached the point that there is hardly anything further that I would want, at least among the things that are available at gun shows.
2. Costs and prices at gun shows have gone way up. I hate to pay $20 for admission and come away with nothing.
3. Much easier to browse Gun Broker.
4. At age 78, my arthritic back makes it painful to walk the aisles at large gun shows. (My limit for standing / walking, without sitting down to rest, is about 15 - 20 minutes, on an average day.) And I refuse to be one of those people that you see at the shows, puttering around in their motorized wheelchairs.
I do miss seeing my friends at the shows. But they're starting to age out / die off too. It's depressing.
theotherwaldo
Member
I had to skip the local gun show last weekend.
My sciatica was acting up.
Otherwise I would have laid down my $7.50 and gone in.
My sciatica was acting up.
Otherwise I would have laid down my $7.50 and gone in.
InTheSwamp
Member
2013 was my last.
eastbank
Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2009
- Messages
- 5,020
over the years (over 50) i have made alot of friends who set up at shows and they will give me a pass for a little help setting up. so i get in earlier then the public and have gotten some real buys because of it. last year i bought a winchester 43 in 218 bee with a 2-7x leupold scope from a local man setting up for 700.00 in ex condition, last dec. at a local show i bought a remington R-25 in .308 decked out for 800.00 with 200 rounds of natinal match ammo. it dosn,t happen all the time, but enough to keep me going back.
On NEW guns I can do better locally. But I still like going occasionally because I can see, hold, touch, lots of guns I can't actually see locally. If I find something that interests me I can always go home and either find an online vendor and order, or have the local shop order for me. My local gun shop usually beats ordering myself anyway.
And there are lots of older, no longer in production guns there. You have to look for bargains, but they are there. You ain't gonna find them if you don't go and look. I've spent $20 on worse things.
And there are lots of older, no longer in production guns there. You have to look for bargains, but they are there. You ain't gonna find them if you don't go and look. I've spent $20 on worse things.
1KPerDay
Member
You mean you don’t enjoy $30/lb beef jerky and $650 police trade-in Glocks? Not to mention grumpy table sellers who don’t actually seem to want to sell you any guns they have?
