Saw lots of nice $300 guns at the show...

[SaxonPig]

Unfortunately they were all priced at $800+.

Ammo is still ridiculous. Doesn't seem to be any shortage. All the dealers were well stocked (except on 380 which is still scarce), but prices were still way up there. Supply and demand no longer working?

Primers even worse. Down from the $55-$60 I saw last year. Now between $35-$40 but that is still inflated IMO.

Big crowd at show, but I didn't see much money changing hands. A year ago ammo dealers were swamped with buyers wheeling in carts and hand-trucks to haul out cases and cases. Not now. Only saw one dealer sell a gun in 2 hours of watching.

 

[jcwit]

Where was the gun show at?

 

[john81276]

Price gouging is defined as:

pricing above the market price when no alternative retailer is available

Assuming the obvious (that there are numerous outlets (dealers) at any gun show) this may very well be an indicator of where the market is, rather than a case of gouging, since obviously there are many alternative retailers in the same building, yet they all choose to charge the same, or similar, prices.

If it is a case of market pricing trending upwards, what's the why?

Could it be (and I hope it is) that there are more consumers of firearms and ammo now than in the past few years? If so, I'd be surprised to see prices return to where they were - more consumers for similar supply, and especially when you consider that most of those new consumers have an urgency to buy now - they don't have the luxury of a safe full and being able to pick and choose when they are going to buy.

So why do I hope for a phenomenon which is going to drive up prices? Perhaps it's an indicator of some members of our society "waking up" to reality and realizing that they have to take care of themselves and their families, and not count on others, or GovCo. to do it...

 

[Kman]

back to the subject,,,"Saw lots of nice $300 guns at the show...
Unfortunately they were all priced at $800+."

that's beautiful, and very true.
The post Obama election recession has set in, gun prices are falling regularly, Indy 500 had DPMS complete lowers $200, Watching GB, I see pieces that haven't seen the light of day in 15-20 years coming out of the closet, and there is just very little expendable cash left. It's time to find some real bargains on collectibles if your willing to hunt.

 

[Texas Gun Person]

I went to the Fort Worth Original Gun Show today. Always seems rifles and shotguns have the crazy prices, while pistols and revolvers retain normal to good prices.


Tons of people in there. Had to squeeze through many of the isles. 1200 table set up.


edit: .380 was plentiful

edit: I bought a Mosin M24

 

[jahwarrior]

unless you're into Nazi memorabilia, cheap holsters, beef jerky, or Frost Cutlery knives, gun shows are a waste of time. the last time i bought anything worthwhile at agun show was 4 years ago, where i bought my EDC, a Spyderco Chinook II.

 

[RP88]

Assuming the obvious (that there are numerous outlets (dealers) at any gun show) this may very well be an indicator of where the market is, rather than a case of gouging, since obviously there are many alternative retailers in the same building, yet they all choose to charge the same, or similar, prices.

if you look on gunbroker and online vendors... even after figuring out shipping and transfer, almost everything at a gun show is a rip-off. $750 for a Yugo M70 AK underfolder is a rip-off. $200 for a Mosin Nagant is a rip-off. $450 for a beat up, rusty SKS that has a chewed up stock is a rip-off. the point is, aside from maybe three dealers that I am personally a fan of in my area (and the only three reasons aside from jerky I go to gun shows anymore), that gun shows in general are trying to part fools with their money.

The market is definitely nothing like what is seen at gun show prices. You can find anything for a good price (ammo included), but you may just have to wait a couple weeks. Still beats paying 3x the price.

 

[The Sarge]

Well said friend ^^^^
I often find gun show prices for "used" weapons can be beat by Buds Gun Shop new/delivered prices....or many of the other reputable internet firearm sales houses.....
Ammo is even worse. But Gun Shows dealers are not the only people gouging/asking ridiculous prices....GunBroker is out of control....

 

[MMCSRET]

I go to gun shows because there is a far more extensive selection of used guns in one location than anywhere else I have ever been. I don't look for anything in particular, just for something that interests me when I see it. I do far better buying used guns from strangers at a gun show than I do at a shop where they have seen me enough times to count me as a regular. The second best place to buy guns is in private, nonregulated FTF sale, which I can do in the states that I frequent.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

You can go to various gun shows around here at least once, sometimes twice, a month. There is one in Gray (about halfway between Kingsport and JC) this weekend. I will be there Sunday, just for something to do. Eight bucks is cheaper than a movie or even some fast food meals.

 

[frankiestoys]

I went to a show just today at the south fl fairgrounds, ammo prices are still high! What are these guys thinking? Im standing next to a few guys and all anyone is saying what the f...! I was looking at .45 and.38 ammo $27 for the .45 and $23 for the .38 even reloads were no great deal . Firearms ,your better off at Gander ,Wallmart, Buds or Gun broker.
SP 101's selling for $599 (im glad i have one) I left and went to Dicks bought 2 boxes .45
$18.99 and 2 boxes of .38 for $15 each. I like handling the guns but i dont buy should have saved the $ 8 it cost me to get in and used it at Dicks.

 

[janobles14]

gun shows used to be the places to get great deals on used weapons imho. havent bothered to go to one in a while though. guess its not the same

 

[jad0110]

But Gun Shows dealers are not the only people gouging/asking ridiculous prices....GunBroker is out of control....

Give it time. Note that many of those high priced items on GB are not selling. And at my local gunshow, I've been seeing the exact same overpriced guns and ammo since early summer '09. Part of it may be that some dealers bought this high priced (to them) inventory during the panic of late '08/early '09 and they are unwilling to drop the price below what they paid. Sorta like buying a house in the spring of '08 before the real estate bubble popped. But with demand dropping and leveling off, eventually they may have no choice but to drop their prices and "eat it". That may take time.

I remember when SKS prices skyrocketed out of control right after BO got elected. The average price went from $250 to $600 in my area. Today, they've dropped back down to $300, for the most part. But some are still asking $499, literally right across the aisle from the dealer selling the same basic gun for $300; methinks these dealers bought these particular SKSs for $375 or so and can't mark down the $499 price much without loosing money (figuring in overhead).

Talk about a rock and a hard place.

It's the same with other goods. For example, people asking $2,000 over book value for their car because, well, they are $2,000 upside down on it. Eventually, either reality sets in and the price falls and they eat a couple of grand, the item is taken off the market, or lastly an unedumacated individual comes along and pays too much out of ignorance.

In the latter example, who's fault is that really?

In the end, one should educate themselves as to a gun's worth in their region before buying.

2.5" S&W Model 66s typically sell for $550-$600 in my area these days. Found a 2.5" 66-1 at a gunshow not long ago for $430. I don't know about where everyone else lives, but that is a darned good price here.

Deals can be found at gun shows, gun shops, pawn shops, GB, estate auctions, etc ... so can over priced items. Be patient and be knowledgeable in the value of the gun you are looking for.

 

[hub]

Ammo is still ridiculous. Doesn't seem to be any shortage. All the dealers were well stocked (except on 380 which is still scarce), but prices were still way up there. Supply and demand no longer working?

When they get tired of sitting on their inventory the price will come down. The only problem with that is that some are still willing to pay those prices so like John said, it's not gouging it's where the market is at.

gun shows used to be the places to get great deals on used weapons imho.

The only way I have found to get a good deal at a gunshow is to find someone else (not a dealer) walking in with something they want to sell or trade. All the dealers will low ball them so person to person is the only way to make a decent buy or sell in my experience. Just do your homework and know what you should be paying for something before you buy.

 

[devildog32713]

the local gunshow I went to recently was fairly nice, some things were WAY marked up (.45ACP ammo=$30 for Sellior&Bellot FMJ!!!) but there were some NICE deals: Brand New Glocks: $459, used G22 police trade in: $319, and Mosin's=$129 (no cosmoline, all cleaned up) but of course in the corner is a old man who wants $600 for his Glock, but w/e, I like Gunshows, and jerky is tasty..

 

[ThomasT]

I went to the Ft Worth GS today. The thing was packed. I guess some folks wanted to get out after the big snow we had the last couple of days.

It was like the rest of you have posted. Some overpriced ammo that looked like it came from WM. Jerky and beads, I didn't see a single Beanie Baby.

I did see some fair prices on ARs. Some DPMS for a little less than the web site prices. I didn't buy but did sell a 22 auto. One place had XD pistols for $399. So it was like all GSs. Some deals and a few crazy prices.

As far as gouging goes, you can't be gouged if you know your business. Do your homework before you go. Its like the old saying, "you can't cheat an honest man".

 

[cyclopsshooter]

seems that right now people have more faith in ammunition and durable goods (firearms) than the dollars in their pockets...

 

[Walter]

gun shows used to be the places to get great deals on used weapons imho.

I agree with that, and I may be showing my age here, but "IMHO",
"good deals" started going downhill, and prices started going up when
FFL holders were allowed to buy and sell at gun shows.

IIRC, the GCA 68 prohibited FFL holders from doing business anywhere
except the address listed on their license. That changed around the mid 1980s,
allowing gun dealers to do business at gun shows.

As I said, in my opinion, that was the beginning of the end of "good deals"
at gun shows. I still go to one once in a while, and even buy something
occasionally, but not too much anymore.

And for the record, I am NOT against FFL dealers doing business at gun shows.
It does make for a much better selection of goods to choose from. But it introduced
"new" products and a "paperwork bureaucracy" into what had pretty much been a
"flea-market" economy. So the prices had to go up.

Walter

 

[FROGO207]

If there is a deal to be made then I will talk and more. If the price reflects that of a gold plated firearm but is in reality just polymer then I will walk away, as should any intelligent person who is armed with the facts. I would let an overpriced firearm rust to scrap before I paid what to me is over value. The dealers can't sell what nobody is willing to purchase.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Supply and demand no longer working?

No, it still is. The market just takes time to respond. Go back a few months and people WERE paying those prices. Now, maybe not so much. BUT, if the retailers can make the same money as pre-Obama by charging more but making fewer transactions then they can afford to keep the prices there for the time being. I just hope the market at the current prices does peter out and come down some. I would like more guns!

 

[gym]

Gun shows generally suck, they are for uninformed folks that have no clue what they are buying and don't know a Bersa from a Walther. Aside from accessories there I really haven't seen a deal at a gun show in the last 5 years. Also if you do see a nice piece, you take the chance that once you take it to the range you may have a gun that is out of spec or is just a lemon. Go find that guy that you gave the grand to who swore to you it was his gun for 20 years and he only fired it twice. Even if it's new, who wants to deal with shipping guns across the country to get them fixed. All in all it ain't worth the hassle.

 

[bearmgc]

Our gun shows in Wyoming are much smaller. Past year, I always found a couple or so rifles, that were reasonably priced to me, that held my interest. That was out of hundreds of others there. Par for the course.

 

[wally]

if you look on gunbroker and online vendors... even after figuring out shipping and transfer, almost everything at a gun show is a rip-off.

Guess it depends on where you are. Around here I've never seen anything to equal our gun show prices. I used to check Gun Broker before the shows but I've quit as I've never had a problem being under on-line prices by 10-25% at our larger shows.

Not just guns, Korean Glocks 17 mags on line $10 +S&H, local show $5 out the door!

There are a lot of bad deals everywhere but I've always found the best deals at our larger shows (GRB and HGCA). A couple months ago you could get Colt 6920 Carbines for $950.

--wally.

 

[jad0110]

For those that say deals can't be found at gunshows, recently I just missed a 4" S&W Model 57 (adjustable sights, blued, 41 Magnum) for $495. :banghead:

The buyer let me look at it/handle it; it was in darned nice condition, both cosmetically and mechanically.

 

[RP88]

Guess it depends on where you are.

it really does.

I live in SE Virginia. Plenty of gun shows. However, I rarely buy anything from anyone other than three dealers that I see there every time. They keep their prices reasonable, or at least at reasonable convenience.

Although I still stick to my previous statement, I did pick up a new Savage MKII with accutrigger for under $160 out the door, so it isn't like gun shows are completely devoid of good dealers. It's just that they are MOSTLY devoid of good dealers in my experience.