The gun show was lame today.

[jsalcedo]

I guess there is something going on that I don't know about.

All the prices at the gunshow seemed to go up 50%

Crappy old remington 870's looked like they had been dragged behind a truck for $300

Beat to hell sistemas for $479. Garbage old rusted colt police positives
for $399. Scratched up ruger MKII's for $279 What gives?

It seemed for the most part apocolypse prices.

I was disgusted but finally found a nice guy selling CETME mags for $8

It is kind of sad going to a gunshow with a grand in your pocket and leaving wth $960.

I haven't seen a comet heading for earth so why the sudden price gouging?

 

[tc300mag1]

I noticed this to when i went to gun show last monthsome of the used guns i saw were more expensive than if i went to buy the same gun new. Ammo was overpriced etc etc i didnt spend anything except few to get in not even worth goign to anymore i guess

 

[boofus]

The shows here in Houston are the same way. You'd think with the competition from Internet dealers they'd learn to lower their prices a bit.

Tons of used and abused Sig P220s for $600 each. I could get a new one with night sights for close to that much. A used Mossberg 500 bullpup for $599. Holster worn H&K USPs for $600. Mismatched, cosmolinated, termite eaten German K98s for $299

Anyway if you are looking for a good deal on used firearms try www.cdnninvestments.com

Their police trade-in Sigs are $399 I think. Too bad we're in Texas, we'd get hit with sales tax.

 

[greyhound]

Man, that's depressing.

I know firearms are more expensive here in a restrictive, anti-gun state, but I would have hoped for better in Texas.

$600 for a holster worn USP? Surely this has to be an exception rather than the rule down South?

 

[azrael]

In Greensboro NC gunshow a couple of months ago prices were WAY up Standard Glocks on "sale" for $550.00 and the dealers not willing to "bargain" any...I could go on and on...I usually dont goto a gun show to "buy" any particular weapon anyway but it would be nice to get a decent deal...the gunshow here a couple of weeks ago was a little better with the prices more reasonable but certainly not a "bargain"..

My thoughts on the subject are simple....They wanna shaft me?? PFFTT!!... I buy from someone who doesnt...They dont need my money and I can find someone that certainly does...

They are slowly killing there business and I dont cry for them at all when they complain about not making any money.

Hopefully later this year I myself will have a table to sell my products...I dont intend to up any of my prices just for the gunshow...My customers deserve better treatment than that in my opinion..

I did miss out on a Mikov automatic...man those are sweet!!!... I had already spent my "budget" on dummy mags and a couple of parts kits that I couldnt live without

 

[Wedge]

I have also noticed some pretty heavy price gouging. Ammo the same or more expensive than at the store, and most of the boxes have been water damaged. Every used gun I have seen has been priced way too high. Last gun show I went to I saw the same dealers with the same overpriced guns that hadn't sold at the same prices as before.

 

[standingbear]

the tables used to carry a worn copy of the bluebook of gunvalues and if you had something to trade,they would look it up.they would in turn offer you 50-75% value of that.they would not budge on the fine selection of guns THEY were offering for sale or trade and nor would they look up the value in the very same book they quoted you on your gun value.when they get out the old copy of the book,you know they want the trade but only at a 150 dollar gain. Then the other vendors began moving in...the jerky man,the pocket watches,fleamarket swords,novelty items and even craftshow stuff.At least the jerky isnt bad. Its how it used to be,dunno if it has changed much.I dont even go for ammo anymore,just not worth the hassle when I can get the same stuff cheaper on the net and without the 6 dollar admission and 2 hour drive.

 

[DigMe]

I guess I just got lucky here a few weeks ago when we had the gun show come to Bell County Expo Center outside of Belton/Temple/Killeen. It was a nice-sized show for the area and I saw lots of good deals. I was pretty happy because I was able to trade my S&W Sigma .40 for a stainless .357 mag Ruger Blackhawk. There were good deals to be had though.

One question though, at this one there was only one person selling ammo and it was in a tent outside. Is that some kind of new (or old) law or rule? I was dissappointed in ammo selection although this one guy had a decent selection.

brad cook

 

[Tman]

Brad:
Someone told me (second hand info, so take it FWIW) that Bell County has an ordinance against having ammo inside the gun show. So, when you see the show at the Expo Center or at the Mayborn Center, the guy in the white trailer/tent selling ammo has got to be outside.

 

[Telperion]

If you think your gun shows are lame, try visiting one in CA. The event is more like a vaguely gun-themed flea market than a gun show. The only use I have found for them are for buying cases of ammo. After parking, admission, and markup, you don't save much over mail order, only the hassle of shipping.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

My nickname for the shows around here are junk shows plain and simple. Most of the new guns are priced 30-50% higher than a gunstore. I used to get a cheap thrill from chasing people away from the junk-dealers selling Hi-Points and Brycos but I don't even go anymore. Even the milsurps are priced much higher than I can get them at Big 5 or on the internet. I get a feeling that these shows are targeted at beginners. Most of the gun-saavy folks I know don't bother to go anymore.
Thank heaven for the internet and C&R licenses.

ZM

 

[4v50 Gary]

Exactly why I stopped going to the Crossroads of the West gunshow at the Cow Palace

 

[jsalcedo]

I went back for the second day and scoured the show 3 times.

Finally I overheard a guy haggling for a preban ruger mini 14.

Gun plus 2 ruger 40 rounders for $389 tax included.
The potential buyer said he would think about it.

I pulled out my cash and bought it on the spot.

I feel a little better now

 

[greyhound]

Wow I guess it is all over!

 

[longtom4570]

Maybe you went to an antique and collectable show by mistake

 

[glocksman]

It isn't much better here in southern Indiana.

The last show I went to had dealers wanting $200 and up for worn out Yugo SKS's that had less than half of the finish remaining. There were also a ton of Chinese SKS's with folding stocks and duckbill magazines for sale at $250-$300.

One guy even had the nerve to try to sell a standard SKS with the fixed magazine removed as a 'detachable magazine' SKS.

I saw a worn out Ballester Molina for $289 and some worn Bulgarian Makarovs for $200.

The only decent deal was on ammo. I stocked up on Brown Bear 7.62x39 at $43 per 500 round case. Not the greatest deal, but not bad.


By the time I left, I was almost hoping to see the ATF come in and bust the guys selling the illegally configured SKS's for 922(r) violations.

 

[Browns Fan]

I hear you... I was at one here in town and the only great deals are on imports. I take that back, I did see a NIB Stainless Ruger GP100 6" for $330. Is that a good deal or am I getting used to sticker shock? The only thing I bought was a Fobus paddle holster for my CZ75.

 

[azrael]

Browns Fan,
$330.00 is a pretty good price for a NIB Ruger GP100...Sticker shock tends to set in after awhile if ya shop at gunshows in NC or in the larger towns (yea we have large towns in NC just not that many!!)..

I live near a gun dealer that has his prices VERY low compared to some around where I live so it isnt that big a thing to me...I dont shop in Greensboro for that reason anyway...They seem to proud of there products for my taste's

 

[Valkman]

Before moving to Vegas I went to a gun show last July in Sacramento. I hadn't been to one in years, and expected what I used to see - 2 main buildings, each with 2 floors, packed with stuff. We were directed to park in a far different area though, and the "show" was now in one much smaller building. Probably about 1/8 the size it was before, and out of all the tables there were exactly 2 selling handguns. So after finding my way through the beef jerky and crafts and jewlery to these tables I looked at the prices - OMG! A SA Mil-Spec was over $500, and the rest were priced the same. I found one vendor who was great, even though he didn't sell guns, and bought some flashlights from him. A few days later I went to Wild Sports and bought a Mil-Spec for $399.

Here in Vegas I've only been to one show and it was much bigger than the CA one, but still not much in the way of bargains. Plus the fee to get in was like $12, plus parking! What a rip.

 

[DamnedDirtyApe]

I went to the Hilliard/Columbus, Ohio PRO show Saturday. It was the busiest show I've ever attended - crowds and crowds of people in three buildings - so many I couln't see some of the selections on the tables and had to make a second tour.

There was a fair sized flesh-eating shark, wolf, and hyena population - stock SA MilSpecs for $599 and tomato-stake M1 Carbines for $1000 on a few tables, but by and large the offerings were mostly reasonably priced - lots of $99 K98's and Swiss rifles, lots of good new and used pistols, and a free lecture and Q & A from an attorney about our new CCW law.

Made a second trip back to a table to maybe buy a $300 Marlin .357 lever, but missed out - think long, think wrong, I guess.

Came home with a few bullets for reloads - gun shows are a good way to spend a snowy afternoon.

 

[George Hill]

Crossroads of the West gunshows... I don't know about the other locations, but the ones that come to Utah every couple months just plain SUCK.
8 bucks to get in, and every time I end up thinking "I want my 8 bucks back".
Too many scented freaking candles, crystalware, ugly jewlry, coins, and nazi patches. Even the Beef Jerky & Chili people are getting sick of it.
Last time I went, I was walking past one "booth" and the guy snatched my glasses off, squirted them with his super majic Occulus Repairo solution, rubbed them with his smeggy cloth and handed them back with a big grin "Aint that better now?" Not only did I not see any difference, but I was pissed at the intrusion. I informed him that had we been outside, I'd have clobbered him. It's bad enough that they are in the gun show, but now they are getting pushy?
If I see any more Indian Maiden Princess Paintings - I'm going to freaking PUKE.
All the actual gun tables are scattered around all these fleamarket losers in the same manner that the Milk and Bread are on opposite ends of the grocery store. This pisses me off. Last time I went, I got a parking spot right up front. I thought, man, this is my lucky day. When I got out of the car, I looked around and noticed that the lot wasn't full, but thin. This was Saturday Noon... Not Sunday at 5PM... When I went in, I found out why. Because it sucked so badly that everyone was leaving. I walked around... as far as the guns went... Lots of ribbed shotguns, and prices so high it was asinine. Used 90% guns priced the same as MSRP? I don't think so. Lot's of over valued deals... lot's of BS. Lot's of crap that suddenly became rare and collectible... not the normal lots... but like an amazingly increase of it. Reminded me of a petri dish that you seeded and came back to 4 days later.
I'm not going back to one.
Just this week I got a yellow postcard from them... gun show next weekend!
I was trying to light the pilot light on the range when my wife handed it to me.
"Oh, thanks". Used it as a match.

Screw those guys.

 

[azrael]

Ya know something George?? I hate it when someone doesnt say what they really feel

 

[BluesBear]

Quit sugar-coating everything George. Tell us how you really feel.

 

[Lennyjoe]

The one this weekend at the fairgrounds sucked too.

Had more jewelry and dolls then guns it seemed.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Went to the Costa Mesa version of the "Crossroads of the West Gun Show" today and didn't see a whole lot of great stuff. Lots of overpriced M1 Garands, M1A's, M1 Carbines, and '03 A3 Springfields . Foreign Milsurp rifles are the only guns I see for good prices, and that's only sometimes. It seems more like an ammo/supplies run for me. I mean, shouldn't the gunshow be THE place to go to get the gun you want? On top of that, there was a ND in one of the showrooms while I was there . Don't know the details for sure, but I was halfway down the hall when at one end of the showroom, there was a loud rifle crack, like a small caliber rifle went off. I croached down, looked in that direction, and listened for either screaming or more shoots . Luckily that was it, and maybe thirty seconds later, after some of the initial shock wore off, people (and LEO's) started briskly walking towards where the shoot went off. After about five to ten minutes (to be honest I lost track of how much time passed before things happened but am giving my best guess) I heard from another gunshow patron that it was a ND .223 that hit the (concrete) floor and the bullet spray hit someone's leg. Don't know how accurate that info was, but it definately put a damper on what should have been a fun day. Also, the guy who was hit in the leg got medical attention but was still standing there seemingly not too injured about half an hour later . The idiot who owned the rifle and the other idiot who pulled the trigger are lucky it wasn't much worse, as the entire area was crowded with people. Even though I was halfway down the hall, I was definately still well within range of a .223 round . As I said, I don't know all the facts of what happened (if you do, please post and let me know) but since I could just as easily been hit as anyone else there, and seemingly the guy who was hit by bullet spray is not in mortal danger, please indulge in my little jokes, as I am honestly a bit rattled by the whole thing. I think I win the prize for having the worst experience at a gunshow of any of the posts in this thread . Also, I was looking at a very nice Enfield No. 5 Jungle Carbine for $250 and the ND distracted me enough that when I finally remembered to to go back to it, it had just been sold .