Wasted morning at a gunshow

[AlexanderA]

GBExpat wrote:

About the time that Hugo's in Opel, VA (just down the road from Clark Brother's Gunshop) closed its doors to Gunshows, I decided that I would do the same.

The gun shows at Hugo's Skating Rink were never that big. They're now being held at the Manassas Fair Grounds. Hugo's itself is now a nondenominational church.

Whenever I see/hear/read the ads for the local Gunshows (Chantilly or Woodbridge) I feel the tug ... but then remember that, for me, the hassle involved in attending it is just not worthwhile.

The Chantilly gun show (the Nation's Gun Show) is orders of magnitude bigger than anything else locally, especially now that they've increased the size of the venue by 30%. It's so popular that the line to get in, at opening, snakes around the block. If you can't find what you're looking for there, you probably won't find it anywhere.

It's held every couple of months. I recommend going on Friday, early (it opens at 3:00) to get an easy parking space.

My problem is that I get tired by the time I'm halfway through the show. I've undoubtedly missed things because of leaving before I've had a chance to check out every single table.

 

[mope540]

Deals are out there, but you have to look past the same ol' dealers seen at every show, the candy, the candles, the jewelry, and the cheap gaudy chinese knives tables... look for the private sellers in the aisles and at the small tables. Last show netted 1k rounds of NATO surplus .308 in battle packs @ 50 cents a round. Not spectacular, but not bad...and best of all NO TAXES PAID.

 

[bikerdoc]

Meh, seems like a first world problem.
Been going to gun shows since 78. Sometimes you score big, sometime you dont. It is a afternoon out with friends or the wife, meet old friends and an excuse to eat at the many seafood restaurants at the beach.
If you come home with something so much the better.

 

[GBExpat]

... The gun shows at Hugo's Skating Rink were never that big. They're now being held at the Manassas Fair Grounds. ...

Ayup, Hugo's was a rather small Gunshow. It is where I met my Local FtKnox GunSafe (RSC) Guy.

My cousin (one of the Manassas Fairground owners) invited me to one of those shows last Spring and I begged off ... just more hassle than it was worth, to me.

Hugo's itself is now a nondenominational church.

Interesting. Haven't driven that stretch of road in awhile.

The Chantilly gun show (the Nation's Gun Show) is orders of magnitude bigger than anything else locally ...

It was always the biggest one in this area. Last time I was there (2001?2002?) the crowd was rather large but it appeared that many more tables would have fit in the space.

... It's so popular that the line to get in, at opening, snakes around the block. ...

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

My rewards at gunshows may differ but...

... the real treats for me are to rummage through dealers boxes and cases of odds and ends.

Firearms are notably beyond secondary in my concerns as regards rewarding purchases.

Tools, manufacturer accessories, odd ammo, knives and parts. These are the things which draw me to a show.

If it's a firearm I bring home it'll be some odd-ball Husky .22 or a still tight and sad looking Charter revolver.

New firearms? Not really on my radar at shows.


Todd.

 

[RugerBob]

I enjoy going to guns shows. I often run into friends I haven't seen in a while and we chat and maybe have a coffee.

Very seldom do I buy a gun. Usually something for my reloading room, components. Looking at all the different things in mixed boxes.

I enjoy seeing interactions between new shooters and vendors. I have some friends who are vendors and some who just have a table to advertise their sport like SASS or 3gun.

They have to pay each table, so they do need to make a profit. You can haggle with them a bit. Fun all the way around for me.

 

[AlexanderA]

People that like going to gun shows should expand their horizons. There are other events, not gun shows per se, that are definitely worthwhile for "gun people."

Some examples:

1. Military vehicle events. There's the annual Military Vehicle Preservation Association convention, held at various cities in the summer, and the East Coast Rally of the same organization, held at Aberdeen, Maryland, in May each year. The MVPA recently changed its rules to allow gun sales, but these events are primarily useful for finding parts and accessories (including parts kits). Prices are considerably cheaper than at gun shows.

2. The North-South Skirmish Association national matches at Winchester, Virginia, held in May and October each year. There's a "sutlers' area" where dealers have permanent shops. This is the place to go if you're interested in Civil War guns of all types. Prices are highly competitive.

3. The 18th Century Market Fair at Ft. Frederick (near Hagerstown, Maryland), held every year in the spring. This is a mecca for anyone who likes the early flintlocks, both originals and reproductions. Prices are unbelievably expensive, but we're talking about handmade works of art, for the most part. You can buy parts, reasonably, from which to assemble your own if you have the talent.

4. Various historical reenactments, of different time periods, from the English Civil War up through WW2 (and even Vietnam!). There are always dealers at these events, selling the weapons and equipment of the particular time period. They generally don't gouge on their prices, since they're selling to typically knowledgeable customers.

 

[GBExpat]

To those more recent GunFun converts contemplating whether or not to attend GunShows :

Please do not allow the more "discouraging" posts by some of us convince you to not frequent GunShows.

I would set my Firearms Acquisition Expectations Gauge to zero and then slowly walk the circuit (at least twice, and at least once before making any primary purchases), making notations in my little notebook about the locations & listed prices of interesting items (upon entering I would "letter" the rows & "number" the tables ... and, yes, I am working on my problem ), enjoying the people, firearms, accessories, sometimes silly people and often silly prices.

Often I would pause at the midpoint of my visit, get a hotdog & coke, take a seat and contemplate/plan my approach for the second half of my visit (and enjoy watching the many different people wand'ring by).

Even if I ended up buying nothing, I would leave a bit tired but satisfied with the entertaining visit.

---

*I* have just gotten to the point that I do not enjoy such an outing, in addition to the fact that I have accumulated a nice collection (read: accumulation) of firearms.

 

[Coyote3855]

There were two guns shows within 20 miles of home yesterday so I went to both. I figure $11 total for both admission fees gives me a couple hours of entertainment. I did see a couple of S&W Gen 3 Semi autos in 9mm that were in excellent condition for $369 each which I thought was reasonable but not something I wanted.

I was looking for a S&W Victory, and there was one for sale! A .38/200 British Service Revolver with the following minor issues:

1. Lanyard ring hole plugged and serial number ground off the butt.
2. Hammer and trigger jeweled.
3. 1980s era Magna stocks.
4. Front sight filed to about 1/2 original height.
5. Pitting but no serious rust.

I was surprised that it was still in the original .38 S&W chambering, had not been bored with a drill bit to .38 Special.

The asking price? $575. "But we're open to offers!" I bet you are.

 

[Coyote3855]

double post

 

[Shaq]

At WAC shows, we've got a $10 transfer area set up; private sales are fairly painless (yes, I-594 stinks, but for now, we're stuck with it).

We have a "Gun Shows suck" thread every month. Frankly, I will miss gun shows when they're gone (and we may not have any in the future since it appears most gun owners no longer vote, at least in the PNW). Where else can you spend a few hours around hundreds of like-minded folk, fondling guns for free with no obligation to buy, occasionally finding that part or that piece you've been seeking for a while, and sometimes, even scoring a good deal on a used gun (at least where I live, that's still possible).

I don't primarily attend our monthly WAC shows to find a deal or something I've been looking for; I simply enjoy some camaraderie, running into folks I don't see that often, talking about guns, shooting and hunting ... And yeah, these days, most often politics.

I can't think of many places gun folks can go to hang out and discuss RKBA issues -- IN PERSON -- with other members of our community.

But sure, y'all go on bashing gun shows. There's a purpose here, some of you just don't want to see it, only thinking about fulfilling your own selfish desires as though the only reason for gun shows is to score that great deal ...

Nothing wrong with attending a gun show if you're having a good time & you think it's worth it. I do hope you're having a good time because you're paying a lot for it - with the parking, gas & fee.

 

[Turftech1]

Gun shows here are totally hit and miss. One booth, they think every item they are selling is worth its weight in gold, another booth will have good deals, some will have great deals.

I hit the Crossroads of the West gun show yesterday with my son. We saw several good deals on firearms, optics, and ammo. None of the firearms were ones we are looking for (mostly a un-monkeyed with 303 Lee Enfield), but we found some very good pricing on 7.5x55 Swiss ammo, and some pre-ban Norinco 9x18. We also found a very nice synthetic stock for my old 700 BDL for $40.

The key is to go to have fun. Talk with the old War vets, listen to their stories, look at lots of stuff, and if you are lucky enough to find a deal or two, come home with a little something extra.

Back in the 90s, when I first started going, there were lots of WWII vets at gun shows. Yesterday was the first show I've been to without seeing a single one. That makes me real glad I've spent as much time as I have listening to them in the past.

 

[Old Fuff]

Those who go to shows thinking they will find high-demand guns for low prices will likely be disappointed. We are currently in a seller's market, and to be frank, sellers aren't under any pressure to lower what they are asking.

However in some cases what they have is marked high so they can dicker with a buyer. I am always prepared to make a cash offer. If refused I move on.

I seldom buy guns, and in particular look for those that have cosmetic issues or minor mechanical problems that are easily fixable.

On the other hand I keep a sharp eye out for other items that others overlook. Older used leather, gun parts, loading dies, handgun stocks and grips, books and other publications, the list goes on and on.

So when I attend a gun show it's with a very wide view, not one focused on something in particular.

Last but not least, always peek under the table where the "junk" boxes are. You never know what might be there.

 

[CDW4ME]

The worst thing about gun shows is the pace if crowded, slower than a sloth.
I use to go to gun shows frequently, not anymore, not in several years.
By the time I factor my time, gas, entrance fee and the possibility of not even finding whatever, going to one loses its appeal; add the intolerable sloth pace and nope, nope, nope.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Hit or miss or cheap entertainment?

I figure there are times which stand out in firearms acquisition for me which almost certainly would not have happened had I not been at that show, that day.

Last year, against all odds, I scored a sweet little Winchester 55 pretty cheaply. The fella selling didn't really know (or care?) what he had and I knew bupcus about the little carbines - didn't even know it was "take-down".

Figured if only as a wall hanger I should get it even if it was in my least favored, very popular and successful cartridge; 30-30.

Turned out right, great bore, shoots well and cleaned up real nice... Who knew?

Another was stumbling over a "good-era" AMT hardballer longslide which no one would give the time of day to due to some particularly bad periods of its production.

Again, I knew little but the price seemed real right and it turned out to be one of the good ones and is now worth well over three times what I paid for it.

Then too, having a goal one doesn't necessarily expect to meet but keeps hammering away at anyhow helps to enjoy the odd, impulse visit to a show. I'm always on the hunt for a Lyman 48-C for my Springfield M-2. Causing me to dig through fellas displays for one has rewarded me with a bunch of stuff I wasn't really looking for but was pleased to find just the same.

Todd.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I don't like crowds..ever. However, I will go to a gun show once every few years because I get to look at a larger variety under one roof. I never expect a "deal" but I might find something I just have to have.

 

[OilyPablo]

I went to a wall to wall show. Once. I like the company of men. But not that much.

 

[IL Guns]

The gun shows in Illinois and Indiana have become pretty much a waste of time. Years ago they were fun, now it's the guy with 3 tables of .22 for $75 a brick. The best part is two years ago this guy was a total idiot. He wouldn't budge on his prices and had a bad attitude even looking at all the ammo he hoarded. He would get the occasional buyer but most people would ask "Is that price etched in stone?" to which he would reply " I should charge you more for even asking". Now that I can walk into Dicks and buy a brick for $30 I laugh at the guy. You are paying for 3 tables and selling nothing. For the last 3 years you have been the guy camped out at Wal-Mart buying up all of the ammo. I hoped that worked out for you.
There are cops and BATF all over the place and all private sales must happen outside. In Indiana they have one at the Lake County Fairgrounds and there are about 15 Gary gang task force cops walking around. Garys about 20 miles away.
Basically gone are the good old days where you could stumble upon old Santa Barbara ammo for $2 a box of 25. Now it's a few legit dealers with higher then retail prices for guns, there are some cool people but in general the shows are getting smaller and smaller. Basically you used to have three buildings with tables and now it's one packed with people who walk like Zombies. More tables filled with nothing related to guns, mostly trinkets, bumper stickers and the such. I'm not saying don't go but to me it's exactly what CDW4ME said. When you factor in everything, it's not worth it to me anymore. Having a ATF agent bump into me and then give ME a dirty look? The guy who wants $20 for a 1911 recoil spring that he claims is a 18lb Wilson Combat but is in a baggie? Then he'll haggle down to $15 for what is probably mil surplus? No Thanks.
For those who have never been go to one but really my friends and I used to go all the time but now if I go to one, it's by myself. The one at Crown Point is a waste of my time and that used to be a pretty good show.

 

[Candyman87]

I still go from time to time if I have nothing better to do.

Finding some less-common brands of ammo to try before buying a case? Sure, I'll pay $10 for a box of 5.56 NATO to make sure it feeds.

Finding the perfect grips for my revolver and want to see how they feel before buying? Sure, worth my time.

Finding a pound of powder that you've been looking for without $28 HAZMAT? Sure.

Yeah, it's overpaying for some, but it saves on shipping and HAZMAT fees. They do have their advantages.

Most of the time, I walk out with not much more than a couple of pieces of jerky, a couple pads of EZ2C targets, and a girlfriend that's happy because I realized there's nothing there that I NEED. Things I want, yes. But nothing that I NEED.

 

[RA40]

I've felt similar to dealer prices at shows. The good finds are private party sales of various items, take off's of barrels, slides, magazines, scopes...etc. Some of the reloads may be tempting but often factoring in admission and parking the prices are pretty typical. Walking a show is tedious and slow. Online searches bring a wealth of possibilities within moments to weight cost, shipping and speed. Dragging a dolly or wagon to carry ammo has never been fun.

 

[Speedo66]

Believe it or not I have found some good deals on AR parts at gun shows - the same as best online price with no shipping. Competition is key. Get two-three+ people with the same stuff, the consumer becomes king. This sometimes applies to ammo.

Most of the time the ammo prices are so close between vendors I wonder if they get together to fix prices before the show opens.

 

[OilyPablo]

Speedo..........you are correct........most of the time the ammo is a rip. But sometimes.....the 2013 Banic, I was able to get some 357Sig and 10mm at normal prices because the vendor were too busy changing price tags on 9mm anf .223.

 

[Reloadron]

I measure gun show size in tables. Saying a small, medium or large show really means nothing. A 300 table, 500 table or 1,000 table show gives me something to relate to. A good gun show promoter makes the show. Here in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area for example the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds (Berea) show is a big show. How big? Generally 1,000 tables with free parking and admission is about $6.00 which is reasonable. A good promoter will limit the flea market crap. The Berea show takes about 3 buildings of the fairgrounds, a small area in the back of one of those buildings has all the flea market crap, beef jerky to all sorts of junk stuff. Another very good show but different promoters is commonly called "The Medina Gun Show".

Have the "target guy" as I call him so I get a good price on assorted NRA targets. Plenty of hand loading guys so walk the show and generally at least a few still stuck with 22 LR at 80 bucks a brick. It's there but nobody has ever forced anyone to buy at that price, as far as I know. This show always has a few guys selling things like original S&W Grips or Colt grips plus several tables of guys selling parts. So really depending on what you want a gun show can be a good thing. Next 1,000 table show up here I may drag out a Remington 550 I want to get rid of. Had two and made one nice one and have a rough one to get rid of.

Just My Take on Shows....
Ron

 

[LeonCarr]

IME the well promoted/managed gun shows have to be anywhere from 75%-90% gun/knife related, and other gun shows will let in anyone who will buy a table.

Not fun when you pay parking and an entry fee to go to what is basically a flea market with a few guns. I wish all gun shows were still gun shows.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Old Dog]

So member "Shaq" says

Nothing wrong with attending a gun show if you're having a good time & you think it's worth it. I do hope you're having a good time because you're paying a lot for it - with the parking, gas & fee.

I'm sure it was purely unintentional, but that remark struck me as containing a hint of condescension.

Actually, I pay 40 bucks a year for an annual membership to the Washington Arms Collectors, which gets me a monthly magazine chock full of good RKBA info, admission to 20 or so shows per year (ten each in a couple different cities) and a free table at one show every year. Oh, and parking is free, and close by.

Perhaps we are fortunate to have well-run, well-attended and usually excellent gun shows -- that typically actually feature a lot of guns -- up here every month. Not to mention, that by supporting our WAC, we are supporting an organization that does great work on the RKBA front in our state.

Seems as though a lot of folks hereabout are really down on gun shows, which in my opinion, only provide positive contributions to the whole RKBA front. Apparently a lot of gun-owners are just a bit on the selfish side and can't see the big picture?

"Wasted morning at the gun show?" Funny, just talking to one of the guys I work with and he was talking about spending all morning playing video games ... now, speaking of a wasted morning ...