Went to a gun show today, prices were ridiculous

[XD-40 Shooter]

A few examples :

1) Case of wolf 7.62x39 = $225... I can get it from Sportsman's Guide for $170.

2) Taurus PT-145 Pro = $500... These go at Sportsmans Warehouse for $350-$400 all day long, drinkin' bathwater.

3) CCI Small Pistol Primer's at one table were $32.50/1000, but I found them at another for $21.50/1000. You have to be carefull or you will get ripped off.

4) Cheapest SKS I could find was $250! I bought mine a year ago for $150, glad I did!

5) Some private seller was trying to off an XD-45 for $700....idiot.

Now for the good deal's :

1) Browning 300 win mag bolt action, used = $400.
2) Marlin 336 44 mag for $325, used
3) Several AK-47's, WASR-10's for about $400.

 

[mgregg85]

The last one I went to, I found a guy selling a CZ-52 for $250(maybe $225, cant remember) and I thought the price was pretty outrageous but what really got me was that he said it was a WWII bring back. I asked him about it(just to be sure) and he said it was something his father brought back from WWII, when I asked around what year his father had returned from the war he said he thought it was 1946 but stated it was definetly before 1950 when I asked. Being that the CZ-52's were made between 1952-1954, his dad must have been one hell of a time traveler or the seller was a nice liar.

 

[MIL-DOT]

3) Several AK-47's, WASR-10's for about $400."

that's good ?? i believe classicarms has them for $289. i agree, gunshows have been a waste of time for a while now.

 

[springmom]

Or he was actually in Korea and the guy doesn't know his history (entirely possible).

You go to gunshows for the occasional gem of a find, and for the jerky. Or in my case, for the cinnamon walnuts or pecans they always sell. I got my 10/22 at the recent gun show down in Houston; and I may look for a .357 levergun next time around (they are ridiculously overpriced retail around here ) Every once in awhile you get a find that keeps you going back.

Springmom

 

[ilbob]

that's good ?? i believe classicarms has them for $289. i agree, gunshows have been a waste of time for a while now.

but add $50-75 shipping and FFL fees along with whatever discount you can get off the $400 list price and it comes out a lot closer.

I agree the last few gun shows that I went to had very few bargains, especially in the reloading area.

 

[Cannonball888]

I saw a chinese 75-rd AK drum for $300, and Greek 30-06 ammo for TWICE what CMP sells it for. Gun shows are no longer a place to find a bargain. I only go to look at and handle the guns. I might buy a can of surplus gun grease just to make myself believe I got a sweet deal on something.

 

[springmom]

The deals we have found at the gun show here are usually with individual sales (FTF's). That's how Archerandshooter got his M-1 carbine, how I got my 66-3, and how I got my 10/22, all at decent prices. The only good "dealer" deal we got was on my Oly Arms AR, but that was a small-time dealer, not one of the big ones.

Springmom

 

[CountGlockula]

The only thing I buy at shows are accessories: Targets, cleaners and jerky.

For gun stuff, I just go to my local shop. Some shows have good ammo prices, especially when there's a good reloading company setting up.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

Last gun show I went to had LOTS of Mosins. Good prices too. Very nice, laminated stock 91/30s for $100. Almost bought one, probably should have, but I already have an M44.

Most of what I buy at gun shows is surplus ammo that's hard to find anywhere else, and cheaper.

At the gun show I go to, there is very little jerky and fake Nazi crap. It is mostly guns and gun-related stuff. Guess I lucked out.

 

[springmom]

Last gun show I went to had LOTS of Mosins. Good prices too. Very nice, laminated stock 91/30s for $100. Almost bought one, probably should have, but I already have an M44.

Nah, you did good. I bought one recently at Gander Mountain (heaven only knows why they got a shipment of them, but they did)...91/30 for $85, really good shape, all the accoutrements to go with.

Of course, that was a once in a blue moon thing, but still...

Just remember, a pig has to root through a lot of, um, stuff to find a truffle.

Springmom

 

[lee n. field]

Went to a gun show today, prices were ridiculous

I was at one today, the twice annual show put on by a nearby club. There were actually some decent prices on (some) stuff.

Traded off a Makarov (down to two now ) close to even up on a Ruger Mark II Target. Wanted one of these for years, so I'm happy.

Some private seller was trying to off an XD-45 for $700....idiot

The XDs I was seeing seemed to be about $50 higher than equivalent Glocks.

 

[BamBam-31]

Ridiculous! AAAAAAHHHH!
Definite! Indefinite! Definitely! AAAAHHH!

:banghead:

There...feel better....sorry.



You were saying?

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

Nah, you did good. I bought one recently at Gander Mountain (heaven only knows why they got a shipment of them, but they did)...91/30 for $85, really good shape, all the accoutrements to go with.

Wowza, that is a good price. I got my M44, laminated stock in spectacular shape, all matching numbers for $91!

Anyway, I had my heart set on a K31 at the time, until reality crushed me. (I had $120 or so and all the K31s were $200+)

And right now, I'm thinking I'll get away from milsurps and shoot for a new, production handgun when I turn 21...

 

[MechAg94]

I haven't been in a couple months, but I go to shows in Houston and Pasadena, TX. They normally have ammo dealers that are close to online prices + shipping. There are 2 or 3 pistol dealers that always have decent prices on new pistols. There are also rifle dealers that have decent prices on new rifles.

I rarely see good deals on used guns, but there are some. Some SKS's and Mosins are still floating around. A lot of the people selling guns seem to just want to put them behind a glass case and tell people extremely high asking prices. Once in a blue moon, someone will have a table selling off a collection and you can get a decent price.

Ammo and pistols are the only two things I go shows for. Used guns people bring in are not too bad if you have time to hang out.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

There was a table with Olympic Arm's AR-15's, customized, not the bargain basement model, for $799. That was a good deal.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I found a 22lr looked like a .30 carbine made in Germany for 150.00. The mag was worth $100.00 alone. The rifle was sold on consignment. I thought it was a deal. Most prices for guns otherwise are ripoffs. Gun parts are what I look for. Odds and ends, powder and whatever else.

 

[Hauptmann]

I never go to gun shows anymore. Everyone charges too much for everything, you'll hear more lies in 5 minutes than you'll hear in 5 years, and its turned into more of a garage sale than a gun extravaganza. It's a big waste of your time. I always seem to get better deals from the independent dealers who specialize in a particular class of firearms. Also, the internet has maximized competition in favor of the customer which dramatically lowers prices for us.

 

[MaterDei]

The kids and I still enjoy going to the gun shows; they make for a good family outing. I normally don't buy much but if I can find something I'm looking for that is priced reasonably I'll usually buy it.

I went to a gun show in Conroe last month and picked up a Stag stripped lower for $105. Sure, I can get it for ~$90 online but when you add the shipping and the FFL transfer fee I save money by paying more at the gun show. On top of that I'm supporting a local dealer for selling his goods and not a shipping company and an FFL making $25 for 10 minutes worth of work.

 

[GILROY]

I have found that the best deals at gun shows are to be had in the last few hours of the last day of the show. By then the dealers are trying to get cash to cover the trip and table cost. They are much more open to cash offers. They don't want to go home and tell mamma they were gone all weekend to make $50. I never can get them to deal on the first day. I don't even waste my time going on day one unless I am just looking for non-gun stuff or just lookin period. Also on the second day some of the previous days trade ins are out and you can get lucky on those. Speaking of which I will be going to the Eastman show at the North Atlanta trade center tomorrow afternoon (last day

 

[Geno]

XD-40 Shooter:

I WAS going to say, confound it...you went to the gun show without me?!

Then, I saw the prices. You're a good friend for not inviting me, because I would have had a heart attack!

Doc2005

 

[meef]

I went to a gun show today too.

I expected the prices on guns to be high, I wasn't disappointed.

However, my jaw is sore from dropping so far and fast it hit the table when I saw the prices on ammo.

A battle pack of 140 rounds of South African .308 - which I bought for $25 the last time I went looking for it at a show - was now $75...!!!



I didn't buy any.

 

[Lucky Strike]

wow guys...i'm new to shooting and was looking forward to a local gun show next month to try and find a SA .22....you all have deflated my expectations

oh well...i guess there's jerky to be had

 

[Souris]

Strange, it must have been gun show weekend
I went to one today and wanted to buy an upper assy for my AR.
The guy had several uppers but apparently didn't want to sell any of his stuff since he was now where to be found any of the four times I went to the table and asked.

Strange how you hear the guys at the show complaining that they only sold XXXX and didn't understand why they hadn't sold more. Should we let them in on the secret? You
have to be at your table and actually talk to customers (not the other sellers) to sell!

 

[RangerVA]

I think most gun show dealers have never actually checked the prices on that "Internet" thingy

 

[target1911]

I think they are trying to make a buck off of some poor unsuspecting newb that doesnt know the actual prices.