['Ol Grandad]

It has been a long time since I have been to a gun show. The last gun show I went to I was VERY disappointed. There were a lot of Knick knack tables...flea market type of items. I have been reading that a lot of this has been cleaned up.

But I think my biggest disappointment was paying $10 or $15 per person to get in and finding that everything in the show was VERY over priced. It was during the time that gun sales and prices were through the roof but I could have driven to an LGS just down the road and paid considerably less for the ammo and guns that were for sale.

So I am curious if all of this has changed or will it be more of the same?? I remember a day ( loooong time ago ) where you could go to a gun show and find deals on things you were looking for.

Yep! I haven't gone to a gun show in almost ten years now. I see no reason to go anymore. They all suck. More jerky and keychains than anything.

 

[Trench Sweeper]

Quilts, jerky, jewelry and fudge. I skipped the Monroeville show this weekend.


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Don't forget the person with the stun un making it pop every 30 seconds.

 

[sonoma]

The wanenmacher in Tulsa is the only one I go to anymore.It is twice a year and I have found some great deals from the regular people walking around wanting to sell whatever they have,just to get some cash and buy something new.I saw a man sell a S&W model 28 for $600.00 that looked like it might have had 100 rounds through it.It was a 3 inch and easily worth 8 or more.

 

[pittpa]

Don't forget the person with the stun un making it pop every 30 seconds.

Your location is vague, but it must be around here.


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[Lunch Meat]

I think what really killed the gun shows around here was the background check requirement. Prior to that Colorado gun shows were in compliance with federal laws FFL as always were required to do a background check and Private Sales were unregulated.

Once Colorado added the extra legal requirement that all sales at a gun show go through a background check the private sellers quit selling that gun shows and just started selling out of the newspaper. That's when all the good deals dried up

 

[lazarus66]

Every creep and weirdo in town. No thanks.

 

[NCTJ]

I enjoy the Raleigh gun shows just to see and handle weapons that I cannot afford or will ever buy. However, there are a few vendors that I look for to stock up on powder and primers. I also found a great leather holster maker with good prices. No one beats the prices of my LGS. It is more fun then the Home Décor Show!

 

[Cambo]

I don’t bother with the gun shows anymore. 10$ bucks or more to get in to see tables of crap and over priced guns and ammo.
The last one I went to was with my brother early last year. We stopped at a booth selling some ammo at “ best case prices available anywhere “ so we started looking around and my brother finds he’s seliing blazer brass 124 gr for +$260 a thousand. I told the guy he was high he gets a bit indignat and says if I can find it cheaper I should buy it so I got out my phone and went to targetsports and bought a case for 199.00 delivered to my door. Showed the guy the invoice on my phone and he tells me “ it’s cheap pricks like you that’s killing family business’s” lol what an assbag that guy was.
That last show was my last show.

I love it, he challenges you, and then gets upset at the result. It's as if he never heard of the internet.

Having worked in the gun industry, and at gun shows, I know that it's not expensive for a table. Usually $80 for 2 days. The ammo prices at shows always offend me.

 

[NavyVet1959]

I haven't been to one in quite a few (probably 15) years. The prices had gotten to the point where they weren't that great and I was running out of firearms that I just wanted to own. Combine that with the cost of admission and having to actually pay to park and it just wasn't worth it just to go look to see if something strikes my fancy.

 

[TUCCI]

It has been a long time since I have been to a gun show. The last gun show I went to I was VERY disappointed. There were a lot of Knick knack tables...flea market type of items. I have been reading that a lot of this has been cleaned up.

But I think my biggest disappointment was paying $10 or $15 per person to get in and finding that everything in the show was VERY over priced. It was during the time that gun sales and prices were through the roof but I could have driven to an LGS just down the road and paid considerably less for the ammo and guns that were for sale.

So I am curious if all of this has changed or will it be more of the same?? I remember a day ( loooong time ago ) where you could go to a gun show and find deals on things you were looking for.

Agreed, 10+ yrs for me and found the same thing....overpriced and a waste of my time.....I don't mind things changing, it's to be expected but, for the worse ....disappointing to say the least.

 

[rjr573]

It has been a long time since I have been to a gun show. The last gun show I went to I was VERY disappointed. There were a lot of Knick knack tables...flea market type of items. I have been reading that a lot of this has been cleaned up.

But I think my biggest disappointment was paying $10 or $15 per person to get in and finding that everything in the show was VERY over priced. It was during the time that gun sales and prices were through the roof but I could have driven to an LGS just down the road and paid considerably less for the ammo and guns that were for sale.

So I am curious if all of this has changed or will it be more of the same?? I remember a day ( loooong time ago ) where you could go to a gun show and find deals on things you were looking for.

I've been going to gun shows since 2005 and seems as if nothing has changed over the last few years... I rarely go anymore because as was stated earlier lots of overpriced stuff... unless I have nothing better to do why should I spend half a day walking around looking for something I might not find when I can go to the local gun store or shop online and not have it cost me any more money....
I'm mostly what all is going just to get together with friends or for something to do for entertainment....

It has been a long time since I have been to a gun show. The last gun show I went to I was VERY disappointed. There were a lot of Knick knack tables...flea market type of items. I have been reading that a lot of this has been cleaned up.

But I think my biggest disappointment was paying $10 or $15 per person to get in and finding that everything in the show was VERY over priced. It was during the time that gun sales and prices were through the roof but I could have driven to an LGS just down the road and paid considerably less for the ammo and guns that were for sale.

So I am curious if all of this has changed or will it be more of the same?? I remember a day ( loooong time ago ) where you could go to a gun show and find deals on things you were looking for.

 

[Lt. Donn]

Many of the shows have suffered from "empty table syndrome" and have had to sell tables to almost anyone to cover the overhead etc....THBS, some shows are still better than others. In my personal experience, if you have a discerning eye, you can always find something worth buying, but you have to know your prices...I still have the Tusa show on my "bucket list"

 

[Ghost doctor]

It has been a long time since I have been to a gun show. The last gun show I went to I was VERY disappointed. There were a lot of Knick knack tables...flea market type of items. I have been reading that a lot of this has been cleaned up.

But I think my biggest disappointment was paying $10 or $15 per person to get in and finding that everything in the show was VERY over priced. It was during the time that gun sales and prices were through the roof but I could have driven to an LGS just down the road and paid considerably less for the ammo and guns that were for sale.

So I am curious if all of this has changed or will it be more of the same?? I remember a day ( loooong time ago ) where you could go to a gun show and find deals on things you were looking for.

I have to agree, it seems that the price of admission tends to negate any "good deals" you might find. I too remember the good "ol"days when there where deals a plenty at gun shows, but it seems like a limited selection at inflated prices nowdays.

 

[scoose]

I've been going to gun shows since 2005 and seems as if nothing has changed over the last few years... I rarely go anymore because as was stated earlier lots of overpriced stuff... unless I have nothing better to do why should I spend half a day walking around looking for something I might not find when I can go to the local gun store or shop online and not have it cost me any more money....
I'm mostly what all is going just to get together with friends or for something to do for entertainment....

I was hoping this thread would turn out differently. But it looks like I’ll be finding something else to do on Saturday the 17th. It’s a same really because I used to enjoy spending hours looking at tables and tables of guns and watching people sucker over them. In many ways it was an education to me as I was finding guns I had never heard of and asking no about them. AND the guy at the table was willing to talk to me about it.

And over the past few years I would go in an LGS in my area not knowing there was a gun show in the area. I’d walk in and the counters would be nearly empty. When I asked why, the clerk would say, “ the owner gathered em all up and took em to the gun show”. “He will make more money up there”. All the while he leaves his store empty...

 

[Ghost doctor]

I don’t bother with the gun shows anymore. 10$ bucks or more to get in to see tables of crap and over priced guns and ammo.
The last one I went to was with my brother early last year. We stopped at a booth selling some ammo at “ best case prices available anywhere “ so we started looking around and my brother finds he’s seliing blazer brass 124 gr for +$260 a thousand. I told the guy he was high he gets a bit indignat and says if I can find it cheaper I should buy it so I got out my phone and went to targetsports and bought a case for 199.00 delivered to my door. Showed the guy the invoice on my phone and he tells me “ it’s cheap pricks like you that’s killing family business’s” lol what an assbag that guy was.
That last show was my last show.

A##holes like that seem to disappear of their own accord, wouldn't give it a second thought.

 

[usasalesreps]

The quarterly one a the Big E in Springfield MA, repeats its self over and over again.

The same people selling the same stuff, including the guy selling the same "original" SS 44-dot tunic that looks suspiciously identical to the repro I have for 1/10 his price.

Its mass what do you expect with the atty general thats anti gun and anti freedom of choice except certain other things fftopic:

 

[Kzchopper]

The gun shows that I went to in and around the Fairfax, VA area (Dulles convention center) are pretty darn good. Large displays of new and used guns, ammo, accessories. Decent pricing too.

The San Antonio, TX gun shows are rather disappointing with the exception of vintage SW and Colt revolvers.

The last dulles show I went to about 2yr. Ago , everything new was full retail + and used guns were hi end prices. NOT going back!

 

[Loopie]

I was unfortunate enough to live in California for 6 years and all the gun shows were about selling parts to guns, holsters, range bags and other types of collectibles. Each show might include as many as 20 used guns. Why was this called a gun show?

I recently moved to Utah... tons of guns at gun shows, competitive pricing, inexpensive ammo sales and a great time spent with other gun enthusiasts.

If you’re questioning gun shows in your state, go check it out, they may or may not surprise you.

 

[Glockdude1]

I remember in the 80’s and early 90’s you could find deals at gun shows. Now it’s nothing but overpriced weapons, old ammo and assorted junk. Around here the bigger shows you not only pay admission but parking fees. It’s usually not even worth attending unless I have time to waste and just want to browse.

:agree:

 

[83wide]

The one in western NC has a fair gun selection at times. I've found a few great deals on used pistols. I've also notice you can find deals on new guns, especially if you factor in the shipping/ trans fees of on-line buying. Plus, you get the benefit of putting your hands on the piece before you buy it.