The last one I went to was hawking those bamboo pillows.My experience has been exactly the same. The only items I have found that I was remotely interested in were used firearms, but invariably priced way out of my range. All new firearms were priced at least $100 over prices easily found on the internet. Newly manufactured ammunition was also grossly overpriced.
Most tables have nothing but junk knifes, belt buckles, a bunch of completely unmarked and worn out pistol magazines, reloaded ammo, and other stuff I have absolutely no interest in. I have stopped attending.
Gun shows nowadays
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.
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.
81 - 100 of 136 Posts
The last one I went to was hawking those bamboo pillows.
Ditto on most all of the previous posters. Also, Armslist is kind of going the same way. New gun pricing, very few real deals.
Don't forget the overpriced food at the concession stands.The worst part is the non gun junk to me. Scentsy candles, some survival gizmo, clothes, purses, etc. There seems to be less and less guns at every show I got to.
Gun shows these days are for uneducated buyers and impulse purchases. I think the only thing worth going for is to find something somewhat uncommon, but not highly valuable.
The last gun show I went to was as a private seller and that was about 4 years ago. I walked around and saw the same people, selling the same over-priced stuff they had the year before. And the year before that. I don't go anymore for every reason already cited in this thread.
And they are garbage knives at that.Agree there are few if any bargains any more. And I don't get why there are so many knife sellers. I almost never see anyone buying a knife, much less even looking.
Some years ago I scored an old Savage .22 rifle that was in rough shape cosmetically. The show was about to close and the seller had it marked for 200 bucks. I offered 100 and he took it in a NY minute. I had the stock refinished for 20 bucks and it looked brand new and shot perfectly. One of the best buys I ever made.
I have to put my two cents in with the rest. There was nothing at all special about the last gun show I went to. Mostly run of the mill junk. The old guns were unfirable and difficult to appraise as anything other than paper weights, ammo was all grossly over priced (folks, there is NOBODY HERE who has not heard of Double Tap, Underwood, or know of Sig Ammo online prices). We are not going to actually pay MORE for PMC!!! I still have a box of 500 10mm reloads that after inspecting (the box was sealed at the show) I wouldn't use in any gun!
When I go to a show, I would like to see special guns that everybody knows of like a group of Winchester lever actions new production for sale or Colt SAA/New Frontier for sale new production. In new design guns, guns like Desert Tech MDRs, The new Tavor 7, (and no lip about .223 as most who seek these guns want .308 chuckleheads) or Winchester model 70s or Sauer 404s.....Instead, I find run of the mill Wal-Mart quality or worse [email protected] for higher than known prices. No Thanks!
When I go to a show, I would like to see special guns that everybody knows of like a group of Winchester lever actions new production for sale or Colt SAA/New Frontier for sale new production. In new design guns, guns like Desert Tech MDRs, The new Tavor 7, (and no lip about .223 as most who seek these guns want .308 chuckleheads) or Winchester model 70s or Sauer 404s.....Instead, I find run of the mill Wal-Mart quality or worse [email protected] for higher than known prices. No Thanks!
Jerky and BO. That's always consistent at gun shows.
Yes, that seems to be the standard for today's gun shows. I didn't mind paying $5 to enter and graze the inventory years ago. Prices were mostly fair and many customers were walking around carrying guns to sell. One could haggle over pricing and extras and generally have a good time. I don't bother to even think about attending shows now; just isn't worth the effort.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.
You go with a bunch of your shooting buddies. Have breakfast on the way out,
pick up a little bit of ca ca at the show, and have lunch on the way home. After
you come home you feel like you went somewhere.
Zeke
pick up a little bit of ca ca at the show, and have lunch on the way home. After
you come home you feel like you went somewhere.
Zeke
What he said. :agree:My experience has been exactly the same. The only items I have found that I was remotely interested in were used firearms, but invariably priced way out of my range. All new firearms were priced at least $100 over prices easily found on the internet. Newly manufactured ammunition was also grossly overpriced.
Most tables have nothing but junk knifes, belt buckles, a bunch of completely unmarked and worn out pistol magazines, reloaded ammo, and other stuff I have absolutely no interest in. I have stopped attending.
I bought one of those bamboo pillows. You know what? I really like it.The last one I went to was hawking those bamboo pillows.
Zeke
You must still have a decent show! They are pretty dismal around here. Wal-Mart and Bass Pro are far better places to meet.....You go with a bunch of your shooting buddies. Have breakfast on the way out,
pick up a little bit of ca ca at the show, and have lunch on the way home. After
you come home you feel like you went somewhere.
Zeke
From Sacramento going to Vegas, passed by Reno and stopped at the Reno/Sparks convention center for the gunshow. Paid $12 bucks to get in and $10 bucks for a full parking spaces so I had to exit and parked in the street. No refund parking fee. They're letting cars enter even when the parking is full. Grand Sierra Resort has free parking. Went to a Vegas casino gunshow afterwards and was extremely happy and worth every penny.Been the same experience for me, been going since the early 70s. There were good deals to be had on everything. Now a bargain is hard to impossible to find. Higher fees to get in and no good deals inside have kept me away for several years. One I went to even charges for parking. I did go with my brother to the last one a couple of months ago, and we bought nothing. I didn't see much going out the door either, I wonder sometimes if it's even worth it for most sellers. I know some people go to get a look and feel something they are interested in, so they can buy it elsewhere.
I've more than heard about the Vegas show and want to go someday! I have an experienced relative some of you may know (I'm not publicly stating his name) that is encouraging me to go to an Oklahoma show as well. It's the lesser known local shows that are huge disappointments...... They should carry high end but also well known guns and more historic high end guns. There is simply no excuse for the ammo......The low end common guns are a commodity that we can all price check online all day long....From Sacramento going to Vegas, passed by Reno and stopped at the Reno/Sparks convention center for the gunshow. Paid $12 bucks to get in and $10 bucks for a full parking spaces so I had to exit and parked in the street. No refund parking fee. They're letting cars enter even when the parking is full. Grand Sierra Resort has free parking. Went to a Vegas casino gunshow afterwards and was extremely happy and worth every penny.
Gun shows for me, are like NFL games, if I'm interested in something, I'll check it out, if not, I'll watch at home.
:grill:
:grill:
I've noticed that the Texas section of Armslist has a lot of postings by dealers. It's better if you click the slider up at the top of the page to tell it to not include the dealer listings.Ditto on most all of the previous posters. Also, Armslist is kind of going the same way. New gun pricing, very few real deals.
I do that and most of the private sellers are asking way more than what a used gun is worth. I understand that they may have spent more adding sights, trigger job, grips, etc. but those modifications may not suit me. IMHO, while they may add value, they don't necessarily translate to a higher price.I've noticed that the Texas section of Armslist has a lot of postings by dealers. It's better if you click the slider up at the top of the page to tell it to not include the dealer listings.
Trust me. The Vegas gun shows have gone the same way. Overpriced guns and lots of junk vendors.I've more than heard about the Vegas show and want to go someday! I have an experienced relative some of you may know (I'm not publicly stating his name) that is encouraging me to go to an Oklahoma show as well. It's the lesser known local shows that are huge disappointments...... They should carry high end but also well known guns and more historic high end guns. There is simply no excuse for the ammo......The low end common guns are a commodity that we can all price check online all day long....
I go every once in a blue moon, ie; like a couple of years....because of fee to get in plus parking easily cost $15+ to just walk around and look at guns that are at least $100+ over & above MSRP, that have been handled & dry fired by every tom dick & harry that walks past their table. My LGS is cheaper for one in a sealed box and better yet the Internet which I buy about 99% from do to price & availability....except for the uneducated suckers I can't figure out how the shows even exist these....they are ridiculousIt 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 don't get out much. I like going to the local gun show here in Miami at the county youth fair grounds. Yes the ammo is mostly over priced, but it is nice to be able to handle the guns that I read about and see on Youtube before buying. I have purchased a few guns and some ammo there, after checking all the prices locally and on line beforehand. About 90% of my purchases are online. It's easier, and they bring it right to your door. An informed buyer is a good buyer.
It's also nice to get together with friends and have breakfast before the show and then lunch after. I also need the workout!
It's also nice to get together with friends and have breakfast before the show and then lunch after. I also need the workout!
81 - 100 of 136 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Glock Talk
A forum community dedicated to Glock firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, troubleshooting, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Top Contributors this Month
View All
Alex Smith
1759 Replies
Dragoon44
808 Replies
NoJoy
685 Replies
Recommended Communities
