Gun Shows..Yay or Nay...

[joe d]

Nay here..Went to the Tulsa gun show this weekend...Huge gun show..lots of new stuff...all ridiculously overpriced...lots of crazy prices on old beat up stuff people are trying to get rid of...CM9's there for 595...that was the lowest I saw...I been to a few here in OKC,and they're the same but smaller...I swore I was done,but had to try the Tulsa show...The only advantage for me is if you're looking for a specific gun,at least you can hold it and check it out in person as opposed to the on line surprise...I always see a few things I like but I find they're always way more at the shows as opposed to Gunbroker or the local stores here...Everybody there wants top dollar and beyond...I know lots of guys have good luck at them but I never have...I always do better from Buds' or locally...Had a good time anyway...It got me out of the house for a while...:rolleyes:

[mser]

Agreed. It costs me $12 ($5 parking and 7$ admission with $1 off coupon) just to get through the door of my local gun show. But it's a lot cheaper than a round of golf, which I don't play anyway, and it's about the same as admission to a movie theater. I'd much rather spend a couple of hours wandering around the show "window shopping". You never know just what might happen. Last year I took my wife along with me to one of the shows as my regular shooting buddy couldn't make it. I walked out of there with a new leather purse for her and nothing for me. The ultimate kick in the teeth. :o

[Bill K]

I'll generally do one a year and may pick up a few small/inexpensive items.

[melissa5]

I'm going to one this coming weekend. $8 to get in and free parking. I've seen a few deals, but more that were not.

[TheTman]

I used to read a magazine that gave a heads up on what old Mausers and such they'd found a cache of and were selling for cheap, then look at the gun shows for those. I didn't use to buy anything that required the "instant" background check because I always got held up a day for some reason. Now with my CC permit, they don't have to use the instant background check and I can walk out with a new gun.
I wish I could rememmber the name of the magazine, was something like Surplus Firearms or something. It helped me get guns at a great price, such as my Swedish Mauser that I bought for $80, and since have seen it going for around $400.
Thats one I really like to sporterize, turn the bolt down, cut the barrel down and put a nice stock on it, and tap it for scope mounts.
It used to be really competitive on the prices, but the ATF has drove so many small shops out of business it doesn't really pay to buy new there anymore. So I look for old Mausers and stuff. I'd say the gun show is about 2/3 or less of what it used to be before Clinton took office. I still go and look for ammo and other accesories you can't always find locally. It's $7 or $8 to get in depending if you have a coupon or not, but that's good for all weekend. They sure don't seem to want to cut a deal with you like they used too. Sunday afternoon seems the best time to shop. The last 2 guns I bought were from the not so LGS, paid just about what it would cost from Bud's with the transfer fee. LOL, its a funny little place, it's a beauty shop up front, with the gun store in the back room. BeautyandBullets.com is their site I think. They don't have a real big selection, but will get anything you want.

[Barth]

I go all the time.
There's one here every two months.
It's sort of cheap entertainment for me.
Years ago you could get the best deals at them - but those days are gone.
If you keep your eyes pealed and are patient you can still find that prize though.

I was all over the net, gun shops, pawn shops and gun shows;
looking for a reasonable condition/price S&W 640-1.

The gun show finally came through with $489 for my new baby.
Still, with parking and entrance fees did I really make a deal?

whatever

(Plus I can get all kinds of stuff at the gun show I'd have to pay shipping for otherwise)

I have absolutely spent WAY TO MUCH MONEY on guns this year.
Need to save for a car/truck now.
So maybe my gun show days are numbered.

I'm still happy if I could just get my three guns back from the gunsmith!!!
If I don't have my Magnum in my hands by the end of the week I'm going to have an aneurysm - LOL!

[Bawanna]

We have two gun shows every month here, one right here in town and another (same group) about an hours away.
Have to be a member to buy guns and usually if your not a member the sellers really don't want you handling their wares anyhow.

Membership includes free admission and parking is always free too, so it is cheap entertainment. One really does need to do their homework on values and stuff. They seem to cater to the unwary who don't do their homework and think they are getting a deal.

I like old, strange stuff as much as new so even though I usually don't have lunch money on me I still enjoy myself. Good chance to see what others have done to stuff to, get ideas. Usually it just plants huge seeds of want and desire deep inside my head which isn't difficult seeing it's relatively a hollow void that needs to be filled with something even if it's just wants and desires.

[getsome]

Saw one of these at the range yesterday and I wanted to take a look at it but didn't have time...Has anyone here ever fired one and if so how did it shoot...The guy said they use Glock magazines and this particular one was a .40 cal carbine....I had just gone through about $100.00 worth of range ammo so having that rifle would mandate getting a part time job to buy it food but it sure did look cool....

One good thing was I'm starting to hit better with my PM40 and even started to be able to shoot my new M&P .40 Smith a little bit better...My 16 year old son picked up the M&P and was just drilling the bulls eye at 15-20 yards and making smiley faces on the target...Ticks me off to no end....

[ripley16]

I love gun shows. :cheer2:
Even if I don't buy something, (I always do though I think), at least I get to fondle and examine a bunch of guns I may not see in a local gun shop. I've come across many very good deals over the years. The Virginia web site I use to buy and sell, see the link below, always has a table to sell my guns for no fees, (donations accepted ;) ). No downside I can see to going to a huge room full of guns and ammo. :D

http://www.vaguntrader.com/forums/ubbthreads.php

[Longitude Zero]

I have not missed the Wannemachers show in Tulsa in years. This year the prices wer stupider than in the past. What a load of fools.

[ltxi]

I'm pretty much right there with ripley on this one. Decent size monthly/month and a half shows with a mix of old guns and a few local, larger, friendly dealers competing on price. Get to look at and handle stuff I might be interested in and the prices on new tends toward bottom dollar.

Plus there are discount dealers in other than guns....gun safes, knives, leather, ammunition, etc.

[popgoestheweasel]

if they have a better selection of guns (especially new) than my local gun stores, I'm all for em. I can't believe the pitiful selection of new guns at my local gun retailers. How's a guy suppose to fondle all the Kahr pistols so he knows what to buy??? Seems Kahrs in my hometown are rare as hen's teeth.

[muggsy]

In my area there's a gun show every other month. The best deals seem to come from private owners. For the most part I buy reloading components and occasionally pick up an odd or end for a friend. I'm currently looking for a full choke vent rib barrel for a Browning B-2000 20 Ga. The gun wasn't in production for very long and barrels are hard to find.

[Ubaldo99]

I enjoy going to gun shows. Here in the DFW area there's usually a gun show every weekend, but I generally attend only 3-4 shows per year. As many have noted, its a fairly inexpensive form of entertainment, and I enjoy browsing, talking to vendors, looking at the old stuff, etc. Most things are overpriced, so I rarely buy anything. However, I had been looking to buy a Bersa Thunder 22LR for several months...and having no luck finding one. Then, I stumbled across one at the big Dallas gun show last winter. Priced at $249. That seemed a fair price so I bought it on the spot and have been pleased with it. One of the few times when a chance visit to a gun show actually paid-off for me.

[Rainman48314]

Saw one of these at the range yesterday and I wanted to take a look at it but didn't have time...Has anyone here ever fired one and if so how did it shoot...The guy said they use Glock magazines and this particular one was a .40 cal carbine....I had just gone through about $100.00 worth of range ammo so having that rifle would mandate getting a part time job to buy it food but it sure did look cool....

One good thing was I'm starting to hit better with my PM40 and even started to be able to shoot my new M&P .40 Smith a little bit better...My 16 year old son picked up the M&P and was just drilling the bulls eye at 15-20 yards and making smiley faces on the target...Ticks me off to no end....I've read a LOT of god reports on the SUB 2000. There are other mag configurations besides Glock available. Do a search on YouTube for reviews and demos.

[Zippo Guy]

I try to make as many gun shows as I can. There aren't many gun shops in my area, so I do get to see many more guns this way. I still love the smell of old guns and love the displays of old Colts or Winchesters. The dealers in my area don't carry many Kahrs. I've actually seen more at the gun shows, and bought two this way.

[yqtszhj]

my 2 Kahrs and a Beretta 92FS came from gun shows and I got some OK deals. Much better trade prices at the shows.

[ripley16]

However, I had been looking to buy a Bersa Thunder 22LR for several months...and having no luck finding one. Then, I stumbled across one at the big Dallas gun show last winter. Priced at $249. That seemed a fair price so I bought it on the spot and have been pleased with it. One of the few times when a chance visit to a gun show actually paid-off for me.

That's the last pistol I bought at a gun show as well. In September I found a new Bersa .22 for $250, sold by a dealer I'd used before. Never even saw one in a gun shop during the time I looked for one. Gun shows have their benefits. Sometimes it's the only place to find certain guns.

[steve666]

I regularly go to the Indy 1500, the biggest show here. I rarely, but occasionally, find a good gun deal. However, I can usually pick up ammo and/or accessories like holsters reasonably. Also I get to see lots of guns, including some of the latest releases, in one place. And there isn't anything better than lots of guns, even lots of bacon only comes in second.http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/Lift-airguns/Gun%20Shows%20Long%20Island%20NY/DSC01619.jpg

[ripley16]

Ted Danson and Danny DeVito are gun enthusiasts? :eek:





:D

[TD2K]

We've been going to the tulsa one for a few years now. Normally we don't buy too much because of the ridiculous prices, but this time we were able to haggle a bit and score a couple of goodies.

I just enjoy looking, we usually spend about 6 hours there and have yet to make it through the entire show. and we don't linger very long at any of the tables either.

[Avenger]

I went to a local one a few weeks ago, my first one in years. Gave me a chance to put my hands on most of the guns that I was considering and helped me to make my decision.

Prices weren't anywhere near competitive, IMHO, on anything that I was looking at. So I ended up buying online.

I took the cash I was willing to spend and talked to a couple of vendor who weren't willing at all to even get close to the online prices (and when I say close, I mean within $75).

Interestingly, I even had one vendor tell me that I couldn't get a handgun I was considering at the price I told him I was trying to get close to. So I pulled out the iPhone and pulled up the site and showed him. Didn't matter to him though.

Like others have said, I viewed my time there mostly as cheap entertainment. Was able to put my hands on some guns, holsters and other accessories, as well as visit with some nice people and see some interesting things, some of which had nothing to do with guns.

When the next one is in town, I'll probably go if I have nothing else going on. But if I miss it, it won't be the end of the world.

[sfla99]

I sort of did a purchase at the show this weekend.

I found my PM9 online from a dealer in northern Florida, when I spoke to them about the gun the told they would bring it with them to the West Palm show, so I went to the show to pick it up.

The price was easily $100 less than anything I saw in the entire show, now this was prob due to me finding it on-line, but by having them bring it to the show I was then able to save on the shipping cost, and the FFL fee ;)

Cost me $7 to get into the show and another $5 for the background check.

I then walked and bought some ammo, Hornady stuff that usually sells from around $27 in shop, I picked up for like $18.

I call it a win for me ;)

[popgoestheweasel]

went to a small town gun show recently needing some gun cleaning supplies (lube, maybe even a rifle/shotgun cleaning kit or a bore snake)....and NEVER found ANYTHNG. go figure?

[HadEmAll]

The Saxet shows that cover Texas are first class. I buy 80% of my guns and 50% of my supplies there. The prices for new stuff are generally better than you'll find anywhere else. On line sellers like Bud's may be about the same figuring shipping versus tax, but at the show you can examine the one you're buying, and walk out the door with it.

Of course you'll still find the guy sitting at a small table asking $100 more for a used XYZ than the dealer across the aisle is asking for a new XYZ, but all you've got to do is walk on by.

Cheap entertainment and occasionally you will stumble across that great deal. I also enjoy the miscellany of other gun and non-gun related stuff at the shows.

I've bought all my Kahrs (K40, CW40, PM9, PM40, P380) at the local shows, as Academy, where I generally buy the other 20% of my guns, doesn't ever have any Kahrs on display for some reason. The highest volume dealers at the Saxet shows are always cheaper on handguns than Academy, and much cheaper than Bass Pro, Dicks, and much-much cheaper than any mom and pop gun shop around here.

[TheTman]

I browse Armslist.com for my state often to see if there are any good buys. It's like Craigslist for firearms. No auctions or crap like that.

[ripley16]

I viewed my time there mostly as cheap entertainment

Amen to that. Money is better spent on a gun show than any crap Hollywood puts in a movie these days.

[getsome]

Amen to that ripley, I enjoy looking at all the different types of guns you don't see very often in LGS and I have bought many holsters at gun shows because most gun shops in my area don't stock holsters and I like to see one before I spend a bunch over the internet and find out it just doesn't work for me....I enjoy people watching almost as much as the guns, no telling what you are going to see there...

As for movies, the last 3 I have paid 8 bucks for a ticket and 20 bucks for soft drinks and stale popcorn stunk...Went to see "Drive" which was fair then "Killer Elite" and "Tower Heist" and in both of those the best parts were in the TV comercial...During the previews I noticed they are bringing back the original "Ghost Busters" to the big screen...WTF can't they even think up anything new these days...I'll take a crappy gun show over a crappy movie any day of the week and it's cheaper...

[Diocoles]

Yup, entertainment value. That's about all they are anymore and getting to touch and feel things that you might be interested in.

I skipped the last one in our area cause it was just too boring.
Same stuff and overpriced.
I go just to walk around.
I print out a list of what I'm interested in at home with pricing from various sites. Just stick the list in my pocket.

If they won't meet or beat the price online, I just give a chuckle and keep walking.
Yes, there are a few, repeat FEW exceptions to the rule but most are nuts.

The only good priced items are ammo in bulk. Minimum 1000 rounds.
If you aren't prepared to spend a couple hundred on ammo, you can't get the deals.

My wife likes to buy honey sticks at the show...go figure...

[BillH]

Both are where I prefer to buy FTF. Have purchased several that way and intend to hand down to the kids later. Lately have had to stop carrying cash with me and just go to look, was always finding "another good buy".

[O'Dell]

It seems that there is one every weekend here in Atlanta, and one or two within a few miles of my house. However, I haven't been to one in over a year. The last two or three I attended had nothing that I wanted in my price range. Even the ammo prices can easily be beaten online. I think the last purchase I made was about four or five years ago. It was a like new C9 for $99 that I use for a car gun. I'm lucky that my LGS has very good prices and sometimes a real bargain, if you look closely enough. I can see how the shows might give you a chance to handle a gun you can't find locally, but that's about it.

[LaP]

They're fun to walk around and browse. Besides the wares on the tables, there are usually hundreds of "characters" to observe. I'm always amazed at how popular spandex is with huge motorcycle Mama's.:eek: And some of their front-seat-riding-partners can be smelled halfway out in the parking lot.
Of course, I don't fit into any stereotype, so I just breese by unnoticed by all.:rolleyes:

[DPGreen]

I go once a year to the biggest one because its cheap entertainment.

[Alfonse]

We have two gun shows every month here, one right here in town and another (same group) about an hours away.
Have to be a member to buy guns and usually if your not a member the sellers really don't want you handling their wares anyhow.

Membership includes free admission and parking is always free too, so it is cheap entertainment. One really does need to do their homework on values and stuff. They seem to cater to the unwary who don't do their homework and think they are getting a deal.

Sounds like the WA Arms Collectors (WAC) shows. I've wanted to be on the wet side of the state, and have time to stop in, on one of these for awhile. In the middle of the state, there isn't much inventory to see. It's still on my list...