gun show strategy

S

sixteenacrewood

New member
I am thinking of hitting the next gun show and see if I can find another Carcano model 38 that has not been sporterized (i hate that word). I also want a carbine as well.

do you go early the first day or late the second day? Do you have a stratigy or just go when ever you have the time.

I can't go both days and my work load means I need to think in advance and schedule an optimum time to increase my odds of finding what I want and get as good a deal as possable. I know I should wait till the latest panic is over or at least subsided a bit.
there is one coming up in March I may go to.

or do you thing the online gun auctions offer better deals than a gun show.
 
good deals rarely happen at the tables, they happen at the guys roaming around with a gun on their shoulders, they will be the heaviest about midmorning on the first day, the best time to catch the tables is about noon on the second day when people are starting to pack up and you give them the choice of a good deal or packing it back up and taking the chance of being stuck with it for a few more months.
 
I have been going to gun shows since my early 20's..and this is longer ago than I wanna admit....There are always deals from folks bringing in guns and carrying em around....Many dealers hit them up shortly sfter they come in the door....I like to be there the first day..early....I wanna see everything....I hate it when stuff is picked over....I have been to gun shows and felt like it was a total bust..other times I loaded up....New guns at wholesale is good....Accessories are good....Found deals on knives and such too.....
 
We have a show close by this Sat...but I don't think that I am up to fighting the crowd this time. However, I normally like to arrive early to see what is there before it is picked over.
 
I like to get there early and stay as long as possible. Don't count on anything worth getting being around at the end of the show.
 
Finding what you want, and getting as good a deal as possible, are pretty much mutually exclusive.

If you are there early on the first day, you'll have the best selection, and you can grab anything you're after before someone else snags it, but you likely won't have much bargaining power.

If you are there late on the last day, you'll have the best bargaining power, but the selection won't be very good, and what you're looking for has probably already been snatched up.

If there is something specific I'm looking for, I go early.
If I am just looking for a bargain, I go late.
 
My gun show strategy: get there early the first day, find what you are looking for, then leave. Most of the good stuff is gone by lunch the first day.
 
Since this forum relates to C&Rs, you will find used foreign military rifles are slow sellers. Having said that, I want to make a clear distinction between foreign and US military C&R rifles, which can have a more robust sales. I have been to gunshows in quite a few states and this seems to be the general trend. You can find some great prices on milsurps, much better deals for the most part than the auction sites. Carcanos especially.
 
My gun show strategy: get there early the first day, find what you are looking for, then leave. Most of the good stuff is gone by lunch the first day.
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This.....
 
Good advise, Thanks
I havn't been to a gun show before, besides living out in the middle of nowhere, my taste in firearms has been basic and utilitarian until getting this little Carcano. I did not expect to get so hooked on these older eu rifles.
This is like combining a love of hot rods, antique furniture, woodworking, and hunting, all my favorite things!

Chiefr, thanks for the advise, I am much more interested in the foreign military rifles, and somehow find the Carcanos very appealing. I think it will make a perfect deer/hog gun.

I may risk going late the second day in hopes of finding a decent inexpensive parts gun.

What is another moderate recoil, 100+/- yard, nice style, fun shooter to research? I should probably post this in another thread...

Thanks again
Stephen
 
most C&R bolt actions are good well past 100 yards. mosin nagants and enfields have the poorest reputation for accuracy but enfields have a great, smooth action and the number 4s are very well balanced. if you can find one for under $300, a enfield number 4(the ones marked us property have a little better reputation for accuracy) or a french MAS36 would be excellent shooters. others that don't have a great repuation for accuracy but are still able to find for under $300 are Japanese arisakas type38(6.5x50mm) and type 99(7.7x58mm), the ammo is harder to find but not impossible, the 7.7 is easier to get but the 6.5 is no harder than 6.5 carcano.
 
My stratagy is don't go. I've been to two this year. There are no deals on guns or ammo. Most of my favorite vendors are not there because they have no product to sell. There are plenty of belts, jewelry, Tshirts, books and knives.
 
At gun show today, small town local show, there were not less than 300 people in line out in the rain, between 9AM and Noon, waiting to get in. The hall held about 400 folks, so I'll bet 1,000 people came and went in the first 3 or 4 hours. There were no deals to be had, a seller's market. The gougers were being left sitting with their goods, but the others were doing well. I don't expect much deal-making on Sunday, they'll just wait for the next show. Demand is tremendously high. Stocks were low, if you wanted an SKS, there were about 5 to choose from, high-cap mags were not plentiful, and surplus ammo was pitiful. AR types were $2000-$2600, a few of them were moving, but not quickly.

I snagged some Garand clips, a Remington Model 700 in left hand action, and several collectible ammo boxes. Milsurps were just a few. Two women bought the only two M1 Carbines in the place, good for them.
 
I do not go to gun shows very often. I know prices will be above market value of most every gun on a dealer's table. I have a rule for myself in that I will not take more money than I can spend. I have paid over market value for a few guns at the shows. Those have been the ones that are hard to find here at local stores.

One thing I do is to check the local stores before going to a show. I get a better idea of what the local market is on items I would be tempted to buy at a show. Most times when I am at a gun show is due to crappy weather so shooting for that day is out, and I am bores so I will go to a show to look around. Once in a blue moon I actualy find a real good deal. Most times I do not.
 
Myself I always liked the smaller shows. Maybe not as many guns on the tables but dealers seemed to deal. Plus always went outside to see what goodies the guys & gals brought to sell.

Ken
 
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