How I failed to get into my first gun show (Del Mar, CA)

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WebleyBloke

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That would be yesterday's Crossroads of the West show in Del Mar, CA - about half an hour north of San Diego. In the absence of traffic I can drive it in 15-20 min from where I live (about 10 miles to the east). It took me 1 1/2 hrs to get to the parking lot, where I was told that the wait to get tickets and get in there was about 2 hours. I parked anyway in case this wasn't true but it was. I decided to bail, but not immediately.

Disappointing, but I spoke to a few people waiting in the line (I was standing outside of it) and to a security guy, who said he's never seen anything like it in all his years on the job.

People were coming out with boxes of ammo like crazy. I helped a guy walk back to his car with some heavy boxes.

Well I'll try again when it isn't so crazy, either here or in Orange County. Still, I had a good time hanging around the line for over an hour talking to some very knowledgeable and interesting guys. I'm interested in a WW1 rifle, a Mauser or a Lee Enfield, and was hoping to discuss it with some dealers. I also just want to learn more about shooters and shooting here in sunny San Diego.

The crowd was 2 or 3 times normal apparently.
 
From what I understand, gun shows are kinda going crazy all over. I know the ones around here have been packed, and I don't think The Craziness isn't as bad here as it is in other places.

Don't give up. Maybe stuff is overpriced at gun shows, but I still enjoy them. It's a great place to get the chance to handle 137 different handguns, if you're trying to decide what's best for you (for example).
 
Thanks for that, it encourages me to go to this one - or another one - another time. I was told that the show in Orange County (forget the name ...) about a month ago was also very busy. I will definitely buy the ticket on line ahead of time. I'm told that this way you can usually get in quickly. But yesterday there was no advantage to having a ticket before arriving, at least in the morning.

I used to shoot regularly with a friend in NJ in the 90's but since coming here to SoCal have only shot a few times on my own - don't know another active shooter. I guess I'll meet some at the show :). Shooting is not something any of my family or current friends do, on the contrary.
 
That's one of the other advantages of gun shows: you get to meet other shooters. I know enough shooters that I actually bump into them at shows. Just go ahead and build in enough time that you won't feel rushed, and you can stand around and shoot the bull, as it were. If you don't know where to go shoot, take the time to ask. I think that you'll find most shooters are more than willing to share the information on where "the good spots" are.
 
Sometimes the best part about hunting isn't the hunting at all, it's the time spent with other hunters.

I equate that to gunshows as well.

And heck, sometimes it's fun to go just to look at, and occassionally fondle obscure pieces of firearms history, assuming you ask permission and aren't getting in the way of paying customers.
 
Are there any large gun shops with indoor ranges, in your area?
If so, there might be activities within.
Maybe regular matches or get-togethers, in the evenings or something.
As good a place as any to find other shooters.
 
OK so I'm giving the Crossroads of the West (Del Mar) another attempt this coming weekend.

Any advice as to which day is better (Sat or Sun), and what time is best, to avoid the madding crowd?

Maybe I'll ride a motorbike to it this time. At least that way I can slip past the jam on the way there. I have my ticket already so at least won't have to queue for that.
 
The last couple of times I've gone, they weren't really that busy. I like to go opening day kind of early to find ammo. That's when I'll be going to this one. If you want to avoid crowds though, late closing day is always best.
 
I have gotten more and more fed up with the gun shows. First, you drive a ways, pay for parking, pay for admission and then all of the sellers are FFLs selling at full retail plus tax and do not negotiate. Might as well go to the local gun shop who at least gives me a 5% discount. No deals to be had unless you trade with others walking around the show. Even a small discount goes a long way to getting my loyalty and I think I bought 5 guns from him this year already. He even threw in some .22 ammo and sold me more out of his stash for "regulars" and it was not priced like gold.

Anyone with ammo thinks its made of gold so no deals there either. Only up side I guess is that you can find items that many shops are sold out of IF you really need to buy them. However, still priced as if gold.
 
I was up early one day last year. I figured I'd see if I could sneak in Cabelas early before work. I saw something in the ad I wanted. It happened to be a " door buster" sale day. As I was in the parking lot, contemplating what I had done, I decided that I'd rather pay more and not deal with line, the wait, and worse - the crowd.
Point being you may not have missed anything but over priced stuff and paniced buying.
 
As to your question about which day to go to the show, if you are in a high ticket buying mode for a gun, etc, sometimes..... and I mean only sometimes folks are willing to deal on Sunday afternoon. When faced with the choice of packing the item up and taking it back home or working a deal, deals can be made. Don't expect any negotiation early in the show.

I often find that early in the shows there are plenty of criminals (usually dragging their girlfriends to fill out paperwork) willing to pay the full asking price.
 
I often find that early in the shows there are plenty of criminals (usually dragging their girlfriends to fill out paperwork) willing to pay the full asking price.
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Unlikely at best, and very unwise to say with all of the heat on gun owners already.
 
I love gun shows. Sure they can be crowded. Sure you will find many things stupidly priced. Sure, there are lots of beef-jerky and toy tables. And 95% of the dealers sell the same old same old.

But, I always manage to find at least 2-3 really interesting guns at most shows where the seller doesn't act like its made of Platinum. And, this is on top of accessories, ammo, and knives that I sometimes purchase. Also, I get to check out the latest and greatest stuff manufactures are turning out. But, what really makes a good gun show for me is to see 2-3 guns that make me go "Oh, yeah, I'd like that at the right price".
 
I often find that early in the shows there are plenty of criminals (usually dragging their girlfriends to fill out paperwork) willing to pay the full asking price.
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Hmmm. I've never noticed anyone wearing an "I'M A FELON" sign at a gun show. :rolleyes:
 
Louisiana resident here.

What do you mean 'couldnt get in' ? I have never seen a gun show that wouldnt let everyone in... Most of the time here they are held in huge convention centers.
 
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I often find that early in the shows there are plenty of criminals (usually dragging their girlfriends to fill out paperwork) willing to pay the full asking price.
Hmmm. I've never noticed anyone wearing an "I'M A FELON" sign at a gun show.
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I actually think this is correct. It's the only possibility that makes sense. Why would ANYONE pay the absurd prices for guns at guns shows when (if you can pass a background check) the same guns can be purchased from LGS's or gunbroker. I've thought, for a long time, that it is mostly people who can't legally purchase firearms buying them at gun shows. The only other option, is that there really are that many people who will buy guns 1) seemingly without any idea of what they are worth or 2) without batting an eye at absurdly marked up prices.

I also assume that basically every 3rd person wandering around gunshows are BATFE, FBI, and Homeland, all keeping a close eye on mostly each other (as they are usually the more radical looking types).

Edit-this might be just here in NV, but gunshows are just FTF transfers, only requiring a drivers license or proof of residency. No paperwork involved.
 
What do you mean 'couldnt get in' ? I have never seen a gun show that wouldnt let everyone in
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Last year the number of people attending the local smaller venue gunshows here were so large, that due to fire regulations, only so many people could be in the building at a time. You could end up waiting a long time before getting in.

this might be just here in NV, but gunshows are just FTF transfers, only requiring a drivers license or proof of residency. No paperwork involved.
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Only for private sales between individuals. Buying from an FFL still requires a 4473. Around here most of the vendors at the shows are FFL's.

Jim
 
First, most gunshow prices I see from legit dealers on new guns = gunbroker + $30 shipping and tax. You save on the FFL fee, so it washes out the tax. In fact, many have Ipads to check out gunbroker prices.

Second, while I see a few "criminal types" walking around looking at guns (mostly high points - sorry, this is true), I rarely, if ever, see any of them actually buy anything. Just regular folks actually buying stuff.

Third, there are lots of paranoid jokers at gun shows who think anyone with short hair, no tats, wearing an Izod knit shirt tucked into their shorts with a belt, is an undercover BATFE agent. Well, that's me, and I am not a BATFE agent!!!
 
I actually think this is correct. It's the only possibility that makes sense. Why would ANYONE pay the absurd prices for guns at guns shows when (if you can pass a background check) the same guns can be purchased from LGS's or gunbroker. I've thought, for a long time, that it is mostly people who can't legally purchase firearms buying them at gun shows. The only other option, is that there really are that many people who will buy guns 1) seemingly without any idea of what they are worth or 2) without batting an eye at absurdly marked up prices.
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I would disagree that ALL the prices are absurd. A good number of the dealer tables at the shows in my area ARE the LGS's, going to the show allows you to comparison shop without driving all over town. You might be able to get a better deal on Gunbroker (although a lot of them are grossly overpriced as well) but you are taking a risk buying something without having it in your hand to insure that it is as advertised. Plus there is the additional cost of transfer fees and shipping. You can sometimes get real deals from the private sellers at the shows. There are also a lot of people that just have to have the newest gun, don't want to wait, and will pay above MSRP so they can get it NOW.

Why would a FFL risk his livelihood facilitating straw purchases at a gun show any more than he would at a LGS?
 
Thanks for all the replies. I've been wanting to go to a gun show for years and I'll definitely give it another shot, probably tomorrow (Sat) morning. If it's shaping up to be another fiasco (huge traffic jam on the way to the racetrack, long line to get in the building), I'll just bail out and try again on Sunday - maybe later in the day as someone suggested.

If I see some 22LR I'll probably buy it - no availability around here for a long time. I won't be buying a gun. But more than anything I just want to look around, talk to people and get back into the scene a bit - as well as do my part to keep this show in Del Mar.
 
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