My last gun show for a time

I guess I should consider myself lucky to be in the DFW area. Gun shows here can be a mixed bag, but there are a few that are worth attending.

At the larger shows, selection and prices are pretty good. Prices at the largest dealers are much better than what are found at local gun shops. But, some others have prices that are so ridiculous I wonder if they ever sell anything.

I have seen new Hi Powers at the gun shows for $700. Same gun in local gun shops is priced around $900. I have seen similar pricing for Sigs.
 
I went to a gun show today in Ft. Worth and walked out with a S&W M&P 15-22 for under $400. No freight or FFL fee, but I did have to pay sales tax.

I use Bud's as a litmus test ... and Bud's for the same model, was $435 with free shipping ... but still had the transfer fee.

22LR ammo was $20/500 rounds and my local Wal-Mart has the same thing for $14.97.

So it is a mixed bag ...
 
Hahaha, one time I went, they had 380 autos(believe it was keltec) listed as "NEW" they had about 5 of them and they all had bad wear marks and abused/used look to them. Either they where trying to sell to some sucker or they where bad from factory...:eek: They where over priced too, believe $260 lol.
 
I don't know. I bought 2 of my 3 handguns from local gun shows in the last year and a half and they were only $20-$50 more than I saw them for on gunbroker around the time I got each of them, which I'll gladly pay to be able to check them out in person (especially since both were used). What I'd really like to see at the shows here though is a wider variety of ammunition and better deals on it.
 
I bought my last two handguns at gun shows. It is possible to find good prices, but you have to do your research before hand and decide what the top price you are willing to pay before going.

It it possible to find honest sellers at gun shows, but they are rare.
 
Last several shows have been a waste of time.The surplus arms market seems to have dried up.Friend that has been going cant even find the CZ-82 that he wants,nor a Yugo Tok.And it looks like the venders are still trying to ride the Obama scare wagon.It's nice to be able to look over the firearm you want,but it's cheaper to order from one of the gun houses and roll the dice.
 
I came away from my last gun show wondering if the guys there had ever heard of gunbroker.
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I hit a bunch of gun and pawn shops in my area over the last few days and came away thinking the same thing about most of them. Either that or they've never heard of Aimsurplus, Classic Arms, J&G, Summit Gun Broker and Buds.

Here is a sample of some of the BS I saw:

- Used S&W Model 10-8 4", 90%: $470

(I can get a 10-7 from J&G for $280, with shipping and FFL fee ... and NO sales tax)

- Used Ruger Single Six (new model) 22 lr / 22mag: $675 :mad:
- New Sig P226, $1000 :eek: (unfricken believable)
- Mosin Nagant M91/30: $200 (Aim's got 'em for $79.95)
- Used 4" S&W Model 19: $700
- Used 6" S&W 686-5 (MIM parts, but no lock): $700
- Used S&W 37: $550
- New Ruger SP101, 38 Special: $600 (no CT laser grips)
- New Rock Island 1911 (GI style): $750
- Mix master M-1 Carbine in TERRIBLE shape (dark, pitted bore): $1,000

I guess these shops just love their guns or something :confused: ?


OTH, my dad picked up a NIB S&W 442 for $299, including the $50 mail in rebate and one of the best shops in my area.
 
I also live in the DFW area, and believe we are fortunate to have at least three recurring ones as well as a few sporadic ones. I hit some of them and have found some good deals.

Since I started handloading I look for brass, primers, lead and powder, as well as reloading accessories. In the last three years I have seen three Dillon 550s for ~$200 each (and bought one of them).

My favorite 1911-smith attends the Fort Worth shows, and I dropped off my problem child 10mm DW CBOB with him last weekend. He lives ~75 miles from me, so it is more convenient to meet him at the gun show...
 
I think gun shows attract those kinds of gun nuts, the guys who have it bad and are more than willing to pay 5 bucks to get their fix. They go there hoping to see the most exotic and rare firearms, but even if that doesn't happen they still get to touch and smell a lot of guns..
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Yep, that's pretty much me. :o I've attended hundreds of gun shows over the past sixty or so years and I still love to go to them. Yeah, the "deals" aren't what they used to be (what is?) and some shows are lots better than others, but guns (all kinds) have always been a source of fascination for me and gun shows help assuage my addiction. Plus, I generally go with a fellow firearm aficionado friend or two and I always enjoy the socialization that goes along on the rides down and back and at the breakfasts before the shows and at the dinners/suppers afterwards.

For those who always feel taken advantage of or who are perpetually disappointed with gun shows, your solution seems clear: don't go anymore, I guess. But, I think if you would lessen your expectations somewhat and lighten up a wee bit on your negativism, you might come to enjoy gun shows a little more, even to the point of looking forward to them, as I do. :)
 
I am with BBQCIGARS, we must have a pretty decent gun shows here in Iowa. I have picked up some really great deals at them. The most recent was a Colt SAA, unfired in the box, 45 ca, 3rd gen, for $950. a guy had bought it and traded it in on something else. The dealer wanted to move it. At that price, I was grinning all the way to the truck, especially sine I had been looking for one for 6 months. I have a buddy that is a gun buyer for one of the large chains and he goes to the Tulsa show and buys 30 to 40 guns each time, at what he considers "good deals" I want to go down to that one just to experience it. 10 acres under roof of guns and related. That would be one time I would have to make sure and leave the credit card at home.
 
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TXGunNut; I'm with you on the concealed weapon rules at gun shows. The one that occurs in Jacksonville has "not too friendly" cops working the doors, steadily announcing no "loaded weapons", even if you have a license.

Makes no sense to me, as I figure such an event would be a haven for the pro-gun citizen. Instead, its one of the worst.

As for deals there, it depends. They all start high, but most will bargain down except on some very popular models. Most of the dealers have great attitudes and are more than helpful, even when you're not buying.
 
My SOP.....

IF (and that is a big if) I do decide to hit one of the local ones here in Bama, I only go on Sunday - and late in the afternoon if possible - as it seems the dealers that do want to move guns are much more negotiable then.

J
 
dgludwig said:
Yep, that's pretty much me. I've attended hundreds of gun shows over the past sixty or so years and I still love to go to them. Yeah, the "deals" aren't what they used to be (what is?) and some shows are lots better than others, but guns (all kinds) have always been a source of fascination for me and gun shows help assuage my addiction. Plus, I generally go with a fellow firearm aficionado friend or two and I always enjoy the socialization that goes along on the rides down and back and at the breakfasts before the shows and at the dinners/suppers afterwards.

For those who always feel taken advantage of or who are perpetually disappointed with gun shows, your solution seems clear: don't go anymore, I guess. But, I think if you would lessen your expectations somewhat and lighten up a wee bit on your negativism, you might come to enjoy gun shows a little more, even to the point of looking forward to them, as I do.
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x2! I don't go to the shows in expectations of buying a new gun, but rather to look, fondle and haggle. If I buy one, great, if not, cool. I'll buy a pretzel and a beer (if available), diet coke if not, and waste a few hours. Yeah, it costs $6-10 a person, but there is always free swag, and no telling what you may or may not walk away with.
 
The last one I went to had really good deals. Of course that was on Beef Jerky and paintball crap. .223 by Wolf as far as the eye could see too. I never went back!:(
 
I don't go to guns shows for guns anymore. The guns typically on offer are anything I've been looking for is typically either A) not there B) halariously overpriced. I still do like going for accessories or odd bits that are typically to much trouble to bother searching the internet for. Oh yeah, I'll grab the odd book now and again. I've found reloading supplies to be a hit or miss proposition. Mostly miss. More often than not the whole thing feels like a ridiculous parody of a yard sale.
The $4.50 hot dogs are usually decent.
 
I usually go.

When there is one in my town I usually try to go to support the event. I rarely buy anything other than a bumper sticker or two. The sellers rarely will come down to the price that I can walk across the street to the lgs and buy it for at any time brand new. I never found a good deal on anything I wanted. We only have 1 or 2 shows a year here and there's not that much other entertainment that I care for in this town. If I can get it for the same price or less or only slightly more at the lgs, I am going to support them but I do enjoy looking at stuff I don't see very often. I go to yard sales pretty often, too.
 
Yep, that's pretty much me. I've attended hundreds of gun shows over the past sixty or so years and I still love to go to them. Yeah, the "deals" aren't what they used to be (what is?) and some shows are lots better than others, but guns (all kinds) have always been a source of fascination for me and gun shows help assuage my addiction. Plus, I generally go with a fellow firearm aficionado friend or two and I always enjoy the socialization that goes along on the rides down and back and at the breakfasts before the shows and at the dinners/suppers afterwards.

For those who always feel taken advantage of or who are perpetually disappointed with gun shows, your solution seems clear: don't go anymore, I guess. But, I think if you would lessen your expectations somewhat and lighten up a wee bit on your negativism, you might come to enjoy gun shows a little more, even to the point of looking forward to them, as I do.
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X 3 I have always enjoyed going to gun shows for just the reasons mentioned here. My son and I go now and we have a great time even if we buy nothing but entrance to the show. Everyone has there reasons for going and I say if they don't meet your expectations, don't go...and I certainly understand that.
 
I've pretty much have had the same experience . . . I walk out wondering why I spent $8 - $10 to go when everything is so overpriced. I'm not against a guy making a profit - but as one gentleman said . . . do they ever look to see what the same makes/models are selling for on GB and such?

The last couple I've been to were about 50% guns and the rest jerky, t-shirts, paint-ball, etc. I've come to the conclusion that a lot of gun shows are becoming more of a "social event" for the sellers and attendees . . . nothing wrong with that . . . I just don't want to pay an entry charge to do nothing but talk and look at guns - I can stay home and talk with the wife and look at guns on the internet.

In regards to prices . . . I winter in AZ and have been to a number of gun shops in the Tucson area . . . some nice shops with good inventory and competitive prices. I went to one hole in the wall off the beaten path though that even surprised me, which doesn't happen too often. The guy and some nice handguns and long guns . . . all priced about three times what you could get them for anyplace else. I looked at a few and after asking questions, etc., finally got frustrated and started to walk out. The owner asked me why I was leaving and wasn't I going to buy anything . . . I told him I'd come back when he had everything at 50% off which would drop the prices he had on them to the manufacturer's suggested retail price.

In my own humble opinion, the economy has affected everything - including gun prices (used). I liquidated some longarms a while ago and I'm sorry folks, the demand just isn't what it was nor are the prices. There is still money out there and folks who can buy whatever they want . . . but most folks have to watch their pennies and think long and hard before they add a new one to their collection.
 
Tanner

Been to a couple of Tanner shows here in the Denver area and they are great for handling lots of different guns. Some good deals to be had, some not so much, you just have to have some knowledge about what you are looking for and how much it should cost. Handled my first Glocks at one a year or so ago and the G19 was like a glove. Asking $600 at the show for the Gen 4. Didn't buy it because I knew nothing about it other than I liked the way it fit. Bought at a gunstore a few months later for about $60 less. Not a huge deal and maybe I could have made an offer at the gun show...

Later at the same show my buddy put his finger on the front of my shirt. I looked down to see why the heck the sudden interest in my shirt and there was a little red laser dot moving around my COM. Some jackwagon across the exhibit hall playing with a laser sight attached to some kind of weapon, I presume.
 
you've obviously never been to the Tulsa Gun Show. Takes about 6 hours just to walk each aisle from one end to another.
 
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