My last gun show for a time

No thanks...

I think the gun show I went to in 2008 is probably my last.

It was $5 to get in the door. Inside, there were lots of booths with velvet paintings, glass bead and wire "jewelry", dreamcatcher jee-jaws, and Bubba t-shirts. Past all that stuff, there were lots of beat up, rusty milsurps, a very few interesting items and LOTS of Nazi paraphenalia.

Not for me. Glorifying Nazis? A lot of good people died to stomp them out. Their memory isn't something to be celebrated.

Gun shows had seemed to be going downhill for some time. That was the last straw for me.
 
Glorifying Nazis?

Skoro: I agree that Nazis should not be glorified or celebrated. Nor should they be forgotten, lest that mess should happen again. The same goes for the Japanese, or Italians.
 
I continue to "donate" my admission fee at shows where I usually have a better idea of whats on everyones table than they do themselves.

Only thing that really changes is the prices. If they didn't sell for 3 years for $400....hmmm, "I think I'll try asking $500 and see what happens!" mentality seem to prevail. I swear...same old inventory.

I am starting to worry about myself however.....I'm starting to like those boiled, blue and green tinted hot dogs they sell! I have a feeling they may be older than many of the guns at the shows! :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
i used to love gun shows, went to 3 or 4 a year. you used to be able to pick up bargins in guns and ammo and accessories. it doesn't seem like that anymore. I've been to 2 gun shows in the last 5 years or so. it costs you 8 bucks to park and 15 bucks to get in so you start 23 bucks in the hole when you walk thru the door. the guns are mostly overpriced, new ones are above retail. used guns are sky high like they were rare or something, ammo and accessories are usually higher than store prices. i like sportsmans warehouse now. no parking fees, no admission fees, good sale prices, knowledgeable sales people that will be there next week if you have a problem. scew guns shows.
 
Anyone ever go to the gunshow in San Antonio (Airport convention Center)? Ive been out of the country for a long time, but it used to be a good one. I'll be back fairly soon and Im looking to see if its still worth my time. Thank you.
 
I still like to go to Gun Shows, and I have a good time at them. Back 25 or 30 years ago you could wheel and deal on guns at gun shows. In the last 15 years it seems to me like dealers mark gun up when they take them to a gun show, not down like they used to. When I look at the tag and it is $100 or more too high, I walk on by. Dealers may think this gives them more wiggle room trading. When I see a way over priced tag on a gun, I move on with my looking, they can keep it.

I walk the isles and look. I find a revolver holster, or an old wooden loading block now and again. I find a little brass I can use. Reloading supplies, cleaning media, cast bullets, etc. I buy things, but seldom is it a gun. I have been looking at a Super 14 Contender barrel in 222 Rem for the last 3 years on one dealers table. It is a used barrel that is marked over retail. You would think he would mark it at a fair and reasonable price, and sell it.

Now the other side of the coin. My brother has a like new S&W 4586. This is a commander size DOA S&W in 45acp with 4 new magazines (the 2 extras are $32 ea), and Hogue grips to go with the factory grips (Add another $20 for the Hogue grips). It is As New in the Box. He has been trying to sell or trade it for a Ruger GP100 4" for a couple years at gun shows. Dealers around here want to give him about $300 for it, or less if they have their GP100 way over priced. The guns are only valuable if they own them. The folks walking the isles do not seem to be buying much either. At least not guns.

We are talking about making the Springfield Missouri gun show in August. We will probably take the 4586 with us again. I guess everyone needs to have some trading material.

I am getting to the point that I am looking for more specialty guns anyway. My next one may be a S&W 60 Pro. Not likely to find it except on Gun Broker.

I will keep going to Gun Shows, and I will continue to buy things, just probably not many guns.

See You at the Range

Bob
 
Cheaper than the Movie

The $5 admission is cheaper than a movie and I can stay 10 minutes or 3 hours and not feel like I missed anything. I usually walk away having learned at least something about my favorite hobby. I get to talk to folks with like interests. It is not a total waste, I get some enjoyment from the event. The show I go to is small, but it doesn't cost me much time or money.
 
It's all the other un-related stuff,,,

Like grips, magazines, cases, and sometimes exotic ammo,,,
Those are the reasons I still go to gun shows.

And to get to see/fondle guns that never show up in my small town.

And to smell the gun oil.

And chuckle at dealers trying to sell an LCP for $419.00

And the occasional deal on an older S&W revolver.

Aarond
 
It's sad really. Gunshows have been taken over by promoters who charge so much for a table that there are no deals to be had. I miss the old days.
 
Guns shows were more fun when I was younger and dumber. I'm sitting here wondering, did I change or did the shows? Are they still fun for folks new to our hobby?
 
Knock on wood.

I live in VA and go to a TN(5mins away) gunshow a couple times a year. I have to say the prices you all are saying seems crazy to the prices I see at the ones I go to. In fact I got offered over $550 trade by a dealer there for a Ruger Security Six, I would have traded in a heart beat but dealers can't trade or sell from out of state; I was going to get a good Colt Trooper MKIII and some cash.:mad: Though you can buy/trade from private sells.:D
 
I am a gun show vendor as a private seller. The admission fee covers renting the venue for the show whether it is a pole barn or fair grounds pavillion. It also goes to the organizers to cover expenses in advertising and insurance, etc. The people who run the show "usually" don't get rich from the admission.

I have 2 8' tables for a 1 day show once a month. We're in Northern IL which has been a black hole for gun rights until recently. 49 of 50 states allow concealed carry. Guess which one is "special". The cost for each table is $35 so I spend $70 to set up.

I sell 1911 and BHP parts, mags and grips. I also sell some of my gun collection that I no longer need, for whatever reason. I get to hang with the other vendors and I get to see what's for sale and the asking prices.

Some vendors, like myself, are very aware of Gunbroker and the other big sellers. I try to price close to them because they save on shipping and can touch the items before buying. Many gun show customers come up and offer prices they paid in 1983 for almost anything. Some vendors get tired of guys lowballing and just mark it up to a stupid price. They feel that if someone wants it they'll make a fair offer. I feel this is stupid because it chases away the serious buyers. The seller wants wiggle room. Other guys price to fair market value and move product. It seems, to me, that a large percentage of the vendors look at the gun show as a place to chat with buddies, hang out and talk guns and don't care if they sell or not. If they can sell one over-priced item to cover expenses then they are happy.

To me, it is work. I get up at 4:30 to drive the 1 hour and take 1.5 hours to set up. I'm there to add income to pay bills. I make $3-$4 per part so if I want to cover my rent, gas and expenses I have to sell 25 or so misc parts to cover expenses. If I can make $75 selling a gun then I consider it a good day. I have to say that over half of the people who go to gun shows have no intention of buying anything but take up 90% of your time fondling and taking up space in front of your table while a real buyer can't get to your table to actually buy. They (buyer) gets frustrated and move on. This causes vendors to ask for more because he is selling less. It's an ugly cycle. If you have no intention of buying please look, drool and move on. The guy behind the table wants to feed his family. The over priced blow hards don't care if they sell anything. They want to gossip, visit and be good ole boys. Stand in front of their tables.
 
I only go to gun shows for ammo, the weapons are just too expensive; in fact, I find most brands are cheaper at the local gun stores or on-line at Bud's; however, FFL transfer fees are now min $40.00, must be the price of oil :D
 
Once upon a time, gun shows were great.

Recently, they are aweful, not nearly the selection of yesteryear and the prices are flat out rediculous!

Unless I'm looking for something quite unique that can't be found in a store, I'll pass on the gun shows.
 
Well, the world just keeps changing....mostly in ways I don't approve of. As it is with gunshows. But I do go from time to time and consider it a form of entertainment, rather than as an opportunity to find the deal of a lifetime. Those are snapped up by the dealers before the doors open. You guys did know that, didn't you?

Occasionally I will buy some gun-related item that strikes my fancy...or the oddball elusive part to something I never shoot...and maybe once every twenty shows or so I will actually find gun that is a tad bit underpriced for its value.
 
Those are snapped up by the dealers before the doors open. You guys did know that, didn't you?
Click to expand...

Sad but true, very true. I still say it's a venue for most of the vendors to swap and meet and talk. Selling is optional.
 
TXGunNut said:
Are they still fun for folks new to our hobby?
Click to expand...

I had fun at the last show I went to, outside of the fact that one vendor in particular thought me a sap and tried to get me to make a crummy trade.

I view shows a place for me to do some research. I can read about specs and such as much as I want online but until I go to a show, it's all just "book learnin'." When I get to a show with every kind of gun I'm interested in holding, that book learnin' goes to a sort of experiential learning. I can figure out which guns fit my hand or my shoulder best with--from my limited experience--a selection that's bigger than most of my local gun shops.

As a new reloader, I went to the most recent show for reloading supplies: cases, bullets, primers, dies. I ran in to several vendors selling reloading supplies that gave me unsolicited advice that I'm sure I would have eventually learned on my own but instead I received those lessons earlier.

I saw what seemed to me to be moderate deals on some guns, but as I'm still learning about what exactly I want and need, I didn't feel comfortable enough negotiating to a purchase. I saw lots of gear (belts, holsters, and the like), lots of books and manuals (picked up a few), and enough friendly vendors that I'd hit the next gun show in town. Thankfully, admission is only $5.00 and the parking is free.

Fish
 
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