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Back in the mid 80s I used to go to a gun show every weekend almost. If for no other reason to look at the tables like a museum. I used to find a lot of deals. I quit going because they have gotten way too expensive up to 10 bucks just to walk in as a customer, then the vendors are so high and many are rude I decided I can do way better buying on line. How many of you still go to gun shows? Much of what I see is people who are trying to cash in on gun and ammo buyers. Couple that with more and more of the GS letting in jewelry and other garbage not really related to guns and ammo I just gave up on them.
The last GS I went to had one vendor who was actually selling like I used to remember. It was one older man who had a lot of guns, and he was marking them up about 10 percent. His table was busy, but Its hard to spend 10 bucks to go to a show where there may be one or two or no tables where vendors sell with a small mark up. Many of the tables I started to see were the same rip off artists from many pawn shops in the area, and some of the not so good gun shops who marked up 50 percent or more. Any way just wanted to know what some of you think about GS in todays market.
I've pretty much filled out my list, I do have one or two Brownings I keep an eye out for but nothing raging.
A funny (?) story. The local volunteer Fire Department used to have a semi-annual Gun Bash, not really a show, where there were a lot of guns, many of which would be raffled, and food. Well, a couple years ago some of the newer residents started to **** and moan about it (of course, none of them would go to it or even send a donation during the annual appeal) and the name had to be changed to Sportsmen's Bash.
The Department also had been having a very successful Turkey Shoot which got shut down over noise complaints.
I go once or twice a year here in CA. I am pretty much done with CA shows. I am going to check out the BIG Reno gun show in 5 weeks and see if it is any good.
The gun shows are not as good as they used to be. More ebay sellers with Chinese junk for sale, tables of firearms that are so over priced they will never sell. Ammo sellers raping buyers with over priced boxes.
I go once or twice a year here in CA. I am pretty much done with CA shows. I am going to check out the BIG Reno gun show in 5 weeks and see if it is any good.
The gun shows are not as good as they used to be. More ebay sellers with Chinese junk for sale, tables of firearms that are so over priced they will never sell. Ammo sellers raping buyers with over priced boxes.
Thats what I found. I get better deals searching the web.
Back in the mid 80s I used to go to a gun show every weekend almost. If for no other reason to look at the tables like a museum. I used to find a lot of deals. I quit going because they have gotten way too expensive up to 10 bucks just to walk in as a customer, then the vendors are so high and many are rude I decided I can do way better buying on line. How many of you still go to gun shows? Much of what I see is people who are trying to cash in on gun and ammo buyers. Couple that with more and more of the GS letting in jewelry and other garbage not really related to guns and ammo I just gave up on them.
+1. My husband and I went to a lot of gun shows after we first got married five years ago. We live in a very large city, so they happen often. We got occasional deals, but we never bought any guns, only gun accessories. I got a speed loader for my 9mm for much less than the gun store. We also got a couple of holsters and ammo. I also get annoyed by all the non gun related booths at gun shows. I don't want to pay a $10 admission fee to look at cheap flea market jewelry. We own all the guns we really want now, and we've given up on finding .22 ammo, so there's no point in going to gun shows, IMO.
At this point, you're not paying the admission for great deals so much as huge selection.
Want to check out a Sig, but there's no dealer in town? Pistol guy halfway down has got P226s on display. Need mags for your Astra? Gun parts guy has one in the case. LGS run out of IMR4895 with no timetable for when it'll be back in stock? Lady running the reloading supply table has got not only cans, but jugs of the stuff.
And ammo? Out here where it's usually dominated by big-box retailers, those gun shows were the only thing bringing ammo to town in any real quantity for much of the last year.
The last time I saw .22lr was at a gun show. It was EVERYWHERE in fact, and it wasn't all crap either. When the panic got so bad that even 38 Special wasn't around anywhere, a guy from a gun store up in the mountains had a booth with cases of it. He made money off of me that day.
Granted it was all a little more expensive than I've been used to seeing, but what would you rather see-ammo at $22 per box, or bare shelves at $19? When it's either pay up and shoot a little less than you want or not go shooting at all with your kid for a year or more, what are you going to do? Sometimes, just getting ammo IS the deal.
After the ammo comes all the way back, I'm not so sure I'll go as often as I do, but until then, it's one of the reasons I can still go shooting.
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