Gun shows - anyone find them of value?

[pcgunner]

I went to 2 local gun shows this month and at least in my area I've found there are no deals to be had that couldn't be had better, either on the internet or by going to a local shop.

I was hoping to specifically get some brass, bullets and powder and also to try and sell/trade my Taurus Millennium 9mm (PT111) either for cash or trade in.

What I found:

• Prices are better on the internet for brass and bullets as there were only 2 vendors anyway that sold the stuff. The markup was twice the price at the show!

• Powder was so close in price that I'd rather give the business to my local shop

• As far as trading I couldn't get my asking price (was asking $200, but would negotiate to $150 for a trade on a Springfield 1911 A1 .45). In fact, the ones that advertised as buying/trading wouldn't even look at it. Pssh!

I've read others reports of finding good deals at these shows, perhaps it's the area or I'm too specific for what I'm looking for?

Thoughts?

 

[Arik]

Depends on your interests and how narrow they are. I always find something

 

[ralph7]

No, you won't find many "deals" on the gun show tables, most of them are walking in the front door.
That being said, there are deals to be had if you pay attention. I also peruse the tables for accessories, ammo and the like.
It is a form of cheap entertainment that keeps me off the streets.

 

[finesse_r]

You must not have found the special table with all the loopholes for sale. I don't even know what a loophole looks like but they are supposed to be available a gun shows, if you believe the mass media.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Last time I went to a gun show I met a guy who distributes gun powder. We chatted for quite a while. I mentioned that I was just about running out of Win231 and hadn't seen any in a year. He handed me his card and told me to call him during the week. I did. He sold me 8lbs of 231.

The value of a gun show isn't necessarily on the tables. And if nothing else, it's a good way to spend a Saturday morning with one of your shooting pals from the Club.

 

[PatriotX]

It greatly depends on the show, at least in my area.

A few weeks ago, there wasn't anything worth pulling out the wallet. At today's show, I could have sold my truck and not covered the cost of the desirable pieces on display.

 

[Zipdog]

No, you won't find many "deals" on the gun show tables, most of them are walking in the front door.
That being said, there are deals to be had if you pay attention. I also peruse the tables for accessories, ammo and the like.
It is a form of cheap entertainment that keeps me off the streets.

Ralph has it exactly right. I don't even look at any of the tables unless I'm really bored. I don't go to a gun show for anything new. The deals are the guys coming in the front door. I look for young couples. She is there with him to make sure he sells it. She wants to buy something that is worth less than half what they paid the very next day. She will get her way. The guy is screwed.

 

[doublesharp]

I went to a small 75 table show today. Free parking and $6 admission. Spent about an hour and bought a pair of perfect j frame banana target grips for $30. There were many pre lock S&W revolvers and I saw money changing hands.

 

[loknload]

Gun shows are hit or miss and to me they are just something to do on a crummy day!
But I have to admit at some of the bigger, better shows you can usually always find what I call,,,,the deal of the day!

 

[JSR III]

I love gun shows for many of the reasons listed above. I have been doing them for 45 years. Lately, I just cruise the isles and look for the little old guy with boxes and boxes of old junk. Every once in a while, you will be pawing through one of the boxes and there in the corner is something of interest. Underneath the three or four holsters, speed loaders and old boy scout knives is a pair of diamond stocks for a baby chief marked $10. Those are the finds that make my day a real score.

Other than that I just like being in a room full of like minded folk, exercising one part of my second amendment rights and occasionally stopping to chat with some old fella that has been there and done that.

 

[S&W Fan]

I hadn't gone for a long time. Last year I hit the Denver Tanner show and was able to make a good purchase on a no dash 2.5" 686 with it's original box. It had bounced around between dealers but that was it.

Outside of that one deal I haven't seen anything that even approached a fair offering in over 10 years.

 

[TTSH]

I've read others report of finding good deals at these shows, perhaps it's the area or I'm too specific for what I'm looking for? Thoughts?

I'll admit that I'm a gun show junkie. Our MA shows aren't the biggest but I almost always find them worthwhile. Sometimes I score big. Sometimes I score small. Rarely, I go home empty handed... but I still have a good time. It's all about attitude, luck, diligence, negotiating skills... and did I mention luck?

 

[Targets Guy]

I like the local gun show I just went to.

 

[Frank237]

Within the past ten years...and I hit on average 5 shows a year, six at most, I have snagged the following;

3" M-66 $450

4" Combat Magnum, a Pre M-19 built first 25 guns of the series... $450.

4" M-617 NO underlug , around 200 produced. $425

6" 629 early production, 6" P&R LNIB, pres case $800

two 6" K-38's 5 screw guns, both 95+% , one $500 , one $550

3" M-650 Kit Gun, LNIB $600 Note prices on these on GB, $1K and more.

Set of beautiful Fuzzy Farrant grips for a J SQ frame $20

SEVERAL sets of assorted stocks WELL below current market value.

Various boxes, quality holsters, SAT's and other S&W items at silly low prices.

You have to be in the game to score a homerun.

 

[Faulkner]

Gun shows are a good place to go do market research on firearms and other related products. You can actually hold and feel a certain firearm or scope or whatever before you go order it on the internet. If you are informed enough in current price trends you might find a bargain every now and again.

All of my "tell me your best gun show story" situations happened out in the parking lot.

 

[pcgunner]

From the responses it seems you really need to know guns to really benefit from the shows - which I don't.

I reload and shoot and learn what I can when I can (read a lot) - but am far from the knowledge many of you seem to have

 

[JH1951]

In my area the vast majority of gun shows are now cammo, ammo, and Chinese knives. They have gone, for a lack of better words, commercial. There are several promoters that have a show every other week or so with the same people selling the same stuff. There are a few gun shows that are what many of us geezers remember them being decades ago, collectors bringing out their stuff and sometimes willing to rotate stock. I am at the point where the only ones I schedule to attend are the generally smaller ones that are reminiscent of the ones I remember from years ago. I most often have no problem finding more things that I want than I can afford at them. I find the commercial shows today much larger, but quite a waste of time. As mentioned above, there are better deals to be had in a LGS than at most modern commercial gun shows. And yes, some good deals are at the front door with stuff walking in. Locally I find the same guys set up at the entrance to pick off the deals before they get ten steps in. Many shows now 'police' the entrances to prohibit dealing outside. Not saying that is a bad idea, but it does reinforce the thought that the better deals are not within the walls. I thoroughly enjoy the smaller non-commercial shows that are sponsored by a local club or fire house. That is where my heart is, anyway, but large groups still turn out for the big shows assuming they are going to get a deal. And they do get deals, but generally not very good ones.... Just my thoughts..... I am glad I have the experiences afforded to me by the second half of the 20th century. So many were good, and gun shows were one facet of many that reflected well.

 

[s&wchad]

Gun shows - anyone find them of value?

Absolutely...

I attend as many local shows as I can. Go early, take as much cash as you can afford and keep your eyes open.

 

[S42N8]

Gotta agree with JH1951 on the "commercialization" of gun shows. The big ones in these parts are dominated by one business, and features the same supporting cast every time. (At least I can depend on getting my favorite jerky.) The small ones are a box of chocolates, but I've found much better choices (and a sad lack of cheap Chinese knives) at the small shows. There are 2-3 vendors I visit at the big shows, and table-surf the rest. The little shows...many fewer vendors, no jerky, but more quality time to be had. And I found a great retirement gift for one of my coworkers at a small show - a full brick of 1960s vintage Western .22 LR. Didn't cost much more than a brick of modern .22, but my friend and I both shot many a box of that in misspent youth. Good times.

 

[wbraswell]

I went to a local show last weekend, about 200 tables, and scored a 19-3 snubby with funky grips for $425 OTD, and a new ATI Titan FX light weight 1911 compact w/ambi safety for $400 +tax.(Pics will come soon.)
There was a 16-4 4" that looked excellent, they were asking $1000. I don't know what those usually bring.