Haven't been in years. I should attend one this year even if just for a laugh. Prices kinda shocked me even 8 years back and now worse. That $45 Mossberg 22 bought new should not be worth $350 because it ain't made no more. Did get a deal on a pistol cleaning kit at $14 and that was about it.
Another disappointing gun show
- Thread starter Hawg Rider
- Start date
To me a gun show is still a chance to peruse multiple shops in one location rather than spending all kinds of time and gas money roaming the countryside. Plus it's usually a reunion with the people in my clubs.So, don’t give up on attending shows, just adjust expectations and target your shopping preferences… ignore the secondary junk tables and have fun!
pantannojack
US Veteran
I now consider attending a gun show as disloyal to my local shops. They don't charge a door fee and don't disrespect me.
My younger son loves going so I go. We have a good time looking for "broken" or "parts" guns. Then we fix or rebuild them if it can be done safely.
Scored a "parts" 10-7 round butt last time. Bulged barrel 2 squibs in it and the action was locked up, but the cylinder still swung out.
After going through the parts we had at home. The kid decided we should just make a good shooter out of it. She now has new springs, a 10-6 barrel, and wears old pachys. Oh and it shoots great too.
Scored a "parts" 10-7 round butt last time. Bulged barrel 2 squibs in it and the action was locked up, but the cylinder still swung out.
After going through the parts we had at home. The kid decided we should just make a good shooter out of it. She now has new springs, a 10-6 barrel, and wears old pachys. Oh and it shoots great too.
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shil
Member
I began to seriously sour on gun shows years ago when a seller had some 9mm NATO in pristine boxes. He refused to allow me to open the boxes. That should have been the red flag. I gambled and ended up with one box of Remington commercial FMJ and two boxes of obvious reloads. I shot up the Remington and trashed the reloads. Then, crowding became an issue for me. I was uncomfortable examining a potential buy with a half-dozen cretins looking over my shoulders. No more.
I and my buddies have been stung by vendors selling bad and/or unsafe ammo at a gun show. One time I bought some .30-06 that showed signs of overpressure after one round. As I reload, I made some "Mexican Reloads". I pulled the bullets, added a known powder with the appropriate weight and seated the bullet. I remember one buddy who bought some "less lethal" shotgun ammo that when shot never left the barrel. There are always some scammers at gun shows who make folks not want to go back.
I guess you went to the Bossier gun show. I skipped out today, but a buddy went and he said the same thing. He said it was not worth going.
Rustywrench
Member
Last gun show I went to, just about fell over, $17 admission.... Nuts! Last time going to that one.
Month before, was at a smaller show, had a table. Before show opened, another vendor offers me insulting lowball offer on my Garand. I say no. Him, " Well I gotta make some money off it".
Month before, was at a smaller show, had a table. Before show opened, another vendor offers me insulting lowball offer on my Garand. I say no. Him, " Well I gotta make some money off it".
swagmeister
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Nope. Didn't go but have been to many in the past. Don't plan on going to another. The Shreveport show is far worse than Bossier! Won't be going there again either. They have gotten extremely lame in the last several years.
LVSteve
Member
Was at the range one day and a guy was having all kinds of malfunctions with a Garand. I had an 03A3 with me and some boxes of genuine M2 ball. He asked if he could try five in his rifle to see if his problems were ammo related. They were. I shot off three of his rounds that had been sold to him as M2 at a gunshow. Good grief, they were stoked. He gave me some more, but I'll only shoot them in a 1917.
They have a lot of gun shows in Ocala probably not far from where Hawg Rider lives. They had one at The Amory this weekend but I didn't go because the last one there earlier this year was terrible. The only ones that I find worth the time and entrance fee are held at the Ocala live stock market. There you will see plenty of nice older guns not found at your local gun dealer. Always enjoy talking to the sellers at those shows.
YouveHadYour6
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I've generally had good luck with shows, including some in places where people have said in this thread 'good deals don't happen anymore' - for me, maybe it's patience, maybe it's collecting a very wide variety, or maybe it's just being willing to haggle for ten minutes and directly say "No I won't pay that but I will pay this..."
At the Orange County show, a CVQ/CYQ P-38 with a refin was 400 and an excellent shooter, in small Louisiana shows I've picked up a like-new Colt D.S. for 500 and then a Beretta 94b LNIB for 475 at the New Orleans show, AZ shows I've found dozens of Colts and Smiths over the years, and here in Idaho while we get the kitsch sellers there are also plenty of folks to argue about a Mod. 27 or 29 or etc over.
The only thing really gets on my nerves about shows is when someone really wants what you have and tries to 'neg' it to get a better price. I once took in an early postwar Browning Hi Power, excellent shape, planning to hold onto it unless I decided to trade it for something. One fellow stopped me, looked it over in-depth, asked me a second time what I wanted on it, then started shaking his head and trying to nitpick it.
'Nah, I couldn't do that, there's a scratch on the grips here and you've got some holster wear...'
"Okay then, thanks, I'll take that back now."
'Well now I guess I could do maybe 800 because...'
"WHOA - I don't need your BS reasoning and I WILL need my Hi Power back now."
He gave me quite an unhappy look...which then got a bit redfaced as I traded the Hi Power at the table next to his for a boxed Detective Special and 1k in cash...
I still thoroughly enjoy shows though, in the overall.
At the Orange County show, a CVQ/CYQ P-38 with a refin was 400 and an excellent shooter, in small Louisiana shows I've picked up a like-new Colt D.S. for 500 and then a Beretta 94b LNIB for 475 at the New Orleans show, AZ shows I've found dozens of Colts and Smiths over the years, and here in Idaho while we get the kitsch sellers there are also plenty of folks to argue about a Mod. 27 or 29 or etc over.
The only thing really gets on my nerves about shows is when someone really wants what you have and tries to 'neg' it to get a better price. I once took in an early postwar Browning Hi Power, excellent shape, planning to hold onto it unless I decided to trade it for something. One fellow stopped me, looked it over in-depth, asked me a second time what I wanted on it, then started shaking his head and trying to nitpick it.
'Nah, I couldn't do that, there's a scratch on the grips here and you've got some holster wear...'
"Okay then, thanks, I'll take that back now."
'Well now I guess I could do maybe 800 because...'
"WHOA - I don't need your BS reasoning and I WILL need my Hi Power back now."
He gave me quite an unhappy look...which then got a bit redfaced as I traded the Hi Power at the table next to his for a boxed Detective Special and 1k in cash...
I still thoroughly enjoy shows though, in the overall.
Major 2
Member
There are a few good reasons I lost interest in attending Shows.
Foremost, my late running buddy is no longer with us.
Our last show being just pre-covid...
Plastic guns and cheap knives abound... 0 interest there,
Posted PRICES are high. Gate is also up.
There seems to be a show or two every month here in Fla, and the same stuff just different day.
Foremost, my late running buddy is no longer with us.
Our last show being just pre-covid...
Plastic guns and cheap knives abound... 0 interest there,
Posted PRICES are high. Gate is also up.
There seems to be a show or two every month here in Fla, and the same stuff just different day.
dsf
Member
When I go to the Reno gun shows I always hit a few of the local gun stores too. I have my C&R FFL and get to use it with no issues. I tend to buy more at the stores than the shows. Snagged this just recently -
I guess I take a slightly different approach on the gun shows. I get to do a nice drive from SF, CA through the Sierras and most importantly - I'm out of California for a few days, get to hit a buffet and can smoke a cigar in a casino.
I guess I take a slightly different approach on the gun shows. I get to do a nice drive from SF, CA through the Sierras and most importantly - I'm out of California for a few days, get to hit a buffet and can smoke a cigar in a casino.
austintexas
Member
Ok, I haven't had any luck with finding Smiths for my collection the last few weeks. I have picked up 2 Remington 51s (.32 and 380) Two Colt Police positives (.32 New Police and .38 S&W) 1 Makarave (SP) And today a Winchester M-64 which I really didn't need but the price was crazy low.
SWCA 892
SWCA 892
Exmilcop
Member
Up here in the great white north we have a government that is rabidly anti-firearm and consistently legislates more and more restrictive anti-firearm laws and procedures. It's the old "death by a thousand cuts" system and it's severely impacted the local gun shows. There's a vicious cycle at play here. As less vendors show up to pay the $40 table fee, the attendees complain about the $10. entry fee and the lack of vendors. The vendors stop booking tables because of the lack of attendees and the attendees stop coming because of the lack of vendors. Sadly, unless there's some serious changes, gun shows will become a thing of the past, at least here in southern Ontario. The show I was at yesterday was dreadful. Mind you, the table fee is only $25. but about 60% of the tables were empty and it was very poorly attended. I did manage to sell off my buddy's shotgun for peanuts at the very end but I never even made enough to pay my table fee.
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Nowdays I just go to see old friends and shoot the breeze. Most prices are just crazy and forget buying ammo. Last Lakeland Fl. show was very good.
judgecrater
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True but you got to quiz all representative as to their current and future products. They were friendly and interested in your concerns. They were there to resolve any problems you may have had.
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It only takes one gun! To be the perfect gun show.
