3 day Gun Show, When to go?
- Thread starter Yendor357
- Start date
Saturday the most people are usually at a show. It’s good time to pick up a good deal from public. Not so much dealers, their gambling on getting their tag price. I like to go on Sundays. Crowds thin towards closing time and dealers more apt to cut deals. If they haven’t done to well the deals get better. The public’s chances of selling or trading are less late Sunday after lunch crowd passes through. So they are often cutting good deals too.
You should always tell people to go Sunday. So you can go yourself on Friday and get the deals before everyone else.
That’s a sipowicz quote
I probably hit a dozen shows a year, maybe twenty. I've gone all hours. I've never really noticed a significant difference in deals based on time. Yes, the good stuff is there early, but in my experience the really good stuff sells before the doors open. Dealers do a fair amount of swapping among themselves.
My preferred time in Sunday morning because that is usually the smallest crowd. Easier to navigate, easier to talk to the dealers (I know most of them anymore).
I don't go looking for a specific item. I learned long ago that strategy never works. I look for things I'm interested in and I'm looking for the "deal". I know most of the dealers, for the most part I know their pricing strategy. I know who will negotiate, I know who won't. The circuit is still strong in Iowa, a majority of the stuff I buy comes from the shows.
My preferred time in Sunday morning because that is usually the smallest crowd. Easier to navigate, easier to talk to the dealers (I know most of them anymore).
I don't go looking for a specific item. I learned long ago that strategy never works. I look for things I'm interested in and I'm looking for the "deal". I know most of the dealers, for the most part I know their pricing strategy. I know who will negotiate, I know who won't. The circuit is still strong in Iowa, a majority of the stuff I buy comes from the shows.
ggibson511960
Member
I've travelled to the Tulsa show a few times. Always an interesting experience, especially when combined with a short trek to the J.M. Davis museum in Claremore. The lobbies of local motels are hot spots. Years ago I gook a sizeable cache of WW II German stuff and a Python to peddle at the show. A trader I met in the lobby begged me to see the stuff and made a cash offer I couldn't turn down. A kept a couple of pieces just to have fun walking around. Having a collectible piece hanging out of your hip pocket is a conversation starter, much fun. Haven't been in a few years and the local shows here in South Texas are mostly junk compared to the big shows. Finding really good deals is a matter of chance, but that's the fun. I can understand the dealers who buy a table and lay out overpriced stuff that won't move, simply to converse with like minded tire kickers.
bananaman
Member
Never had shows in my area that had a Friday show. Now there is 1 not that far that has Friday open. Just a creature of habit & go Saturday at opening. Used to go back on Sundays at 1 time if felt unfulfilled. (do miss a Jerky selection though) Bob
three50seven
Member
I've been to the 1500 several times, and I just don't understand the appeal. Pay to park, high entry fee, high prices, and huge crowds. IMO, support your local promoters and hobby dealers and go to the small local shows. We have a few shows up here in the northern half of the state that are put on by the F.O.P. and other organizations, and are typically held at the 4H fairgrounds or similar places. Lots of familiar faces and usually a deal or two to be found.
Biggest show around here is the Chantilly show near DC in Virginia, advertised as 3000 tables. Being in a very affluent area prices tended to be higher than I like but I would get there Saturday an hour early, many times first in line, even in winter. Then I could watch the attendees congregate and spot out potential private sales that interested me. Many buys over the years and the private sales were more reasonably priced.
One time I grabbed virtually a trunk load (Cadillac) of ammo, powder and other reloading supplies for $300 total. I think it was 15 pounds of powder alone and the rear end of that Caddy was dragging low due to the total weight of all the factory ammo and components.
I had lot of Finnish military rifles and I used to grab the spam cans of 44 rounds of ammo and break it all down to the components, Pop the primers and use my boxer primed brass to load them non corrosively. I think 440 rounds was $39.95 back then 7.62X54R.
One time I grabbed virtually a trunk load (Cadillac) of ammo, powder and other reloading supplies for $300 total. I think it was 15 pounds of powder alone and the rear end of that Caddy was dragging low due to the total weight of all the factory ammo and components.
I had lot of Finnish military rifles and I used to grab the spam cans of 44 rounds of ammo and break it all down to the components, Pop the primers and use my boxer primed brass to load them non corrosively. I think 440 rounds was $39.95 back then 7.62X54R.
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(My power went out as I was trying to post a question. I'll try it again.)
So, I've never been to a gun show, let alone a 3-day one.
Over all, are the prices better there than the exact gun in a gun shop? Or is it just a better selection? Or maybe both? There's usually a pretty decent show over in Monroeville, PA Convention Center from what I have heard in the past. That's maybe 15 minutes drive time for me, so if it were 3 days and I'm looking for a certain gun, it would make sense to go all 3 days.
Example: say I want to buy a M10-8 in 4". They made a billion (exaggeration) of them. At the store it's maybe $600 tops for a nice shooter, all original parts. Would I be able to get the same gun at a show for less, assuming it's a semi-honest dealer's table? And do some guys lower the price minimally on the 3rd day? Or just pack up & go to the next show? (I know, all table dealers are different.) Or did I just answer my question?
So, I've never been to a gun show, let alone a 3-day one.
Over all, are the prices better there than the exact gun in a gun shop? Or is it just a better selection? Or maybe both? There's usually a pretty decent show over in Monroeville, PA Convention Center from what I have heard in the past. That's maybe 15 minutes drive time for me, so if it were 3 days and I'm looking for a certain gun, it would make sense to go all 3 days.
Example: say I want to buy a M10-8 in 4". They made a billion (exaggeration) of them. At the store it's maybe $600 tops for a nice shooter, all original parts. Would I be able to get the same gun at a show for less, assuming it's a semi-honest dealer's table? And do some guys lower the price minimally on the 3rd day? Or just pack up & go to the next show? (I know, all table dealers are different.) Or did I just answer my question?
I used to go all 3 days, but now it's Friday and maybe Saturday.
If I lived 15 minutes from a big show, I might go all 3 days.
Do they still stamp your hand? Could you get in the second day without paying?
It is a gun SHOW. It was certainly entertaining at times. I haven’t been for years. I always say buying guns isn’t a money making proposition for most of us. You don’t go to a gunshop to save money. If you’re looking at it from a business point of view, I guess gun shows make no sense. But how any times has someone posted a pic of some cool gun they found at a gun show? Makes me want to go look.
But for me, Indy is 2.5 hours away. So it’s a one day only thing for me.
Do they still stamp your hand? Could you get in the second day without paying?
It is a gun SHOW. It was certainly entertaining at times. I haven’t been for years. I always say buying guns isn’t a money making proposition for most of us. You don’t go to a gunshop to save money. If you’re looking at it from a business point of view, I guess gun shows make no sense. But how any times has someone posted a pic of some cool gun they found at a gun show? Makes me want to go look.
But for me, Indy is 2.5 hours away. So it’s a one day only thing for me.
Some dealers work on Fridays and I've been to shows where their tables were covered up, or still empty because they couldn't be there. So, IMO, Fridays aren't always the best time, but the best times are always the right time to be there...problem is that we never know when that is.....
I saw a post by a Gold guy from over near the middle of PA where gold dollars line the streets where he attended the one in Monroeville. To come that far it must be, or used to be a good show. So I’ll have to check it out next time if knees will cooperate!
I still have the custom Series 70 9mm Government Model I bought there 30 years ago.
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