Another Gunshow Rant

[jeffsmith]

I was looking over a few small 9mm Semi-autos today;
and made a comment that my (popular but inexpensive) gun goes BANG Everytime"

As I said this a guy behind me says
"No they don't"

I said "Well, Mine Does"
In his general direction as he walked away blissfully (ignorantly)

Am I the only one who gets "slightly miffed" at these hit & run "expert reviews"?

 

[pharmer]

A gunshow is sort of a pasture. When one critter drops an "apple" the others don't take it personal. They just move on and go about their day. Just sayin'. Joe

 

[diamonback68]

Most of those off hand remarks from gunshow ninjas are usually wrong, so it's real easy to ignore them and walk on.

 

[nachogrande]

WORST GUN SHOW EVER

went to my usual close by 1 they have 2-3 times a year. mainly to get holsters for a 640 and a 617 and had a sks, some ammo, a scope and mount to sell, so I may have looked a bit like a one man band. in the past this was not unusual but yesterday very few carried anything to sell. bricks of 22's were selling like hotcakes for 100$ plus, no holsters to be had anywhere and lots of comments like you're loaded for bear at least 15 x, a few ya think ya need a few more guns and 1 clown that wanted a pic. my standard reply was this must be your first gun show if you think this is unusual. the older wiser people that knew anything recognized the smith's and showed some respect and I had 8-10 decent conversations but didn't buy or sell a thing. the price to get in doubled since the one 4 months ago, the items for sale broken and worn out and prices just crazy. no eye candy anywhere. could have had a drink and a lap dance for that $.

 

[yeti]

I am actually in a gun show timeout for awhile.
Too many desperate folks paying way more than I will. I miss window shopping, but it will just frustrate me if I go these days.

 

[the ringo kid]

Luckily the gun shows in my area are holding at a $5 entrance fee and if you get an NRA membership? you get in free. I have noticed at shows in my area-that 500 rounds of .22--ive seen priced up to $135. One box of Winchester 9mm-at the last show I attended--was priced at $80. Just yesterday at Academy Sports and Outdoors-I got three boxes of Winchester 9mm for about $60 bucks.

 

[Blackcloud2]

Am I the only one who gets "slightly miffed" at these hit & run "expert reviews"?

No, why would you be? Gun-shows are simply carnivals today catering to a specific crowd. You have the barkers, the crowd and those that run the show, the actual performers (sellers) are often forgotten in the mix. No big deal, the guy made a comment that didn't set with your experience, you learned that perhaps your shooter isn't flawless or this guy had one that isn't like yours, possibly a gent wanting now a low-ball offer to the seller or he's totally out of touch with real value, but not self-governed from offering a verbal comment....many exist.

My biggest deal about shows relates to the possibility of being ran over by any number of motorized people haulers, it's difficult at best in a big crowd. The odd thing is, I don't think I've ever seen a 'rolling participant' buy anything, lot's of looking though, yet even more crowd derailment. OK, I'm prepared to be flamed for being insensitive, but I've had many family members that were handicapped, we/they/our family dealt with it, which started with the idea of not bothering our neighbors with our plight, done.

What 9mm do you have that shoots well or doesn't shoot well depending on who's telling the story?

 

[Mule Packer]

Yeah, but you have to remember, you'll always have those kind at gun shows. It's just the nature of the beast.

For example, if you happen to be the seller, there's always one or two guys that come up and no matter what you are selling, they have one just like it....only better....or they'll have two just like it...and they paid three times less than what you are asking. Or they'll proceed to tell you how crummy yours is...no matter if it's in pristine condition.

Now, if you're the buyer, there's always some "well-meaning soul" who happens to be looking over your shoulder ready to educate you on your obvious lack of knowledge on any particular firearm...even if your name happens to be John Moses Browning or Bill Ruger.

Are they 24-carat doo-dahs?? Of course. But I found that it doesn't do any good to correct them. Just ignore them and let them go on their way thinking that they've imparted a small portion of their vast store of knowledge upon some poor un-suspecting member of the proletariat.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I gave up on gun shows a while back. They had one in town this weekend & I didn't attend. Only 5 bucks admission for both days. Cheap enough but I don't need any jerky or high priced ammo. My wife passed in 2008 so don't need ladies watches or necklaces made out of deer antlers either. Guess I'm too damn old for that sort of thing. My dinner is in the oven so I have time for a glass of pick me up. See you guys later.

 

[jeffsmith]

Note: Noticed a "Rolling Participant" at Shoot Straight "Buying Table" today


and I Purposely didn't mention the Manufacturer of said 9mm

 

[jframe]

I skipped the last local show as well. Too many people crowding too much overpriced ****. Kinda got to thinking though, if we ALL start skipping shows, they will go away eventually then the libs will have won, won't they? However, I really am sick of $100.00 bricks of .22 that were selling for twenty bucks this time last year, plus unobtanium guns that have been in production for years, like 10/22's and even new Shields. I may just take a summer break from shows, and hopefully, by fall normalcy will have made a return to them. I'm sticking to the forums, and local word of mouth deals for now on guns.

 

[Poodle Soup]

Ever since the idiots went on the shooting sprees gun shows are out of control. Another thing that drives me up the wall is the guy who brings the entire family. And HE is the only one that wants to be there. So instead of walking up to a table and looking at a gun I have to hurdle a baby stroller dodge the diaper bag, trip over a toddler, and sneak around his wife just to find out theres junk on the table. And dont get me started on the "experts" who have no interest in the item... just want to stand in front of it and dazzling their lady friend with their great knowledge.

and I Purposely didn't mention the Manufacturer of said 9mm

Thats not the high point of the topic... ?

 

[rburg]

Its entertainment. Pay your money and enjoy yourself, or not. I do like the comments about the motorized people mover. I've even got one I'm trying to sell so it'll be along at the next show. Guess folks need things to complain about. I was really happy to be getting $50 and $55 for my bricks back in March. If I can get $100 for them, I'll dig into my private stash for the Lexington show. I could give up a case of 10 bricks for another $1000. I'm thinking my sons hope I die before I sell it all.

But today we went up-river to an antique show. At the first table a lady had a pile of .30-06 boxes. Just fired brass, and she wanted $10 for all 6 boxes, so I bought them. Everyone needs once fired commercial brass. As I was bagging them the guy behind me mentioned that if I hadn't bought them, he would have.

 

[Grayfox]

I don't think I've ever seen a 'rolling participant' buy anything, lot's of looking though, yet even more crowd derailment.

Handicapped people do like to get out now and then just like the rest of us. Probably more so. Its not their fault that they need these contraptions to get around.
Blame the promoter for not making the aisles wide enough.

No flame, just fact.

 

[bettis1]

There are two types of people at gun shows...the attendees who pay the tab at the door and the table holders who pay for the tables. Each type is there for a different purpose. Well, maybe for the same purposes, but certainly the two types rate those purposes differently.

If you are an attendee you are there to pick someones brain to tell you what grandpaw's old fencepost is worth. Then to double it and try to sell it and get insulted when no one wants it. Second purpose for this group is to find a "sleeper" on someone's table (it can be done, but not nearly as often as in the past...thank this forum and others for that.

If you are a table holder (and I'm excluding the professional dealers here) your main purpose is usually to visit with friends, BS, dump some hardware that is no longer wanted and, take the rare opportunity to really pick up some old "fence post" that really is worth something, say like a Pattern 1853 Enfield rifled musket that repelled the northern aggressors.

If you haven't seen a gun show from both sides you are like a blind man trying to describe an elephant.

Bob

 

[Kanewpadle]

Haven't been to a gun show in years. Nothing there for me.

Talked to several that do go and they usually pay way too much and then brag about what they got.

 

[woodsltc]

I rarely expect to find anything when I go.....but I enjoy the "hunt" and mixing with other gun people. It's also fun watching some of the "strange" folks you run across . At any rate it's entertainment to me (just as rburg said).

I think many people have expectations that are too high and then they get disappointed because they don't find what they were looking for or the price wasn't low enough.

I say go, but lower your expectations and when you do find something you want at the right price you'll enjoy it more.

Don

 

[jaykellogg]

Well, in the past I bought a (new) Leverletto for $65 and I got a pair of white bone grips for a 1911 for free, so you can get some deals. I also got a new mag for a M9 for $10. The Asheville show is next weekend. They cost $8 now and are always packed. I will be looking for grips for a M10 S&W. My GF wants to get a gun concealment purse, so she wants to go with me. She has to work Saturday and I may have to skip the annual Church picnic Sunday. I hope to get some 44-40 ammo also.

 

[Arik]

I was looking over a few small 9mm Semi-autos today;
and made a comment that my (popular but inexpensive) gun goes BANG Everytime"

As I said this a guy behind me says
"No they don't"

I said "Well, Mine Does"
In his general direction as he walked away blissfully (ignorantly)

Am I the only one who gets "slightly miffed" at these hit & run "expert reviews"?

Yes and no. What small semi autos 9 are we talking about? If its G26, M&Pc or similar i say yes. If its Keltec or Ruger type I'd rather not waste money

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Silver Dollar]

The situation I hate most is when you're walking out of the show with your prize and some clown coming in says "Hey, what do you have there?" You show it off for a second and the clown says "Oh man, did you get soaked. That's a piece of ****. I wouldn't buy one of those things no matter how little you paid for it". That makes me feel really good ----NOT.

 

[LVSteve]

The situation I hate most is when you're walking out of the show with your prize and some clown coming in says "Hey, what do you have there?" You show it off for a second and the clown says "Oh man, did you get soaked. That's a piece of ****. I wouldn't buy one of those things no matter how little you paid for it". That makes me feel really good ----NOT.

Actually I quite like those comments, because 999 times out of 1000 the other party is making a fool of himself.

 

[dcxplant]

I was looking over a few small 9mm Semi-autos today;
and made a comment that my (popular but inexpensive) gun goes BANG Everytime"

As I said this a guy behind me says
"No they don't"

I said "Well, Mine Does"
In his general direction as he walked away blissfully (ignorantly)

Am I the only one who gets "slightly miffed" at these hit & run "expert reviews"?

Don't worry Jeff, that guy posted a gunshow rant on another forum about how he saw a guy with a popular but inexpensive pistol who thought it was a quality piece!

 

[jack the toad]

When I'm forced to endure the comments from both sides of the table at gunshows, I smile and move on ASAP depending on what I'm looking at. If they continue to demonstrate their intelligence (or lack of it) and I get tired of listening, I just move on a little quicker.
I try not to let it bother me as everyone has their own comments, regardless how stupid they.

 

[Bekeart]

NARROW AISLES vs Wheeled Chairs and Carts

Understand the need for some to Sit & Ride. Local NRA recruiter is disabled veteran.
His ride is arm powered. Last show had dealer at next table that also Disabled Veteran and rides using arm power.

In my experience, those riding the powered carts are willing to move slowly with the traffic
and do not try to speed up and run others out of their way.
The women who Sit & Drive at Wal-Mart are a different matter.

Handicapped people do like to get out now and then just like the rest of us. Probably more so. Its not their fault that they need these contraptions to get around.
Blame the promoter for not making the aisles wide enough.

No flame, just fact.

 

[wbraswell]

Let me know where you guys go that you don't find knuckleheads and goobers. If you do find one then you aren't looking hard enough, or your standards aren't high enough.

 

[pharmer]

There's one this weekend. I can't wait. Like fishing saltwater, you never know what you can pull up. Last month's show in Lakeland had CCI MiniMags at $35/100pak. And they were selling. I'd like to have pulled up a chair and set a couple hours to hear the seller's spiel over and over. And all the AR toters that haven't got the latest CDNN email showing Colt 6920's for $1300 will be sore when their BubbaBilt plastic lower "tactical" special with 4 lbs of chinese optics don't move for $2500 (but they can take a beating for $2350). What fun, and sometimes a few critters from this very board show up which always adds to the excellent experience. Seriously, I am enjoying gunshows WHILE THEY LAST. Joe

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

WHILE THEY LAST

YEAH, ME TOO! I expect them to be around Virginia for awhile, but you never know for sure. As far as the comments, I pay them no mind. I used to when I was younger, , and tried to enlighten them but now figure why bother. People will believe what they want to, and most of them REALLY believe what they spout. I save my blood pressure these days for something I can do some about. Not the price of gas, price of ammo, or even the price of milk. I see what these fools in NY, MD, and elsewhere are doing, and THANK GOD, I live in Virginia.

 

[Bekeart]

NARROW AISLES vs Fire Marshall

Blame the promoter for not making the aisles wide enough.

A recent show had much wider aisles than previous shows by the same promoter at the venue.

Previously there was very little room left when two persons passed in the aisle.

Story I heard (can not confirm) is that when promoter was setting up tables the
Fire Marshall came by and explained the need for wider aisles for safety reasons.
Also explained about maximum occupancy rules.

Previous show had occupancy rate that resembled the 60s fad of phone booth stuffing.
Promoter finally stopped taking money when there was no room for another person in the show.

Bekeart

 

[sophie]

It is amazing how many people that think they know it all even when talking about something you own and they probably don't even have one.

________
James

 

[ditrina]

Note: Noticed a "Rolling Participant" at Shoot Straight "Buying Table" today


and I Purposely didn't mention the Manufacturer of said 9mm

Was it the "Rolling Participant" That had made the comment??