I have a buddy that lives in Indy who I hadn't seen in way too long and the Show was just the excuse I needed. Drove over Friday night (and stayed at a Holiday Inn Express which I guess makes me an expert on all things!), met him at the Cracker Barrel for eggs n' grease at 7 AM Saturday and away we went.
I have been to a few gun shows but this one is amazing based on sheer size. It's called the Indy 1500 because they advertise 1500 tables. They do not lie. It is held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis in a huge three room hall. As big as it is, the place was packed. Nose-to-nose, butt-to-butt crowded. Everyone was polite about it, though.
After six hours and I didn't miss a table, these are my impressions.
Gun prices on new guns were about $50 to $100 more expensive across the board over what you could buy on the Web, but there is the appeal of handling the gun in person and if you don't have access to all the makes, I suppose there is value in paying the premium. Everyone had pretty much lock stepped their prices same-same so there were no bargains in that aspect.
There were some incredible collections on display and priced such that they would most certainly be going back home with the vendors. That's cool, I did get to look at some very nice guns and thanked the folks for bringing them in to see.
Used guns were priced high but within "haggling" distance as I'm sure was the plan. Being from out-of-state, I couldn't play in that game. Lots of revolvers and autos in "as new" condition right down to some real beaters. Very few K-Frame .357's though, which are next on my wish list.
The deals come in the piece parts and accessories. Target Printing and Graphics had a table and were selling paper targets for pennies on the dollar. Stuff you see for $1 per at the range was $0.25 to $0.50 in bulk.
As a reloader, I found bullet bargains, but powder price was nothing to write home about.
Hornady XTP bullets in various calibers and weights at $12/100. Remington JHP at $10/100 were found at another table.
A new copy of Richard Lee's Modern Reloading 2nd Ed. for $15.
Holsters and grips. If you needed a holster or custom grips you were in heaven. Got some very nice K-Frame square butts for my 64 at a good price.
The only real downer was the presence of the guy selling Nazi memorabilia/Mammy doll reproductions/segregated drinking fountain and bus seat signs ... Nobody was looking at your junk and you looked very unhappy about it. Too bad for you. HA!
I know, I know, these deals did not make up for the cost of gas and hotel but I spent a good day with an old friend and saw enough gun show to last another year. Or two...
There will be the inevitable "gun shows are useless" comments so let 'em fly. I can't hear you over the roar of the awesomeness of my day!
I have been to a few gun shows but this one is amazing based on sheer size. It's called the Indy 1500 because they advertise 1500 tables. They do not lie. It is held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis in a huge three room hall. As big as it is, the place was packed. Nose-to-nose, butt-to-butt crowded. Everyone was polite about it, though.
After six hours and I didn't miss a table, these are my impressions.
Gun prices on new guns were about $50 to $100 more expensive across the board over what you could buy on the Web, but there is the appeal of handling the gun in person and if you don't have access to all the makes, I suppose there is value in paying the premium. Everyone had pretty much lock stepped their prices same-same so there were no bargains in that aspect.
There were some incredible collections on display and priced such that they would most certainly be going back home with the vendors. That's cool, I did get to look at some very nice guns and thanked the folks for bringing them in to see.
Used guns were priced high but within "haggling" distance as I'm sure was the plan. Being from out-of-state, I couldn't play in that game. Lots of revolvers and autos in "as new" condition right down to some real beaters. Very few K-Frame .357's though, which are next on my wish list.
The deals come in the piece parts and accessories. Target Printing and Graphics had a table and were selling paper targets for pennies on the dollar. Stuff you see for $1 per at the range was $0.25 to $0.50 in bulk.
As a reloader, I found bullet bargains, but powder price was nothing to write home about.
Hornady XTP bullets in various calibers and weights at $12/100. Remington JHP at $10/100 were found at another table.
A new copy of Richard Lee's Modern Reloading 2nd Ed. for $15.
Holsters and grips. If you needed a holster or custom grips you were in heaven. Got some very nice K-Frame square butts for my 64 at a good price.
The only real downer was the presence of the guy selling Nazi memorabilia/Mammy doll reproductions/segregated drinking fountain and bus seat signs ... Nobody was looking at your junk and you looked very unhappy about it. Too bad for you. HA!
I know, I know, these deals did not make up for the cost of gas and hotel but I spent a good day with an old friend and saw enough gun show to last another year. Or two...
There will be the inevitable "gun shows are useless" comments so let 'em fly. I can't hear you over the roar of the awesomeness of my day!
