Primers

[robertrwalsh]

I went to the gun show in Sacramento this weekend. It was so sad. I remember when it filled both floors of both sides of the big building at CalExpo. Now it would fit in a high school gym with room left over.

I did buy some bullets. I didn't buy any primers, but they had a fair amount there, various brands, for about $75-80 per thousand, from one vendor. I got the feeling he might have been unloading some of his personal stock, but I didn't ask about it.

I am afraid I will have to cross that one off my list. Last two times it has been a one hour drive one way for a whole lot of nothing. It is my understanding the DOJ gave the vendors a whole lot of grief last year and a lot of the vendors just said I DON'T NEED THE AGGRAVATION and skipped it.

 

[rockquarry]

I went to the gun show in Sacramento this weekend. It was so sad. I remember when it filled both floors of both sides of the big building at CalExpo. Now it would fit in a high school gym with room left over.

I did buy some bullets. I didn't buy any primers, but they had a fair amount there, various brands, for about $75-80 per thousand, from one vendor. I got the feeling he might have been unloading some of his personal stock, but I didn't ask about it.

I am afraid I will have to cross that one off my list. Last two times it has been a one hour drive one way for a whole lot of nothing. It is my understanding the DOJ gave the vendors a whole lot of grief last year and a lot of the vendors just said I DON'T NEED THE AGGRAVATION and skipped it.

What are the facts on the "grief"? What happened?

 

[jag22]

Same here in Dallas, gun shows certainly aren't what they used to be. They were flea markets for gun stuff, now it's guys trying to fund their retirement, or trying to just get by. Even if I didn't buy anything the entrance fee was worth it just to see what people had. No more.

 

[rockquarry]

Same here in Dallas, gun shows certainly aren't what they used to be. They were flea markets for gun stuff, now it's guys trying to fund their retirement, or trying to just get by. Even if I didn't buy anything the entrance fee was worth it just to see what people had. No more.

I've done gun shows on both sides of the table for forty years. Granted, they're not what they once were when you had far more hobbyists than dealers and ARs and Bic-pen-type synthetic guns weren't the only game in town. A very long time ago weren't the FFL holders only allowed to conduct business from their FFL location and not at gun shows?

That's not a criticism of FFL holders. Some of them have good stuff, just like the hobbyists. You can still find decent, older, desirable items for sale, you just have to look a lot harder.

 

[Skeet 028]

Most of the gun show vendors anymore are dealers...pure and simple. When I had the gun shop I didn't do gun shows. I did go to 'em and even bought a gun every now and then. Whe I moved to Wy I brought a lot of personally owned guns. I sold 'em traded 'em and enjoyed 'em. Right now most of the stuff I sell at gun shows is my own personal stuff and mainly reloading items. The prices at gun shows start at buy it now prices on GB. People walking around working their phones trying to get a great price which really ain't happening much anymore. I get my best buys locally from estates and garage sales. And they are getting a bit wild price wise too

 

[DWalt]

The first two local gun shows held here after the COVID panic convinced me that it was a waste of time and money to attend. Quadrupled admission fee plus grossly overpriced stuff I wouldn't look twice at, let alone buy. I suppose many others felt the same. I haven’t seen any gun shows advertised since early this year. Very sad.

 

[BC38]

Meh, I view the $10 admission a reasonable price for a couple of hours of cheap entertainment. I always see stuff I've never seen before, and talk to interesting people who share my interest.

Sure, they are smaller than they used to be, and there are too many tables of unrelated junk, and yes a lot of tables are the same old vendors with the same old over-priced stuff. But 9 times out of 10 I still manage to find something that's a good enough deal to more than offset what I paid to get in.

Occasionally I find a real treasure. For example, just two years ago I found a set of Hurst rosewood 3-finger groove J-frame combat grips that I paid a whopping $15 for. Easily worth a couple of hundred bucks, if not more. A year ago I found several boxes of 32acp and 32 S&W Long ammo for $13 a box.

More than anything else I want to support the gun shows and keep them going. If for no other reason than the fact that the Anti-2A crowd want SO badly to end them. I'll keep going until the gun shows go the way of drive-in movie theaters.

 

[cmj8591]

Gun shows are in the same boat as everything else. Antique shows, coin shows, car shows. Everyone buys their stuff on the interweb now and don't take the time to go to these things. There are exceptions, of course, but the little regional shows are mostly petering out.

 

[mmaher94087]

".. I view the $10 admission a ...". I quit going to one show because the show promoter has gotten too greedy. This show is the ONLY show that charges a Parking Fee. One shells out $5 to park and an additional $15 for admission to a Tee shirt, Jerky and Plastic weapon extravaganza. I'm out.

 

[BC38]

".. I view the $10 admission a ...". I quit going to one show because the show promoter has gotten too greedy. This show is the ONLY show that charges a Parking Fee. One shells out $5 to park and an additional $15 for admission to a Tee shirt, Jerky and Plastic weapon extravaganza. I'm out.

That does sound pretty expensive, and voting with your wallet may convince them of that - if enough people do it. Getting greedy isn't a good way to keep the shows going. I'm sure the costs for the venue have gone up, but that certainly sounds excessive.
I'm just glad admission to ours have only gone up from $7 to $10 over the last couple of years.

 

[CH4]

I went to the gun show in Sacramento this weekend. It was so sad. I remember when it filled both floors of both sides of the big building at CalExpo. Now it would fit in a high school gym with room left over.

I did buy some bullets. I didn't buy any primers, but they had a fair amount there, various brands, for about $75-80 per thousand, from one vendor. I got the feeling he might have been unloading some of his personal stock, but I didn't ask about it.

I am afraid I will have to cross that one off my list. Last two times it has been a one hour drive one way for a whole lot of nothing. It is my understanding the DOJ gave the vendors a whole lot of grief last year and a lot of the vendors just said I DON'T NEED THE AGGRAVATION and skipped it.

Where was this weekend’s show, McClellan?

I have fond memories of the Cal Expo Show. It was huge and had everything you could imagine. The Cow Palace was also a good show.

I picked up a pound of Bullseye and 1700 primers at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Kelso, WA, over the past week. They had CCI, Remington and Fiocchi. Averaged about $55/k. Problem is you can only buy two sleeves at a time. I was busy.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Yes, McClellan. And I don't have any details on what the DOJ (Calif) issue was. I heard that second hand, but from more than one source so I figure SOMETHING happened.

I also quit going to one in the North Bay Area as there is now a flea market on the property every week end and you have to wade thru 100 yards of really low-rent flea market to get to the venue. And park out in the boonies. Not interested.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Here in East TN we have a show about every 6 weeks. One guy runs about 6 good size shows that fill the main floor of the convention center. You see the usual knife sharpeners and beef jerky but you still see a good number of revolvers and 1911’s. Prices can vary quite a bit but I’ve picked up a few pretty nice toys at good prices and made some very good trades. Of course you find those that everything they have is rare and worth a fortune but I just walk away from them.

We have two collectors shows each year that draws some interesting items and usually the quality is pretty good. It smaller but certainly worth going I’d you like Smiths, Colts and Lugers. It’s coming up this coming weekend and I’ll be there.

The little town I live in and a few others within a half to an hours drive have shows in their National Guard armories. They’re a lot of AR’s but I’ve seen some vintage smiths unfired in the box at ok prices.

I generally hit the collectors shows and one or two of the bigger ones then one or two of the small community ones too. You just never know what you’ll find and I’ve found them a good place to sell an excess toy or two.

EDIT:
I went to a small gun shop a half hour south of me yesterday. The had some primers locked up but wanted $160/1000. I had a good laugh as I was leaving.

 

[TXBryan]

For years we enjoyed the gun shows in, and around, Austin. Not sure of the specifics but they hardly exist anymore. I think the anti-gun groups got to the owners of the venues, in some cases municipalities and in others the corporations that rent the name of the venue, with either threats of protests, lawsuits, or boycotts of their products/facilities. Hence gun shows have a difficult time finding a place to happen. The big civic center in Cedar Park, now named for the HEB grocery chain, once hosted enormous gun shows that took hours to get around. They don't host any these days that I'm aware of (this civic center stopped hosting shows before HEB leased the naming rights to the place).

We have an semi-annual "show" in one of the larger "cities" near where we live hosted at the 4H Center at the county fairgrounds. It is tiny, generally with 20 or so tables, and includes the customary $10 entry fee. Nevertheless it is a fun event and we've managed, over a few years, to find some real treasures there. The added bonus is the atmosphere of friendliness and cordiality by the vendors and the lookers.

Like seemingly so many things of my relative youth (I'm in my mid-60s), my 17-year son will not know what "real" gun shows were like although he's been tagging along for a while and claims to "remember when."

Bryan

 

[Truckman]

Prices can vary quite a bit but I’ve picked up a few pretty nice toys at good prices and made some very good trades. Of course you find those that everything they have is rare and worth a fortune but I just walk away from them.

Therein lies the reason I continue to frequent as many shows as I can locally and a little beyond...I like the variety and the entertainment from talking to many people...This upcoming weekend is Navasota, and then Dripping Springs...I expect fun at both......Ben

 

[BE Mike]

I like small gun shows. We have them around here every few months. I've sold a few guns I've carried in and other items. Every once in a while, I find something I can't live without. The last local show I found a super condition S&W revolver. After talking the vendor down a hundred bucks, I walked away with a great gun at a decent price. You do have to be prepared to wade through a lot of ugly and way overpriced stuff to find a gem, but for the typical $6.00 entry fee and free parking, it is cheap entertainment, if nothing else. Since the internet has taken hold (I'm showing my age) there aren't any super bargains anymore.

 

[chief38]

Unfortunately, guns, ammo and components all get linked to whom is in the catbird seats in Washington DC. Since my crystal ball isn't clear any longer, I would suggest that reloader's find the best damned deals they can and stock up while they can. While I may not be able to predict the future I would say that in general components won'y be getting much less expensive and probably will get more expensive down the road. Aside from the dollars and cents, the shipping charges and shipping rules will never get any better - just worse for us. Act accordingly.