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August 28, 2009
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I've been saying this for quite a while now and the time has come - today was my LAST gun show. I spent $25 in gas, $9 entry fee, 1/2 a day of my 2 weekend days off, and for what? This is what for- to hang out with a bunch of redneck hillbillies tell war and gun stories, to browse a bunch of over-priced dealers selling their retail stock I can purchase for 30% less on-line or wholesale (and without tax), and put up with a bunch of wannabe-dealer private sellers who think only their wares are the best. I keep going because I keep thinking I'm going to miss a great deal on something that really catches my eye. The fact is I've only brought home 6 or 7 firearms from the countless shows that I have attended over the past couple of years, and when I consider the time and aggravation as well as money I spent to attend I'd probably be better off just paying a higher price at auction or through private sales. Today's prize show offerings were 3 beat up mod. 15's in the $500 - $600 range. No thanks. I'm done.
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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Same here. I only get to a show once or twice a year and it's the same "old" stuff. Maybe if you're into antique guns they're okay, but I never see any really good items at reasonable prices, and definitely no DWs. I did see a 15-2 a couple months ago in Allentown for $600 and it was nice, but I don't need another one. The seller was very firm on the price. It was the nicest revolver I saw that day among many of the other brands commonly offered. The shows near Philly are always a disappointment with lots of ARs and old, pitted guns. Guess there's a market for them.
Dans Club
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April 20, 2010
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Yea that sounds like the average show around here. Every gun shop in the area has a 'Judge' on the shelf, I don't know why every table at a show needs to be selling one too.
I still go to a couple a year hoping I'll run across a Supermag for $350 or something. And the occasional militia girl wearing a camo tanktop is kind of nice too
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
October 11, 2009
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Amen, gun shows used to be fun and sometimes you could get a deal. But now all you see is "Tactical Tupperware" guns. Ar's and 1911's. You get better deals on ammo and
gear and after market goodies through Wal-Mart or Cabella's or Cheaper Than Dirt.
If you want a good deal on a current hand gun your local stocking dealer is best. You save on shipping and transfer fee's. And that can be a $75 savings Most long guns can be bought at your local discount store that carries guns. Best deals on current order handguns is through "Buds Guns". And then there is always Gun Broker or Guns America for a hard to find classics.
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January 24, 2009
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The last three gun shows I've attended (and this was sometime last year),the only "good" deals were some of the ammo finds...and I usually had to wait 20 minutes to get to the front of the line.
The gun shows around my area almost never have good deals, at least not on anything that I'm looking for. I've only bought one gun ever from a gun show, my Ruger Security Six, and that was at pretty much market value at the time. I only bought it because I could inspect in on the spot, and well, it was just what I was looking for that particular day & I didn't have to pay shipping to bring it home. I could have done the same deal (or maybe better) if I would have shopped in that seller's store.
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Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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The gun shows in my area are pathetic, however where else can you look at thousands of guns in one stop (even if mostly tacti cool stuff) Yes most are overpriced and over common stuff but every once in a while you find a keeper among the masses. I try every couple of years to make it to one of the big shows around Atlanta where the pickings are much better. Usually a buddy and I will hit the show then hit as many of the small shops as we can during the road trip home and spend the whole day doing it. Kinda my version of black friday. Sometimes we find something or at least come home with a smile and some beef jerky.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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January 24, 2009
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LB, you make a good point. It is fun to see such a wide variety of guns & gun related goodies all in one place. Plus, some of the people wandering around are pretty entertaining too, especially when they're dressed up in civil war attire...and they're being completely serious about it.
January 8, 2011
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I have given up on trying to find a deal at a gun show. I go to shows in Montgomery which is only 20 minutes away. It's my entertainment about every 3 months. It cost $7 to get in and I spend about 3 hours there. It's better than a movie and cheaper. I have enough guns (for now) so I'm in the ammo mode. I found 1000 rounds of .223 for only $268 at the last show I attended. Since then it has increased in price considerably. I'm stocking up on ammo. How much is enough?
Hossman 
July 8, 2012
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Hossman said
It's my entertainment about every 3 months. It cost $7 to get in and I spend about 3 hours there. It's better than a movie and cheaper.Hossman
I agree, it's well worth the effort for entertainment alone. On the other hand, I did find a nice DW 15-2 6" last month for $300 at the Philadelphia show last month. I can often get pretty close to online prices at these shows, plus I can examine the gun before negotiating and/or buying.
Huffy
June 29, 2012
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Same here, entertainment value is good enough.
I bought the only DW I could find in the entire show the last time I went; $300 out of the door on a 15-2 4". Was tagged $350 and seller was not going any lower.
This gun was CCWed a lot so a lot of wear marks but little shooting and a fantastic "trigger job" enough to make cry any S&W aficionados. 
.
I understand the disappointment of some of us, good deals are scarce. 
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Gun Shows in this area are pretty rare, and generally pretty crappy. On the other hand, I live within an hour's drive of at least a dozen gunshops, and they don't charge admission.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
October 11, 2009
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Well you folks have much better shows than we do in the Triad portion of N.C.
Ours look more like a military armory than a traditional gun show. But I'm a revolver man myself. Don't get me wrong. I like them all but its the same old stuff. AR's,
Plastic semi auto handgun's, 1911's. And of course pocket size CCW pieces. The only revolvers you see are The Judge and a few Smith and Wesson's. Plenty of Zombie nonsense. Bug out gear. Survival equipment. I just miss the old shows where there were plenty of magnum revolvers, single action revolvers, lever action rifles, beautiful high gloss finish's on bolt action rifles. Family camping equipment. Now everything is matte dull, olive drab,
non reflective and tactical. I guess they stock what sell's.
August 12, 2012
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yup. Plenty of guys at gun shows doing nothing more than trying to get attention. I just laugh and move on. However, in Portland, OR we have gun shows every month. Plenty of crap to look at and many bull slingers available. However, I find it a great place to get ideas and sometimes a deal. Ammo and a cool gadget or two is my usual MO. Last show I was looking for a 744 and found a cool green laser pen for $35 (at night you can see the beam as well as the dot for miles). Also picked up some plastic dental pick kinda things. Good for getting stuff out of little places on guns without scratching. I've also found some cool knives, typically ones you don't see elsewhere. Good place to go with a buddy and spend time appreciating our 2A rights. I'll keep going.
OBTW, no waiting in Oregon. See a gun, hold a gun, like a gun, buy a gun, go home with a gun, all in 15 minutes if you wish. Life is good here...for a gun nut.
If anyone wants to go to a really nice gun show check out the big show in Reno. I believe it is twice a year. Big show with very little crap and some really nice guns. I've seen more special guns at that show than any other. Plus, if you buy from an individual you can walk right out the door with the purchase - no paperwork.
Thanks to all who have served our great country! Give till it hurts...they did!
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
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January 24, 2009
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Dantanna58 said
Well you folks have much better shows than we do in the Triad portion of N.C.Ours look more like a military armory than a traditional gun show. But I'm a revolver man myself. Don't get me wrong. I like them all but its the same old stuff. AR's,
Plastic semi auto handgun's, 1911's. And of course pocket size CCW pieces. The only revolvers you see are The Judge and a few Smith and Wesson's. Plenty of Zombie nonsense. Bug out gear. Survival equipment. I just miss the old shows where there were plenty of magnum revolvers, single action revolvers, lever action rifles, beautiful high gloss finish's on bolt action rifles. Family camping equipment. Now everything is matte dull, olive drab,
non reflective and tactical. I guess they stock what sell's.
Geez, shows like yours must be where most of the "lame school media" bases their gun show facts from. 
PapaCap said
OBTW, no waiting in Oregon. See a gun, hold a gun, like a gun, buy a gun, go home with a gun, all in 15 minutes if you wish. Life is good here...for a gun nut.
I didn't know this, and am genuinely surprised. But I'm glad to hear that Oregon still has sensible gun purchase laws today.
November 5, 2010
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PapaCap said
OBTW, no waiting in Oregon. See a gun, hold a gun, like a gun, buy a gun, go home with a gun, all in 15 minutes if you wish. Life is good here...for a gun nut.
If anyone wants to go to a really nice gun show check out the big show in Reno. I believe it is twice a year. Big show with very little crap and some really nice guns. I've seen more special guns at that show than any other. Plus, if you buy from an individual you can walk right out the door with the purchase - no paperwork.
I thought the instant check sytem was federally mandated and applied to all states!!!
so it is POSSIBLE you could go out the door in 15 minutes, but its not guaranteed......if the system gets a hiccup....you ahve to wait.....up to three days..
how does Oregon get around that law?
bob
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Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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I don't know about Oregon but in Georgia if you have a firearms permit there is no background check. Fill out the paperwork and hit the door. I guess with the permit you are considered to already be checked out.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
July 15, 2012
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LoL, I guess I'll weigh in here. Sorry for the novel here. I live in Kansas and I have an FFL. In Kansas we don't have a waiting period so to speak. The only waiting period is if I get a deny or delay response when I call the NICS. If I get a deny, you get the forever delay...I have had one customer that didn't understand Deny so I had to explain to him that DENY=NO...you as a denied buyer have the right to appeal the deny and it does happen to people, even though they have the legal right to own a firearm, the other is delay, if I get a delay then one of two things happen either the Feds contact me and tell me to proceed or they don't contact me and after 3 business days you get to take the gun home. If you find you are getting false denies or encountering a lot of delays then you might consider contacting the Feds and getting a unique ID. In Kansas you must be 18 years old for rifles and shotguns, 21 years old for firearms classified as a handguns. If you have a Kansas concealed weapons permit, that is dated after July 1, 2010 then I don't have to call NICS. One thing many people don't know is that if you purchase multiple handguns from me within 5 business days then I am required by Federal law to submit to the Feds a multiple firearms transaction form, with your information and the guns purchased.
The part below I pulled from the letter sent to Kansas Dealers regarding provisions of the Brady Law.
Transfers Subject to NICS Check Requirement
As of November 30, 1998, you will be required to initiate a NICS check prior to transferring a firearm to anyone who is not a licensee. The following steps must be followed prior to transferring a firearm:
- Have the transferee complete and sign ATF Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record.
- Verify the identity of the transferee through a Government-issued photo identification (for example, a driver’s license).
- Contact NICS. You will get either a “proceed,” “denied” or “delayed” response from the system. If you get a “delayed” response and there is no additional response from the system, you may transfer the firearm after three business days have elapsed. Of course, you must still comply with any waiting period requirements under State law.
- If you have initiated a NICS check for a proposed firearms transaction, but the transfer of the firearm is not completed, you must retain the Form 4473 in your records for a period of not less than 5 years. If the transfer is completed, the Form 4473 must be retained for at least 20 years.
http://atf.gov/press/releases/1998/10/103098-openletter-ffl-kansas-brady-law.html
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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In CT we have an online system that gunshops use to run buyers thru the State (and NICS). For some reason, I am always a "deny" online, then they call it in and get an approval.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
July 15, 2012
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Steve CT said
In CT we have an online system that gunshops use to run buyers thru the State (and NICS). For some reason, I am always a "deny" online, then they call it in and get an approval.
If you have a common name like Joe Smith then you will tend to get delayed more then someone with a name like Casper Weingarten (made up name) or something a bit more unusual. That is why the Feds set up the unique identification system. Then your name and address and such are tied specifically to that ID so there is less confusion that you are actually you.
Roadglide
October 11, 2009
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Just got back from the gun show. 10 bucks to get was there about 15 mind when a dealer hand a 2 shot derringer (.22) to a customer that was loaded. Walked out and got a refund on my admission fee back. Unreal.
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