Big50 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I guess my father took me to my first gun show, at least according to he and my mother, when I was about 5 years old...1961. 50 years....My, how things have changed over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugs Bonney SASS # 10171 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 If you wern't shocked over the prices they are asking I'd be surprised. I've been going to gunshows for years and I'm shocked at5 how high prices have gone. I only go to local shows now and rarely buy anything. By the time I pay $8-$10 to get in and pick up some ammo, cast bullets or whatever it would have been less expensive to simply buy it at retail. Besides I am always looking for project guns I can buy cheap and those don't seem to sow up at Gunshows any more. I'm not into knives, black rifles or modern shotguns so there is seldom much to look at. Bugs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Phil Peeno #50923 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I have a clear objective when I go to a gun show. This March will be renewing my TSRA membership which gets me in for free. Other times I give blood and that aslo gets me in for free. From there I can either look or purchase something. I least I did something "good" when I go to a gun show. The only reason I would pay for entrance and maybe parking is to get out of the house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 In addition to the black rifles and modern shotguns, 'round these parts they're good for [not] cheap Chinese gewgaws, bizarro t-shirts, and suspicious beef jerky. My main "target" at shows is tables with boxes of miscellaneous parts and ancient or obscure reloading tools. But bargains are rarely to be found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Whiskers Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Typically gunshow buys are not a bargain unless it's an old or older gun not in production anymore and something you've been looking for.Most gunshow prices are at or above retail in most local sporting goods shops.We have 2 large gunshows here each year.One in April and another in September.There are people that are non-dealers that will go to sporting goods shops and buy up new firearms( usually rifles) at retail then set up tables and sell them over retail to people that don't want to mess with NICS.Free enterprise is fine,but I wonder how many of those buyers know what price markup they are buying at and also how many shouldn't be allowed to own a firearm because they couldn't pass a background check?I'm a dealer and very seldom buy anything other than ammo cans or maybe an old gun at any show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Went to a local show today myself. Had a good time, saw several friends. Got a fair buy on some Ruger 10/22 magazines. Then a dealer tried to convince me there was nothing wrong with a Model 25-5 that took two hands and a small mule to open the cylinder...yeah, right. I can tell when someone's had the side plate off and got the screws mixed up when they reinstalled them. Which means that it's been worked on by someone who don't know enough to put it back together correctly...I passed on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Just no appeal to me anymore. I haven't been in years. I guess the Internet has changed how I buy, and not just firearms related items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I don't go to shows for new guns...I'm looking for classics like maybe a 50's vintage Marlin 39a or a pristine Remington 722 in 300 Sav plus anything cowboy. And like Hardpan, looking for goodies such as old sights, reloading equipment, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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