Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Just got back from the Dulles Expo Center gun show and i am almost as dissapointed as after the Dale City VFW show last month. I enjoy looking at all the old WW1 and WW2 weapons but my purchases were all going to be new modern handguns. I fully intended to buy 3 or 4 handguns today, had my wish list and knew Dulles would be the place to find everything. How wrong could i be? Getting someone to wait on me was the first challenge, then finding someone that knew what they were selling was the next. How many times did i hear if you don't see it on the table we don't have it. I was able to find one item on my list but waiting 45 min for the guy to help a lady fill out her paperwork line by line was too trying on my patience. I think Monday i'll be taking a trip to Virginia Arms and though i may have to pay a little more it will be well worth it. At least i don't have to spend any more of my time looking forward to upcoming gun shows. Well there i'm done with my lets say observation, just dissapointed.

Yep! I've been working gunshows for awhile now, and have come away disappointed more than once!

They USED to be the best option, but in truth? You can get better deals if you go to the same local guy, and he knows your face.

Ammo? Try online... or on sale at the local gunshops...

You can find most of the same stuff online for less, and ship it to an FFL dealer...

Better to spend a little more for something than not spend a little less for nothing? I too was disappointed in the Richmond show last month.

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Chantilly has gotten too big and its always a fight to move around. Seems prices there are not much better than the internet, and I don't have to lug cases of ammo a 1/2 mile to the car. The election panic buying seems in full swing, and most of the ammo dealers are all but sold out on Friday.

the only things I buy at the gunshow are items that I can't find locally. Things I bought Friday.

• honing stones (for hand work)
• Federal Small Pistol Match primers
• MecGar P229 .40 14 round magazine
• Gerogia Arms Ammunition >40S&W JHP factory new bag of 50rds $15.50

Did NOT buy.
A $689 Mini-14 Tactical ... I offered $650 cash with the reasoning that I can order from CDNN for $599 + $20 shipping + $22 FFL. The guy at the table had the balls to say g'head and buy that then I can't meet that price and someone will buy this gun before I pack up on Sunday. NIIIIICE

Another Mini-14 Tactical for $650 b/c it was NOT a tactical ... 18" narrel... no flash hider ... no Ruger thicker barrel and only 1 5rd magazine.

5-6 Plain Jane Mini-14 that were being sold for $700+ + ludicrous !

I always get the same icky feeling at gun shows that I get at yard sales... I guess it works for some folks, but not me.

Agreed! The "yard sale" analogy is spot on!

You have some dealers that are so frickin' arrogant that just dealing with them makes you feel bad about the purchase.

The gunshows BEFORE the Clinton AWB, were SPECTACULAR! And had PLENTY of deals you couldn't find locally.

With the advent of the internet, and "price matching" for the most part at local gunshops... Why would I pay $7-$10 to get INTO a building to conduct the SAME transaction I can do for FREE!?!

It's something fun to do, and see people you haven't seen in awhile, but otherwise? It's not a good retail experience for anyone but the dealers.

I only hit a gun show if I'm looking for an item that I haven't been able to find. Too many lookers wandering aimlessly through aisles of predictable stuff thats overpriced and easier obrtained elsewhere.... Now if you just want to to take a walk for 7 or 8 bucks they're the hto ticket for sure..

Well I use to go myself all the time but I can never find what I want. I find better deals on this website for things I want or a few others.

I was going to go and take the Glock 19 there and sale it but the last time I was there saleing a firearm I was shunded by the people and the only intrested parties had DC or MD drivers Liscenses and their "wife/gf/drug dealer", was going to buy it. Sorry but there are not any laws I will knowingly break and I will sale to anyone I have a bad vibe about the person.

Also tired of all the crazy people wearing camo all over the place and Obama this and Obama that. Give it a break people and relax for a few. Only so much conspericy stuff that I can take in a day and I get it within 30 minutes being there.

I was there yesterday, not with intention of buying anything, but to learn. This is new for me.
And yes, you can find a better price online, but you may want to keep the tool in your hand first, to feel it, to see if it is for you, which you can't do on internet.

The comments here got me thinking; are gun shows obsolete now?

Private sales and a C&R mean only one of the seven guns I bought since moving here were at a gun show. (or dealer for that matter).

I have found a few decent firearm or ammo (closeouts, mostly) deals at shows over the last couple of years, but I have found more firearms by walking the perimeter and finding folks selling privately. I think that shows are the best place to find a variety of items you didn't even know you wanted when you walked in the door I also agree with kelu that it is a halfway decent place to go try different new hardware on for size, ergonomics, tactile feedback, sight picture, etc. that you just can't get over the internet or sometimes at local dealers.

A friend recently said that Best Buy's business model is failing because it is becoming a physical showroom for online purchases, and I think there is some truth to that in all industries, but for impulse purchases, or finding things that are way out of production, the gun show still has a draw. Local dealers should still do well if they offer service, gunsmithing, etc., because guns are not purely a commodity but something to be maintained, modified, etc., and you just don't see as much of that activity online, or at shows, with a few exceptions (e.g., Gus' Garands)