Worked the gunshow today. Some observations...

[Reverenddel]

...the gunshows are officially dead as a source of deals.

I have never seen so many overpriced items in my life! You can get better deals EVERYWHERE but the gunshow! Some had items that were priced the same as you could find in a gunshop/online, but if you have a problem, who do you go to?

Exactly!

One observation was that lots of these guys bought ammo, guns, and accessories at the beginning of 2008 thinking they would be WEALTHY when Obama started talking about gun control. When Newtown happened, people DID buy quite a few things thinking they were gonna ban. Some dealers over paid for some weapons that DID NOT move!

Surprise! Nothing happened... so far.

Sooooo now you have dealers that have been carting the same items to-and-fro for 3+ years now, hoping that SOMEONE would buy their overpaid for items to make it worth their while.

Nope! With the advent of the inturwebz, local "transfer" FFL's, and some really good local gunshops, you can get a really good bargain that way. Exceptions are things that are hard to find, but then they're so overpriced, you cannot buy them.

I'll continue to work the shows, but in truth? It's spinning your wheels, and finding something to do when the weather's bad.

[SHMIV]

Last gun show I went to, I was rather turned off by the entrance fee. I rode with a friend, but witnessed the parking situation; decided I would never subject myself to such a nightmare.

Some guy was selling holsters; in his demonstration, he kept pointing his demo guns at me and everyone else. I found myself wondering if he treated his actual carry piece the same way.

Overall, I am unimpressed with gun shows.

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[M1A4ME]

I'm heading up there this morning.

I get primers there cheaper than I see them at local gun stores (if I can even find them at local gun stores). Powder, last time I bought some wasn't cheap, but again, the local stores didn't have what I needed (took a lot of trips to Green Tops and Bass Pro and found no powder I could use or if they had a pound or two it was more expensive than the gun shows.)

Not really sure about the price of guns. Green Tops does have some pretty good prices on their used guns. They just don't have the guns I've been buying (certain CZ handguns). When I request a certain model Green Tops folks just tell me to keep coming back and sooner or later, they'll probably have one.

Anyway, we enjoy walking through and looking. Never know what you'll see.

[Viper21]

Have had similar experiences at the few shows I've been to. However, I did find one dealer that had some good deals on what I was looking for. In fact, saw the exact same gun for sale on other tables for $100 more!!! Wondered if it was a fluke but, have made multiple purchases from said dealer now. Haven't found a better price anywhere.

[CCFan]

I've been to two shows over the last ten years... Talked with the owner of a local shop and ended up purchasing an SVT-40 from his personal collection. I've been unsuccessful finding things I've been looking for, and found that if you can make friends with a few small shop owners, you can get about anything without fighting the gun show crowd. I was happy I met the guy with the SVT though...

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[allingeneral]

Not to mention the entry fees just to walk around and buy nothing. Anyone who totes around 2, 3 or 4 kids knows the pain of spending $40, $60 or more before even getting in the door!

[SHMIV]

The entrance fee really gets me. It strikes me as double dipping. I suppose that it would be worth it if I knew I would save a couple hundred bucks on something that I would buy, anyway, but I don't see that happening.

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[wittmeba]

Fully agree, Reverend. I reach the point where I don't even want to temp myself.

The only thing I've bought in the past year was bulk ammo (500+). The reason: the high cost of shipping ammo by carriers.

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Parking is usually free. As soon as they start charging for this, it would be my last trip.

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As much as we all enjoy viewing, talking and handling guns, the best protest is stop paying/going to the shows.

[kelu]

I only go there to look at collectible guns. They're beautiful, and hard to see some other place.
And maybe a bottle of powder, since the hazard fee is greater than entrance fee.

[Reverenddel]

Since I don't reload, I differ to the reloaders.

They indeed do have quite a few dealers for components there. Also, the one at RIR has Holsingers Meats, and Delis, and they make a delicious "pepper stick"! 3 for $5, and one is a meal by itself!

Otherwise? The viewing of collectibles is a point, but I can say I have been to estate sales where they have similar items.

It's just seeing these dealers trying to recoup bad decisioning from 3+ years ago. I know they're all "making deals" on Sunday, but my thoughts, if you started out with the REAL price from the get go? You'd own the floor.

Like Viper said, one GOOD dealer would make it worthwhile.

[Swampman]

Went to one in Dulles about 5 years ago, then again in F'burg about 3 years ago. Meh.

Some cool stuff to look at, but that's about all.