Gun Show

[javadrinker]

I am planning on going to a gun show tomorrow for the first time ever.
Anybody advice for a new gun owner? What vendors should I avoid ?
Thanks in advance for the help!

[Monkey]

First, welcome to the forum!

Second, before you buy, I HIGHLY recommend you rent a few at your local range and figure out what you like and what you don't like.

Our first hadngun was a S&W Governor. After about $900 and a week later, we figured out that while I like the gun (after all, who doesn't love a good hand cannon?), it was too much gun for my better half.

Since then, we are very particular about what handguns we buy, knowing that we should both be able to use them comfortably and effectively.

What gun show are you attending?

[javadrinker]

The C&E gun show in Salem, VA.

[SHMIV]

My advice is to avoid gun shows. I went to one, once, and found that they attract too many people, and charge too many dollars to attend.

Not much different from carnivals, theme parks, and casinos.

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[javadrinker]

I am thinking of going just so I can look around.

[OakRidgeStars]

Gun shows are great for checking out firearms, talking to vendors and educating yourself about guns you might be interested in. Then take that knowledge and make your purchase at a local brick and mortar gun store. The prices at gun shows are way too high.

[javadrinker]

That is my plan. I have heard that about the gun shows.

[Monkey]

Concur with the above advice.

Still recommend shooting a few rentals if possible. Buying a gun before you know how it feels is like buying a car before test driving it.

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[trailrunner]

At one time, gun shows were a good place to go, but lately I don't think they are so great.

I agree with Monkey's advice. When I first started shooting (over 20 years ago), my buddy and I went to the range, and we rented guns. It was a slow night, and they let us shoot anything for the same hourly rate. We probably spent two hours in there shooting all sorts of guns. When it was over, they gave us a bill (sort of like a bar tab) and we split it between us. That was probably some of the best money I spent.

I also highly advise you to get some good training. It will also be some of the best money that you can spend.

[jdonovan]

for $20 its the best can-touch shopping experience.

If you are going there looking for a good deal, don't expect it. Many of the vendors go from show to show each weekend and don't need you to buy this weekend because there is another you next weekend, and the weekend after that...

The good deals to be found are on gunbroker where you have home based dealers who are willing to make $10-20 profit. Or someone who has been sitting on a gun for too long and just wants it out of inventory. I recently scored a new gun off gun broker for $75 less than my local dealer's cost, when he got one in 5 days after he did my transfer.

[SHMIV]

For a "can touch" experience, I like to hit gun stores on a day and time that they are not busy; for example, a Tuesday afternoon, around 2:00.

I find that the parking is free, so is entering the store, and there is no need to pack a lunch (or have to pay movie concession prices for a lunch). Not being busy, the store employees are happy to show you anything that you may want to see, and frequently ask for the privilege. Also, the store not being busy, you can usually point the firearm that you are examining in a safe direction to look down the sights, without fear of poining it at someone.

It's also much quieter.

I understand, though, that most people are working at these times, and it may not be possible to get in at a good quiet time.

I think that my biggest problem with gun shows is that I just hate crowds; so, pay me no mind, lol.

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[WVUBeta1904]

Gun shows, as you see by the comments, resonate differently based on the person you ask.

My $0.02 - They are a great place to pick up and hold a multitude of different firearms, which is very important when picking out your first pistol, rifle, shotgun, etc. You will also come across some very cool memorabilia from past wars and much earlier time periods, which is a blast to look at.

The firearm prices are sky-high, the vendors are (typically) knowledgeable, and the crowds are dense. Cope with those facts, and you'll be fine.

Also, you will see NRA volunteers sitting outside of the entrance way recruiting members. If you sign up with them, which is just about the price of a show ticket anyway, you get free admission. Two birds, one stone.

Look around and enjoy yourself. It's a fun experience in my opinion.

[M1A4ME]

I don't know about anyplace else, but the gun shows I've bought guns at had better selection and better prices than Green Tops or Bass Pro, of Bobs Gun Shop (gun store, what ever it's called there on Hull Street).

I've bought guns from Bob's (no more after the BDM fiasco a few years back) and Green Tops. Bass Pro is one of those, "Really, you want that much more than the other guys in the area for the same thing???? Yeah, right, see ya."

That's the idea. Look on the internet. See what guns are going for, see what feels good in your hand, do some research on prices, magazine availability/prices, holster availability, etc.

I could tell you what's best in my opinion (brand of guns I mean). I can tell you for some brands you won't find much of a selection at the local guns stores, that's a fact. They have their favorite brands, they get their deals, too. And while you're at it, check on parts availability, too. For some brands you can't buy hardly any parts. The manufacturer won't sell parts to the people that buy their guns. Hell, they won't hardly sell spare parts to the guys like Midway, Brownells, etc. I know, I've got to nice, barely used handguns in the safe that I really liked, till I had function problems with them and had issues getting parts. I'd like to buy the parts and make myself fell better about their reliability and I will not box them up and ship them back to a company that sent them out not working right in the first place (big name company, old, well known US company). The guns I'm carrying and shooting now are different. That company (an old, well known Eastern European company, will sell me any part I want except the frames themselves. I like that. Somebody willing to deal with their customers.

Anyway, internet research, visit some local gun dealers, go to the guns shows, see what works out for you.

[OakRidgeStars]

I was browsing in a Gander Mountain store last week while working in Maryland. How they manage to sell any guns at the prices they charge is a mystery to me. The selection was decent but they definitely go for the suckers.

[cwfunrider]

I was browsing in a Gander Mountain store last week while working in Maryland. How they manage to sell any guns at the prices they charge is a mystery to me. The selection was decent but they definitely go for the suckers.

Seriously. Absolutely outrageous prices on hand guns. Long guns of the hunting variety are slightly better but not much. The only thing I go there for is fishing stuff and the occasional shirt, on sale or clearance.

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[Monkey]

I was browsing in a Gander Mountain store last week while working in Maryland. How they manage to sell any guns at the prices they charge is a mystery to me. The selection was decent but they definitely go for the suckers.

Seriously. Absolutely outrageous prices on hand guns. Long guns of the hunting variety are slightly better but not much. The only thing I go there for is fishing stuff and the occasional shirt, on sale or clearance.

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Best deal I've seen Gander Mountain have was the Black Friday Marlin 795 for just over $100. Outside of that...not so much.

[FiremanBob]

My LGS lowers the price on many popular handguns for shows. But I have seen many dealers whose prices are much higher on the same firearms at the same shows.

Gun shows are like the old "market days" in the era before automobiles made a 20-mile drive a "quick trip to the store". They bring everyone together making it convenient to shop, and provide more customer traffic than the dealers get the entire rest of the week. I think gun shows do a great service for both vendors and customers. For vendors of the offbeat products, they are much more cost-effective than renting a brick-and-mortar shop and advertising to bring people to it. For hobbyists and collectors, they are a the only viable alternative to dealing from home (which would be both inefficient and unsafe).

As for the fees, I resent how high they are, but compared to spending a couple of days and much gas (when it was expensive) trying to find a good deal, they are probably worth it if you are a serious buyer, and if you're going for entertainment, competitive with a movie ticket.

[scott9050]

I just bought an M&P .40 Detroit police trade in from Buds gun shop online for $323 shipped, close to half of what new would go for and it has functioning night sights. I picked it up Saturday morning and was pleased overall for the price. It has light holster wear and was dirty internally but cleaned up very well and showed very little actual range use. One of the magazines had obviously been used in drills and dropped to the ground. It looks like it will be a good shooter and I will put it through its paces before I carry it for my second job.
The lowest price locally for a used M&P was $499 plus tax, so I came out better for the same thing.

[Snakester]

I use to go to several shows each year . Now it seems all the good deals are gone. I buy most of my firearms at gun shops but I do buy or trade with private owners quite a bit.

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[Reverenddel]

The only cool thing about gunshows? Meeting people.

You don't feel so "lonely" in your views when you see thousands of people that share the same views.

Granted, there are NO real deals at the show, but sometimes? if you do the math, it's the same as a local shop.

Depends on the dealer, and depends on the item. I have found things at shows that I couldn't find online. It's rare, but take your time, go slow, go up, and down each aisle, and NEVER BUY THE ITEM FROM THE FIRST GUY!

BECAUSE...

...you're guaranteed to find it cheaper three aisles over. I swear that's a curse we've all suffered.