Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

The Nation's Gun Show - Chantilly - Oct 1-3, 2010.

C&E Gun Shows and Showmasters combine 29 years of Excellence in Gun Show

Promotion and is pleased to PRESENT The LARGEST Gun Show in the Metro D. C. Area!

Held at the Dulles Expo in Chantilly, VA. 1000 tables of vendors and displays....

The Size of 2 football fields!

Over 1 1/2 miles of Guns, Knives and Accessories!

Details and directions --> http://thenationsgunshow.com/

This is the last Chantilly show before the November elections. Given the importance of this election to our RKBA, you might want to keep that fact in mind.

There are no others between now & then???

There is one 29 July-1 August

And all the tables are sold out. Sigh.

Yep July 30-Aug 1is the next one. We'll be doing the CHP classes for them again.

Are we allowed to conceal carry at the Dulles Expo Center? I have a Utah nonresident permit and I just moved here from CA.

Like most if not all guns shows, no loaded firearms are permitted.

OakRidgeStars wrote:Like most if not all guns shows, no loaded firearms are permitted.

It should be noted this is a private restriction, not a government one. The various owners/sponsors/insurers have collectively agreed to this.

Can't wait, I will be getting my AR and probably an XDSC at this show. And yes, they require you to ziptie your firearm if you are carrying it.

This will be my first gun show, so I've got a couple questions.

Does anyone know the hours of operations for this event? I may be able to attend only on Sunday, but if the hours are shorter on Sunday than Saturday, I may have to make other arrangements.

Also, if we're required to zip-tie our firearms, how are supposed to be able to demo/install holsters/drop-in accessories? Or do most vendors have training/demo weapons on hand to demonstrate?

I'm looking to purchase a few holsters (I'm obsessed with accessories), a guide rod upgrade, and a stainless & extended barrel, so I was sort of counting on being able to see/feel them installed before purchase. Will I still be able to do this?

Thanks for helpin' a newb
~Jonathan

JonathanT wrote:This will be my first gun show, so I've got a couple questions.

Does anyone know the hours of operations for this event? I may be able to attend only on Sunday, but if the hours are shorter on Sunday than Saturday, I may have to make other arrangements.

Also, if we're required to zip-tie our firearms, how are supposed to be able to demo/install holsters/drop-in accessories? Or do most vendors have training/demo weapons on hand to demonstrate?

I'm looking to purchase a few holsters (I'm obsessed with accessories), a guide rod upgrade, and a stainless & extended barrel, so I was sort of counting on being able to see/feel them installed before purchase. Will I still be able to do this?

Thanks for helpin' a newb
~Jonathan

Show info here - www.thenationsgunshow.com

If you need to demo a holster, most dealers can cut the zip tie and allow you to try it. They usually then will re-ziptie the gun before you leave the table....or at least that is what they should do.

Just got back.
Was not impressed. 12 dollars just to get in, and most of the guns were really overpriced. I guess those tables cost a lot of money.
Tons of Lugers available but the crummy, rusted, pitted ones were selling for 1500 bucks and nice ones were more like 3 grand.

Everything else I could get on Amazon much cheaper. BUT, it was nice to be able to put my hands on things I normally dont get to see up close.

I passed on this one due to my going to the show in Fredericksburg & making a purchase.

ShortMan wrote:Just got back.
Was not impressed. 12 dollars just to get in, and most of the guns were really overpriced. I guess those tables cost a lot of money.

I think the tables at Chantilly are around $100 each. So, the bigger retailers drop a grand or more just for tables. That's a steep hill to climb in an effort to come out on the other end of the weekend with a profit.

Is it me or is that gun show getting too expensive? $12-$18 is too much to get in unless you really have something in mind. I've skipped going as of late because I want to browse, but not for that much. It seems the prices have risen to the point you are paying local retail prices.

Kinda defeated the purpose of a gun show IMHO.

Actually most of the new stuff was well over retail. If you know of any local gun stores I can almost promise you will save a lot of money.
The only reason to go is if you know a particular salesman will have something special you want and you know you can't find it in a store or on eBay.

This show is good for browsing, comparing fit/feel, not having to worry about getting hassled by looking at 10 different guns and not buying any of them(handguns at least). Overall, the prices are pretty rediculous at MOST of the tables, but not all. Occasionally you will find a good deal though, if you look hard enough and show up early.. examples:

I found a 9mm Springfield XD subcompact bi-tone for $429 with night sights.. that is the best price I've seen so far, anywhere. Look on vaguntrader and see used xdsc w/o night sites going for $500

I found CCI small pistol primers for $22/box and the guy had a huge cache, its not so huge now

I found XDm mags for $20/each

On the other hand, I also found the Walmart Special 18$ 550 Federal bulk .22 being sold for $30/box, which I once again saw people paying for... apparently some of these people have never been to Walmart. I have been to probably 5 Walmarts in the last few months and each of them had the 550 bulks on the rack for $18.x7. I guess if you are dumb enough to pay that, then you probably didn't need that extra money anyways

So yeah, $12 is high to get in, but where else can you see tens of thousands of guns, knives and ammo all in one place with an occasional deal here and there. Not to mention you can save a buck if you print the $1.00 off coupon from the VGOF newsletter, that $1.00 saved can buy you half a bag of Skittles at the show

I did see a Sig P238 for 529 dollars. Thats OK. Of course, I've seen it online for 429 so even with shipping and waiting it can be found better.

So. This is a waste of time and money. Nearly everything was marked UP from normal retail pricing. Bulk ammo is cheaper at Cabelas. Having to pay admission to this was simlpy and plainly, insulting. I do not know when the change happened but this has turned into nothing short of a colossal waste of time.