Is there a gun show at the fair grounds this weekend 1/29-1/31?
THANKS

Yep.

I'm planning to go. What's it going to be like?

Light will shine through the windows.  You will be met at the door by maidens.  With puppies and single malt scotch.  Harps will be gently playing in the background.  Everything you're looking for will be on sale.  And, dare I say it, there will be 22 AMMO!  Stacked to the ceiling!  Pallet loads of 22 ammo!  It will be rapture!  

Or crowded and full of rude foul smelling neck beards.  One or other.  It can be hard to predict.

This!

Ah you guys are just telling the that so I don't go and you can buy up all the good deals. I'm onto you.

I'm going Sunday, I'm still confused if I can CCW or not. Fairgrounds are explicitly off limits, so I can buy and sell guns, but not conceal a gun?

No CCW at shows well it's posted I believe

But signs don't count. Only the law counts. During the state fair it is no go by administrative rule other than that I don't know for sure either.

If they catch you carrying at the show they will throw you out.  Seen it happen more than once.  Been that way for decades.  Feel free to launch the test case.

Even us vendors can't carry.

Its one of the few places I go to that I really feel the need to carry. I'm either transporting expensive pistols or a bag full of cash.

What are the hours for Saturday ??

Thanks

Joe

I went to the recent Cedar Rapids and adventure land shows and they were pretty lame. Lots of overpriced stuff, lots of old stuff, but nothing spectacular.

could we get an update to the gun show schedule???

If it's normal hours.

F 5-9
Sat 9-5
Sun 9-3

Don't read into what I said. I said it is no go during the fair but I didn't know about other times. As for me I don't really care. I have never been to the fairgrounds and doubt I ever will be.

Is there something in particular you are looking for?

Thanks,!!

I arrived at 0900 Saturday and had to wait 10 minutes to get in as everyone filed in.
Left at 1030 and the entrance line was longer. Sieh's seemed several deep in 4473s and the place was crowded..

I happened to find what I think was a good deal, so it was worthwhile.

I was going to go to in hopes of buying a S&W SW22 Victory, but Sportsmans Warehouse in Ankeny had one for $369 that I bought instead of running the gauntlet at the fairgrounds.

Good price.  Cheapest I saw at the show was $349.

Ended up going twice.  Friday night I was searching for an M&P AR 22 for the college club I advise.  Found one but didn't do a lot of looking for myself.  Went back Saturday.  Renewed my NRA membership so I got in free.  I left Friday night thinking  I missing something.  

Spent about an hour and a half doing some serious table grazing.  As a rule I buy used.  Also as a rule I'm always on the look out for older revolvers; Colts, Smiths, Ruger, doesn't matter.  I started out collecting Model Tens and have branched out into Colt OP's, DS's, Ruger Service Sixes, that sort of stuff.  Eventually found a Colt 1917 at a price I was good with. (Reblued and scrubbed like a lot of USGI stuff from that era, but much cheaper than a pristine example).  

Assorted observations.  Anything used and polymer was almost certainly in 40 and not moving.  Used nines were pretty scarce.  The market seems to be moving away from 40 and back to 9.  AR's stacked to the ceiling.  AK's in decent numbers.  If you want a Garand, it's $1,100.  Reloading supplies were available.  Sieh was selling a lot of stuff as was Beaupain.  Bob was moving reloading supplies.  Gabes was dead as were a number of other dealers.  Sieh and Beaupain were sucking most of the money out of that show.  B&B was doing pretty well (that's where I got my 1917).  Friday night the media was there.  Gone Saturday.  Crowd was good Friday but not overwhelming.  Saturday crowd was manageable.  All in all a fairly typical fairgrounds show.  Deals to be had if you knew what to look for and what the market was.