Posted: 2/9/2012 6:36:38 AM EDT
| One is coming to town in a couple of weeks. Are they good for picking up a rifle or is it better to go online? At the very least I am going to be asking a ton of questions and seeing how different parts feel. |
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The prices are usually no better than what you can find in gun stores, and sometimes much higher, bordering on the ridiculous.
It's a good opportunity to fondle guns and see which you prefer. Sometimes you will get a nice deal, or find a nice gem, but that's rare. Like previous posts have stated, know what the price range of a particular gun is before you go in. A bit of advice: after handling so many guns that others have touched, make sure you don't rub your eyes, chew on your fingernails, etc., and thoroughly wash your hands afterward. |
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New guns are generally no great deal but know prices and allow for shipping,transfer and taxes when comparing prices.
Most folks figger having it in your hand today is worth something over ordering it today and getting it whenever. Used guns are a different deal . You still need to know going rates but there is no substitute for having the item in your hands so you can judge condition The profits at a gunshow are made on the shoulders of the folks who don't know the going rates ,don't be that guy Anything someone tells you at a gunshow is personal opinion not fact or reality |
| I imagine every state has its share of good ones and bad ones. They can be a lot of fun if you are a serious collector and have a table. in the old days it really paid off. nowadays maybe not anymore. we use to see some very cool stuff come through the doors back then. some can be real fud-n-flea market fest..... |
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One is coming to town in a couple of weeks. Are they good for picking up a rifle or is it better to go online? At the very least I am going to be asking a ton of questions and seeing how different parts feel. Every show I've been to is a "Used for Retail + 20%" event. Not worth buying at unless it is something really hard to find. |
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One is coming to town in a couple of weeks. Are they good for picking up a rifle or is it better to go online? At the very least I am going to be asking a ton of questions and seeing how different parts feel. Best advice is to know the product and its value. Beware of junk....it will be there. If you have a smart phone Google a part at a known-good vendor to get a handle on value. |
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My experiences at the gun shows are mixed.
With having to pay to park ( $7 ), then pay to get in ( small show is $10, larger is $15 ) I'm already down. So really gotta find the good deals. Most of the big ammo guys charge tax, and on some larger orders, it can add up or exceed some shipping costs. So this is the down start. I'm already paying out and not really getting anything but the visit to the fair grounds. So I usually look for mags. 20 rounders for my AK are usually plentiful and cheaper. USGI AR Mag's I look for $6-$7 each. Most of these sales are not taxes when you bring cash. Then I grab ammo cans. Month ago I grabbed .30 for $7 and .50 for $9. Hell of a deal with no shipping. Then it's look for cases, gun socks, bandoliers, etc. Moral of the Gun Show story is have a big list. All those things you have been looking or, or bought all separately for your current weapon you can usually grab at the gun shows all at once. And can save on shipping and sometimes tax too. Bring cash as other have stated, and keep an eye out for those good buys. Good luck OP. |
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The current pig rifle is a gun show $50 Remington Mosin that came w/ a Marble peep sight soldered onto the cocking piece that's probably worth more than the gun. The ATI scope mount also came from the show - the stock & ATI bolt handle came from a $99 pawn shop 91/30.
Take something you want to sell - just be aware your price will drop the longer you carry it around... Gig 'em, backbencher |
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New stuff? You're generally wasting your time.
However, most of my C&Rs have been bought from shows. They will have a much larger selection than a single store, you only have to drive one place, and being able to inspect the firearm is key with these sort of things. After 60/80/100+ years these guns have all become unique entities unto themselves. |
| Varies widely. Here in Iowa the show circuit is still very strong and good deals can be had. I gather that is the exception to the rule. You need to keep in mind that it's been a seller's market for the last three years. Dealers don't have to offer rock bottom prices, they can pretty much sell everything they have. And shows will always have a certain number of dealers that are just plain nuts. |
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You can get a good deal on common pistols at the shows here. Glocks, 1911's, etc. I can get a Glock for $480 OTD at the show and in the shops they start at $489 + tax. Just going to the show and saving the tax helps get them more in line with internet pricing. I always take cash and talk OTD prices.
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| You're not going to find many deals from the "vendors" at a gun show. A private seller would be the best bet. Gunshows are also good for those that reload as you don't have to pay the extra HAZMAT shipping fees for gunpowder and primers... and if their prices "include" your local sales tax, even better! |
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Depends on the show, I got my first rifle at a gun show and it's pretty solid since I did my research beforehand. I didnt know all the gun stores in my area so going to a gun show was convenient way of looking at multiple vendors in the same place. Admission cost was average and parking was free, so no issues there. I would say I scored a pretty decent deal for buying an Armalite AR-15 for $750 where the only similar guns at that price was DMPS and Bushmaster carbon (plastic body). Some vendors will try to play little tricks like adding all magpul/tactical furniture to a DMPS or low end AR and sell it for $1500 because its 'zomg tactical' just like in COD. But its a good way to get a feel for what a gun is like before purchasing.
I tend to stay away from buying the small stuff like accessories since I can usually find a better deal online and free shipping with amazon prime. Buying ammo is a hit or miss, there can be good deals or more expensive prices. Again, I find better deals on ammo online in bulk. |
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I've had good luck at the larger shows in Houston, picked up a couple of new Colt 1911's cheaper than I could find them anywhere else.
The smaller local show is horribly over priced. The occasional good deal can be found but it's usually with one of the other attendees verses an actual vendor....... |
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There is a local gun show held almost every month at the South Florida Fairgrounds; it's an excellent place to see and handle thousands of all sorts of guns and there are always great deals to be had.
I'm going "shopping" this weekend. Not all gunshows are shit. 
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You're not going to find many deals from the "vendors" at a gun show. A private seller would be the best bet. Gunshows are also good for those that reload as you don't have to pay the extra HAZMAT shipping fees for gunpowder and primers... and if their prices "include" your local sales tax, even better! I would agree with this. If you're a reloader, not paying the HAZMAT fees alone are worth going. If you need factory ammo, go early on the first day, take cash, and have your hand cart. |
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One is coming to town in a couple of weeks. Are they good for picking up a rifle or is it better to go online? At the very least I am going to be asking a ton of questions and seeing how different parts feel. That's what they are for. Most of the vender's don't really want to sell stuff at the show. They are there to answer questions and let you feel the guns and parts. They like that. It builds business for down the road. Just tell the guy when you walk up, "hey, I'm not going to buy anything. I just want to feel it and I have a list of questions" That way he will know to spend extra time with you. |
I bring my wife and let her do the negotiating on price if I actually have money to spend, (I have a BOTD thread for the leg humpers so not posting more pics  ). She gets better deals because the dealers are just starting at her tits.
Normally the deals at least in my experience are on people walking around with stuff. Most people are pretty proud of their shit, but you get the occasional that doesn't know what they have. |
| Online every time. Gun shows are ripoffs for the most part. Occasionally people who are there trying to sell (non-dealers of course) have somethign that they have no idea is valuable that you can acquire for cheap but it seems to never be you that scores those deals. |
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One is coming to town in a couple of weeks. Are they good for picking up a rifle or is it better to go online? At the very least I am going to be asking a ton of questions and seeing how different parts feel. That's what they are for. Most of the vender's don't really want to sell stuff at the show. They are there to answer questions and let you feel the guns and parts. They like that. It builds business for down the road. Just tell the guy when you walk up, "hey, I'm not going to buy anything. I just want to feel it and I have a list of questions" That way he will know to spend extra time with you.
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One is coming to town in a couple of weeks. Are they good for picking up a rifle or is it better to go online? At the very least I am going to be asking a ton of questions and seeing how different parts feel. That's what they are for. Most of the vender's don't really want to sell stuff at the show. They are there to answer questions and let you feel the guns and parts. They like that. It builds business for down the road. Just tell the guy when you walk up, "hey, I'm not going to buy anything. I just want to feel it and I have a list of questions" That way he will know to spend extra time with you. I'd say if for some odd reason you found some dealer at a show that did answer your questions and spend some time on you after telling them that you are just looking. Buy from that dealer! Business is so good still that most of them don't do what they consider wasting time on anyone that doesn't have money ready to spend on stock that they have ready to sell, the other option being if you are female you'll get more help too. It's to the point where it does need to slow down a bit just to cull the herd some really. |
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If it's going to be a larger should it will probably be worth your while. The one's here suck now. Almost all the tables are run by 80 year old fat guys in camo that seem to be painfully unaware of the internet and the fact you can buy stuff on it. Last time it wasn't even worth the $6 to even people watch. I made it through all the tables in about 15 minutes. I just had no desire to buy beef jerkey, dreeam catchers, ching-chong chinese whittlin knives, random nazi artifacts or handmade ammo sold in ziplock bags. The SKS that was being sold for $1,000 was pretty tempting though.
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