jj

I went today. Wasn't too bad. A friend with me bought a RRA mid lenght with bolt and carrier for $400. Not too many people with private sales wandering around.
Went looking for a decent used 4" 686 Smith, no joy.

Lots of M1 carbines on tables. Found an Inland I may get in the future.

I went Sun, it was OK, not the best lakeland show, better then sitting at the house. Sold a shotgun, then couldn't find anything to buy Oh well, guess its time for a scope for the varminter!

I was at the suncoast show, and there was a pretty big crowd when I was there, on staurday.
I was talking to a private seller with a real nice Springfield 1911.
Was asking $450 for it. I didn't do it. Kinda regret that now....

The Lakeland show is notorious for tire kickers,

asking a lot of questions, taking up time but not buying anything.  I worked Suncoast in Palmetto & we did pretty well.

Word of warning though, we see this same little grandma walking around at every show near Tampa selling guns.  Her husband picks them up at the flea mkt on Saturday, on Sunday she walk in with 1-2 at a time, sells them, then returns to hubby for a couple more.  They are dealing, without a license, so ATF is onto them already.  Anyway, Sunday she walks by with a shotgun that looks awfully short.  My boss asks to look at the gun, measures the barrel & sure enuff it's 1" too short.  She says, no it's not give it back.  Boss escorts her to the cop at the front door who confiscates the barrel.

I think, no big deal, but what if one of us buys it & gets caught?  Up to 10 yrs, and you'd never legally own another gun.  Or, if the papers caught wind of it & now we're shutting down shows to stop "illicit gun" trade?  A friend of mine bought an AR from a private dealer 10 yrs ago & his first trip to the range it runs away after 10 shots heats it up, emptying the mag.  Did it again on the next mag.  Turns out it was chopped by someone trying to convert it.  Someone from the range called the Sherrif, he spent some time explaining to the ATF, it was a big mess.

Folks like that bring a lot of heat to private deals.  ATF is trying to crack down on it, eventualy we might end up like Kali, where all deals have to go thru FFL's....

So, be careful out there.

Quoted: The Lakeland show is notorious for tire kickers, asking a lot of questions, taking up time but not buying anything.  I worked Suncoast in Palmetto & we did pretty well. Word of warning though, we see this same little grandma walking around at every show near Tampa selling guns.  Her husband picks them up at the flea mkt on Saturday, on Sunday she walk in with 1-2 at a time, sells them, then returns to hubby for a couple more.  They are dealing, without a license, so ATF is onto them already.  Anyway, Sunday she walks by with a shotgun that looks awfully short.  My boss asks to look at the gun, measures the barrel & sure enuff it's 1" too short.  She says, no it's not give it back.  Boss escorts her to the cop at the front door who confiscates the barrel. I think, no big deal, but what if one of us buys it & gets caught?  Up to 10 yrs, and you'd never legally own another gun.  Or, if the papers caught wind of it & now we're shutting down shows to stop "illicit gun" trade?  A friend of mine bought an AR from a private dealer 10 yrs ago & his first trip to the range it runs away after 10 shots heats it up, emptying the mag.  Did it again on the next mag.  Turns out it was chopped by someone trying to convert it.  Someone from the range called the Sherrif, he spent some time explaining to the ATF, it was a big mess. Folks like that bring a lot of heat to private deals.  ATF is trying to crack down on it, eventualy we might end up like Kali, where all deals have to go thru FFL's.... So, be careful out there.

Good Lord.

Aim4myhead,

you are absolutely correct.  They check us all the time, testing us with straw sales while across the isle there's a guy with a table & a sign that says "No background check, no sales tax", who's dealing like a mofo.  You can't get the cops to do anything because "It's a code enforcement issue", which means that it's not thier job.  Ofcourse, these same cops will be facing down the rastaheads that are buying from this guy before they get to me.....

ISMO, which boot were you working at?