Gun shows?

[GeoJAP]

I've seen lots of threads on gun shows and I want to ask a question. Do people still buy anything at guns shows? I know window shopping is cool, but does anyone pay the prices at gun shows?

I've never bought anything in my 10 years of going to gun shows in Austin. The prices are all too high and the selection is very limited. It's pretty much the same stuff that I can buy at Academy or McBride's, but for a more expensive price.

I buy my ammo from Aim Surplus, Ammoman, Century International or Wideners. I buy my surplus arms from any of the good wholesalers, like AIM, Samco, SoG, and others. I buy my firearms either from online ads on The High Road, Firing Line or maybe even GunsNet and Gunboards. If they are not Curio and Relic, my new guns are bought straight from the manufacturer and transfered to Chris at Action Pawn in Leander for $15, or else I buy them from McBride's if the direct purchase from a wholesaler isn't available.

[Moonpie]

I continue to visit gun shows in order to see/touch/examine older guns.
Gun show dealer prices are insane 99% of the time. Every once in a while I find an acorn. It is rare but it still happens.
The good deals are made off of people coming into the shows with something they want to sell/trade.
New guns aren't going to be all that much different in price than the local sporting goods place.
I also look for odds and ends such as ammo, grips, knives, cases, holsters, mags, etc.
Just today I went to a show and found factory 38 Super ammo for $16.63 a box. That same ammo at a sporting good store would cost at least $20+ a box(if they even have it. Few do).

My tricks for gun shows:

1.) After entering, go to the very back of the show and work your way to the front. The guys near the front are usually the most expensive.

2.) CASH talks.

3.) Know exactly what you want and how much you are willing to pay.

4.) Don't boolchit the dealer. Make him an offer you can live with.
Stand by your offer.
Don't say things like "Let me go get some money" or " I have to sell something first" and then never come back.
Also don't stand there and blather on about how your Uncle Jim was in the American Expeditionary Force and killed Mohawks in Antarctica with a tactical Ruger Old Army just like the one on the dealers table.

5.) If the dealer won't agree to a price you can stomach WALK AWAY.
Don't get mad. Just say No Deal and let it go. Unless its Hilter's personal Colt Walker or George Washington's AR-15, there will always be another down the line somewhere.

6.) Have your paperwork/ID/etc in order and ready. This expedites the paperwork on the dealers end.

7.) If you see something you're after at a good deal, buy it then and there. Often times it will not be there when you get back. Don't get upset if you see the same piece for $20 less on a table farther on. See Rule#3.

8.) Take a shoulder bag or backpack to help carry things you purchase.

9.)Relax. This is supposed to be a hobby. Enjoy yourself. If you don't score something at the show doesn't mean its been a failure.

Some days you're the bug. Some days you're the windshield.

[MrsFosforos]

There are at least two major dealers around here - who are notorious for having price wars at area gun shows and make it well worth it for us to make the trip. We've also picked up a couple of different used guns from private dealers at very good prices. We haven't had to pay transfer fees, no shipping costs, sometimes no tax has been required.

[Rokyudai]

Great advice Moonpie,

I too enjoy the window shopping. At one of our last SAXET shows, I thought I found a great IWB holster (for a Southpaw no less) and asked how much....YIKES...then I asked, "whats the special gunshow price"...the young lady paused, looked at me quizically and said, its the same....I sighed and walked away. It seems only the jerky guy or gal gets my money that day.

[Venus Pax]

There are many merchants at the gun shows that take advantage of the fact that many people don't know the going rate of the items on the table. If they can get more for the product, they will.

There are usually a couple of tables at the Pasadena & GRB that have good prices, usually better than Academy.

I also got a slightly better price last Saturday on reloading components. I got small pistol primers (1000) for $24 and four pounds of powder for $44. It's usually more expensive for these products at my nearest gun store, and I would have to pay haz-mat fees if I ordered them online.

It helps to talk to others and find out what a particular item is supposed to cost.

[stroo]

I mainly windowshop on guns. I do sometimes pick up other things that I can't find in stores like certain holsters, a leather belt at a good price, cleaning tools, vests etc. But mainly I go to look and touch.

[Farley]

When I go to a gun show, and I did today, I usually have a couple of guns in mind and I have already done a little research on the price and what I'm willing to pay. If I find one that is what I am willing to pay, I buy it, if I don't find anything I window shop and leave. And there can be quite a bit of difference in price from table to table. Not today, but at the last show I was at I was looking for a particular revolver, there was a $75 difference between the 3 tables that had the revolver. It's like anything else, you have to know what you are willing to pay before you walk in.

[ELB]

My gunshow experience:

I bought my first 9mm Hi Power, a very slightly used (as in no marks on it at all) FN HP-SFS, at the Saxet show in San Antonio. I paid $460 out the door (or is it off the table?). I think this was an excellent deal.

At another Saxet show I bought a Marlin Glenfield .30-30 for $180 total. Wood had some wear, not the prettiest finish, but no rust or pitting, shoots great. Another good deal, I think.

At yet a third Saxet show, I sold a Rossi revolver for $200 that I had bought for $250 at a local gun store a year previously and had continously carried and fired. I was also pleased with that outcome.

With some careful looking, I also find good deals on particular brands of ammo that are harder to come by on the 'net or in gunstores -- mainly Winchester Ranger and Cor-bon.

Before I go to the shows, I generally have researched whatever I am in the market for, and know the total prices (e.g. including shipping, tax, etc) so I can spot a deal when I run across it. I have seen some guns and ammo that were well above my definition of "good deal" or " reasonable," so I didn't buy those.

And finally, I love to walk around and see all the other, non-gun stuff the people bring to sell -- mil surplus, knives, belts, niche tools, commando gear, etc. Worth the entrance fee just to see what's going on. Plus, I hope my attendance and purchases are giving gas pains to certain political opponents of gun show sales.

elb

[Renegade]

Wow.

My experience is the opposite. I have been going to gun shows in Texas for 15+ years, and prices and selection are always lower and better at shows than at gun stores.

The only exception was $3.86/50 9mm CCI/Blaser at Academy, and the odd year sales on Q3131A at Bass Pro, both of which no longer exist.

I go to DFW gun shows, but I would think the vendors are pretty much the same.

[KBCraig]

I continue to visit gun shows in order to see/touch/examine older guns.

Ditto.

Gun show dealer prices are insane 99% of the time. Every once in a while I find an acorn. It is rare but it still happens.

Double Ditto.

I am unfortunately situated, because the only (barely!) "real" gun show here is on the Arkansas side of town. I have a C&R FFL, which lets me buy C&Rs in Arkansas, but if I'm selling a C&R to a non-Texas resident, they have to come to my house to complete the sale. And non-C&R transfers automatically involve a transfer to a 01-FFL dealer in the purchaser's state of residence.

7.) If you see something you're after at a good deal, buy it then and there. Often times it will not be there when you get back. Don't get upset if you see the same piece for $20 less on a table farther on.

Likewise, if you pass on a deal and spot the exact same gun later at another table for $100 more than you could have bought it, don't get mad!

[AFJailor]

I went to a gunshow and bought 10 sig p220 mags for $9.95 each, they were marked Sigarms just like mine from the factory but where a little worn and even then work like new. Plus Sig mag's are so dang expensive at $40 a pop i never could of afforded to buy extra ones so this was an excellent deal.

[O6nop]

I almost always come away with something whenever I go to the Austin Saxet gun show! At least half of my firearms came from one dealer or another there. Especially my mil-surps. I'm proud owner of a SKS, Swede, Mosin, Lee Enfield and a M1 Garand because of that place. I paid going rate for those, but they will increase. I got a good trade from a used 9mm Star for a Ruger 45LC. I got a brand new SA GI 1911 for $100 less than the listed price. Lots of Ammo,too, but now I'm reloading so won't need much of that. I do hope to see some good deals on reloading components. Made a good deal on a pocket holster for my .38 spl.

If you go there, don't settle for the price on the sticker, make an offer.

[rm9792]

I go mostly for the private sellers and parts. It seems there are more "personal" collections being sold without paperwork than ever before.

[nemesis]

I've never bought anything in my 10 years of going to gun shows in Austin. The prices are all too high and the selection is very limited. It's pretty much the same stuff that I can buy at Academy or McBride's, but for a more expensive price.

I would be surprised if Academy or McBrides have prices as low a AJC Sports and AJC is at every Austin Saxet show.

At one of our last SAXET shows, I thought I found a great IWB holster (for a Southpaw no less) and asked how much....YIKES...then I asked, "whats the special gunshow price"...the young lady paused, looked at me quizically and said, its the same....I sighed and walked away. It seems only the jerky guy or gal gets my money that day.

That's a good question, what is the special gunshow price? I can tell you.

It's the $300 spent on tables, $150 for diesel fuel, $175 for hotels, $400 to $500 for wages and the lesser incidental expenses. That's without considering the cost of an inventory of more than 3000 holsters or the support equipment necessary to make it all work.

The gun show starts early on Friday when everything gets loaded into the trailer for a 350 mile trip and the day ends late in the evening setting up for the weekend. Saturday morning begins at the show at 7am to be sure to be ready for customers when the door opens at 9am. You can expect to be on your feet constantly until 6pm and then it's time to lock up the cabinets and cover the displays.

Sunday usually allows for a later start and we don't get to the show until 7:30 am and its the same format but the show closes at 5pm. Then its pack up, load up and drive 350 miles until we have to unload because you don't leave $250,000 of holsters sitting on the street overnight.

At each gun show we take part in, we bring about 3,000 holsters, including about 1,000 left handers; for customers to view, try and select from and you can't do that online.

Now, what's the special gun show price? My understanding is that a gun show is a place where customers can come and purchase guns and associated items all under one roof, for their enjoyment and convenience. We provide a wide selection of holsters to our customers but I am not aware of any special pricing policies to take part in a gun show.

I am often asked "what's your best price?". Well, our best price would be a lot higher so that we could go home with some serious money in our pockets. We're a business just like Academy or the local gas station. What do they say when you ask "what's your special price?"

[LedJedi]

George Washington's AR-15

sorry folks, you won't be seeing this on the market anytime soon. I bought it about a month ago and it's locked up tight in my safe next to the Taurus that Armstrong wore on the moon mission.