TexasCHLforum.com

All,

Given that I recently received my CHL in the mail, I have decided to go to the gun show in Fort Worth this weekend. It's my first time in about 5 years to go to a gun show. I do have a couple of questions:

1. Can I carry there? Oddly enough, I have heard that some gun shows do NOT allow CHL holders to carry. Makes no sense to me, but need to know before I go.

2. How are the prices on things (guns, mags, holsters, ammo, etc)?

3. Is this gun show really worth going to?

Just want to know before I make the trip early on Saturday.

Cannot conceal carry at the show. The prices really depend on the vendor. Cash in hand will always beat out paying with a CC. It also has more bargaining power.

Last time I went to a gun show, I bought a newly-released Ruger pistol cheaper than anyplace online.
Prices on that gun varied $100 ($429 - $539 IIRC)
So you can find some deals. The used gun deals are gone by 11:00 Saturday.

ShaneHD wrote:1. Can I carry there? Oddly enough, I have heard that some gun shows do NOT allow CHL holders to carry. Makes no sense to me, but need to know before I go.

Yes, and no. You may carry a weapon in, but at the door is a police officer that will ask if you are armed, and if you are, will instruct you to either (a) go back to the car and leave your ammo there or (b) give him the ammo (which will NOT be returned). They then wire-tie your weapon through the magazine well and chamber so that, theoretically, you can't chamber a round. And if the plastic breaks, you're supposed to bring it back immediately and have it replaced. They ARE posted with valid 30.06 signs, but of course the law says .... etc. etc. You can read all about the pro's / con's of that, but if you want to bring a gun in to size a holster, that's how you're going to do it.

ShaneHD wrote:2. How are the prices on things (guns, mags, holsters, ammo, etc)?

I've bought two guns there for less (including the tax that dealers have to charge) than what I'd have paid for a gun from Bud's (an online dealer that's often used as a reference for prices) with a transfer fee for the FFL. As the others have said - cash is king, and does some real talking! Then, again, I've seen other people buy guns for 25-50% more than what the gun was going for online. The key is to know what the online prices are (always allow for postage/handling if necessary and the fee for your FFL to transfer the gun to you) and shop based on that. Hopefully, you'll find a bargain.

As far as ammo goes - unless you need something really esoteric, or are buying a whole lot at one time, you'll probably find prices at WalMart to be just as good - at least that's been my experience for 9mm and .22 ammo. Unless you want tracers, and WalMart doesn't carry those!

ShaneHD wrote:3. Is this gun show really worth going to?

While I wouldn't presume to answer that for you, all I can say is that I enjoy going to the Original Fort Worth gun show (the one that's coming up this weekend) more than the other show that's there regularly. You can get a discount on the entrance fee, and your parking charge is refunded. So, for about $9 with free parking, it's a good 3-4 hours of entertainment. And, if you're looking for little fiddlybits, you will probably have a good chance of finding what you're looking for. If you're expecting rock bottom prices, though, you might be disappointed.

ShaneHD wrote:Just want to know before I make the trip early on Saturday.

See ya there!

I consider it entertainment, and a good place to talk a walk.
Sometimes I buy something.

I think you have it all answered here. I always lock my carry gun up in the trunk when I go to the show. I don't see any sense carrying a gun with zip ties through the slide anyway.

You can find some deals there, they are vendor specific. Some want to move merchandise and some are sticking to the bottom line. I recently bought my brand new in box Italian 92FS for about $50- $75 less than any online site I was looking at. Plus I saved the shipping. I hope to be Saturday as well!

I went to the FTW show on 12/31 and the crowd there was quite large. The sales prices at that time were as good as any comparisons I could find, but it was also a year end time. I went a few weeks later to the Mesquite show and many of the same vendors were there, but I didn't think the prices were as good. I did however buy some ammo there from, I think, Alamo ammo who were significantly less than the other vendors. ( I have no relationship to any vendor btw). $115 for 500 rnds of Rem UMC 9mm. The .380 was about 25% more expensive than the 9mm. That has been lowest price I have seen for my preferred range ammo in the area. Dont know if they will be a this show.

rwg3 wrote:... I did however buy some ammo there from, I think, Alamo ammo who were significantly less than the other vendors. ( I have no relationship to any vendor btw). $115 for 500 rnds of Rem UMC 9mm.

Just as a price check, if you go to WalMart (at least the ones in Lake Worth and White Settlement), you'll find the 250 count box of 115gr UMC for $54 and change. WWB has dropped down to $20 + change for a box of 100. Hard to beat that.

I think it's worth going to gun shows periodically just to see what's out there. I also do usually pick up bulk ammo that I've found cheaper, especially .380. Also usually find more variety of ammo and have bought good hand-loaded JHP's cheaper from guys I trust. I've sold used guns there although some of the vendors definitely will lowball you. I always like just shopping around and occasionally will impulse buy (definitely agree to bring cash-- but it can burn a hole in your pocket!)

Sure was a crowd there today! I bought a really nice 10/22 with black walnut stock, fishscale checkering, stainless.
I'm not a 10/22 nut, but this was too pretty to pass up.

Very crowded today...but was worth it!

RexB wrote: Sure was a crowd there today!

ShaneHD wrote:Very crowded today...but was worth it!

That was about as close to being too many people packed into one space as I have seen in a long time. Hard time walking through the aisles, and if I'm not mistaken, they added a row to the mix, making the aisles just a smidgen bit smaller than in the past. Got bonked in the head by some yahoo with a rifle slung lazily on his shoulder - didn't draw blood, but irritated (that's not the word I typed, if you know what I mean!) me off royally. Plus to make matters worse, my wife's happy with her purchases but I couldn't find what I was looking for!

It's a conspiracy, I tell you!

I love the shows. Know your prices. Then if you find something good, get it. If not, just going and handling a few items is usually enough to keep me from impulse buying something - for a while.

Well, I got the 19 for about $100 less than you can find in stores. Again, it's brand new.

It was a good show and yes, very crowded. The people just kept coming in all day long. I was a bit surprised that there weren't more large gun dealers there (like Bachman) and think that some of the dealers that were there had reduced displays. Maybe they had set ups at another gunshow? But there but there certainly were tons of accessories. I had researched prices prior to going and ended up with some decent purchases. Bought a two-rifle case for my AR15s, ten 20-round C Products mags with grey anti tilt followers, another handguard removal tool (mine is missing), a new fanny pack which I refer to as a "belly bag" and a few other little items.

There were actually some good rifle/handguns buys for a change, just when I was NOT in the market for any guns. Saw some NIB rifles/handguns that are VERY hard to find and even those were priced good. For example, a Beretta Elite II NIB $649 and a Ruger Mini-14 LE Model 5832 $599 NIB. Of course there were some vendors who were totally out of touch with reality as far as pricing was concerned, some charging twice that of other vendors for the exact product.

Anyway, had a good time.