The problem with gun shows...

[Toadstone]

...Is that if you go to them all the time, you tend to buy guns
New (to me) 12 gauge pump shotgun!

Woo hoo! Here's the specs:

Winchester 1300 Defender
Caliber: 12 Ga., 2 ¾” and 3”
Length: 39.5”
Barrel Length: 18” cylinder bore
Weight: 6 lbs. 8 oz. (empty)
Capacity: 7+1
Finish: Non-glare
Stock: Synthetic
Length of Pull: 14”
Sights: Bead front sight
Notes: Discontinued in 2005. Last MSRP was $341. Mine does not have removable fiber optic front sight. Receiver is not drilled and tapped. Purchased 04/16/11.
$290 including 8.25% sales tax and 1% fee for credit card
High Caliber Gun Show, Pasadena Convention Center, Fairmont Pkwy., Pasadena, TX
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/ ... mid=512104" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It is used, which is not surprising since Winchester stopped making shotguns in 2005 when their factory in New Haven, Connecticut shut down. Aside from the fairy-tale Kel-Tec KSG, I was eyeballing the Mossberg 590A1, but they are a good $450 new. When I saw this puppy at the gun show in the Pasadena Convention Center today, I jumped on it (actually, I went home, Googled it, told my wife about it, she gave me the thumbs up on buying it, and then I drove back to the show and bought it.) I was already familiar with this model from reading forums, watching YouTube videos, etc., so I already knew it was a good gun. I just had to make sure it was a fair price.

The gun is almost new - the dealer said that it belonged to the son of a regular customer of his who joined a police academy and moved to Ohio, and he sold it before he left. I totally stripped it down and cleaned it when I got home. Lots of old, brown, gunky gun oil. I cleaned it with M-Pro 7 and lubricated it with Slip2000 EWL. I threw my G.I. military sling on for laughs - I don't plan on leaving it on there. Now I just have to load up on shotshells and head for the range.

[eureka40]

I don't see anything wrong with your sling. Looks fine.

I've bought 12ga ammo here before:

http://www.luckygunner.com/shotgun/12-gauge-ammo-shells" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Toadstone]

Thanks for the link.

The only problem I have with the sling is that it is on Uncle Mike's Quick Detachable Super Swivels, and because the front sling point is less than an inch from the muzzle, it is possible for the sling to flip up in front of the muzzle. However, due to the way the sling naturally hangs, it is unlikely to happen. It would just be a mess if it did.

When I took my shotgun out of the safe this morning, I said, "Good morning, shotgun." lol

Does anybody have any other recommendations, other than train and practice until my fingers bleed and the bank account is dry? I've already been reading forums like crazy. I'm looking at getting the CDM Mod-C flashlight mount and a Streamlight PolyTac LED flashlight. I have a Surefire G2 on my AR, but that light would not be as suited for use on a pump shotgun due to the way you have to twist the endcap to get constant-on (the button on the end in momentary only). The PolyTac has a more traditional forward clicky with momentary-on by lightly pressing the button.

[bigred90gt]

Here you go. For a whole bunch of ammo:

http://www.bulkammo.com/bulk-12ga-ammo- ... canfed-175" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or, get more ammo for the same price:

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_i ... 4-buckshot" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or, if you want to get nasty:

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_i ... 4-buckshot" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[philip964]

The problem with gun shows is...... I don't have enough money.

[LongHairedRedneck]

All I left with was a Ice Cream Maker that looks like a hamster ball, makes good ice cream!

[Keith B]

All I left with was a Ice Cream Maker that looks like a hamster ball, makes good ice cream!

No jerky or roasted nuts??

[WildBill]

All I left with was a Ice Cream Maker that looks like a hamster ball, makes good ice cream!

No jerky or roasted nuts??

Maybe he ate them all while he was walking around looking for the Ice Cream Maker.

[DFWTT]

All I left with was a Ice Cream Maker that looks like a hamster ball, makes good ice cream!

No jerky or roasted nuts??

The problem with gun shows is.....after I stop for some rock candy I like to go see what's new in the world of gold sales then peruse the isles for necklaces and bandanas. Then I swing over and spend an hour or so learning about knife sharpening and how I should let some knuckledragger polish up my Benchmade cause that brand new knife came from the factory dull. I'll stop for jerky on my way out the door after I've had a chance to check out all the real gun related items but I'm broke from all the political T-shirts I bought so I can't afford the jerky so all I can do is Nice shotty BTW, and sling position is fine.

This didn't really happen. Ya know, before I start hearing the jokes about bandanas and necklaces.

[pcgizzmo]

My problem with gun shows is I seldom find a better deal than I can get at a regular gun store. I mainly go just to handle all the guns I might purchase and get ideas. On top of the prices being as high or higher I usually buy with a CC and that adds an additional 3%

I do enjoy the accessories and other side attractions.

Glad you found a good deal on a shotgun though.

[sugar land dave]

I always feel like the show nickel and dimes me to death. Parking cost. Entrance fee. Credit card fee. Retail or higher gun prices. Food or drink.

I often end up buying from a 3rd party or range.

[Keith B]

My problem with gun shows is I seldom find a better deal than I can get at a regular gun store. I mainly go just to handle all the guns I might purchase and get ideas. On top of the prices being as high or higher I usually buy with a CC and that adds an additional 3%

I do enjoy the accessories and other side attractions.

Glad you found a good deal on a shotgun though.

It sometimes depends on what you are looking for. One of the issues is some manufacturers are placing fixed prices on vendors and they can't sell them any cheaper than that price. A good example is Glock. They have what is called MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) pricing, and the major sellers at the shows (Bachman, S.A.W.'s, Gun Zone, etc.) are all forced to keep that price at the shows. Glock actually black-listed them a while back, and they were not even allowed to buy from Glock until they worked out a deal with them.

Now, why Glock thinks the gun show is advertising, I don't know, but apparently they do and that was the whole issue with why the vendors got black-listed because they were selling them cheaper than MAP at the shows.

[Katygunnut]

My problem with gun shows is I seldom find a better deal than I can get at a regular gun store. I mainly go just to handle all the guns I might purchase and get ideas. On top of the prices being as high or higher I usually buy with a CC and that adds an additional 3%

I do enjoy the accessories and other side attractions.

Glad you found a good deal on a shotgun though.

It sometimes depends on what you are looking for. One of the issues is some manufacturers are placing fixed prices on vendors and they can't sell them any cheaper than that price. A good example is Glock. They have what is called MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) pricing, and the major sellers at the shows (Bachman, S.A.W.'s, Gun Zone, etc.) are all forced to keep that price at the shows. Glock actually black-listed them a while back, and they were not even allowed to buy from Glock until they worked out a deal with them.

Now, why Glock thinks the gun show is advertising, I don't know, but apparently they do and that was the whole issue with why the vendors got black-listed because they were selling them cheaper than MAP at the shows.

I wonder if this would apply to a seller that did not put any prices on their Glocks at the show, but simply put up a banner saying "All reasonable offers considered". From the link it appears this would be fine since MAP only limits what price you can advertise at, not the actual sales price. Then again, I have no expertise in this area.

[fickman]

Nice shotgun! I've actually purchased two firearms at gun shows, but doubt I'll ever do it again.

Like others, I have a different list of problems with gun shows:
- 30.06 postings (many unenforceable due to events hosted at government-owned sites)
. . . Many CHLers claim they will "take their business elsewhere" if a business is posted 30.06, then justify compromising this principle for gun shows by saying, "It's for insurance purposes. If they don't post, then we won't be able to have gun shows."

I'd rather let the market decide. If we stayed away, I bet they'd find an insurance policy that doesn't require the 30.06 posting (I'm not convinced they are satisfying that requirement of their policy if they're at an unenforceable site anyway) or an entrepreneur out there would start a new type of insurance. Or the gun shows, along with their myriad of other problems, would go away or reinvent themselves, probably into smaller, more intimate shows instead of mega-events.

- Charging the credit card fee violates the agreements most of them signed with the credit card processor. If reported, they could actually lose their ability to accept credit cards. Sure, they lose a little bit of the margin on each sale, but they end up making a ton of transactions that they otherwise wouldn't have access to if they only accepted cash, so the theory is that they still end up ahead. The same goes for small businesses trying to enforce a minimum sale amount for accepting credit cards.

- Prices aren't that attractive, and most "deals" can be easily found through independent brokers, small storefronts, or the big box chains. Few dealers will negotiate, assuming you can find somebody actually selling firearms.

- The price of admission / parking typically won't be reimbursed through savings.

- They are getting way too crowded with crowds that seem increasingly impolite and inconsiderate in my opinion (observations restricted to Dallas Market Hall and Will Rogers). You end up shuffling around shoulder-to-shoulder with a lot of rude and impatient people. (The density of the crowd seems to have a direct correlation to people's moods and consideration of others - it's essentially rush hour road rage on foot.) Maybe I'm spoiled by working from home, but I don't enjoy feeling like cattle.

- I've been present twice when there was a negligent discharge. I can't even count the number of times I've seen the crowd swept by a firearm, seen dry fires, and witnessed most of the four rules being broken.

Glad you had a pleasant experience. . . guess I sound pretty grouchy.

[Toadstone]

I love gun shows, and will go just to drool. Especially when a new gun comes out that I want to check out. I always get there a little before they open the doors on day one. The first couple hours are generally nowhere near as crowded as it gets later. I have found very good deals at gun shows, but since I'm not a millionaire, I normally have too pass.

Thanks for the ammo links, guys. That one deal for the can of mil ammo for $99 makes me wanna jump up and get my credit card. I have to take it easy for a while, though, because I just bought the shotgun.