I haven’t been to one in years, and they were pretty sorry back then. I look for gun shows to become a thing of the past.

 

I don’t bother with gun shows around here (eastern Washington). Everything is over priced,their stuff is gold,my stuff junk kind of thing. I bought a lot of old 22 rifles from the pawn shops until a few years ago and now their prices are outrageous.I don’t plan on buying another gun, well maybe another new 1911, that’s it

 

Same guys show after show. Most having really big dreams with the prices. Geez one guy had a plain Judge for $750 and a S&W SD for $500. Everyone has a phone and can quickly look up prices. Who do they think they are fooling??

Gets really old after while wasting time and money. If I'm really bored and am driving by I'll maybe stop. Not driving out of my way ever again. Think the last 4-5 shows I've haven't bought a thing. Not even picked anything up to look.

 

Did they have any nasty jerky???

How often did you hear the guy with the taser???

Why won’t you buy a brick of 22 shells from 1995 for $100.00? You know .22LR is scarce, right?

 

It's not just gun shows, it's everything. Guitar shows, pen shows, maker shows. All the good deals are done between the dealers before the doors open. It used to be about enthusiasts, cheap stuff, some interesting guest speakers and being tempted by something different.

Now they just want to sell overpriced junk they can't get rid of any other way, and failing at that too.

The writing is on the wall for these things. It's more than just the fact that most people shop on line now. It used to be that local businesses would have a stand and get support from brands for deals on show merch (show specials). A good deal for the brands and a good deal for the businesses. If you ask those businesses why they don't bother any more, they'll tell you it's just not worth it any more, the brands aren't interested, and there's no deals to be had.

 

Guess it's the same all over. Hadn't been to one in a number of years until about 2 years ago. Traveled 90 minutes just to go to the show. Same result - overpriced junk. Only upside was I stopped for lunch at a favorite place.

 

Hit a "GUN" show and well, of the merchandise there, 25% ammo / reloading stuff, 25% trinkets / clothing, 25% shotguns / long guns, and 25% pistols. Not really impressed but it was a $5 trip and enjoyed looking. Seems the pricing on pistols was high --

 

It's a shame really. I was thinking about going to the Indianapolis " Indy 1500 " gun show in a couple months but that is a 3 hour drive one way. Usually it was always pretty good but I'm not sure I want to burn a day finding out either. Indy always had plenty of bad jerky, crop dusters in the packed aisle ways but lots of big dealers, reloading supplies and bulk ammo. I believe you are right Fabricator4, I think all the different type of shows are just about to be chalked up to history!

 

Quit gunshows when my friend Ricky passed away, we'd hit 'em just for grins and once in a very great while find something worthwhile, in general I don't have the patience for them anymore.

 

I keep promising to swear off the gun shows around here, such as they are now in my state (the rest self censored).
But, I'll probably show up again at the big spring show as a form of self-flagellation, if nothing else

Prices are irrationally high everywhere, not just the wisher's club that gun show vendors belong to. With few long sought bargains as exceptions, most gun shop and internet offerings are ridiculous too, making me wonder what specific mental disorder these people have.

Add to that, that many sellers seem to have forgotten (or never heard about) customer service/appreciation and it has become an unpleasant experience all around for this gun loony. I'll spare you the gory details of my recent buying misadventures.
Probably a good thing I'll be an official geezer in a few days, so I can complain about the present, wax nostalgic about the past and covet the nice firearms I still have while trying to dispose of them before I "spit the bit".

 

Wife and I still set up at one every now and then even though I swear off of them all the time. we set up again last month just because We had to be in that area that evening anyway. I had a bunch of small stuff that I thought someone else could use. I was going to sell it on here but didn't want to fool with the shipping on a bunch of items.

I did take a couple of guns but didn't expect to sell them. things I sold.

Neil Jones rimfire gauge. From an experiment in the early 80's. Didn't need it very long. $30

Wheeler scope level someone gave me . never opened. $8

twenty one boxes of Hornady .17 mach 2 ammo $7 a box

Box of once fired Remington 350 Brass $40

Two Remington 742 magazines. $40 and $35

Full box of Winchester 140 gr. .264 mag $40 opened box of 14 $20

Redfield widefield 4x $100.

Tasco 3-9X x 50 $75

Some hats with shooting logos $4 each. Gave three to kids.

4 boxes of Hornady once fired 30-30 brass $ 5 per

Old box of Winchester 32-20 cartridges with 2 fired $20 Had the two empty cases

Remington 504 .17mach2 99% with box $1000.

I had friends there that always set up tables. One had ten tables with guns. I only stayed the one day but at the end of it he told me he traded for one gun that was it.

He said I probably did better than anyone in there. It looked that way to me also. I probably sold some other odds and end that I am not remembering right now. $50 a table.

Of course the vendors get to set up and go around and look at everything before the doors are opened. I did and bought nothing. I sold most of my stuff to other vendors before the doors opened including the 504

Never saw anything that I would be interested in. No, 541S, No, Kimber 82, no, Cooper 57. No, nice Anschutz.

One guy had a 541T and did have a 541S in a T stock said it came from the factory that way. I didn't laugh right there where he could see me do it.
A couple of older 64 action Anschutz there.

 

Over the last 10 years my dad was alive 2004-2014 we went to Dallas and Fort Worth gun shows and I went to the Mesquite gun show a couple times.

Deals were very very few and little to anything “older” I was interested in or wanted. The show was mostly new stuff prices mostly retail or higher.

I don’t have a lot of exposure to very many gun shows , what I can say from what I read and my own personal observation.

Bar none the Wanamaker Gun Show in Tulsa is the best place to find everything under one roof.

New , old, under priced , retail and over priced, rare and not so rare. If you never been it’s worth going to once.

 

If you need gutters, windows, beef jerky, cheap chinese optics, Indian spirit catchers, if you want to contribute to a politician, jewelry cleaning solutions, tasers, etc. the current gun shows are a gold mine. Also, you need to seek out larger shows, rather than the small ones which have few tables. Same admission cost, but less to see.

But, I still go maybe once or twice a year as a form of entertainment. For $8 or $10, I can amuse myself for an hour or so.

That said, occasionally, I get lucky. The last show I went to, I walked the floor looking at each table and little that I wanted or that was reasonably priced. But, on the way out, I spied a full stocked rifle. Being weak when it comes to full stocked rifles, I looked closer and it was a Ruger 77/22 in .22 WMR. Walnut and blue steel finish, as new, with the original box , paperwork, etc. I had some trading stuff and left with it. Maybe not the best deal financially on my end but I left a happy chap.

 

Really don’t go to gun shows anymore the last few I went to had the same people with the same overpriced guns they had at the previous shows. The vendors for the most part didnt really seem to care if they sold anything or not. Looked to me as if they were only there to hang out and talk to their other vendor buddy’s. I find better deals at the local pawn shops around my area.

 

I enjoy going to a small show that is in a small town nearby. A good portion of what's there is used (more likely to be interesting), priced okay, and/or sold by individuals. There is even a Shoney's close by. Almost like a time machine.

On the flip side, I recently went to the larger gun show locally. It was mostly what others previously stated. I knew it was going to be like that, but it was good to get out and see some different things. It was the crowd that I didn't enjoy. Lots of people not buying guns. The honey roasted pecans were great though!

I think I need to venture out to more small shows.

 

I need to venture out to more small shows.

As I said above, I generally don't go to the small shows because the admission is the same as the big shows and the number of tables are limited.

The last small show I went to was in my small town and it was in what I think was at a Shrine club or something similar. Mostly too dark to see what I was looking at but on one dimly lit table in the back, there was a Howa mini-action bolt gun in 7.62X39 Soviet. Someone (probably Bubba, he lives nearby) had painted the entire firearm with what appeared to be a heavy coat of house paint applied with a brush. I mean the entire firearm, stock barrel and action. Camo by Bubba. The bore looked decent but it was too much of a project and too much of a gamble for me, and even though it was competitively priced, I didn't make an offer. Too much of a pig in a poke.

 

I'm getting older and I am in the process of downsizing. I rent a table at every one of the small local shows to sell stuff. I price things to sell and usually sell quite a bit. Plus, I really enjoy it.

I enjoy talking to people there. I see the same people at every show, although I miss some of the old-timer vendors who no longer come.

I don't go to any out-of-town shows.

 

We have a decent local show in smallsbury at an old shopping mall. Its a decent size and usually has some decent stuff. There are of course the cheap jewelry tables, overpriced items and chinese optics, but all in all its one of the better shows and only a 10min drive.
Last show i drove an hour to had me wishing i could get that hour back...

 

a 10min drive

That makes a show much more appealing.

The only shows I have interest in these days, because of where I live, are the show in Fletcher, NC, the Greenville, SC show at the convention center and the Columbia, SC show at the Jamil Shrine temple. Reasonable driving distances and rather large shows with numerous tables each.

 

Usually go to 4-5 each year. Admission goes up annually. $16.50 less 2 bucks for veterans or have a coupon as of the first of the year. Same vendors same merchandise but I’ve been going so long that it’s good to see them again. No bargains to be found unless you get lucky and run across something that catches your eye. Tupperware and leather belts and wallets are also overpriced. I’ve found that the best deals are usually the smaller vendor that has a variety of items including guns, knives, ammo, coins, holsters and the usual items found on a private sale table. My buddy and I view the shows as entertainment with the added benefit of the “that’s just what I’ve been looking for “ factor.

 

I go to the Tulsa gun show every spring and every year I say I’m not going again. Other than finding obsolete gun parts I’ve never seen a bargain. If your shopping for a gun that’s in production you will be money ahead to buy new in my opinion.

 

The gun shows in my area have become more like flea markets. I would guess that less than 20% of the tables have guns. When I do find something I'm interested in it is way overpriced. I recently looked at a used Remington model 700 and they wanted $100 more than the same gun would cost new. The Ohio Gun Collectors Association puts on a great show for its members only...that's the only one worth going to for me.

 

I bought and traded at gun shows back in the day. I went to one a couple of years age with a friend. Time shares, jerky, black guns and overpriced junk was all we found.

 

Gun Show/Shows, Not Sale

 

We have quite a few in WI and there are generally not any deals to be found. Still go to 4-5 of them a year and usually find one good deal a year on a gun I want. Crazy to me that people waste there time trying to sell things for 2x what you can get them at a gun store or on-line.

 

There are two large gunshows within my willing driving distance, and a handful of smaller ones. The biggest regularly fills three buildings and has over 100 sellers. Very little fluff, and a good mix of FFLs selling overpriced new guns and outrageously priced milsurps, and private sellers who will be willing to deal. I'd guess I've found good deals about half the times I've gone. It's $6 to get in, so worth a weekend morning to take a look. The other is further away, $10 to get in, and a third the size. Also almost entirely FFL sellers so it's mostly the same stuff you'd find at Cabela's or Rural King or whatever and priced about the same. I don't go to that one often.

There are a bunch of smaller ones, but I don't have much interest in driving 30-60 minutes to looks at 4-5 tables of random bits.

Maybe interestingly, one place I've found a lot of good prices on milsurps in particular (and every common hunting shotgun known to man if that's your thing) is a semi-annual flea market way out in the boonies. Gotta be in the mood to spend all day on that trip though, it's a long drive from here.

 

The next gun show in this area will be in Macon, GA. Entry fee is $15 if bought before the show and $20 on day of the show. I won't be there. I can't justify $20 to look at overpriced guns and a whole lot of junk.

 

Yeah almost like a buyers premium at and auction now. And even worse most place charge you to park now. add that whatever you are buying and not such a great deal anymore. Unless you found something that is made from unobtanium.