Haven't been to a Gun Show in 6 or 7 Years.......

[Lt92]

The golden age of gun shows has passed. In the 70's-80's the now-dead old timers brought their collections and we actually would award "best" display of show...lots of trading between exhibitors..waiting list for tables....at some point..ie: ~the 90's they went from exhibits to actual ways to create a 2nd income...then as the die hards died off, promoters allowed Chinese knives, cheap jewelry, snake oil, hearing aid peddlers, even clothing to infiltrate to fill up tables...prices increased as folks needed the $ to get by. Sad because many of us geezers had some really great experiences at the shows. Now between 10$ to park + another 10 to enter, you're out a DBL sawbuck before you view the first table...tables with every possible AR add-on predominate and you may very well see someone selling a Cannabis product as well. Ammo prices are retail+ and actual collections are long gone. Once the Tulsa show was The big show to attend...I understand they are now experiencing widespread thefts from organized rings...makes we want to just stay home and eat dirt!

 

[rcs9250]

@Lt92, I agree completely. You also see $125.00 "SNIPER SCOPES" from China.
And everyone at the gun show is an "expert". Anything, absolutely anything GI Surplus at a gun show is junk. Except maybe you sometimes find original P-38 C-rat can openers.

 

[KIR]

$12 for parking and $12 to enter the show in Reno. NO THANKS. I can always go to an LGS the very next day and get the same guns cheaper and better ammo as well, then home loaded.

 

[tazbigdog]

Going to Allentown PA this weekend for one. First one in PA since I've been back. We'll let you know how it is.

 

[contender]

As I've mentioned,, many gun shows have deteriorated to where a lot of stuff is there that's not gun related or whatever. Flea market items.
And many lament the expense of going to a show. Admission, and in some places parking fees.
Locally, we pay about $10 to get in,, and parking is free. But the gas expense,, as well as eating lunch adds to our "expenses."

But we do get to be in a place with mostly like minded people,, gun owners. And in most shows,, yes,, there are dealers who are just using the gun show as another place to sell their stuff. And yes,, many sellers are there just as a way to make money & see if they can buy stuff from attendees very cheaply,, and then jack the price and try & resell it.

I can recall going to flea markets long ago,, and you'd have folks with firearms there. Now,, thanks to the anti's that has mostly stopped just about everywhere.

But I guess we should all stop going to gun shows completely. That'll show them. Those price gougers, those flea market sellers, the show promoters. Do away with them all!

Then the anti's win another battle against Freedom!

I too wish it wasn't the way it is now. Truly good shows that are well run & where the sellers have a strict set of rules are far too few. (OGCA is a great model for what they can be.)

But deals can still be had at crappy gun shows.
A few years ago,, I bought a NIB Ruger .357 Maximum,, with (2) boxes of ammo, for $625.00. Just a few months ago,, I bought a Ruger OM Single-Six wearing factory stags for $600. Last year,, I found a Super Blackhawk Hunter Bisley .41 mag NIB,, for $700. Or the .32 cal Buckeye missing one cylinder for $500.
And there have been smaller purchases. A Ruger factory Match Champion set of grips for $25. Then the (2) sets of stainless Ruger rings for $10 a set. And just last year,, even with the way prices have been,, I bought 2 boxes of Rem 7-1/2 primers for $10.

My point being,, while not what we'd like to have as a real gun show,, (where the good old boys were there to swap a few things & tell tall tales,,) they can still be a good way to relax,, wander around,, be among like minded people. And maybe find a jewel or two. Maybe even that rarer grail gun or item that has eluded you for decades. It does happen.

 

[Medicmike3762]

As I've mentioned,, many gun shows have deteriorated to where a lot of stuff is there that's not gun related or whatever. Flea market items.
And many lament the expense of going to a show. Admission, and in some places parking fees.
Locally, we pay about $10 to get in,, and parking is free. But the gas expense,, as well as eating lunch adds to our "expenses."

But we do get to be in a place with mostly like minded people,, gun owners. And in most shows,, yes,, there are dealers who are just using the gun show as another place to sell their stuff. And yes,, many sellers are there just as a way to make money & see if they can buy stuff from attendees very cheaply,, and then jack the price and try & resell it.

I can recall going to flea markets long ago,, and you'd have folks with firearms there. Now,, thanks to the anti's that has mostly stopped just about everywhere.

But I guess we should all stop going to gun shows completely. That'll show them. Those price gougers, those flea market sellers, the show promoters. Do away with them all!

Then the anti's win another battle against Freedom!

I too wish it wasn't the way it is now. Truly good shows that are well run & where the sellers have a strict set of rules are far too few. (OGCA is a great model for what they can be.)

But deals can still be had at crappy gun shows.
A few years ago,, I bought a NIB Ruger .357 Maximum,, with (2) boxes of ammo, for $625.00. Just a few months ago,, I bought a Ruger OM Single-Six wearing factory stags for $600. Last year,, I found a Super Blackhawk Hunter Bisley .41 mag NIB,, for $700. Or the .32 cal Buckeye missing one cylinder for $500.
And there have been smaller purchases. A Ruger factory Match Champion set of grips for $25. Then the (2) sets of stainless Ruger rings for $10 a set. And just last year,, even with the way prices have been,, I bought 2 boxes of Rem 7-1/2 primers for $10.

My point being,, while not what we'd like to have as a real gun show,, (where the good old boys were there to swap a few things & tell tall tales,,) they can still be a good way to relax,, wander around,, be among like minded people. And maybe find a jewel or two. Maybe even that rarer grail gun or item that has eluded you for decades. It does happen.

Contender is right, I have been going to the shows since I was a kid and that wasn't too long ago. Prices have gone up but welcome to 2025! Trust me it makes me sick to see a 600 sks or mosin! But there are always and I mean always deals! I don't think I have been to a show and not come away with something good and for a deal. I don't attend as many as I used to due to life circumstances ( 3 littles) but any chance I get I go. Last show I found a whole mess of old holsters most walk by but it's worth the dig. Bought 3 vintage j frame shoulder holsters 2 safari lands and one bianchi 9r all for 50 bucks! These are the old upside down holsters like Steve McQueen wore in bullet. One of those holsters routinely fetch over 100 bucks online. I have also been on the other side and set up tables and have made many good friends over the years.

Gun shows aren't just about guns! Hell they are about way more than that! I don't think there is any other place on earth like em! They are about freedom, guns, friends, entertainment, deals and teas there are sh!t heads that steal but that's everywhere! People steal from gas stations…..should I stop going there also? If nothing else it's a good way to get your steps in for the day. And as far as the cost of going….. that's just the cost of business, there isn't much left that's free anymore, even driving to the property costs more than it used to!

Maybe I'm the anomaly but I love the shows! 90% of the fun is the hunt. I also love haggling I a world where everything is digital and if you need or want to buy something you almost have to use some form of tech walking around with nothing more than a wad of cash is very refreshing to me anyway. And also go with cash don't be the guy that says "oh let me go to the ATM" as the old saying goes cash talks and BS walks nothing gets you in the deals faster, good old cash!!!!

 

[dsf]

The worst gun show is still a better day for me - because it takes me out of CA for a few days. If I go in looking for nothing that's usually best. Having a C&R FFL helps too.

 

[tazbigdog]

Ok, the lowdown on the Allentown show. An hour drive. Free parking. $10 to get in. $1 email coupon. 250 tables. Done in 20 minutes.

Lots of junk. Some ammo, guns, old guns, and flea market stuff. Jammed 250 tables in a small room, that only allowed 1 person to walk down aisle at a time. If I was in a wheelchair, I'd be screwed. I'm sure they violated some Health and Safety codes. I won't be back.

Another in Oaks, PA in April. I'll give that one a shot.

 

[krw]

I gave up the table I have had at Wanenmacher's for 30 yrs. Several reasons. Internet, face it that has had more to do with gun shows than any other single item. Junk. Motel rooms that are jacked up double their normal rate to take advantage of 'gun show tourists.' Lack of quality. I am a Glock Fanboy, but table after table of them and other plastic gets monotounous
Buy we may day trip it. Just 4 hrs and worlds best pancakes on the way.
But boy o boy did we have fun in years past!!!

 

[Johnnu2]

Probably been 10-15 years since I went to a gun show. Back in my yewt, living in Mn., me and Hawkeye#28 went every single weekend to a show (within a 1 hr. drive at most)... Treasured memories.

J.

 

[the_leper_colony]

Whether you like gun shows anymore, or not, kind of depends on what you're looking for. Went to a gun show just yesterday, looking for anything that might strike me as "a good deal", and came home with a box of 500 Laser Cast .45 bullets for $30, which satisfied me (YMMV ;^)!

 

[mirglip]

Yesterday I went to a gun show and saw a 98% Stainless 6 1/2" Single Six Convertible with excellent yellow box for $500. I was very tempted but I have too many SS's already. Somebody got a good deal.

 

[Fox Mike]

I try to get to any and all local shows. As a vet I generally get in free and most always parking is also free. I find it easier to walk and look and leave if nothing says "look closer". I figure I might get lucky at one of them and find a gem.

 

[Tenbore]

I quit going to gun shows when it became all dealers jacking up their prices. No more old Uncle Bobs setting up tables to swap and trade.

 

[mirglip]

I quit going to gun shows when it became all dealers jacking up their prices. No more old Uncle Bobs setting up tables to swap and trade.

I was at a "Crossroads" show that was like that, but most shows have 15 to 20% private sellers.

 

[frickfu]

I found a 3 screw 357 some wear here and there.

 

[Huskerguy72]

I have severely curtailed my gun show visits. Tulsa was a once year - have to go - event and my wife and I made a nice weekend out of it with select places to eat, developed our schedule and we were set. Last time there in November a couple years ago was disappointing with lots of abandoned tables. Covid, I believe put an end to some of the older people whose booths I frequented.

I don't have a problem with people making a buck at gun shows. They have lots of expenses and I know a few people who used to set up at area shows but cannot make it work financially anymore. Everything is high and competitive in prices. I would guess that many on here have found something at a show and then googled it to see if the price was fair or not. Sometimes its like they say about the store Best Buy, its a show store for Amazon, you go there to see what you want and buy it from Amazon.

I traveled some miles to get to shows and we enjoyed it but I think those days are over for various reasons with the primary one being I am pretty done collecting and now considering reducing my inventory. Some of the people aren't as much fun to talk to anymore, it is about selling things and I get it.

Just another relic of the past that will likely fade away over time. I also agree that if you really look, you can find a good deal on something, it may not be what you want or were looking for but there are deals to be had.

 

[frickfu]

Going to Gaylord Mi. this weekend prices are usually high but with a little haggling mite find something.

Found a decent 3 screw