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Are Gun Shows worth your time?

Phaser

Phaser

Elite
Are Gun Shows worth the effort to drive for miles in some cases just to pay an entrance fee only to stare at a sea of merchandise scattered across what seems like endless tables with (rude) people jockeying for position without any manners whatsoever.
It's exhausting and at the end of the day most if not all are walking out without anything in hand. There are no deals to be had...the vendors aren't there to negotiate.
 
The entrance fee keeps me away, last one here was 15 bucks to get in. nope. they used to be free admission and then just started gradually going up on admission. you will rarely find a good deal at one. now if you are looking for something out of the ordinary then maybe they are ok. i would go to more of them if they would come down on that entrance fee. I used to like going to them, it's like a porn shop for gunners. people are not too rude here...YET.
 
They definitely aren’t what they used to be in my experiences. Frankly more non-firearm accessories outnumber firearms and firearm accessories anymore….like purses, beef jerky, spices, wood carvings, etc. I mean, it’s like a garage or estate sale.

I only go to my local (in my county) anymore. It’s about 10 miles from home. It’s been 20 years since I last did a Birmingham show.

The local entry fee has ticked up, but that’s ok. Deals are only to be found among people walking the show, never at the tables. Sticker prices are the same as, or in many cases, more than I’d pay retail at my local Bass Pro.

I look for reloading stuff mostly. If it’s an older codger at a table, I’ll slow down to look.

It gets me a reprieve from my Honey-do list.

My dream would be to go to the Shilen barrel swap meets, put out some free boiled Cajun peanuts and pursue the tables.
 
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I like to go so I can window shop. Many times my local gun store won't actually have a certain make or model of a firearm I am interested in. Or the store won't have a make of a competitor's firearm, so I can hold them side by side to compare. If I like something once I've handled it, I can always have it ordered for cheaper. Most of the time I only walk out with funny stickers or tin signs to put up in the man cave. Thinking back in time, I can only think of 3 firearms I've ever purchased from a gun show since I've been going to them since the mid 1980s.
 
I walked across town, arrived pretty late and paid nothing to get in.

After a few “ You serious Clark’s” I left feeling like I needed a shower and a tumbler of Eagle Rare to wash the experience from my memory. I’d been warned, but the promise of cheap dream catchers and crappy beef jerky was a Siren Song I couldn’t resist.
 
i ain't never been to one...i really do not know if any are held in my area..New England

but frankly, i don't go to any auto car shows, custom car or motorbike shows, or boat shows, or home shows, as well.

you gotta pay for parking, then an entrance fee........

ain't worth my time to pay anything, walk around, and then walk out.
 
Gun shows sure ain't what they used to be. Now its mostly a sea of plastic pistols and ARs. I'm much more interested in blue steel and nice wood. Most of the time all I buy is a Dr. Pepper. :rolleyes:
I do go to most of them in the area. It gets me out of the house for a while and you do get to keep up with the latest models and trends. Maybe run into an old friend you haven't seen in a while.
But every once in a while you just might run into that rare gem that you want to add to your collection. Hope springs eternal. ;)
 
Phaser said:
Are Gun Shows worth the effort to drive for miles in some cases just to pay an entrance fee only to stare at a sea of merchandise scattered across what seems like endless tables with (rude) people jockeying for position without any manners whatsoever.
It's exhausting and at the end of the day most if not all are walking out without anything in hand. There are no deals to be had...the vendors aren't there to negotiate.
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looking for a "good deal" at a gun show comes with the price of admission and a parking fee at times. I gave up on the shows. Now I just hunt and peck at a keyboard and look for the best shipping deals.
 
belladonna said:
I got a pretty fair dead on my CC9 at the last one, and I won a shotgun in a raffle I entered there. Probably won’t go again though.
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dead…..dead……🤔🤔

IMG_5051.gif
 
Wifey and I were driven out of the last show around 20 years ago.

Guess why?

"Aren't you glad you used Dial? Don't you wish everybody did?"

Nobody did.
 
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