We have a gun show coming to town soon, and I was wondering if you guys could share some of your experiences. I've heard that you can find some really good deals and whatnot.
We have a gun show coming to town soon, and I was wondering if you guys could share some of your experiences. I've heard that you can find some really good deals and whatnot.
I think pretty lowly of gun shows. Too much greed, too much made-in-China Nazi memorabilia.
A smart phone is a wonderful thing to have at one, I'll advise. See something cool, play with it, walk away and Google it.
I have done well at shows, but go prepared, do some pricing research on the item you want and aim for that.
That wonderful deal on a weapon you aren't familiar with, isn't such a great deal when you find out the true value later on.
Non dealers sell face to face at shows also, just saying
Yeah, know what it's worth. Expect to pay a fair price for a quality gun. If you find something that is way too good of a deal, there's probably something wrong with it, so offer accordingly. Not that it would be a bad deal, but just be ready to fix it. Start at the back. If you see something you want at a good deal, buy it then. It won't be there when you come back.
aussiesmg wrote: Non dealers sell face to face at shows also, just saying
I have seen guys with backpacks full of guns that are walking around...sometimes even with inventory lists taped to the pack.
Here's my gun show tips
Enjoy the jerky booths, avoid the berkeleying tazer booths, and have a good time.
They are great places for swag. Watch out for the guy with the big poster of Obama with a hitler mustache, he's up to no good. If you need cleaning supplies, gun how is the place. Otherwise, it's a great place to handle alot of guns, before you decide on one.
Joey
Good advice here. The internet is your friend, and odds are very good you can find a better deal on a new gun on the internet, even with a $25 to $30 FFL transfer fee. Used guns very wildly in price, but always be careful buying used guns, you can wind up with a worn barrel or other defect that makes a used gun deal really be a piece of crap.
The prices tend to be ridiculous, and there usually as many people selling knives/beef jerky/beanie babies as there are selling guns. If you're after any sort of collectible gun, buy based on the condition of the gun alone, rather than the story behind it, because the story is almost certainly BS.
Go, have fun, and keep your eyes open for good buys while being willing to go home empty handed.
Eastern block ammo is dirty so that crate you want to buy for super cheap will mean you need to buy a lot of cleaning stuff.
Mainly I go to get a hands on look at something that I may have seen in a magazine or on the web. The gun prices are almost always absurd. I also do tend to see a lot of AR goodies that the local shop doesn't carry and aren't worth it to pay shipping for by themselves if I ordered online.
If you are looking for a gun keep an eye for the guys standing by an entry way. Usually those are the ones looking to sell a single gun and were told by Gander Mountain that they would only get 40% of what it's worth from them. I've found that's where you can deal the best.
I'm thinking about picking up an AR, since I have all the goodies already for my M4. So, it seems that I may as well build my own or pick up a Colt.
I got my 870 at a show nearby in York, and my wife got her Springfield break-action at one, too. There's some real wackos walking around at them, but you can usually find a pretty good deal here and there.
At the last show I went to, the BIG one in Tulsa (11 acres, largest in TEH WURLD), AR's were going for a decent (low) price, compared to previous shows. A nice M4 type could be had for under six bills. Mausers, on the other hand, went through the roof, with a beat up 98 going for three and up.
Try to find the coffee maker attachment for the rail. Goes with the flashlight and laser thingie.
Dr. Hess wrote: At the last show I went to, the BIG one in Tulsa (11 acres, largest in TEH WURLD), AR's were going for a decent (low) price, compared to previous shows. A nice M4 type could be had for under six bills. Mausers, on the other hand, went through the roof, with a beat up 98 going for three and up. Try to find the coffee maker attachment for the rail. Goes with the flashlight and laser thingie.
I'll keep that in mind. I want it to look really cool with a lot of stuff hooked to it. I'm totally unfamiliar with this family of weapons, so your advice means a lot. :) How much can I get a coffee maker attachment for? Do you have a picture of yours?
I have a Colt SP1 I bought new a long time ago. It's kind of a classic now, triangle foregrip and all. They are going for just under two large now.
With the AR's, "they say" buying name brand is worth it. Check the fit of everything. It's my understanding that all Colt production goes to the sand box. The upper and lower should be tight. Smooth trigger, etc. Pick a theme and go with it. Flat top versus handle top. Flat top is better for scope mounting and other accessories. Free floated front barrels help A LOT for accuracy, but cost more, have disadvantages like the whole front is not one piece anymore.
Oh, and Walmart carries AR15's. More than 1. They have a S&W (I think) that looked like it was set up for target shooting for about 1 large and another brand that had a cobra for a logo (couldn't see the name) that was set up like a M4 with a collapsible stock, etc., for about a hundred less.
Hey you guys, does your Wally World carry AR's? Mine does.
Hell no, our Walmart has a few rounds and zero Guns
No fire arms at all in our Wal*mart. Not even pellet guns.
Do NOT buy an AR from Walmart. They're massively overpriced because the typical WM shopper isn't going to do the research and find a better deal elsewhere.
My Wally world carries ARs, but it's a loaded Bushmaster A3 and it's well north of $900.
With ARs, the name is becoming less important. There are companies like Palmetto State Armory, Spikes Tactical, and Del-Ton Inc who are making very solid ARs at what used to be a bargain bin price.
However companies like Colt, Daniel Defense, and BCM are still making seriously top tier rifles and can be found right around $1k.
Osterkraut wrote: I think pretty lowly of gun shows. Too much greed, too much made-in-China Nazi memorabilia. A smart phone is a wonderful thing to have at one, I'll advise. See something cool, play with it, walk away and Google it.
This.. And....
A local gun shop owner was banned from the local shows after calling too many sellers out on their E36 M3. Yes, there are some good there, but if you want a ccw gun, buy from a trusted individual/friend or a credible store.
You can always have fun with the gun show cheap weapons
I dunno what kinda shows you guys have been going to. Like I said, I go to The Big One in Tulsa every couple years and a small one (~2 hours to walk it completely) local maybe once a year. I prefer the small tables.
Del-Ton.com is a good place to deal with. Fast shipping, quality parts. You would do well to buy a stripped lower at a show and trick it out exactly how you want. Also, I hate to say it, but I would avoid dealing with Sarco. While the parts are good and reasonably priced, their customer service is beyond bad. I would only buy something from them that was not available anywhere else and that I didn't care if it took 2 months to get to me, and that only after a dozen phone calls.
Not much to add, but when I think 'gun' and 'show' I always come back to this:
nderwater wrote: Not much to add, but when I think 'gun' and 'show' I always come back to this:
I missed that episode but - WOW. Really?
-Sean
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