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RPB wrote:I traded at a few and came away better than I could have traded elsewhere.

Now there's a good point. I've often heard it said that the best way to get a good deal at a gun show is to hang around the door and strike up a conversation with anybody getting something that you might like zip-tied...

I find good deals on guns at the gun show. I dont go to the "Real Guns show" in Pasadena, but the High Caliber show in Pasadena and at the GRB have a lot of vendors and some good deals. The Real gun show is more an accessory show with a few guns. As was mentioned, I bought a S&W M&P 15 for $699 with a $100 mail in rebate, I bought 3 additional PMags for $13 each, I bought 300 rounds of ammo for $100, picked up my wifes Walther PK380 for $300, and a RIA 2 tone tactical full size 1911 for $450. Handgun ammo is overpriced, and I only buy hollow points I cannot find locally. I can get ball ammo for my .40 and .380's for much cheaper at Academy and walmart when they have it.

There are good deals on good guns if you are willing to actually look at what is there. When I walked in last weekend with the intention of buying an AR, I first found a Franken rifle (built by the guy selling it). it had an Aero precision lower, and I'm not sure what other parts. it was supposedly unfired, and listed for $649. I stood there while my buddy went and looked elsewhere, and he found a DPMS, NIB, for $679. I messed with it while he went again, and that is when he found the S&W I picked up. There was also a Bushmaster for $699 at the same table as the DPMS.

chartreuse wrote:

RPB wrote:I traded at a few and came away better than I could have traded elsewhere.

Now there's a good point. I've often heard it said that the best way to get a good deal at a gun show is to hang around the door and strike up a conversation with anybody getting something that you might like zip-tied...

I've seen plenty of people doing that, but that's just not my style.
I've carried in guns to sell or trade several times, and I got a lot of lowball offers from dealers. I understand that they have to buy low and make a profit, but I don't think they need to double their money by offering me half the value for a popular item.

But I do go to shows. I collect Spanish pistols, which many sellers have a low opinion of. So I have a pretty good chance of finding a good deal on something I need for my collection. But I have to weigh that against the $8 admission and now the parking charge at Will Rogers. That's a deal-killer if all I need are accessories. I can buy it online and save gas and time.
I'd say I've bought about a third of my gun purchases at shows, a third online/out of town (shipped) and another third local FTF from forums like this or TGT.

chartreuse wrote:

RPB wrote:I traded at a few and came away better than I could have traded elsewhere.

Now there's a good point. I've often heard it said that the best way to get a good deal at a gun show is to hang around the door and strike up a conversation with anybody getting something that you might like zip-tied...

Yep, you might not get a good deal trading with a dealer, but individual to individual trades can work as well at a show as in a WalMart Parking lot (done that too) but you're more likely to find what you want at a show.
(If the Antis outlaw "shows" we'll have to change to "swap meets" or maybe "gatherings" or even "meetings" )

The announcements could say "Tupperware parties aren't just for Glocks anymore"

RPB wrote:The announcements could say "Tupperware parties aren't just for Glocks anymore"

Thanks - that was just the laugh I need as I prepare to head out to the dentist...

USA1 wrote:Been to a few and have never found anything cheaper than I can
get it from my gun guy so I would rather support a local (to me) business.

If you just want to see rare and unusual guns and you live around Houston, go to Collectors Firearms.
They have many more guns than most gun shows. There are guns dating back to the Pirate era, through
the Old West, all the Wars, and up to the latest and greatest. They don't have Nachos though.

Or beef jerky.

I would go if they were free but they are not worth paying for just to get in these days. No deals, lots of junk and cheap Chinese packs/bags. Ammo prices are laughable and gun prices are all retail plus. I do always walk out with ammo cans or cleaning supplies but that's about it.

So far, on a scale of 1 to 10, looks like:
Ammo. 1
Guns. 5
Food. 10

The last few I attended were hideously over crowded and as time progressed people were getting less and less patient with bumping into each other.

For me, that unpleasantness isn't worth the small savings potentially available.

I look at the cost of admission as entertainment... just like a movie. If I find a good deal, it's just a bonus.

flechero wrote:I look at the cost of admission as entertainment... just like a movie. If I find a good deal, it's just a bonus.

Yeah, I tend to agree with this. Plus, as I mentioned, I must be the exception to the rule because I found the SR9c I was looking for $65 cheaper than anywhere else.

terryg wrote:

flechero wrote:I look at the cost of admission as entertainment... just like a movie. If I find a good deal, it's just a bonus.

Yeah, I tend to agree with this. Plus, as I mentioned, I must be the exception to the rule because I found the SR9c I was looking for $65 cheaper than anywhere else.

Not really the exception, you just have to be willing to look for it and not expect a deal to fall into your lap. There are ALWAYS deals to be had, it just depends if it it what you are looking for. I saw three really good deals at the last show I went to at Reliant Center in Houston. It just came down to which deal I wanted to make a move on. I ended up choosing a S&W 686 w/6" barrel in stainless steel used but good condition for $400 out the door. There was also another 686 6" that had a rare adjustable front sight that was in really good condition and the seller wanted $450 obo for it. I did not know enough about the model with the adjustable front sight so I passed, come to find out it was a good deal for the condition and it came with the original box. I also walked away from a Colt King Cobra I think 5" for $599 but there again I know the Colts can be tricky to fix if you get one that was used and abused and I didn't want to sink $600 into something that might need another $400 in repair...I did spend several hours there by myself wandering around browsing, so the entry fee was entertainment for me as much as people watching was.

My wife and I went to the Frisco show just recently (~8 weeks ago or more). She was searching for a specific gun--XD40 Sub Compact--and found it there for less than anywhere she had looked. However, for the most part there were not a lot of real deals....................

I'll continue to go to gun shows, more for the entertainment factor than anything else.

I am going mainly for private sellers of 1911's. If i cant get there by noonish on Saturday i usually wont bother, cheap stuff is likely gone. Pasadena has gone way downhill but parking is close and free. Something to do if bored. I have done well selling stuff but prefer to just use this site and TGT to sell now. GRB and Reliant are nicer inside and bigger but I am $25+ in the hole by the the time i get in the door, if I go alone.

Gun shows can't hold a candle to CDNN and GT's when it comes to guns and ammo IMO.

That said - you can usually find some ok deals from individuals.

Ticket price is worth it just to people watch IMO.