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Thread: Whats up with gun shows?

  1. #81
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    Quote Originally Posted by BlackWidow View Post
    Gun shows have been packed around here. But I can say that the amount of buying has went down. Everyone wants something for nothing.

    Love the:

    "how much is that?"

    That is 58.00 sir.

    "Will ya take 40.00 for it?"

    What I want to say..... Get your worthless ass away from my table before I monkey stomp your guts out... Just saying.

    On the other side of things I've seen a lot of guys selling "match grade bushmaster m4 uppers" with utg rails for $900 and "genuine fn uppers" that clearly had del ton marked barrels and YHM rails for $800, unfortunately finding good guys selling quality stuff at these circus shows is becoming more and more of a chore. They're still some there, but they're a disappearing breed imho.

  2. #82
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    .

    FWIW

    I've been going to Gun Shows for...a long time. Nowadays, I go to one every two months or so. I agree they are not what they used to be but they are better than none.

    I used to go with a friend or two and we'd usually end up getting separated. When we’d meet back up, I’d have several good buys and they’d ask, “Where was that at?”

    I think most people don’t know how to shop (or talk to people) at a GS. Here’s a little of what I’ve learned.

    What I find funny is people gripe that the same dealers are there for every show, which is true BUT just look for the guy:
    - Without a fancy table cloth
    - Only has one (1) table
    - Junky and disorganized
    - Boxes of junk on his table
    - Looks like he might actually need to make some money
    - That is friendly

    If you are looking for a deal, go to the back of the show. The back is where the promoter often put the new guys. The guys at the front, generally reserve the same spot for years. Several years ago, I talked to a dealer at a Houston Gun Show that told me he has had the same spot for 36-years.
    Also, look for the small guy stuck in between a couple of big dealers. The promoters will stick these new guys where ever they can stick a table and sometimes they are easily missed.

    I generally go straight to the back and work forward. I want a table that looks like some guy just cleaned out his shop and wants to get rid of stuff. I like to dig in boxes. Systematically scour the table, look behind stuff, inside stuff, look in boxes next to the dealers chair, etc.

    I don’t make offers unless the seller begs me to. The way I look at it, it is the Seller’s stuff. If I make an offer either I insult him or I pay more than I should have if he had said the price.
    I’ve had Seller’s tell me, “Come on, make me an offer, you won’t hurt my feelings!” I bought a Sully stock some seller had and he didn’t know what it was or what size it was. (I wasn’t sure if they made a commercial?) He had $40 on it and he saw me look at it. I asked him if it was commercial or MS and he didn’t know. He asked me to make an offer and I said real humbly (not cocky), “Man… I’m not sure if I can use it… and I really don’t need it, so I’d hate to put more than $10 in it.” He said “Deal”.

    I always talk to sellers. I ask them how’s the show, where are they from, what they shoot, etc. I have gotten some fantastic deals just talking and telling them I like AR’s, SIG’s, or whatever. Several times I’ve had them tell me, “Wait a second, I’ve got some mags under the table that I didn’t put out because I didn’t know what they were worth…you want to look at it?” or “I’ve had these sights on the table for the last two shows…heck I’d take $150 for the whole bunch!” The “whole bunch” ended up being take-off BUIS's: one F&R LMT and two S&W-marked Troy folding rears…for $150. He had them priced at $100 each.

    I generally setup at a show every 6-7 years, to get rid of stuff. I set my table up like the tables I look for when I’m going to a show – pup tent halves for a table cloth, junk boxes, disorganized, prices showing, etc. and I have always done well, even when other dealers complain. I price stuff to sell, talk to people, always take less for what I mark it, and have a good time.

    But maybe it’s just me…

    .

  3. #83
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    Just killin time at a show

    We usually have 1 or 2 in Ct I'l go to - you know it's Sat morning and "I'm just running to the hardware store dear" kind of excuse. Havn't been to one in 6 months, just feel like walking around. Ammo has gotten available again but the $ is not worth carrying it back to the truck. (Lets put it this way - last full case of 7.62x39 I bought was $75, South African 5.56 in battle packs came in plastic bins). No way I'm paying $200 + for the same thing. Should have bought more ammo 5 years back and forgot about my 401K. Nothing on the AR tables except Stag, RRA and BM, not even any surplus parts like you used to find. I can justify the trip by buying a Surefire flashlight for less than the internet cause no one else thinks a flashlight could cost more than $50 so the door fee gets written off with the savings and still cost less. Eat a hamburger to benefit the local Lions Club, fondle some old Colt single actions and get back in time to do some yard work.

  4. #84
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    It's been over a decade since I last went and I don't think it was all that great in terms of deals even back then. Maybe I just knew bullshit when I saw it.

    On the other hand they are a fun way to spend a rainy day. I'd rather people watch than go see some piece of crap movie.

  5. #85
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    I went to a gunshow in Albuquerque a couple weeks ago, and seen hundreds of uppers and complete rifles, all junk. And 2 or 3 colts. Thats it, all no name shit or dpms. The ammo was double internet price, and there was alot of chicom airsoft gear as well. It was a total waste of time.
    Last edited by rattlesnake; 03-19-11 at 23:41.

  6. #86
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    Sorry, double post.
    Last edited by El Pistolero; 03-20-11 at 06:04. Reason: Double tap.

  7. #87
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    Gun shows are like gun stores to me. I don't go to ask questions or look for AR stuff. Too much Chinese airsoft crap and too much verbal BS. I generally go in hopes of snagging a Finnish M39 Mosin-Nagant for $180 while everyone else is haggling over 1100-dollar DPMS ARs. I also like reassuring myself that I am doing good by buying from folks like BCM and LaRue and buying quality at good prices and not paying more for less and getting ripped off like the uninformed carbon blobs that buy and sell at gun shows. And the majority of the tables selling UTG and NC Star junk confirm that. I mostly go for the mil-surps, and maybe good deals on handguns. Nothing interesting about the ARs on the tables. At least I don't waste too much money, I get in for $1 with my military ID, and I buy a hot dog and a Mountain Dew and just browse the isles.
    Last edited by El Pistolero; 03-20-11 at 06:12. Reason: Spelling.

  8. #88
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    At this point, I only go to gun shows if I want to do a real life comparison of two things I've only seen online. Last time I went to a gun show, some jackoff offered me the great deal of 1k of Wolf ammo for $300.
    Know your role, and shut your mouth.

  9. #89
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    I just came away from one in Fredericksburg, today.

    About the best I can say for them is that it's possible to find halfway decent pricing on ammo, but it requires one to find...

    Every.
    Single.
    Ammo vendor.

    ...tap out per-round breakdowns on a calculator, scratching down the results, and deciding if what's available is reasonable vs. internet per-round + delivery + time.

    Other than that...well, suffice to say that when I'm at the airport, people-watching is of interest because there's ladies in pencil skirts, heels and naughty-librarian glasses jetting to and fro for me to ogle; at a goon show, the people-watching is more of the "Holy mother of god, WTF is THAT?!?!" variety.

    So, I'll go to them, but I usually come out like and need to shower.
    Contractor scum, AAV

  10. #90
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    nice

    Quote Originally Posted by JSantoro View Post
    So, I'll go to them, but I usually come out like and need to shower.
    ...hahaha! When soap and water isn't going to get you clean...


    Attachment 7816
    Last edited by jklaughrey; 08-05-11 at 22:26.
    Never judge a man by his success, judge by how he deals with his failures!- L.E.C.

    Some People suck at being Human!- Me

    "To keep you is no gain, to destroy you is no loss."- Khmer Rouge

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