Gun Show
Sam06
Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
Frst one I have gone to in about 4 years. I stopped going because they raised the price, but they had a coupon in the paper and I felt like going.................what a waste of time and money, but I did get a great lemonade.
Prices were insane.
1# of powder= $59.00
100 primers= $19
Ruger M77 rifle in 243= $1050.00
Glock 43= $549.00
I saw a few guys I know from my shooting range and they couldn't believe what stuff cost either. The place was about 1/2 full and there were very few blue steel and wood guns most of the stuff for sale was tacticool stuff. There were a lot of vendors selling cheap holsters, plate carriers and cool guy "operator" crap. The beef jerkey guy was there and the fudge girl was selling fudge. I was very disappointing, it will be awhile before I go back.
Comments
1# of powder= $59.00
100 primers= $19
cheap by todays standards ..🤢
I go just to see how high the prices are, then I have a better idea if I get any offers to buy or trade. seems a lot of my kids friends are hard up and selling grampas guns, doesn't hurt to know prices.........same with some of the folks at church, I have had a few widows ask me about their husbands guns or equipment, I did a show once just to sell off a bunch of stuff for a lady from church who's husband had died, and its a cheap afternoon out of the house
talk.......that's the reason I go. lots of 'interesting folks to 'talk' to. I may even buy something now and then. went to one yesterday and picked up a really nice m-75 win. target rifle.
Lemonade, a cute fudge girl and some jerky, heck yea, count me in! And those M-77s ARE expensive.
Most of the old guys that were dealers have died off.Gun shows were more of a social event to them.They really didnt want to sell anything just visit with old friends.I remember one of them had the same Savage 99 on the table from the time I was in my 20s until I too was an old man.
Sounds like every gun show I have ever been to.
Most of the old guys that were dealers have died off.
There is a lot of truth to that. It scares me to realize that I'm fast becoming one of those old guys!
Been avoiding shows for several years because of the exorbitant prices, but next month plans are to go and sit behind a couple of tables & unload some stuff.
It was easy to see the future of gun shows many years ago. All one had to do was look around with both eyes open....walkers, canes, and mobility devices....and an absence of younger people. The same is true today for the hot-rod and vintage car set. the end of an era. Sad.
The last one I went to was in Post Falls... just across the border from me. A lot of the stuff was over priced, but I found a gun that has been on my list for a reasonable price.
There were quite a few guns that I was interested in buying that weren't even at the show. Kind of unreal to think about that. There was a very nice looking M1 that tempted me, but I decided to wait on that since I'd really prefer to get that from MC at some point.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I really would like to see more positive comments on the gun shows, especially on a gun forum.
They are part of the industry, and whether or not we agree with how things have changed, I don't want to see them disappear.
The government already has enough initiative in their own minds without gun owners confirming, or emboldening.
Sorry I wasn't positive but I was stating my opinion and stating the price of reloading components. I guess now I am a shill for the government according to you.
😘
My statement wasn't directed at anyone specific. If you want to get butthurt over it, then it is what it is. Wasn't my intention.
I agree, I'd hate too see gun shows go away, they are something that I've always enjoyed. As for the prices of certain items, I don't see them coming back down much, kinda like gasoline.
I really don't go to gun shows anymore to buy or sell, but I'm always on the lookout for anything special in the prewar Colt Single Action or Winchester Saddle Ring Carbine lines. My wife and I still go to the same collector shows we always did, but mostly for the comradery with the dealers we've met over the past almost 50 years. Of course, my wife enjoys sitting and talking with their wives.
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
The price of gasoline is exactly why prices at gun shows are not coming down any time soon. Dealers don't get from show to show for free. Meals, miles, and motels all have to be figured into the prices they have to charge. Then there are table fees, temporary business license in some places, and taxes.
I have not set up at a gun show in a decade, but even then, it cost me a minimum of $1000 just to attend a non-local show. That meant that no matter how well I did in sales, it was tough to break even, much less have a profit.
Laws won't kill gun shows, gentlemen; economics will.
Enjoy it while you can Mark. Being an old guy isn't much fun most of the time. Except for the naps.
Old Joe
While there are a lot of over priced weapons at some shows, it is still a good place to find a bargain if you attend the right shows. My wife and I do not have a brick and mortar, only do the shows local to us (less than 100 miles). We regularly sell anywhere from 80 to 100 firearms per show. If you price things well people will find you. For example, that $549 Glock 43 mentioned earlier will be found priced at $419 on my tables. 17s, 19s, 22s, 23s, 26s, 27s, all will be found at $489. As a dealer you can either price them to sell or price them to take home. Ammo is the same way. That is why we have grown from 4 tables to 24 tables in just a couple of years.
Carolina, can you confirm my guesstimate of at least $1000 to set up for a show - counting all fees plus meals, miles, and motels? Or have you ever computed it for your own situation?
The man is right in my opinion. A fast dime beats a slow quarter every time. I used to see the same folks with the same guns every show and I would think, why bother?? I didn't like doing gun shows very much. Most folks were fine but some would grab every gun and throw them down wherever. And my favorite, the guy who is going to impress his friend by showing he can disassemble a 1911. One of my 1911's !! I THINK NOT. But there was the comradery too and that was the best part. AND, I have bought some good stuff from folks walking in. One series of shows in different cities run buy the same guy had something a bit weird. These two guys were at every show and they never bought a table. They would walk around with three long guns on slings hanging from each shoulder trying to sell them. If they didn't sell they would go out and come back with different guns. They could have bought a table for maybe $40.00 but they never did.
Carolinashooter,What shows do you set up at? I'm in the SC upstate and I will look you up if you work local shows.
The closest I come to you is Wilmington N.C. We also are in Fayetteville NC. That may be closer depending on where you are in SC. I set up at the S@D shows, CE and Dixie. As far as how much to set up...when I walk in the door to a show I have already spent around $3500. Motels are not an issue except for 2 shows. That number includes my help, tables, gas and food for my employees. I buy lunch for everyone.
That's about what I expected to read if you're buying 24 tables, cs.
Ladies and gents, that means if carolinashooter is making $50 per gun (priced the way you folks would like to see it done) he has to sell 70 guns just to break even on a show. If he manages to sell that many by noon Sunday, his entire profit only begins to happen in the last three hours of the show.
Please keep that in mind when you think you're being "ripped off" by prices at gun shows.
Carolinashooter , we have probaly talked a time or two at one of the S&d shows or at dixie . I am from goldsboro.
I still go to a few. Spend $20 to get in and waste part of a day. If I find a deal, it's a bonus!
I am pretty sure we have. We are out of Greenville. At the SD shows we are the largest dealer by far. Next time in look for the blue and white "Southern Caliber" sign and stop by and say hello. Another method that will work is ask any dealer or the people up front who to see about a question on a Garand, Springfield or carbine. I am the one they will point to.
I used to vend at the shows often but only do one or two a year now. I started after the wall fell so I don't know how it was before that. The shows were good then. Mountains of cheap surplus and laws that were not as restrictive. The days of $99 SKSs and $79 cases of 7.62X39 ammo are gone and more restrictive laws are here. The liberals have done their best to shut down the shows by restrictive laws and politics. I remember The Great Western Shows fondly. There is another reason the shows are not doing as well. That is Gun Broker. Gun Broker is a improvement over the Gun Shows for many people. Gun Broker out competes the Gun Shows in many ways. At shows friends visit. On Gun Broker friends visit on the Discussion Board when ever they like. At Gun Shows you pay for parking. On Gun Broker you pay shipping only when you buy something. Each Gun Show is different and it is harder to find that treasure you are looking for but you are able inspect it. On Gun Broker it is much easier to find that "rare" item but not every vendor gives a detailed description. At the shows there is overhead. I heard it said meals, miles, motels and table fees. On Gun Broker there are only sold fees. Another consideration is the labor of loading up, travel, setting up, loading out, travel and sometimes unloading. Loading up a listing is easier and packing an item and going to the post office is easier. Two other topic worth mentioning;
The wife and I will be at the Kalispell show this afternoon. Maybe some tomorrow too if we see something she figures she can't do without.
Agree, internet sales have taken it's tole on gun shows and gun shops.
But all I can say about that is I have acquired many nice firearms that I would have never had the opportunity to purchase any other way. Some rare ones to.
Holy powder gougers! $45 to $60 for a pound of TiteGroup? I don't think so!
I did find a NIB Holosun 403C green dot for my 10-22 for less than $200 and have made a deal to do some carpet removal in exchange for a NIB RCBS Rockchucker Supreme press and another 403C sight.
Sadly, I wouldn't know a good deal if it bit me in the tush these days. 😒
@NeoBlackdog was the price of 22lr high? Here in Raleigh at the gunshow it was about 50 cents a round.
True, but with internet sales it's very hard to haggle and cash (greenback) speaks volumes when face to face. With the internet sales tax and freight added it's hard to really find bargins now. Nowdays most states have "trader" type firearm sites that are growing dramatically where you can deal directly with the seller and not worry about transfers, taxes, shipping, insurance, etc. etc.
"Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee
Haven't been to a show in years. The last dozen or so that I have purchased were from a "trader" site. However........those sites are being over run by scammers now.
You know, I didn't even look at any 22 LR except for some CCI 'Varminters'. I can't remember the exact price but do recall I was shocked at how high it was. Something like $60 for a 100 pack.
Finding a good deal has went the way of dinosaurs.
Everyone looks at the gun for sale sites and think what they have is worth way more than a "good deal".
When you think gun show prices are outrageous, ask yourself this:
Would you sell that item for the price you think you should be paying?
I don't sell.............only buy.