I went to the central Florida gun show

Paid $11 and it was dead

Looks like even the tactical crowd is overbought with guns.

Ammo way over priced

Terrible sub $100 optics. All these ar will be mounted with terrible optics.

I hung out with a Randall dealer - going to get some number 1 and number 3 knives. He was the only one with excellent rifles - 6 of them.

Even military surplus rifles sucked.

I was told to go to tusla and I will one of years.

If this is an indicator seems like central Florida at least is a satiated market for guns. And where are the damn hunters.

Mike

Yeah I've been to a few in Central Texas and it's more like the AR-15 show. That and some junk. I saw one of the cast iron Arisaka practice rifles with a $650 price tag. You get a better selection on GunBroker and classified sections of gun forums.

Selection was always the issue for me, the Salt Lake City gun shows in the early 80s were excellent. Now it's more than half t-shirts and tough-guy knives.
The promoters say if they banned the dumb stuff, they'd have to close up shop altogether. Sad...

I would pay $11 to people watch.

Only in Florida would you get some people going to gun shows wearing confederate flags and others wearing trayvon Martin support T-shirts.

I did buy some bench made knives as the price was the same as academy or amazon. Probably could have got them cheaper at dsc.

I go to dsc and SCI more for gear than outfitters or booking trips.

Mike

The last gun show I went to was in my hometown of St. Joseph, Mo. last year with my brother. It was a waste of money to get into it and I will never go to that show again. Beretta682E, you could have been describing the gun show I was at! When I lived in Dodge City, before my wife and I retired, the gun club I was a member of hosted a gunshow in Garden City every year and for a smaller town we put on a good show but it seems like they are getting lamer and lamer to the point I don't care if I see another one. I went to a gun show in Wichita over 15 years ago and I couldn't tell you if they had anything interesting or not because I couldn't get to the tables to look at anything for all the people there, they were piled 5 and 6 deep at every table. I finally just left and drove home.

It seems no matter where the gun shows are, they have all gravitated to those useless AR type rifles!

I worked gun shows from 15 years old and all throughout high school. We decided mail order (before internet) was the way to go. I think I’ve been to two gun shows since. Yes, it’s good people watching. Exhibiting at DSC is quite different.

Buying guns is easier on AR or GunBroker. I know many set up a table and it’s more of a hobby than anything else.

I have not been to a gun show in close to 20 years and have not been to a DSC show in 7 or 8.

With gun shows because they had evolved or devolved to mainly gadgets and/or Rambo - Soldier of Fortune types with guys in fuoo camo standing around sizin everyone else up as if they were potential targets.

With DSC it is a scheduling issue as when they have been having the show in early January, I am still guiding hunters and between guiding hunters and going to Dallas, I am going to hunt.

I go to the show in Puyallup as a social event with my old partner. It used to have interesting stuff but has turned into a flea market. Guns are mostly black and tactical.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
It seems no matter where the gun shows are, they have all gravitated to those useless AR type rifles!

True, but that must be what is selling. Miss the gun shows that sold sporting rifles and shotguns. Now it's all pistols and black rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
It seems no matter where the gun shows are, they have all gravitated to those useless AR type rifles!

And the stupid gadgets that go with them.

Grizz

I went to the Hunters Extravaganza in Houston a few weeks ago. ten dollars to get in and 12.00 to park. Wanted to buy a good spotting scope. Had in mind a vortex. Found a dealer had a 22x48x65 I believe. It was sold, really wanted to look though the 20x60x85 Razor. The Viper he had wasn't bad. Brought all my cash money back home with me. Really don't want to order one without trying it out. Hard to tell looking at rafters in a big building. He may have went out side with me to get a better look at things through it at something a little farther off.

I was nearly religious attending the local gun shows sponsored by the Lions Club because they use the funds generated to support local charitable organizations. Then they moved to a nice new venue in which I cannot carry my personal firearm. Haven't been back since. I do miss it, as I usually found something interesting to buy (even if it was rarely a firearm).

I travel 2+ hrs to 2 gun shows a year, both in Pa. There are usually 2 or 3 dealers of custom rifles and 2 or 3 that have reloading supplies. It's not worth the price but I look at it like I'm going to disneyland.

A friend still attends the Nashville show just as a personal show against the mayor and council as they run the show out of i's current venue.
I have not gone recently, but the show in BNA is but a shadow of what it once was.
One day I would like to make Tulsa just to attend what I feel would put me in AWE of what a gun show can be!

They really have gone to pot,sad to say.The old ones at the Colosium for instance years ago when APD was switching to pistols from revolvers,they had 2 booths full of S+W + Colts for $150.00 ea.TOO many other good memories to relate,but that seems to be a thing of the past.I still attend some of them but am really turned off by the jams,jellys + T shirts,etc. By God if you took your guns into a booth at a sammi show,they would hit the roof.The 2 best gun shows that we HAD were put under by 1 each accidental discharge.The handwritings on the wall + the really sad thing is that the anti gunners don't have to do anything;we're doing it to ourself.

I haven't been to a gun show in quite a few years for the same reasons already mentioned.
It's probably been over 15yrs since I attended a really good show.
Way too many booths that have nothing to do with guns or even hunting.

quote:

we're doing it to ourself.

That is undeniable.

Gun Ownership/Hunting does not matter, we have became our own worst enemies.

quote:

.The 2 best gun shows that we HAD were put under by 1 each accidental discharge.

And THAT's why I don't go to gun shows!!

The latest American Rifleman says
"Despite...an overall "soft' market, sales of semi automatic pistols suitable for concealed carry remain strong".
What they did NOT say, was that the guns are being sold at steep discounts and manufacturers rebates!
I believe the firearms market to be saturated, which is good as then prices come down to ridiculous levels!
Peter.

Im a vendor at about 20 plus shows a year... san angelo, midland, Abilene, Brownwood, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Lubbock, san Antonio, Snyder, alpine...some are very well organized and advertised, others not... I put about 120 guns on my tables, a few decent optics, exotic wood for knife scales and pistol grips, Alabama Damascus billets, some one fired brass, and a few d2 tool steel knife blans... and some other widgets... I am not an ffl dealer, all face-to-face...I ususlly have about 35 pistols, decent stuff, ruger mk1's, 2's,3's.. pre-marks... about 15 22 rifles, all using quality stuff... I don't think I'm overpriced, I sell stuff, trade stuff, and buy stuff.. I've got AMT pistols, ram=line polymer 22's... unique stuff... I make my own market..most of my stuff has scratches, dings... some of it's pretty good stuff....I enjoy visiting with the people that walk around... its fun to see an older guy come by , pick up an older shotgun or rifle and tell me about his own gun he had 60 yrs ago...I might have an ar or 2, but usually don't... stop by my table... im the guy with the yellow shirt!!...

I went to the Houston Gun Show at Astro Hall in 77. Now THAT was one helluva show. It took all weekend to see every table + if you saw something you wanted you better buy in now because you will never find that booth again.Amusing note here,kinda;At our gun shows in the Austin area the cops at the door check to make sure nobodys carrying a loaded piece,very rare that anyone is. Not so at the Houston show.They had 2 55 gallon drums full of ammo that they had taken from folks coming in the door.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:

quote:

we're doing it to ourself.

That is undeniable.

Gun Ownership/Hunting does not matter, we have became our own worst enemies.

+1!!!


I don't go to any big shows any more, and there are several within a reasonable distance from me... same experiences as the rest of you.... overpriced, problem guns, "tactical" junk from China, junk knives from Pakistan, etc... I will go to the very small, "fire hall" type shows, but they are becoming like hens teeth..

I do miss the common commarodmy that was prevalent in the old gun shows,as well as real deals;no one was out to deliberatly fxxk you.Not so anymore;I don't even take anything to sell. I can't stand the insulting ways of the vendors whose attitude seems to universilly be that what they have is gold + what I have is shit (until they get it).I have no problem with the capatalist system of making a profit,that's what we do. I just find it disgusting that these people are acting that way.There is no honor there.

Everything I saw at the gun show that was interesting. cerus cleaning mats.

I bought on amazon for 2/3 the price.

Mike

I rarely go. When I do, it is usually to kill time. Occasionally I find some accessories that I need. I could not tell you the lAst time I bought a gun at one.

I have a friend from Houston that does the shows + sells reloading components.His powder prices are very fair + it saves me the haz mat fee.As for guns,I have'nt seen a bargain in years. But boy they sure do have the jams + jellies.

I hadn't gone to a gun show in over twenty years, so out of curiosity I went to one in Allen, Texas last year. A total waste of time for all the reasons mentioned.

I think the Internet killed the gun shows, like they killed the baseball card shows before that. Everything I need or want can be sourced through the Internet. I'm slowly coming to grips with that fact.

I stopped going to them. If I need beef jerky or fake Indian jewelry, I buy it off the internet.

They say there are few "accidental discharges" but many "negligent discharges".

Moot point as negligence is an accident waiting to happen.