before picking up anything from a table, ask permission...

 

I know most of the guns are way over priced and most of the accessories too. Its still cool to go see and check ot though. I buy reloads from there and the prices are good. I haven`t had any problems with them. I like all the survival gadgets people come up with. Some are good some are lame. I`m going at the end of the month usually just to look around but I do buy ammo and gadgets at times.

 

Take a bore light. Don't buy a mosin nagant. : )

 

Take a bore light.

Many dealers there will have one you can use.

I've found some decent deals at G&K shows.

And a Mosin for $80 is a good investment. Just don't expect to win any target shooting contests.

 

Uh, since when is buying a Mosin a don't? Every mosin I have ever looked at had fantastic barrels, and they are great rifles.

Aside from that, keep in mind prices if you think you might buy something. Don't overpay as a spur of the moment, ask questions if you do buy reloads. Before buying something, look around, several times an item will be cheaper at another vendor.

 

Calm down friend. Nothing wrong with a nagant in great working order. Especially if you are fighting in the boxer rebellion. : )

 

We used to do gun shows 2 to 3 times a month when we had our gun store.... Usually your best deals are on sunday about an hour or 2 before closing.... Alot of those over priced guns come down, due to some of those folks need money to get home, lol....

 

Do not buy from people that want you to do paperwork otherwise what is the point of going to gun show?

 

My ex wife loved gun shows it was a cheap date. +1 For ask first to touch. Don't point anything at anyone. Use the same rules as for driving it makes me mad when some jerk insists on walking the wrong way. Be aware of stuff like a backpack can knock stuff off someones table when you turn sharply. Cash is your best tool. It nevers hurts to ask if they will take less. Haggle(ing) is an art form. Have fun, take a friend(s) enjoy the freedom while you can.

 

Don't shoot me for the obvious newbie question, but don't gun purchases at these shows require paperwork - especially in California?

 

Depends on the state and their laws... In Washington if your a dealer you do, but private sell doesn't (at least that's how it was when we did the shows).....

 

BugMan, it depends on the state. They're all different.

 

My advice skip the gun show and leave them to the sheeple. Some good deals can be had there but for the most part its a rip off. I dont buy anything from the monthly gun show in colorado and they are huge events. Check your local gun forum and you will find everything you would ever need and some.

 

DON'T GET EXCITED. You see a weapon, "Oh wow I've seen this on the military channel aw cool!" and then buy it without looking it over (I know because I did it when I was younger).
Stay calm, look it over well, check EVERYTHING on it. ANYTHING could be wrong with it. After you're done giving it a thorough check all the while asking the dealer all the questions you can, and also ask yourself "is this really what I NEED right now?", tell the dealer you'll think about it and continue looking. Make another "round" through the show and then if you really want it go for it.
Getting excited has cost me some bucks before but I won't get into it. Just STAY CALM and KNOW you want it before you buy it.

 

go to show find gun you want and shop around in local stores for better deal

 

Thanks for all the replies. Mainly I was planning on looking for some ammo cans. I hear people getting some for $6 each. My local army surplus store sells the 50cal for $30 or I could order some online for $14 +s/h.

 

$30 for a 50cal ammo can?! That's ridiculous. At the local military surplus store he sells new ones, no dents, good paint, good gaskets for like $10.95. Hell, that's cheaper than CTD

 

Ammo cans are getting higher, but your local show should have some. In my humble opinion, anything under $10 is probably a good deal...pallets of them at the government auction were getting pretty high per can last time I watched one.

Obviously, check the gasket make sure it looks good. Also, don't get a can with a dent in it and sometimes it affects its ability to close properly.

There are lots of neat things at gun shows...lately, I have used them to sell guns and only buy accessories. MGO is a forum in my state where people list classifieds, that is where the best deals are!

 

Ammo cans are getting higher, but your local show should have some. In my humble opinion, anything under $10 is probably a good deal...pallets of them at the government auction were getting pretty high per can last time I watched one.

Yeah they are. $10 has been the average price in this area for a couple years now. Dealers have been having trouble getting the cans lately, and prices are moving into the $12 range because of it. So $10 or under is a good deal.

 

Find the private sales tables. They are usually away from th ephone cords and the rest of the infrastructure necessary for all the 4473 stuff. Next? Does it say "Glock" on it? Buy it!
Next? Ammo? Magazines? Accessories?
Happy sticks for the Glock? Buy it!

 

I like gun shows.There are usually some fantastic deals there.Always somebody who bought something on impulse and needs money.One example bought a M1A SOCOM 16 1000.00 with scope mount and several extra mags.The guy was moving and needed a refridgerator.I was glad to help out.You have to know what things are selling for though there are people who will gladly take your money for something overpriced also.

 

I like gun shows too and go to quite a few every year. Prices are all over the place, some are good and some not. Treat peoples firearms with respect and keep your finger off the trigger and treat every weapon as if its loaded. The more you educate yourself on correct terminology (magazine VS clip for instance) the more you wont appear to be a newbie.

 

Ahh i have been telling my son that the clips are for womens hairr and then call him Shirley. He is finally calling them magazines now. LOL Sorry i know it has nothing to do with the original OP question, but I laughed when i read your post and started thinking about calling my son Shirley. :thumb:

 

Before going check the price of what you are looking for around town. That way you will know what the market is and if you are getting a bargin. Don't be afraid to bargin. Understand at many gun show you have private sellers and business selling. Knowing the going price is the key when it comes to getting a bargin. Bring a bore light as suggested. I've looked down many a used gun that needs to be cleaned.(go figure) If the seller gets antsy when you break out the light, best advice is to move on.

One of the best things about a good gun show is the ability to handle guns that you've just seen or read about. Most big name gun makers make good guns. That being the case finding the one that feels "right" in you hands will make all the difference. Meaning, if it doesn't feel right in your hand or fit your hand no matter the reputation of the gun you are not apt to shoot it well and will be disappointed.

 

Always dry fire every gun you pick up.

 

Sorry, but that made LOL... :

 

Reloads:

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=201890

Shop the whole show before buying anything expensive. Get an idea of the going prices.

Ask before you touch something.

 

its pretty much all been said here, there will prolly be a guy there advertiseing a great deal on 9mm pistols, they will most likely be either hi point or jimenez, I have both and dont regret the purchaces of either, but thats your personal call.

again, dont be afraid to haggle.

 

Never touch the metal when picking up a firearm.
Take a white hanky of cotton glove to handle firearms with.
Never dry fire a firearm.
Do not disassemble any firearms until after you have been to a few shows and everyone knows what you are doing.
Make sure any firearms that you take into the show are unloaded.
MREs make a cheep lunch.
Do not drop a firearm.
Do not be afraid to walk away from a vender if he is being an AH.

 

whether you do, or not, make sure you act like you know a lot about guns. If you dont, you will be harassed by the regulars there that pride themselves on knowing "everything" about guns. There is nothing that makes guys like that more excited then tryin to help a newb out. It makes them feel important. Second, if a vendor gets on your case about touching before asking permission just simply move on. There will surely be another vendor down the line, with the same gun, that will be more friendly to the customer. The "ask before you touch" rule is simply another tactic a bunch of these vendors use to make themselves feel important. Think about it. These are guys that have probably never been in charge of anything in there life, so naturally they are going to be super pumped about finally being in what they think of as a position with authority. Lastly, have fun, enjoy all the awesome weapons, and try to bring one home!


ONE SHOT ONE KILL

PHIL

 

Second, if a vendor gets on your case about touching before asking permission just simply move on. There will surely be another vendor down the line, with the same gun, that will be more friendly to the customer. The "ask before you touch" rule is simply another tactic a bunch of these vendors use to make themselves feel important.

I can tell that you've never been a dealer at the shows. When I first started selling at the shows, I hated the "don't touch my stuff" attitude that the dealers had too. So I had a total hands on, play with anything you want policy. I changed that REALLY FAST!

There's a reason the dealers don't want people handling their stuff and it has nothing to do with control. It has to do with the fact that while most people are decent and have some common sense, a LOT of them don't. They tear stuff up, take it apart, break it, rip packaging apart, scramble stuff so that you lose sales because others can't find it, etc.

I learned my lesson the hard way and ended up being one of the "don't touch my stuff" dealers that I used to dislike. Because I understood why they did it.

A little understanding goes a long way in this world. And rarely are things the way they seem on the surface.

A couple years back we had an incident where a dealer was selling some rare, collectible revolvers. They had never been turned, which of course adds to the value. A customer came along and cocked and dry fired them before the dealer noticed. This dropped their value quite a bit. The customer said "I didn't know" and walked off. The dealer took a big loss over it. I've had them open the daylight filter on night vision scopes and point them at the lights and turn them on. I end up having to replace an expensive tube because the customer "didn't know". Yet if I have no batteries in them, they don't sell. How is that fair to the dealer?

 

Do not assume a firearm on a table is unloaded I have been at a show where some one accidentally fired a weapon they were looking at. Then this is the normal rule when handling any firearm.

 

Good points and bad each is different. You have some outragious prices and some pretty good prices.

First walk around and look carefully at everything, touch nothing unless you ask first. If you see something that you like, talk to guy at the table. There are some who will not come down even if that means not making a sale, blow these guys off and keep shopping. For example I saw some item on a table and I had $80 cash and could not get a penny more out of the ATM that day well the guy would not come down a penny off of the $100 price. I did not buy it, sure enough I found the same item for $25 later. Now does that mean that you can or should haggle over every price? No you want to have the good venders come back, let them make a little money but do not get ripped off. What is nice is to see the cool new stuff like the AR-15 tacticool gizmos.

There are some things that you can buy at gunshows like AR-15 lower receivers that you can not buy over the internet.