Sturm

That is my reason for the one in a few weeks. I need 32 special for a ~50 year old lever marlin I just inherited.

I will also be looking into a SR22 and LCR 357. My local shop has them for $306 and $458 respectively before taxes etc. Using cash do you think I could get 30 to 40 dollars under those prices?

RockDoctor

It's called shopping. Some of the dealers at gun shows will ask what the market will bear and are looking for the impulse buyer with money burning a hole in his/her pocket. Within the last year I made two purchases that were good deals, a Ruger LCR .38 and most recently Ruger MKIII 22/45 target Bull Barrel at two different shows.

Before I go to the gun shows I research prices of what I might want. I then walk through the show and compare prices. If I find a deal, I buy. If not, I move on. A month ago I saw a SR 1911 $800+. The dealer saw me looking and came over. I shook my head, said " too high" and moved on. This was the same dealer in the Dallas area I got the good deal on the LCR several months previously.

I really don't have a problem with Gun Shows and dealers. They typically have their BATF License which means they have to follow the requirements of storage and paperwork. They have the travel costs to the shows, hotel, tables. They have family or friends helping. Costs of a secure trailer for travel. Costs of com devices to BATF or credit devices for credit sales. The dealer small or large at gun shows have to include in their prices, the cost of business. In saying that ther are a few that will take your money and smile when, on impulse and a roll of money, you decide that you have to have the newest toy.

Duane

Crow,

I guess that I am somewhat like you. I go to a gun show mostly for the SHOW part. While I have bought accessories, or ammo, a few times, I have never bought a gun at a gun show.

Duane

Country

Same here when it's in San Diego. I really haven't seen any spectacular deals on anything. By the time I pay entry fee and parking I'm already 20 bucks in the hole. But I continue going just for the atmosphere and hope that I may stumble acroos something that catches my eye.

303lithgow

What gets me is they charge you just to get inside. I stopped going years ago.

Sbh87

The gun show that is held every year in the town to my North always charged. I went once for the experience, but figured its more worth it to go to one of the 10 gun stores in my immediate area or to one I like thats right near Boston if I wanted to buy a gun.

rdp357

You can get better deals at your LGS, I went to a gun show last weekend here in Fla and couldn't believe the prices, I didnt' see one good deal in the entire show, didnt' see to many people buying either

Rivers2k

Yes! went to a show and everything was way to expensive. ! didn't buy a single thing. .22lr ammo was $12 a box when right down the road at wally world they had the same amo for $7.00

Rivers2k

In my area it the convention center that charges not the show.

laremm

I go to the Show in Chantilly VA, then the next week is VA beach and the same dealers have lower prices

punkinlobber

The last gun show I went to folks were charging msrp+ for their products. LGS prices are much lower.

blbolin

I quit going to guns shows, why pay to see firearms that are priced more than what is for sale at local dealers.
Asking one seller at a gun show why his LCR was priced so high (higher than local dealer prices) he said look at my overhead expenses in coming to the show.
I guess a dealer with a building must have lower expenses than sellers at a gun show or that is what the guy at the gun show would like you to believe.!

Warbird1

I go 2-3 times a yr to the gun shows in Mobile. Have bought knives, a bayonet, flashlight, cap and a couple of holsters. No guns yet though I have come close. I look @ the guns that my LGS's don't have. Next show is in a couple of weeks. Love to look if nothing else. Six bucks to get in and no parking fees. Reasonable to me!

North country gal

We've do pretty well at guns shows and often do some trading on hard to find accessories and guns. Sure, there are some shows where we walk out the door, empty-handed, but sometimes we do find a good deal. You never know until you get there.

As to pricing, no matter what gun show you attend, you will find SOME tables where prices are high to ridiculous, but you'll also find some tables where folks are reasonable and flexible in their prices and willing to deal. It's the nature of the beast.

Gun shows vary in their nature, too. The ones put on by big outfits tend to be fairly similar. You often see the same vendors and the same folks at the tables. Small, more local shows tend to have better deals. Just hard to make blanket statements about gun shows, IMO.

pequeajim

I am a new gun owner. My daughter wanted to shoot together, so I spent a fair amount of time researching what gun I would like to own, (she already knew what she wanted). I went the first day with a friend so that I could see the product and shop prices. I didn't things were WAY out of wack, but there were not great deals going either.

I must of walked the floor 4-5 times before deciding to wait and come back the next day. Just like the computer shows that I always used to attend, the best deals were found on the last day, and I ended up getting a great deal on a gun for myself and one for my daughter.