For my video on the 5 Gun show secrets click here. ua-cam.com/video/_ODqZtFUSEc/v-deo.html Also, leave a comment about a good or bad deal you got at a gun show.
I thought I got a good deal on a stagecoach shotgun about 40-years ago, until the left barrel kept misfiring! Other than private sales every gun I've gotten from a gunshow was at or just over avg. retail price, and the only reason I bought them from a gunshow was they were available when I wanted them.
Just got a pre ban 3 digit serial number polytech 223 spiker with 12 mags for 1200$ over 1/2 off of what just a rifle normally sells for. Hell the mags alone are 250-350 each when they show up for sell. I was shaking with excitement. Same show i grab a norinco hunter with the unicorn rare original scope mount from a guy walking around for 600$.
I bought a 1938 {that is what's stamped on the barrel} Carcano in caliber 7.5×28 at a gun show by a fella that was {looked} old enough to have brought it home from Europe. He assured me that it was operational and after my quick inspection I had no reason to doubt him. I took it home and cleaned it up, the barrel was black as powder but my cleaning rod went completely through the barrel from the breech. After cleaning it I attempted to chamber a round of ammunition but the cartridge wouldn't go into the chamber flush. Long story short I took to a Gunsmith that found the necked part of a casing broken off and lodged in the chamber. After a few weeks and a $100 bill I picked up my rifle and took it to the range. It fired good, the old ammunition had a slight delay from firing pin strike to boom but the rifle functions great. All together I paid $300 for a functioning rifle that could very easily been a part of WW2.
I gave up on gun shows many years ago. I’d rather pay a little more from a brick and mortar store or from a well known online store. Buying from someone you’ll most likely never see again has too much risk.
I used to love going to the gun show. Now I have a local shop that regularly has better deals. So it’s supporting a local brick and mortar store and getting a good deal. Now, if I go to the gun show, I get some beef jerky from the beef jerky guy.
At my local gun show, about half of the tables are from local brick-and-mortar stores with a mark-up. You're better off going to their store. (full disclosure I work for one of the local FFLs)
"I've only put a box of ammo through it" is right up there with "I've only had 2 beers", "The checks in the mail", "I've always worn cowboy boots", "i love you" and "it's only a fever blister".
A note on buying ammo cans “full” of ammunition- A guy I knew at the range bought an ammo can of 9mm at a show and when he got home and poured the contents out, there were two 2x4’s stacked in the bottom. Buyers beware.
I bought a WWII issued P-08 Luger at a gun show. I didn't know what I was buying and the seller didn't know what he was selling. The top of the receiver where the barrel was tied in was stamped '1940'. The side of the receiver was stamped, '42'. The seller assumed that it was a weapon with mismatched serial numbers and he sold it to me at a discount price with an original holster and take-down tool. He sold it for $650. At the time, WWII Lugers with matching numbers went for double that amount. After I bought it, I found a book on German WWII pistols and discovered that '42' was NOT the last two digits of the serial number, but were, instead, the war time code for 'Mauser'. That particular pistol was made by Mauser under license from Luger and it DID have matching serial numbers. Caveat Venditor, instead of Caveat Emptor, I guess. His loss was my gain. Gun shows CAN pay off big time!! 😃
Problem is that "42" isn't Mausers code, "BYF" is so the 42 is probably the date of manufacture. I'm a P38 guy and not a luger guy but german date codes are the same across the board
@@RElover22 From a Legacy Collectible website regarding a P-08 sold in 2018: "4/21/18 - This is an original 1940 dated "42 Code" Mauser Luger. The pistol was made in 1940 by Mauser and given the "42" code to hide production numbers. The pistol is all original, fully functional and matching. The overall condition is about 95% with some light edge wear and muzzle wear. There is some bluing loss on the barrel and side plate, as well as a few light ping marks on the takedown lever. The straps are beautiful though with very minimal wear. The grips are original and period correct but not numbered on the interior. The bore has some light patina within the grooves, but overall a very nice bore. The magazine is eagle/655 proofed which is correct for this pistol. "
Bought a Colt SAA from a walk around at Tanner Gun Show in Denver. But I'm a member of the Colt Collector's Society and a gunsmith. Gun was non-functional but I immediately knew exactly why. I quickly removed the cylinder and inspected the piece and knew what it would take to fix it. Bought it for cents on the dollar. 30 minutes after I got it home I had it working fine. Value was then 10 times what I paid for it.
I haven't been to a gun show in about 15 years or so. They used to be a place to find deals, now the prices are 2 to 4 times what my local gun stores charge.
Fr i think a lot of gun shows now are for people to sell guns to people who might not necessarily be able to buy from a store aka lying to private sellers which sucks because it makes finding deals for us legal and honest people almost impossible unless your really lucky even then you’d better be there early and grab it before your local scumbag does
A friend of mine works for a pawn shop in my area. He said that a week before the gun show guys will come in and buy everything they have and that's partially what we are seeing at the show.
Back in the 80’s (I’m old) I used to really enjoy going to gun shows. They had a wide variety of firearms, including some collectibles, and their prices were extremely competitive if not lower than standard retail. Somewhere along the line something changed, and I subsequently quit going to them for a long time. About 6 or 8 months ago I went to one for the first time in around 15 years and what I found literally stunned me. Gun shows have basically become flea markets. There were A LOT of knives for sale, but none of them were made by major manufacturers (CRKT, Benchmade, Kershaw, etc.). There were a bunch of cheap swords, flags, and t-shirts. A TON of political stuff. There was even a table selling vaping junk, which I have no idea what vaping and firearm’s have to do with one another. And finally there were firearms, and ammunition. The name brand premium ammunition was roughly the same price you’d find at a gun, or sporting goods store. The firearms were incredibly overpriced, in some cases about 20 to 25% over MSRP. As for accessories, what I found is that things like optics for example were made by companies I’d never even heard of. Over all it was a terrible experience, and I’ll never be going back.
Gun shows are always more expensive then buying from a store or online . They have different upfront costs and expenses also for private sellers at a gun show they take the legal responsibility to selling private without backgrounds. Lastly some gun shows need to keep profitable so they can have one next year so they do need the "others" tables that might not be related
at our local gun show in honolulu there is a nice old lady selling asian snacks. its BY FAR the most popular booth and she has a line from morning to night! :)
People that I know that are not really into guns always ask me what the gunshows are like. And I tell them, just think of it like a big garage sale that happens to have guns. Anymore it's such a large mix of things. There are some decent vendors at my local show usually a few that have local shops that I've bought from a few times. But mostly its just overpriced items people are trying to sell to those who don't know any better.
Did buy a CZ 75 dated 1986 NOS in the box a few years ago. One of the best deals there. Another time a 10mm Ruger Stainless w/pearl grips Birdshead Vaquero original in .40/.38. Another great buy. Both shot to perfection.
Even though the serial numbers aren't matching, I got a phosphate 1945 k98 with the sight hood and markings intact for $200, around 15 years ago. I'd say that was a good deal, because just look at what they sell for now.
I was under the silly impression that a gun show was were you found good deals. Boy was I wrong...lol. Every gun show I have been too, every item is at MSRP or higher, its way cheaper to buy items at a gun store or online!
The gun shows used to be a place to trade when you got bored. You might lose $25-$50, depending on the price of the "item". Didn't go for 15 or so years. Started back in 2020 and was in shock at the attitudes and the shear volume of rip offs. I sold an "item" to another hobby table. He paid $375. Went back to see him at the next show, (I was kinda wanting it back). I figured he was do the usual $25-$50 markup to cover table rent. Nope, $600 he says! Plus, he states, We are not doing it the way everyone used to. I walked off. At the end of the show all the tables seemed angry. Why I asked? "We are not selling anything, people are just looking." Wrong, your trying to rip people off, and we are not going to let you, period. I left emptied handed and $10 poorer.
Similar here. I hadn't been to a show in a decade or so. I was disarmed before entry. Emptied my EDC and tied it up. All of the revolvers for sale were tied up too. No way to check function or bore. I saw a LOT of over priced ammo and really high priced long guns. Most of everything there made gun broker look cheaper to buy. To make things even worse was that most of the sellers were mad. Frowns all around.
I got way better deals where there was independant people selling. Last time i went it was a bunch of gun shops wanting more than it sold at their shop for, i guess they wanted me to pay for the table and fuel to drag their over priced junk there.
The gun community was better when it was smaller and simpler. Now it’s trendy to be “ tacticool”. Hoards of dipshits larping over whatever someone online told them they needed just to upload a few pictures with it to social media and put it back in the safe for the rest of the year. A saturated market, over priced crap, and people who aren’t truly representing what 2a is all about is a big part of the problem.
I no longer go to gun shows. They are insanely over priced and as in many other comments, you never know what you are getting or will likely not see some ya-who ever again. I am a gunsmith and have caught so many people trying to take advantage of those who do not know firearms. Your video is very informative and spot on.
Great advice! My dad taught me that the only reloads to use are the ones I produced. And the Flea Market analogy is spot on. There’s only one decent show where I live and the crap they allow to be sold there is embarrassing. From spices & rubs to clocks & wind chimes, and it takes up the majority of the show.
@@gwpattrick 🤣 not trying to be an overcritical jerk here (so i guess that just means it comes natural), but it sounds like his voice is going out too, which is a bit like nails on a chalkboard.
In my experience, the biggest buyer beware I've found is optics. I've seen some sneaky vendors in every gunshow I've been to. The tactic I see is cheap optics (sub $150 optics) right next to expensive optics ($800+ optics) but they'll mark up the cheap optics to 200%-300% or more than they are worth, but still way less than the expensive stuff. For example I saw an optic that could be bought for $50 on Amazon that was bring marked up to nearly $250. And it was placed next to a $1000 Vortex optic. Of course people were looking at the "great deal" not knowing that the "great deal" was actually a massive mark up.
Vortex optics are basically $50 optics marked up to $250 by the manufacturer. The Chinese Holosun factory makes most of the vortex and primary arms red dots. Holosun saw PA and Vortex selling their optics for $300, so Holosun started selling their for $400. They're all trash until very recently, and now you might as well pay the extra 10-20% and get a Trijicon, Aimpoint, EOtech, etc.
@@littlejackalo5326try a Burris RT3 I have a nasty astigmatism in my good eye, & makes those garbage, cheap, knockoffs, etc. easily spotable. But the Burris RT3 is so far very cost effective. No flowering of the very nice reticle, and it's generally reliable.
@@littlejackalo5326Not dismissing the quality of the brands you mentioned but 10-20% is an understatement. An RMR HD is $850 vs $300 for a 507c (95%). A TA31 ACOG is $1100 vs $300 for a PA SLx 3x (115%). An EXPS2 is $600 vs $300 for a 510c (67%). If the price difference really was 10-20% wayyyy more people in the civilian market would buy them.
+1 On the ammo avoidance. Bought some 5.56 a few years back that only took about seven rounds for me to nope out of. First two were fine. The third one sounded a bit funny and hit low. The fourth did fine, as well. When firing the fifth, I actually saw the projectile flying through the air. The sixth round performed well, but the seventh fired with about twice the normal recoil and sounded like a Civil War cannon firing.
A friend had a plastic bag of 9mm pistol ammo, it was cheap and we were just plinking. I dropped the slide and the gun went off! Luckily I always keep it pointed in a safe direction, but some of the primers were proud of the case, and caused a slam fire. We shot them up, but with extra caution.
@@tommiturmiola3682 I don’t know that it’s illegal? But it is very unwise. If anyone got hurt using that ammo. Whether it was the fault of the loader or not, you’d get sued into oblivion.
The only thing I ever see at gun shows are overpriced guns and people that tote around their entire collections from show to show in glass cases and probably never sell a single thing.
Рік тому+455
Good points, thank you for the video. 1. 0:18 Reloaded ammo 2. 3:26 Anything that is not gun-related 3. 5:08 Used revolvers 4. 10:38 Collectible firearms
Hey, for point 2: those candied pecans are too friggin good, I get some every time I go. Also, my local show has a pretty cool dude who makes his own damascus knives. He sells the blanks, too. Haven't bought one, but if I do, I think he'd be a decent guy to get something from.
@@DamonnanashiHAHA 😅😅 YESS me too bro. I ALWAYS buy the Candied Pecans or Cashews man they're absolutely delicious when fresh and warm off the hot-pan!!! Love them freshly cooked!! HAHA and I always buy a new knife as well, especially a nice looking Damascus knife or a nice useful fileting or hunting knife. I just can't help it!! 😅😅.. I go to the one in las vegas. Hbu??
The flea market atmosphere NOWADAYS? 😅 That has been a part of gun shows since I started going in the 80s. It's nothing new. Good luck trying to get rid of it. If you're not able to function check a handgun then don't buy it. It doesn't matter who's selling it or where. Why would any seller allow you to use Flitz on a collectible gun? That's a good way to get asked to leave. You don't need it to see the difference between factory and cold blue anyway. Reloads are hit and miss anyway. Both literally and figuratively. Don't buy them from someone else. Make your own.
I live in Phoenix, Az. I have sworn off going to the gun shows in this area, several times. And this past weekend, I went to the huge, yearly one. Here is why, you shouldn’t even go to the gun show. 1. It’s hard to save on any thing after you are $30 in the hole upon entrance. 2. The ammo stacked up at the big ammo vendors looks cool, but really isn’t cheaper than any of 5 big box stores in the area. 3 I think the vendors mark up each gun for sale by the cost of the table, insuring they don’t lose money 4. You might buy some obscure magazine, part or accessory that is hard to find but all this can be bought on eBay cheaper and easier 5. These gun shows aren’t the old time ones at the armory or the fairgrounds run by someone who has a day job. 6. They are run by deceptive, money grabbing companies
You got all that right. I went to the big PHX gun show twenty years ago while visiting a relative. A guy had WW2 30M1 "armor piercing" ammo for sale. I inspected and it was obviously old ammo with newly painted black tips. I asked him when he painted those but he didn''t answer. But the look on his face told the truth. It was plain Jane 30-06 and definitely not AP.
Me too. I've not bought a gun at a gun show since 2001. When I bought my first and only firearm at a show here in Phoenix. It was the big crossroads one. The last few times I've been I have to wonder why the hell folks bother renting tables when they are obviously not intending to sell any guns. Must be a real pain in the but to drag all their rifles to the table, massivly jack up their prices and then have to drag them all back home again unsold. These guys are literally smoking crack on the "pots of gold" they think they have on their tables.
I was at the same show. I agree lots and lots of over priced stuff but boy there were some nice old guns you aren't going to find just about anywhere else. Picked up an old sako riihimaki for about $800 less than the cheapest one on gunbroker or gunsinternational and a cz 452 lux for about 1/2 of what it's worth. Know what guns you're looking for and do lots of research and good buys can still be had at our Arizona shows
I try to go to the gun shows here in Phoenix, I live a block away from the fairgrounds, but I am looking for rossi combo rifles, but when I do find one they want double the amount of what they sell them for from the manufacturer, I also look for the barrels for the rossi single shot rifles because rossi quit making lots of calibers that I like, I am a ex military special forces officer and I always try for 1 shot kills, so I like single shot rifles,
The most dangerous reloader I've ever met was Grandpa Ted. My ex-wife's 92 Yo grandfather. He was teaching me the fundamentals of reloading 30-06 ammo. The first round I fired in my REM 721 the round was over pressured and I had to use a dowell to get the empty case out. Half blind, 92 year olds are not always the man for reloading.
I learned these lessons once. Once. However, with hot shots it was not a gun show, but someone Insaw regularly. However he did have fps for each bullet and powder weight. A bit too hot for action, but great in a single shot breach loader.. until one toward the end of the bag was much hotter and it expanded. Got a remmington 30-06 at a show, and found out the retaining pin in the activator/ bolt handle likes to fly put no matter how tight i cram it back in. eventually the action flew apart in a shot and the pin was never found out in the woods, because I went a third shot without checking on it. Still cant find another, but I havent even looked in about 2 years.
Last time I went to a gun show, I spent about an hour just looking at stuff and collecting free pens and other such promotional doo-dads, and the rest of my time sitting in on seminars. Wound up only buying a pair of shooting glasses. It was one of the few deals I managed to spot. They just don't make gun shows the way they used to.
Wait... there were Exhibitors actually offering Swag? That's a new one on me. Other than the free Jerky and Rock Candy samples (the best part of the Show), the other Dealers were so stingy they made you pay for a smile and warm greeting!
@@cleekmaker00 Most of the "Swag Tables" don't even showcase any guns. I've been to shows where half the tables are like this. A friend of mine claimed he went to a show where only 25% of the tables had actual firearms on display, and most of them were outrageously overpriced.
Revolvers can go bad. I had an older Rossi revolver I'd bought early on in my gun buying stages for $125. 38 special, fun plinking revolver. After several hundred rounds of flawless shooting I'd noticed there were a few that failed to fire. It started happening more and more. The primer was struck each time, a noticeable dimple, but I guess not enough to ignite the charge. I'd only shot new ammo and tried many different brands to verify it was in fact the revolver itself. Took it to a local gunsmith and when he looked it over he asked me how much I paid for it. Told him the truth and he said I'd be better off not fixing it as it'd probably cost around that price to get it repaired properly. Appreciated his honesty. Eventually sold it to a buddy. Made it 100% clear the issue I was having and that it isn't reliable to use as a home defense gun, which was what he was wanting. He thought he would be able to fix it himself and I broke even on that venture.
I used to work at a gunshop several years ago. There was a gun show every other month at the local fairgrounds. Around noon of each day people would start filing in. They had been to the gun show in the morning and were very disappointed with the high prices and with all of the vendors there that had cleaned out their garages and were allowed to sell their junk at the gun show. We usually did very well at the gunshop on the gun show weekends...
I went to a gun shop that had some of the same exact same guns that I had seen at a gun show a few days before. The seller had commissioned the guns and I got a Garrett Arms 1863 Sharps Carbine replica for $500. They were trying to sell for $900 at the show
For years I was a vendor at shows all over Texas. I watched shows go from the place to find deals to a high priced extension of stores or the weekend license holder trying to get rich with every sale. At first I watched people go to those tables where merchandise was above retail at any store in the country and buy. Then over time people stopped buying and mostly looking. I closed up shop after a time and now only rarely go to one. Last show I went to I found a seller with an old Frontier 22 revolver in decent shape. This guy had a price tag of $1200.00 on the thing. Told him he should be ashamed and walked out.
@@scubasteve3032 Did they still have that Root revolving carbine when you walked in the door ? It was always there, like an old friend, and not for sale.
At gun shows I tell them what I want the price to be. They take it or leave it. Bought a Henry.22 lever action. Guy wanted 400 told him 350. Bought a fairly new Ruger p95 for 300 out the door. Once you know your guns n prices and they know you do too they will sell or ignore you. Lol
My buddy bought a ballistic Steele target at a gun show, he decided to pick it up after the show because of the weight. We came back after about 3 hours and the guys tried to withhold my buddies purchase. Always be careful when you buy something take it right then, we had to get the sponsor of the show involved and the guys were kicked out permanently. Just my advice, but it was a lesson for sure.
I like nibbling on deer jerky that I make from a year previous while I'm out deer hunting the following year; not the comment you asked for, but I just wanted to mention it!
I, and my buddy, were combing minnesota gun shows for a reasonably priced Springfield o3a3 to use in military bolt action matches I shot in twice a year. I'd tried several rifles, doing well with a .308 Israeli mauser but wed pretty much decided I had no chance at winning without the perfect rifle - an o3a3 - like the winners used. We happened to be moping around at the door when a very nice o3a3 came walking in. I pounced. He said he'd paid $95 decades earlier to shoot moose but said he had to admit he was too old to hunt. He wanted to find a good home for it. I told him my story, he lit up in a beautiful smile and sold me his baby for $95. I was ecstatic, I hugged it in front of him. I sent him letters on the rifle matches until I found out he'd died. I couldn't afford $400 o3a3 until I met the old man and his moose rifle
I actually took first place beating Mitchell Maxberry the year he took first in high power at camp perry, national champion. We were best of friends and three of us stood around talking until 3:00 am watching poor Mitchell could be beaten by riffraff like me and the old.man's rifle
I bought a Ruger P85 from a gun show walker, it was his wife's pistol and she had recently passed away. The gun was unfired, not one spec of powder. It was in the original box and he had 2 mags for it. He only wanted $300, I overheard another guy decline his offer so I tapped on his shoulder and walked away with a great semi-auto.
If your measure of success at a gun show is based solely on what you purchased, this makes sense. Part of why I go is to see all the stuff I don’t have and to see if anything I’ve been reading about might be worth purchasing. I also get to see vintage stuff and be able to handle it without buying it. I prefer the “show” aspect of the gun show to the “market” side of things.
I also don't understand him not wanting other vendors there. Yea, I'm not gonna buy window blinds from a guy at a gun and knife show, but I'm open the lady selling home made food or the kid selling shirts the screen printed at home. Let the community be a part of the show too within reason
As I said, before gun shows are mostly dealership conventions for the most part. Very few gun shows feature vintage and/or rare firearms, unless you come across a private collection. I think most people are going to keep their old guns if they can and not bring them to gun shows to sell. I'm not saying that you won't see vintage stuff, but you're probably going to see less of it. I'm always on the lookout for vintage police revolvers (more specifically the S&W model 10 and model 65) and some of the Makarov pistols for a reasonable price.
My dad started taking me to gun shows in the early 70s as a kid. Back when they were real GUN SHOWS vendors would show people what they had and why it is the best for your money and get this! You could shoot the gun. I remember in 1974 my dad was looking at this new $200 rife called a mini-14 what sold it was stepping out back and pulling that trigger as fast as he could then I did too. I know there are a lot of people out there who say the mini-14s there are garbage, but this rifle still has a good group at @50 yards. Well, $180 changed hands it came home with us, and I still have it today. I picked up my first Luger 42-P08 matching magazines & holster at a gun show in 1977. I got a pretty good deal @ $65. It was from an old man who had all kinds of German military stuff he came back with after the war. As the years have rolled on, I lost count of all the fake stuff out there that ends up at gun shows. You hit the nail on the head, NEVER, NEVER, never run some ones reloads throw your gun unless you know that person well and trust them. I hate to say it, but as far as knowledgeable vendors out there, they only know what were told and more than half is wrong. Gun shows today are not SHOWS at all. Too much greed out there. And some people don’t care of you get hurt, they just wont your money.
Everyone, BE CAREFUL when firing steel cased vintage (WWII) Axis 9mm. The rounds intended for the various SMGs are hot and can wreck a weak Luger, etc. The bullet noses are black and the primers are often black. If this has worn off, you could have a real problem.
Before I learned my lesson, bought a Garand at a gun show. Didn't know that "CAI" stood for "Can't Assemble It". The barrel was, quite literally, bent. Not so much that it could be easily seen with the naked eye, but a machinist friend put a true straight edge on the top of the barrel aligned with the front and rear sights and sure enough, there was a slight bend visible against that reference. Which explained why no matter how much windage correction I put in it still hit pretty far right of point of aim.
@@humpy936 The stuff they import that others have built can be okay. I have an excellent AK pistol, that I took a chance on. Turns out it was factory assembled in Romania.
Always check closely.... 1. Take a bore light 2. Smell for cold bluing and practice at home 3. Check Serial Numbers. Not necessarily applicable on War related Firearms. Not since Eli Whitney as in Pratt & Whitney, got his start in making weapons by using Tolerancing for Rifles. He had a competitive bid but when the Army showed up he had a line with buckets of parts and a stack of stocks. He told the Army guys to go down the line grab a part assemble everything into a Rifle and at the end of the line, load it and shoot it. They did, it did, he got the Contract.
I'm also one of those older guys that roamed all the shows back in the 80s and 90s. Back then the dealers would pack up the stuff that had been sitting in the shop longer than they'd like and sell it at substantial discounts. Somewhere around 2000 that ended and you got guys ordering extra and charging 30% or more above what they had the same items in their stores for. Around 2005 I gave up and have seen no compelling reason to go back. I have all the beef jerky, stickers, dvds and crappy nylon holsters I need
I stopped going to the gunshow when I kept seeing the same stock of overpriced Milsurps everytime. I began calling it the Moving Gun Museum. Prices no better than local shops, often higher.
Some years back, I found an ammo reloader at a local gunshow who had a good reputation. I bought his reloaded .22-250 and .22 Hornet. Superbly accurate, both calibers. Far better than any factory ammo I ever used. I was able to very nearly replicate his loads by figuring which specific components he used, and trying a few powders. The only thing I really avoid at gunshows is the gut-burner hotdogs! Made that mistake only once! 😄
Big thing is being prepared to do research if its collectible. Went to a show and found Winchester 30-06 that my dad was looking for (really likes his and wanted to buy another). Was being sold private party for 950 which wasn't out of the realm of their standard cost. After about an hour of research it was found to be an early model red letter which was valued at around 1200 or so. It was confirmed via the serial number and a few other stampings. Seller took my dad's 850 offer and he got it. When he took it home to clean it, it was basically brand new. Barrel was near perfect and everything else was almost unused. It also had a mid tier 300-400 scope on it as well. Deals can be had. Just have to have a good eye
Several years ago I bought an early Browning A-Bolt Medallion in .257 Roberts from a private seller at a show. Selling it because he changed to a more accessible chambering. I knew .257 Roberts had become scarce and expensive, but because I reload and already had a source for the brass and dies, that would not be an issue. The price I paid was a bit on the high side, but the rifle was in excellent mechanical and aesthetic condition. An utterly beautiful piece. It runs smoothly and is more accurate and precise than I am. I have never regretted buying it. You don't find a lot of these just lying around, you know.
There's a gunshow in my area that many vendors use as a "soft opening" before Shot-Show... Ive gotten some great deals on products before they've ever hit the open market... Giving feedback and building relationships with vendors over time has definitely worked to an advantage for me and many of the vendors.
14 years ago I helped my daughter buy a Colt King Cobra at a gun show. They guy was waiting in line to go into the show. The gun was a mint 4 inch and she paid $600, about $100 under market. The gun is a great shooter and worth much more than she paid for it.
Same for me….best Sig i own was a guy selling it..he had a baby on the way and was giving up a gun he liked….helped his young family and got myself a good weapon
As someone who ran and sold reloaded ammo professionally, you can take easy steps to prevent getting screwed on ammo. Especially if you know what you're looking for. Carry a case gauge with you and check a few rounds out of the batch. They are cheap and made to the cartridge max specs. I do this personally for calibers that dont make sense for me to reload economically. Check to make sure the projectiles are the same, obviously. Ask whoever is selling it who reloaded it. Ask about the components. What powder charges were what their tolerances are... Ask if they have a spec sheet with charges and muzzle velocity for every cartridge they sell. Any reputable person will have one. Look in the box for brass shavings, loose powder, etc... look at the case mouths for any imperfections. Small hydraulic dents on the shoulder are fine, and they will blow back out when shot. This typically happens from too much case lube during sizing. Big giant dents and dings going down the side of the case are a big no-no. And as always, if it's too good to be true, it probably is... Don't be a dummy and buy from sketchy people, basically.
@@grumblesa10 guess what? You should be inspecting all ammo no matter who the manufacturer is. I have never had an issue with any of my handloads, ever. But I have seen catastrophic failures from plenty of factory options...
@@terpsurfer7221 Yep. If somebody put 72 gr. of Auto Comp into a .300 Win Mag, cartridge measurements can be identical to the Hornady Load Book but Heaven help you if that bomb goes off...
I miss the bargains on surplus military rifles. But for the reasons in this video, I am not inclined to go to anymore. The juice just isn't worth the squeeze 🤷♂️
I've bought and sold hand guns ,and rifles at gun shows. It's perfectly acceptable to take a tie off to check out a gun. I even had a guy take apart a p38 I was selling to check serial numbers. Totally fine. I've had worse luck with venders not standing behind their products!
For buying firearms, my advice is to roam all day just looking. Wait until the last hour of the show to make any purchases. Vendors are more likely to be flexible with their prices as the show winds down. I’ve done this multiple times at the Crossroads of the West shows and have got some killer deals, including a NIB Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Mag for $300.
One word of caution regarding Flitz. True, it won't damage most factory blue jobs but don't ever EVER let it touch a case hardened finish. You'll end up with an "in the white" receiver, frame or whatever. I've seen a few very expensive shotguns, antique SAAs and lever guns defaced in that way.
Been to a gun show 2-3 times my entire life. Will never go again. Just a bunch of bubbas selling pawn shop junk guns at a premium. That and they want you to pay to get in just so you can look around? Give me a break.
I quit going to gun shows because the cost to get in, to just look around, was ridiculous. I remember when the cost was almost nothing and it was a joy to go. Now the only reason to go and pay that price is to check out a gun you're interested in, then go on line and buy it at a good price. Thank you for the good advice If I go again, I'll keep that in mind. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya
This might be the real answer as to why gun shows have gotten more expensive. Not failing anyone, is so the same, but it's just how markets evolve and how the internet disrupted so much.
@@mbessle5102 Could be now. I used to get into gun shows cheap $2-3 bucks a person. I purchased a gun at a gun show because it had a good price, back when the price to get in was reasonable. Now you go pay 10 bucks to get in and the prices are more than what's on line or same as if you went to the gun store. Gus shows have only one advantage and that's to hold multiple guns you're looking to buy, then buy them on line.
@@keithnoneya same with local gun stores only good to check out the gun in advance. I laugh at these charity types who wanna support their local business….
Agree, I've bought several new guns at shows from gun shops represented at gun shows with no problems, never bought a used gun. What I wanted was the cheap bulk factory ammo, witch after adding up gas, paying for parking, and admission, the price of that ammo was not so cheap anymore.
In Hungary, the law prohibits the sale/handover of homemade ammunition. You can reload ammunition only for your own purposes. There are many stupid laws in Hungary, but this one is one of the better ones.
@@Ekdrink Yeah, you wouldn't want my .45-70 reloads unless you had a Ruger #1 or other similarly strong action (mine is a Siamese Mauser conversion). They ARE published loads, but they are specifically meant for the strongest actions, not a Marlin or a trapdoor.
I think the best thing is for new shooters to go around look at everything, touch the guns, see what they are like, ask questions, don't be afraid of your rights, then go home and buy after doing some research online. Its like going to a gun store but instead everything is laid out for you to check out, and you get more choices. I've watched so many videos but actually seeing and handling guns adds a lot.
I have been going to gun shows for thirty years--yes they have evolved into a flea market, prices are sky high, but I have sold many guns, bought lots of guns (often basket cases) and I love going to all of em. Even if I don't get a deal immediately something always happens that is excellent--for example a guy dumped a box of parts on the floor by accident--I helped him recover his stuff which scattered everywhere. He thanked me and offered me any item on his table--I picked a lefty holster for my 1911--I love it and use it to this day (ten years later). This kind of thing happens to me at every show. The gun show people are generally excellent!
It's like everything in life, if you don't know what you are doing, it's better if you don't. Maybe this guy has or just likes gun shops. Beating on a M1A charging handle with a hard mallet told me everything I needed to know. Lol
That’s a lot of the reason I go. You never know who you are going to meet. Sometimes I find something neat. Sometimes I don’t. But I have fun every time.
The only gun I bought from a gun show happened to be an Enfield mk3 from 1943 in amazing condition. Seriously, it looked like it had been manufactured done 6 months to a year of guard duty and mothballed. Love that gun.
I sell guns in gun shows and occasionally and everything he says is true. I've had a couple different times that guns I took in on trade only to find out later that the gun was stolen. I bought an AR15 that actually had a defected spring in the trigger that made the weapon fully automatic and didn't find out until I took it to the range to find out. It just so happened that the range master was an ATF agent so when I pulled the trigger the AR15 racked out seven rounds in a split second. The range master ran over to me to tell me that this wasn't a fully automatic range. I explained to him I just purchased the gun and all the parts in the gun was AR15 parts and not an M16. I let him inspect the gun and after he examined the gun he said I was right but the gun couldn't be shot at the range and would have to be repaired by a gunsmith before using the gun again. So in short it's a good idea to test any weapon you buy at a gun show not on the Range. I had inspected the AR15 when I bought it and could see all the parts were AR15 parts and not M16 parts so I had no idea that the gun was fully automatic needless to say I was very surprised upon pulling the trigger at the range. I disassembled the gun at the range and took in home for a complete breakdown of the AR lower receiver kit to find out the spring was defective from the kit manufacturer. After replacing the spring the gun shoots as it should with one shot for one pull of the trigger. I have been shooting guns since I was 5 years old being that my family was in the military and was a member of the NRA as a child. You never really know what your getting at a gun show in many cases.
It didn't happen to me, but a friend I worked with. My buddy bought a late 70s blued Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 rem mag at a gun show. It was a month before we made it to the range. The gun was skimming lead off the top of every round fired. We called it quits soon after, and he took it to a gunsmith for evaluation. He determined the top strap was bent. It became his favorite $300.00 paperweight. I learned my lesson from him to buy only new guns at gunshows. 😊
I've bought lots of guns from "walk ins" both as an individual and as a vendor. Never had a problem. It's easy to check the gun's function: Just go to a vendor's table and ask them to cut the zip tie and replace it when you're done, or go outside. It's up to the buyer to know how to check a firearm's function.
I've gotten a lot of very collectible firearms from just individuals going in and out of the gun shows. I always bring something to trade as well. The main thing to watch out for is ammo so I agree with you there.
I'd be fine buying from an individual walking around the show, so long as I knew what to look for in what I was buying. Once I bought a 1892 Bertheir rifle at one booth and found the correct bayonet and scabbard at another booth once. I stuck the bayonet on the rifle and was walking around with the rifle slung over my shoulder and had to take it to the car I got so many people asking if it was for sale. :)
The last gun show I went to was pre pandemic and out of roughly 150 tables only 3 had guns. Every gun on those 3 tables were essentially micro 9’s and all of them were well over MSRP. Essentially no ammo and a crap ton of gutter guards, dream catchers, leather products, bird feeders etc. the fact that I paid ten bucks to get in still kinda bothers me 6 years later. Never again.
Another note on the handguns, at a gun show, there is a possibility that they are stolen. My neighbor had this problem. He didn't find out until he had held a criminal at gunpoint for a bit, just until the police showed up. They confiscated his pistol. When he tried to get it back a few weeks later, he was informed that it was a stolen gun. Unfortunately, he didn't have a bill of sale for it. They did believe him, though, that he had bought it at the gun show.
During the first ammo shortage, I went to a couple of gun shows and they were selling at much higher than brick and mortar stores. Larger volume, but exorbitant prices. At that time brick and mortar were rationing ammo, but at reasonable prices. You could tell that the gun show vendors were reselling ammo they had bought at some of the local stores based on in store brands, etc. It’s been years since I’ve been to a gun show. The last ones really left a bad taste in my mouth. Will probably give them another chance in the future. They are sometimes the only place to find hard to find parts, mags, etc. so there is still good cause to go.
Hard to see anything wrong with reselling ammo to a willing public. It's good to have the choice, if it comes down to that, between limited ammo at the usual price and lots of ammo at a premium. I know, for example, that when my basement floods I would pay extra to get a sump pump when local stores are sold out at the normal price.
@@rcnelson market clearing price. Those that are willing pay, those who don’t want to, don’t. Same can be said for all goods and services. The question is what are the ethical standards and when and how do they get into the equation? Can you imagine what I could’ve charged to resuscitate when I worked as a paramedic or later as an ER nurse?
Bad taste huh? I don't know why the hell you decided to start chomping on bullets in the first place. Try a bag of sunflower seeds next time. Less expensive and taste a lot better. Your welcome.
@@chuckark5742 bad taste? Dude you’re trying to get the moral high ground on a conversation that happened two weeks ago and didn’t even involve you. What are you doing with your life man?
I experienced a negligent discharge at a gun show back in the 80's. A young man blew a hole in his palm goofing around at his dads booth. Luckily no one else was hit.
Apart from my mandatory basic training in light arms when I joined the navy (UK) back in the 1970s, I have zero experience with guns. Watching this kind of video fascinates me, listening to the experts explaining what to look for is always a good thing.
I had a bad experience with reloads I bought at a local gun store. Shooting reloaded 5.56 through my Colt AR15 A1 when there was an explosion. It jammed the bolt carrier all the way back, broke 3 lugs off the bolt, tore the dust cover completely off, and blew the floorplate off the bottom of the magazine and rounded the bottom of the magazine. I found out the owner's son's reloaded the rounds and the owner accused me of shooting a dirty weapon as the cause. Eventually he made things right and repaired my rifle.
@@babagalacticus have you ever considered that most junk ammo just gets broken back down into components unless its just trashed aka lost durring an operation with bang stick tool duty. Jokes and slang aside if you keep duds just know its possible to take a bullet apart without it detonating like a grenade..... Because most ammo is not grenade like at all
@@babagalacticusyou can get a empty mayonnaise jar and put some cooking oil in it. And, put the bad rounds in it. It stops the powder from igniting. Plus it's the safest way to dispose of bad ammo.
@@babagalacticus Pull the projo's out of the brass casings. Dump the powder...If you really want to destroy the brass, turn the case, bottom up & take a nail & hammer to the primer.
What happened to you was you got an overcharged round. You were lucky. You can use several different powders with 5.56 rounds. But some burn faster than others. Even a grain or two can make a big difference.
The last 4 things I bought at gunshows. 1) Beef Jerky. 2) A couple T-Shirts. 3) A case of 12 gauge Federal L.E. only 00 buckshot. 4) A couple of cheap Osprey scopes "Both of which I deeply regret"! Usually I go in and wander around for 2-hours, get overwhelmed and leave with beef jerky! I often do the same thing in bass pro shops!
Sometimes you can’t beat that beef jerky, or venison jerky, or some of those other exotic jerkys. It’s a last resort purchase, when you see nothing worth your while.
Live in Kaliunicornia (unfourtunately- it is a family thing) & unless I see something worth a little gamble generally only get factory boxed ammo, just because I own several antique guns & getting ammo online in Ca. is a pain in the *ss.
A few years ago, I picked up a pretty nice M96 Swedish Mauser from the gun show. I was being lazy and wanted to pick up some ammo for it at the same time, being completely naive to what ammo at gun shows is often like. I did think "Hmm, these are some... Vintage boxes, must be new old stock". I fired a couple before I realized that they were for sure reloads, and they were "pissin hawt" as they say. It was also pretty obvious that the brass was not on its first reload, more like some guy decided that when he was ready to be done with his brass, he'd load up some rounds and sell them at the gun show. Total garbage. Once I loaded my own ammo with new brass, the gun did turn out to be solid so no regrets there!
By the time you pay for parking,admission,fuel to drive etc at gun shows,in the used market I’ve found adding up the TOTAL costs was equivalent to buying the same new at our local shop.
Very interesting video and well presented - My #1 tip for gun shows now a days is to NEVER go to a gun show - I quit going to them a few years ago because I went to three different local gun shows in my area and the prices on everything was ridiculously too high - guns, ammo, everything, prices were crazy high. I couldn't even discuss prices with these vendors, they thought they were Gods or something. So effe that - I now got to a few well know gun stores in my area and get way better prices and deals on everything. Gun shows have ruined themselves.
My dad started taking me to gun shows in the early 80s as a kid. I used to love them. I used to be able to find all kinds of cool stuff at great prices and the vendors were knowledgeable about what they had and so where the people attending. When I got older we would set up as vendors. I noticed around the time that the concealed carry craze came along in the mid 2000s, shows started going down hill. It was a combination of everyone and their brother (or wife and girlfriend) looking for guns, most of which were new gun owners who honestly had no business owning a gun without some sort of training, and dealers were there to price gouge them, and the internet and online marketplaces like eBay. Now you can get a far better deal on just about anything online, and dealers still sell the same stuff with huge markups (I'm guessing they think they will find people who are internet illiterate or just don't know any better?). I miss the shows of the 80s and 90s. I don't think we will ever experience shows like that again.
I still like gun shows. Even though I might not buy anything, it is still really cool to see some of the older rifles you might not see in a brick and mortar store. Also, I did get a really great ammo can for a great price at the show in Dayton. So, I would say that guns shows still have a place in society, but I do agree with you, that they definitely need to be improved upon and made a lot better
@@billpugh58 : Maybe not a requirement, but you should have knowledge of what you are going to shoot with and be safe doing it. That goes with anything including the operation of your car.
I got my P08 Luger at a gun show and actually got a pretty good deal. It was from a collector who had all kinds of Lugers, C96s, and other German military handguns for sale. I got mine for $1,050, some pitting, the blue was in okay condition, but it all matched, had all the proper proof parks, and was unit marked. Additionally I found out later the gun is an original 1908 first issue due to its unit marking and lack of stock lug. Most other Lugers I'd seen for sale online or at this show were $2,000+. The thing runs like a champ and I couldn't be happier.
@@officerbarbrady8387 I would say the market is pretty screwed right now, you gotta look on auctions or gun shows if you don't want to pay an insane amount. I was looking for 8 months before I found a good deal, and it was from a private seller not a business. So most importantly be patient, and don't succumb to just overpaying to get one, if you wait a good deal will come along, you just gotta keep looking.
I’ve gotten many used guns over the years. And I have found that honestly most people don’t shoot the guns they buy. The people who do you shoot the guns they buy usually don’t get rid of them.
Always remember that if you buy a from a non acredited seller,you don't know where that gun has been or what it has been used for.If you buy second hand,take your time and do the history and also if you do buy second hand,only buy from folk you can build some trust or already have. If you do not have much experiance with gun shows ask an experienced friend to accopmany you,they may save you from many pitfalls and maybe save you some money. As to ammo,check out what happened to Kentucky ballistics when he put unknown sourced 50 cal through his Barret.He is very lucky to be alive and it was a definative education on this point. Very good advice from PA.Thankyou
I bought my first Enfield out of a barrel of cosmolened milsurps about 25 years ago. Paid 60 bucks for it. Had to re-stake the front sight assembly as it fell off first range day but has been a solid shooter ever since.
Wise advice. I once purchased some hard to find rounds...and sure enough, they had been loaded with brass that was defective. As this guy was in the business, he knew or should have known. After case ruptures, learned this lesson the hard way - fortunately without damage to self or rifle.
In the 70s, 80s and early to mid 90s gun shows were GREAT! I would never miss one and would hit any show within a 2 hour drive and spend hours and hours there. I am a collector, mostly Winchester rifles/shotguns and S&W handguns but lots of other stuff also. Gun shows were a treasure trove of parts and pieces and you could get some really good deals, or more often, good trades. The internet and internet sales ruined it. The ONLY thing I still buy at guns shows is propellent powder for handloading. The "hazard fees" charged for shipping powder make it impractical to order online in small quantities. Primers? Maybe. Someday. If I ever need them again in my lifetime. In 2015 I was gifted nearly 80,000 primers of all types by the widow of an acquaintance who hoarded them. Along with a hoard of component bullets, brass cases and many hundreds of rounds of his handloaded ammunition. I still have about 50,000 primers on hand. I handload for 81 different cartridges, so I tend to use a lot of propellent, but not a lot of any one kind, so buying a large quantity of one type isn't practical. The dealer I buy from will bring whatever propellent I ask for, I just call him a few days before and tell him what I need. He has it ready for me when I come to the show.
@@Rustebadge Well, that includes 5 shotshells (12, 16, 20, 28, .410) Yes, I handload for every gun I own. I've been handloading since the 60s and since 1973 for metallic cartridges. (I still have my first loading press and powder measure in regular use) I am also a collector of Winchester rifles/shotguns and S&W handguns...plus others that aren't Winchester or S&W but were interesting for one reason or another OR were hand-me-downs from a father and grandfather that collected guns. My grandfather, for example, collected any firearm designed by Browning...so that means I have a bunch of Winchester lever rifles, and Remington Model 8 and Model 81 rifles (.30 Remington and .300 Savage) and some Colt handguns like a Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP. Many, many of them are obsolete/semi-obsolete cartridges that are no longer available so I must handload to get ammunition. For quite a few, I make my own casings by reforming other cases. FYI, I also cast at least one bullet for every cartridge (except .22 centerfires), though many of those will work for many different cartridges. I cast a .30, 150 gr, flatnose that works for .30-30, .30 Remington, .30-40, .30-06, .308, .300 Savage, .300 Blackout. I can even use them "as-cast", without sizing, for .303 British. Cast of wheelweight metal they easily "bump up" when fired to provide good accuracy for fun shooting. Though I also have a .311" 180 gr. mold just for the .303 Now that I'm retired, I just load ammunition and go shooting...or go fishing.
I appreciate the way you immediately address your topic right from the beginning of the video. No theme songs or sequences of you shooting at targets or pretending to be in combat -- just useful info right from the get-go. Thanks!
I had a S&W Shield in .40 cal that I wanted to sell while at a show. I was offering several holsters, and accessories along with the upgraded APEX trigger (already installed with the original in a bag for them to have) The gun was my carry gun and was in perfect working condition. I sold it and got a fair price which was higher than I would have gotten at auction saving all the fees and FFL transfers. There are good reasons to keep your eyes open for these deals but you must know about the item you are going to purchase.
100% agree….if you can read people, you know if their scamming you. Most “gun” folks aren’t their to scam you, they’re in a bind financially or jsut want a new toy
@@cycleboy8028 I sold it to a vendor. He saw I had a gum bag and asked if I was selling. We discussed the Gun, I showed him all mods and the original parts and all accessories I was selling with it. He loved it and wanted it for his wife. We made a deal and both were happy.
From the vendor side of the table, all the good deals are done before the gun show even starts. You are either buying a very marked up gun that was just sitting on a different table, or the good ones just became part of another vendors personal inventory. As a gunsmith, EVERY used gun that has ever been offered to me only had a box of ammo through it. Used is used.
I bought an old commercial Steyr Mannlicher hunting rifle at a gun show that I knew had some cosmetic damage as a result of an acrimonious divorce. For this reason the price was too good to pass up. I was hesitant to fire it, so I left it in the safe for ten years until my brother came to visit. He was willing to test it and it functioned just fine. It's nice to have daring younger brothers of dubious intelligence.
😂😂 I'm definitely that younger brother in my family. I've fired some busted up, suspicious, and broken guns. Only one that had me concerned enough to bury my face away from the receiver was a lever action Winchester my brother got for free from a guy... The guy handed him a barrel, a stock, a tube, and a zip lock bag of fully disassembled everything else, covered in rust, with an "everything should be in there" lacking any confidence... After a sketchy test fire, Gun works great.
@@Paladin1873 lol. Face is still intact. Gun worked fine. Has maybe a hundred rounds through it at this point. model 94 in 30-30. Late 60s not exactly sure on the year, but, I do know it's post 64, if you're a winchester purist 😂
When I was a bit younger, I met an old timer at the range with an M1 Garand. He said he got it off a guy at a gunshow for 350 bucks, probably between 2010-2012. It was in pristine condition and shot well.
Regarding re-loads: I learned my lesson years ago when I watched a friend's brand new 9mm barrel become plugged [and then nearly explode] when a re-loaded squib load sent the bullet nearly far enough (into the barrel) to chamber another round. And HIS reloads were purchased from a gun shop. Until then, I had been buying re-loads at gun shows "for plinking." Since then, I buy factory ammo only.
@@Keifsanderson Lol I knew somebody was gonna say that. Yeah, I've seen it as well. But while it still happens with factory, it happens a lot less than reloads mass produced in a hurry in somebody's garage, so they can sell them at gunshows
@@jmmartin7766 I've never seen stats, but I'm sure you're right. I was just shocked when it happened to me. New, high-quality ammo in a .380 pocket gun that I rarely shoot. I would have expected my first squib to come in 9mm, 45ACP, or 5.56. Something with volume. What's kinda scary to me about squibs is if you are rapid firing, I'm not 100% sure I would catch it before the next trigger pull. You just hope then that it was so weak the action can't fully cycle? (It did on my little blow back 380).
@@Keifsanderson I still carry .380 on occasion... Don't care what anyone says, I've seen a HP go through drywall, then wood, and then make a serious dent in steel. Out of curiosity, what brand were you using? I HAVE discovered, over the years, that even when times were better, .380 of more than a few makes still wasn't being produced with the same QC as 9mm and larger...
@@jmmartin7766 Speer Gold Dots. I love that ammo and use it exclusively in all my carry guns, where I test them with 200 rounds before calling it good. Has run flawlessly in everything I own, save that one single squib. I'd love to hear from people who shoot A LOT about how many times they've had this type of malfunction. I feel like it's pretty rare, but obviously not unicorn territory.
Lately the shows have been higher prices than my local dealers, especially for ammo. Two dealers told me the 1911 I wanted was no longer available, got it at Bass Pro at a discount later the same day. I think it will be a long time before I go to another.
Sage advice, sir. Only item I passed on at a gun show that I regret NOT buying was a few boxes of 12ga Mortar rounds. Man, that woulda been boss. For DA revolvers I check the top strap behind the forcing cone for excessive wear and cylinder lock up with hammer down, among other things. Being a septuagenarian now I don't do the gun show thing anymore. Years ago I really dug going to them.
I don't go to gun shows much anymore, but it's more because my wife is handicapped, and it's a lot of trouble to weave her in and out of the traffic in her wheelchair than anything else. I didn't go to buy anything, anyway. I just enjoyed the experience of being at the show, meeting people, talking about guns, seeing guns I'd never seen, and just plain "people watching." I did buy a Makarov pistol once, and various revolver grips and such. I've never bought a gun from a walk-around, but I have sold a couple that way. Want to check out the action? There was always a table at the show where they'd cut the tie off and you could check out the action or whatever. Then if needed, they'd re-tie it and you could start over. My wife liked the "non-firearms" vendors. She'd buy jewelry, and such from them, which to me is a good reason to have them there. Not everybody at the show is a "gun person." She has an inexpensive ring that she wears to this day, and tells everyone "I got it at a gun show." She'd get inexpensive ear-rings that she didn't have to worry about losing. Those vendors help the show make money, and I'm all for the show making money. If they're selling something I'm not interested in, like time shares, I know how to just walk on by. If those people go away, maybe the show goes away. .
I bought a Hungarian PA-63 at the last gun show that I went to. It's a pretty cool little Weather PPK ripoff in 9mm Mak. It does tear up brass, but it shoots pretty accurately.
After listening to the speaker of this informative video, I am reflecting on how naive I have been at gun shows. I will definitely, now approach my purchases with considerably more caution. Excellent video.
The only thing that bothers me about gun shows is the prices, usually boosted up some over thier shop price. I understand that its theirs and they can charge what they want to, but gun shows used to be a great place to change up your inventory a bit, especially for small shops! I kinda like seeing a huge variety of items at shows, especially parts!
man they wanted 5k for a scar16s whereas ym local gun store had the proper scar17s in 7.62 nato for 4 after taxes lmao yeahhhh im not going to gun shows anymore even the aks were over 2 bands. im sticking to local.
I had a scenario where, i owned an IWI Masada. I bought for 300 at the time. No kidding, two months later, Gun show lady from New York state had it for 750 bucks...
I worked for a gunshop for 14 years. We did all the local shows and would fill 12 tables with rifles and shotguns, 6 with handguns. There is no way on earth we'd had time to make new tags for that many guns, then switch tags back again when we brought them back to the shop again. If a guy has a table or two yeah, he's got time to change prices. We had to sell 25 guns at a show just to break even.
We had a really good gun show around here once a month for many years it had every thing and lots of parts almost as good as going to Numric parts at that time who were very rerliable.
Up until now I thought I was to clever to learn anything new on this subject-however, I never gave any thought of bulk ammo in a non manufacturer labeled boxes or bags. They could be a death trap. Thank you!
Of yeah. Many guns R.I.P. because of that stuff. A lot of trips to the ER as well. My favorite has to be the "green tip" scam on 5.56. people would literally take a green sharpie or paint pen and color a green tip on the standard FMJ ammo. Lol
I’m young and new to the hobby, so I’ve only been to one gun show. I was very happy to find a Mosin bayonet for $10 when the are usually $30 online. Was one of my only missing parts.
When I was younger and not as informed I purchased reloaded .308 ammunition. I fired several rounds through a ruger m77 mark II .308 but one round had so much pressure it blew the shock apart. I was very lucky to walk away fairly good considering how bad it could have been. I always tell everyone I know to never buy reloaded ammunition from someone u do not know. It's good to see someone talking about it so that more people will see and understand the dangers that can happen.
Ask yourself what the difference is between "somebody walking around" vs somebody "with a table". Answer? About $80. If your general advice is do not buy used guns, then your argument makes sense. Better advice: Dont buy something you dont know how to inspect yourself.
I've had mostly positive experiences at gun shows. However, since my state pretty much outlawed them, its been a while. I do travel out of state from time to time to go to a big one. But, I've been that guy walking around trying to sell a pistol or rifle. Not a thing wrong with them. I got low ball offers, people calling my Sig 'junk', etc. But then someone would offer me a fair price and we shook hands. I carried some zip ties with me and my leatherman to cut the tie myself. I have also purchased firearms this way. It can be nerve racking, but if you know what you're looking for, deals can be made. I would be a bit concerned though, if a perspective buyer wanted to shmoo some paste crap on my gun I'm actively trying to sell. That would probably be a 'no.' You're already getting a deal, if you're so nervous about buying a gun with some possible (no from me) touchup marks, you should probably go buy from the dealers table... roll your dice there. See if they let you shmoo some crap on their guns.
I loved going to gun shows in the early 2000s. All I had was money I earned mowing lawns and I would buy beat up WW2-era rifles for cheap just because I wanted to have them as a piece of history. The vendors would even warn me if they were in bad condition but I assured them that I just wanted them for their history. Went back to one a couple years ago and it was odd. Way for fewer guns and way more crappy knives. The vibe was strange in there and it felt like everyone was trying to scam me.
I hear you. Where I'm at gun shows are still pretty good but you still have to know what you're buying. There are very few sellers I know well and would buy from them sight unseen. Everyone else I take everything they say with a grain of salt. I'd rather be too cautious than too trusting.
Little tip on stuck cases and charging handles; put tension on the charging handle in the rearward direction, hold the rifle with your other hand, then swing the rifle butt downward onto the ground or a sturdy surface, while keeping tension on the charging handle. It is quite effective, and far safer for the gun’s finish and charging handle than hitting it open with any object.
For my video on the 5 Gun show secrets click here.
ua-cam.com/video/_ODqZtFUSEc/v-deo.html
Also, leave a comment about a good or bad deal you got at a gun show.
From what I was told 308 is higher pressure than 7.62 x 51. NATO.
You're gun is a 7.62 x 51 NATO
Is less pressure.
I thought I got a good deal on a stagecoach shotgun about 40-years ago, until the left barrel kept misfiring! Other than private sales every gun I've gotten from a gunshow was at or just over avg. retail price, and the only reason I bought them from a gunshow was they were available when I wanted them.
Just got a pre ban 3 digit serial number polytech 223 spiker with 12 mags for 1200$ over 1/2 off of what just a rifle normally sells for. Hell the mags alone are 250-350 each when they show up for sell. I was shaking with excitement. Same show i grab a norinco hunter with the unicorn rare original scope mount from a guy walking around for 600$.
You misspelled subscribing.
I bought a 1938 {that is what's stamped on the barrel} Carcano in caliber 7.5×28 at a gun show by a fella that was {looked} old enough to have brought it home from Europe. He assured me that it was operational and after my quick inspection I had no reason to doubt him. I took it home and cleaned it up, the barrel was black as powder but my cleaning rod went completely through the barrel from the breech. After cleaning it I attempted to chamber a round of ammunition but the cartridge wouldn't go into the chamber flush. Long story short I took to a Gunsmith that found the necked part of a casing broken off and lodged in the chamber. After a few weeks and a $100 bill I picked up my rifle and took it to the range. It fired good, the old ammunition had a slight delay from firing pin strike to boom but the rifle functions great. All together I paid $300 for a functioning rifle that could very easily been a part of WW2.
4 things to ALWAYS buy at gun show:
1. Beef jerky
2. Poorly printed copies of The Anarchist's Manifesto
3. 'Handmade' Turquoise Jewelry
4. Nothing.
The jerky at gun and motorcycle shows is unmatched haha
Don't forget the hitman's handbook
I gave up on gun shows many years ago. I’d rather pay a little more from a brick and mortar store or from a well known online store. Buying from someone you’ll most likely never see again has too much risk.
There is a lot of risk at the gun shows
I used to love going to the gun show. Now I have a local shop that regularly has better deals. So it’s supporting a local brick and mortar store and getting a good deal.
Now, if I go to the gun show, I get some beef jerky from the beef jerky guy.
@@jrstoelting Understood.
Pay a little more from a LGS?
From my experience, they're usually a lot more reasonable! Haha
At my local gun show, about half of the tables are from local brick-and-mortar stores with a mark-up. You're better off going to their store. (full disclosure I work for one of the local FFLs)
"I've only put a box of ammo through it" is right up there with "I've only had 2 beers", "The checks in the mail", "I've always worn cowboy boots", "i love you" and "it's only a fever blister".
Don't forget the "it ran great when I parked it after getting my new truck/car" .
“i’ve always worn cowboy boots” 🤣🤣 okay gucci suit
"This'll only hurt for a little while,I'll only put the head of it in"(compliments of David Allan Coe).
@@davidh6818 Hysterical. That made my day.
Don’t forget “I’ll just put the tip in..”
Munching on beef jerky while looking at/buying guns and ammo is a time honored tradition!
Along with having a beer gut, baseball cap, and an old worn out T-shirt
I've never bought it, but I'll take the free sample😂
I'll give the jerky sellers a pass on the "nothing that isn't firearm related" clause - if it's good jerky ;)
@@Sparkman944 you're a Cheap Charlie?
@@ErvuJukl 😂 I've considered buying it, but it wasn't good enough to spend that much money because it ain't cheap. So yeah, I guess I am.😂
A note on buying ammo cans “full” of ammunition- A guy I knew at the range bought an ammo can of 9mm at a show and when he got home and poured the contents out, there were two 2x4’s stacked in the bottom.
Buyers beware.
That’s actually hilarious 😂
Fuckin devious and the weight was probably spot on with only a couple hundred rounds.
😂At least he got an ammo can out of it
That's one of the oldest tricks in the book
thjanks
I bought a WWII issued P-08 Luger at a gun show. I didn't know what I was buying and the seller didn't know what he was selling. The top of the receiver where the barrel was tied in was stamped '1940'. The side of the receiver was stamped, '42'. The seller assumed that it was a weapon with mismatched serial numbers and he sold it to me at a discount price with an original holster and take-down tool. He sold it for $650. At the time, WWII Lugers with matching numbers went for double that amount. After I bought it, I found a book on German WWII pistols and discovered that '42' was NOT the last two digits of the serial number, but were, instead, the war time code for 'Mauser'. That particular pistol was made by Mauser under license from Luger and it DID have matching serial numbers. Caveat Venditor, instead of Caveat Emptor, I guess. His loss was my gain. Gun shows CAN pay off big time!! 😃
Great story! and a lucky buy!
"I know what I got" mfs when they don't, in fact, know what they've got. At least he didn't bubba such a historic item.
Problem is that "42" isn't Mausers code, "BYF" is so the 42 is probably the date of manufacture. I'm a P38 guy and not a luger guy but german date codes are the same across the board
@@RElover22 From a Legacy Collectible website regarding a P-08 sold in 2018:
"4/21/18 - This is an original 1940 dated "42 Code" Mauser Luger. The pistol was made in 1940 by Mauser and given the "42" code to hide production numbers. The pistol is all original, fully functional and matching. The overall condition is about 95% with some light edge wear and muzzle wear. There is some bluing loss on the barrel and side plate, as well as a few light ping marks on the takedown lever. The straps are beautiful though with very minimal wear. The grips are original and period correct but not numbered on the interior. The bore has some light patina within the grooves, but overall a very nice bore. The magazine is eagle/655 proofed which is correct for this pistol. "
@@RElover2242 is Mauser code for Lugers I have a K-98k stamped S/42 , 1937. And a 42 marked 1941 model Luger.
Bought a Colt SAA from a walk around at Tanner Gun Show in Denver. But I'm a member of the Colt Collector's Society and a gunsmith. Gun was non-functional but I immediately knew exactly why. I quickly removed the cylinder and inspected the piece and knew what it would take to fix it. Bought it for cents on the dollar. 30 minutes after I got it home I had it working fine. Value was then 10 times what I paid for it.
Cool story dude😊
What was wrong with it?
Guess it works out when you know what you're doing and looking for. Right on man 👌🏽
Do they still have the Tanner show n where is it now. Used to hit that show 2 or 3 times a year when I lived in Co. I live in Neb now.
@@zGoodMan187z Yes but it isn't what it used to be. There are too many jewelry, supplement, and non-gun dealers at the show.
3:14 - Never use a parachute you haven't packed yourself - sounds like good advice for reloaded brass as well...
Sorry it's just not that simple.
Many times that option just isn't available.
In the service you don't pack your own parachute you pack someone else's and they pack yours so you better not mess up or you killed someone
@@willynillylive What service are you referring to?
@@timf2279 airborne
I haven't been to a gun show in about 15 years or so. They used to be a place to find deals, now the prices are 2 to 4 times what my local gun stores charge.
True. They are hard to find
Same here in my neck of the woods, I found them to be a waist.
Right? One guy had a Taurus G3c marked 475 smackers. I told him they are 250 at a shop down the street and laughed😂
Fr i think a lot of gun shows now are for people to sell guns to people who might not necessarily be able to buy from a store aka lying to private sellers which sucks because it makes finding deals for us legal and honest people almost impossible unless your really lucky even then you’d better be there early and grab it before your local scumbag does
A friend of mine works for a pawn shop in my area. He said that a week before the gun show guys will come in and buy everything they have and that's partially what we are seeing at the show.
Back in the 80’s (I’m old) I used to really enjoy going to gun shows. They had a wide variety of firearms, including some collectibles, and their prices were extremely competitive if not lower than standard retail. Somewhere along the line something changed, and I subsequently quit going to them for a long time. About 6 or 8 months ago I went to one for the first time in around 15 years and what I found literally stunned me. Gun shows have basically become flea markets. There were A LOT of knives for sale, but none of them were made by major manufacturers (CRKT, Benchmade, Kershaw, etc.). There were a bunch of cheap swords, flags, and t-shirts. A TON of political stuff. There was even a table selling vaping junk, which I have no idea what vaping and firearm’s have to do with one another. And finally there were firearms, and ammunition. The name brand premium ammunition was roughly the same price you’d find at a gun, or sporting goods store. The firearms were incredibly overpriced, in some cases about 20 to 25% over MSRP. As for accessories, what I found is that things like optics for example were made by companies I’d never even heard of. Over all it was a terrible experience, and I’ll never be going back.
Gun shows are always more expensive then buying from a store or online . They have different upfront costs and expenses also for private sellers at a gun show they take the legal responsibility to selling private without backgrounds. Lastly some gun shows need to keep profitable so they can have one next year so they do need the "others" tables that might not be related
Guns and vaping is my life
at our local gun show in honolulu there is a nice old lady selling asian snacks. its BY FAR the most popular booth and she has a line from morning to night! :)
People that I know that are not really into guns always ask me what the gunshows are like. And I tell them, just think of it like a big garage sale that happens to have guns. Anymore it's such a large mix of things. There are some decent vendors at my local show usually a few that have local shops that I've bought from a few times. But mostly its just overpriced items people are trying to sell to those who don't know any better.
ATF is an acronym for Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
Did buy a CZ 75 dated 1986 NOS in the box a few years ago. One of the best deals there. Another time a 10mm Ruger Stainless w/pearl grips Birdshead Vaquero original in .40/.38. Another great buy. Both shot to perfection.
Even though the serial numbers aren't matching, I got a phosphate 1945 k98 with the sight hood and markings intact for $200, around 15 years ago. I'd say that was a good deal, because just look at what they sell for now.
I was under the silly impression that a gun show was were you found good deals. Boy was I wrong...lol. Every gun show I have been too, every item is at MSRP or higher, its way cheaper to buy items at a gun store or online!
Thanks for watching
I only buy in person at a shop. Never online.
It's been that way for 25 years.
You can haggle at a gun show. 4pm Sunday is when you get the best deals.
@@unclejustin7267 I haven't had that experience at the gun shows I've been to. They play hard ball all the way until the end.
The gun shows used to be a place to trade when you got bored. You might lose $25-$50, depending on the price of the "item". Didn't go for 15 or so years. Started back in 2020 and was in shock at the attitudes and the shear volume of rip offs. I sold an "item" to another hobby table. He paid $375. Went back to see him at the next show, (I was kinda wanting it back). I figured he was do the usual $25-$50 markup to cover table rent. Nope, $600 he says! Plus, he states, We are not doing it the way everyone used to. I walked off. At the end of the show all the tables seemed angry. Why I asked? "We are not selling anything, people are just looking." Wrong, your trying to rip people off, and we are not going to let you, period. I left emptied handed and $10 poorer.
Similar here. I hadn't been to a show in a decade or so. I was disarmed before entry. Emptied my EDC and tied it up. All of the revolvers for sale were tied up too. No way to check function or bore. I saw a LOT of over priced ammo and really high priced long guns. Most of everything there made gun broker look cheaper to buy. To make things even worse was that most of the sellers were mad. Frowns all around.
"I know what I got."
Auto swap meets are the same now
I got way better deals where there was independant people selling. Last time i went it was a bunch of gun shops wanting more than it sold at their shop for, i guess they wanted me to pay for the table and fuel to drag their over priced junk there.
The gun community was better when it was smaller and simpler.
Now it’s trendy to be “ tacticool”.
Hoards of dipshits larping over whatever someone online told them they needed just to upload a few pictures with it to social media and put it back in the safe for the rest of the year.
A saturated market, over priced crap, and people who aren’t truly representing what 2a is all about is a big part of the problem.
I no longer go to gun shows. They are insanely over priced and as in many other comments, you never know what you are getting or will likely not see some ya-who ever again. I am a gunsmith and have caught so many people trying to take advantage of those who do not know firearms. Your video is very informative and spot on.
Virtually 80 percent of the guns for sale at my local shows are some sort of AR 15. Makes for a pretty boring show.
Some old geezer tried to sell me an M1 carbine that was rusty and falling apart for $1200.
It's also filled with people who's sole personality is being a maga Republican
@@Averagedude2024 That is the darned typical deal I run into at the gun shows around here. I don't see how they can keep a straight face.
Gun shows are like car shows, love looking and over hearing good information.
Great advice! My dad taught me that the only reloads to use are the ones I produced. And the Flea Market analogy is spot on. There’s only one decent show where I live and the crap they allow to be sold there is embarrassing. From spices & rubs to clocks & wind chimes, and it takes up the majority of the show.
1: Certain Ammo
2: Time Share ,things not
Gun related
3:Guns from people walking
Around
4: Collectible Firearms
In short anything. That's why I don't bother going anymore
Thanks I can't stand to watch anymore.
@@gwpattrick 🤣
not trying to be an overcritical jerk here (so i guess that just means it comes natural), but it sounds like his voice is going out too, which is a bit like nails on a chalkboard.
My best friend used to be a fireman but I don't think he's collectible....
.45 SW 1911SC was $200 more at show than my local mom&pop sporting good shop. I went with the local shop.
In my experience, the biggest buyer beware I've found is optics. I've seen some sneaky vendors in every gunshow I've been to. The tactic I see is cheap optics (sub $150 optics) right next to expensive optics ($800+ optics) but they'll mark up the cheap optics to 200%-300% or more than they are worth, but still way less than the expensive stuff. For example I saw an optic that could be bought for $50 on Amazon that was bring marked up to nearly $250. And it was placed next to a $1000 Vortex optic. Of course people were looking at the "great deal" not knowing that the "great deal" was actually a massive mark up.
Vortex optics are basically $50 optics marked up to $250 by the manufacturer. The Chinese Holosun factory makes most of the vortex and primary arms red dots. Holosun saw PA and Vortex selling their optics for $300, so Holosun started selling their for $400. They're all trash until very recently, and now you might as well pay the extra 10-20% and get a Trijicon, Aimpoint, EOtech, etc.
@@littlejackalo5326try a Burris RT3 I have a nasty astigmatism in my good eye, & makes those garbage, cheap, knockoffs, etc. easily spotable. But the Burris RT3 is so far very cost effective. No flowering of the very nice reticle, and it's generally reliable.
@@littlejackalo5326Not dismissing the quality of the brands you mentioned but 10-20% is an understatement. An RMR HD is $850 vs $300 for a 507c (95%). A TA31 ACOG is $1100 vs $300 for a PA SLx 3x (115%). An EXPS2 is $600 vs $300 for a 510c (67%).
If the price difference really was 10-20% wayyyy more people in the civilian market would buy them.
Exactly I bought 2 scopes for 200 bucks. Got home opened the boxes. No information at all. Not even the brand. Never again.@@littlejackalo5326
Osprey optics is all I buy at gun shows. Lifetime warranty
+1 On the ammo avoidance. Bought some 5.56 a few years back that only took about seven rounds for me to nope out of. First two were fine. The third one sounded a bit funny and hit low. The fourth did fine, as well. When firing the fifth, I actually saw the projectile flying through the air. The sixth round performed well, but the seventh fired with about twice the normal recoil and sounded like a Civil War cannon firing.
A friend had a plastic bag of 9mm pistol ammo, it was cheap and we were just plinking. I dropped the slide and the gun went off! Luckily I always keep it pointed in a safe direction, but some of the primers were proud of the case, and caused a slam fire. We shot them up, but with extra caution.
Scott from Kentucky Ballistics and the special .50 BMG rounds
Is that even legal to sell non factory made ammo? I thought it was somewhat universal law but what do i know?
@@tommiturmiola3682 I don’t know that it’s illegal? But it is very unwise. If anyone got hurt using that ammo. Whether it was the fault of the loader or not, you’d get sued into oblivion.
@@tommiturmiola3682 yes it is illegal to sell reloaded ammo for profit or livelihood without a license
The only thing I ever see at gun shows are overpriced guns and people that tote around their entire collections from show to show in glass cases and probably never sell a single thing.
Good points, thank you for the video.
1. 0:18 Reloaded ammo
2. 3:26 Anything that is not gun-related
3. 5:08 Used revolvers
4. 10:38 Collectible firearms
Hey, for point 2: those candied pecans are too friggin good, I get some every time I go.
Also, my local show has a pretty cool dude who makes his own damascus knives. He sells the blanks, too. Haven't bought one, but if I do, I think he'd be a decent guy to get something from.
Thanks!
@@DamonnanashiHAHA 😅😅 YESS me too bro. I ALWAYS buy the Candied Pecans or Cashews man they're absolutely delicious when fresh and warm off the hot-pan!!! Love them freshly cooked!! HAHA and I always buy a new knife as well, especially a nice looking Damascus knife or a nice useful fileting or hunting knife. I just can't help it!! 😅😅.. I go to the one in las vegas. Hbu??
@@DinoTheDinosaurROAR I'm in the New Orleans area, so my local one is in Kenner.
The flea market atmosphere NOWADAYS? 😅 That has been a part of gun shows since I started going in the 80s. It's nothing new. Good luck trying to get rid of it.
If you're not able to function check a handgun then don't buy it. It doesn't matter who's selling it or where.
Why would any seller allow you to use Flitz on a collectible gun? That's a good way to get asked to leave. You don't need it to see the difference between factory and cold blue anyway.
Reloads are hit and miss anyway. Both literally and figuratively. Don't buy them from someone else. Make your own.
I live in Phoenix, Az. I have sworn off going to the gun shows in this area, several times. And this past weekend, I went to the huge, yearly one. Here is why, you shouldn’t even go to the gun show. 1. It’s hard to save on any thing after you are $30 in the hole upon entrance. 2. The ammo stacked up at the big ammo vendors looks cool, but really isn’t cheaper than any of 5 big box stores in the area. 3 I think the vendors mark up each gun for sale by the cost of the table, insuring they don’t lose money 4. You might buy some obscure magazine, part or accessory that is hard to find but all this can be bought on eBay cheaper and easier 5. These gun shows aren’t the old time ones at the armory or the fairgrounds run by someone who has a day job. 6. They are run by deceptive, money grabbing companies
You got all that right. I went to the big PHX gun show twenty years ago while visiting a relative. A guy had WW2 30M1 "armor piercing" ammo for sale. I inspected and it was obviously old ammo with newly painted black tips. I asked him when he painted those but he didn''t answer. But the look on his face told the truth. It was plain Jane 30-06 and definitely not AP.
Ahhhhh. The good days of Crossroads Of The West shows of 30+ years ago are gone😔
Me too. I've not bought a gun at a gun show since 2001. When I bought my first and only firearm at a show here in Phoenix. It was the big crossroads one. The last few times I've been I have to wonder why the hell folks bother renting tables when they are obviously not intending to sell any guns. Must be a real pain in the but to drag all their rifles to the table, massivly jack up their prices and then have to drag them all back home again unsold. These guys are literally smoking crack on the "pots of gold" they think they have on their tables.
I was at the same show. I agree lots and lots of over priced stuff but boy there were some nice old guns you aren't going to find just about anywhere else. Picked up an old sako riihimaki for about $800 less than the cheapest one on gunbroker or gunsinternational and a cz 452 lux for about 1/2 of what it's worth. Know what guns you're looking for and do lots of research and good buys can still be had at our Arizona shows
I try to go to the gun shows here in Phoenix, I live a block away from the fairgrounds, but I am looking for rossi combo rifles, but when I do find one they want double the amount of what they sell them for from the manufacturer, I also look for the barrels for the rossi single shot rifles because rossi quit making lots of calibers that I like, I am a ex military special forces officer and I always try for 1 shot kills, so I like single shot rifles,
The most dangerous reloader I've ever met was Grandpa Ted. My ex-wife's 92 Yo grandfather. He was teaching me the fundamentals of reloading 30-06 ammo. The first round I fired in my REM 721 the round was over pressured and I had to use a dowell to get the empty case out. Half blind, 92 year olds are not always the man for reloading.
yeah, i remember getting some "hot" homebrewed shells at a skeet range from my dad when he first got into reloading
First don’t use anyone else’s reload recipe and second don’t shoot anyone else’s reloads. If you do the stupidity is yours not the other guys.
I learned these lessons once. Once. However, with hot shots it was not a gun show, but someone Insaw regularly. However he did have fps for each bullet and powder weight. A bit too hot for action, but great in a single shot breach loader.. until one toward the end of the bag was much hotter and it expanded. Got a remmington 30-06 at a show, and found out the retaining pin in the activator/ bolt handle likes to fly put no matter how tight i cram it back in. eventually the action flew apart in a shot and the pin was never found out in the woods, because I went a third shot without checking on it. Still cant find another, but I havent even looked in about 2 years.
He probably set you up
I once heard of one, who used powder from blankcartridges for 8mm rifle cartridges. So he destroyed bis Mauser.
Last time I went to a gun show, I spent about an hour just looking at stuff and collecting free pens and other such promotional doo-dads, and the rest of my time sitting in on seminars. Wound up only buying a pair of shooting glasses. It was one of the few deals I managed to spot. They just don't make gun shows the way they used to.
Sounds more like a convention lol
Wait... there were Exhibitors actually offering Swag? That's a new one on me. Other than the free Jerky and Rock Candy samples (the best part of the Show), the other Dealers were so stingy they made you pay for a smile and warm greeting!
@@cleekmaker00 Most of the "Swag Tables" don't even showcase any guns. I've been to shows where half the tables are like this. A friend of mine claimed he went to a show where only 25% of the tables had actual firearms on display, and most of them were outrageously overpriced.
Revolvers can go bad. I had an older Rossi revolver I'd bought early on in my gun buying stages for $125. 38 special, fun plinking revolver. After several hundred rounds of flawless shooting I'd noticed there were a few that failed to fire. It started happening more and more. The primer was struck each time, a noticeable dimple, but I guess not enough to ignite the charge. I'd only shot new ammo and tried many different brands to verify it was in fact the revolver itself. Took it to a local gunsmith and when he looked it over he asked me how much I paid for it. Told him the truth and he said I'd be better off not fixing it as it'd probably cost around that price to get it repaired properly. Appreciated his honesty. Eventually sold it to a buddy. Made it 100% clear the issue I was having and that it isn't reliable to use as a home defense gun, which was what he was wanting. He thought he would be able to fix it himself and I broke even on that venture.
I used to work at a gunshop several years ago. There was a gun show every other month at the local fairgrounds. Around noon of each day people would start filing in. They had been to the gun show in the morning and were very disappointed with the high prices and with all of the vendors there that had cleaned out their garages and were allowed to sell their junk at the gun show. We usually did very well at the gunshop on the gun show weekends...
Sounds like tampa
@@jaystrobel7862 I thought the same thing
Sounds like any show in nc
I went to a gun shop that had some of the same exact same guns that I had seen at a gun show a few days before. The seller had commissioned the guns and I got a Garrett Arms 1863 Sharps Carbine replica for $500. They were trying to sell for $900 at the show
@@jaystrobel7862 Tampa one of the best gun shows around. Bought many good guns there.
For years I was a vendor at shows all over Texas. I watched shows go from the place to find deals to a high priced extension of stores or the weekend license holder trying to get rich with every sale. At first I watched people go to those tables where merchandise was above retail at any store in the country and buy. Then over time people stopped buying and mostly looking. I closed up shop after a time and now only rarely go to one.
Last show I went to I found a seller with an old Frontier 22 revolver in decent shape. This guy had a price tag of $1200.00 on the thing.
Told him he should be ashamed and walked out.
U tell em my man 👍
Last gun show I went to near Corpus Christi, the prices were insane and they barely had any firearms.
@@scubasteve3032You forgot to mention the ridiculous price you had to pay for parking and entry.
@@scubasteve3032 Did they still have that Root revolving carbine when you walked in the door ?
It was always there, like an old friend, and not for sale.
At gun shows I tell them what I want the price to be. They take it or leave it. Bought a Henry.22 lever action. Guy wanted 400 told him 350. Bought a fairly new Ruger p95 for 300 out the door. Once you know your guns n prices and they know you do too they will sell or ignore you. Lol
My buddy bought a ballistic Steele target at a gun show, he decided to pick it up after the show because of the weight. We came back after about 3 hours and the guys tried to withhold my buddies purchase. Always be careful when you buy something take it right then, we had to get the sponsor of the show involved and the guys were kicked out permanently. Just my advice, but it was a lesson for sure.
I like nibbling on deer jerky that I make from a year previous while I'm out deer hunting the following year; not the comment you asked for, but I just wanted to mention it!
I, and my buddy, were combing minnesota gun shows for a reasonably priced Springfield o3a3 to use in military bolt action matches I shot in twice a year. I'd tried several rifles, doing well with a .308 Israeli mauser but wed pretty much decided I had no chance at winning without the perfect rifle - an o3a3 - like the winners used. We happened to be moping around at the door when a very nice o3a3 came walking in. I pounced.
He said he'd paid $95 decades earlier to shoot moose but said he had to admit he was too old to hunt. He wanted to find a good home for it. I told him my story, he lit up in a beautiful smile and sold me his baby for $95. I was ecstatic, I hugged it in front of him. I sent him letters on the rifle matches until I found out he'd died. I couldn't afford $400 o3a3 until I met the old man and his moose rifle
I actually took first place beating Mitchell Maxberry the year he took first in high power at camp perry, national champion. We were best of friends and three of us stood around talking until 3:00 am watching poor Mitchell could be beaten by riffraff like me and the old.man's rifle
@@nelsonted1 Good story! I bought mine at a gun show in the late 1980's for around $120. It still shoots nice today.
I bought a Ruger P85 from a gun show walker, it was his wife's pistol and she had recently passed away. The gun was unfired, not one spec of powder. It was in the original box and he had 2 mags for it. He only wanted $300, I overheard another guy decline his offer so I tapped on his shoulder and walked away with a great semi-auto.
Those old ruger p series pistols are some of the best. You got a deal!
The P85 was my 1st pistol, you got a great deal my man
I bought mine around 1990 have used several boxes of ammo. Cleaned it and have not shot it in twenty years. Never failed to go bang.
Bought my 89 that way. Love it. Bought a glock 17 bout a year ago. Buy a gun, sell a gun. Sold the glock last week.
On e upon a time, going to a gun show was almost a mystical experience.
Now it's like going to a big lots.
If your measure of success at a gun show is based solely on what you purchased, this makes sense. Part of why I go is to see all the stuff I don’t have and to see if anything I’ve been reading about might be worth purchasing. I also get to see vintage stuff and be able to handle it without buying it. I prefer the “show” aspect of the gun show to the “market” side of things.
I also don't understand him not wanting other vendors there. Yea, I'm not gonna buy window blinds from a guy at a gun and knife show, but I'm open the lady selling home made food or the kid selling shirts the screen printed at home. Let the community be a part of the show too within reason
As I said, before gun shows are mostly dealership conventions for the most part. Very few gun shows feature vintage and/or rare firearms, unless you come across a private collection. I think most people are going to keep their old guns if they can and not bring them to gun shows to sell. I'm not saying that you won't see vintage stuff, but you're probably going to see less of it. I'm always on the lookout for vintage police revolvers (more specifically the S&W model 10 and model 65) and some of the Makarov pistols for a reasonable price.
1
Exactly!
I just enjoy walking around.
My son and I may buy some items, but mostly, we just enjoy the show.
My dad started taking me to gun shows in the early 70s as a kid. Back when they were real GUN SHOWS vendors would show people what they had and why it is the best for your money and get this! You could shoot the gun. I remember in 1974 my dad was looking at this new $200 rife called a mini-14 what sold it was stepping out back and pulling that trigger as fast as he could then I did too. I know there are a lot of people out there who say the mini-14s there are garbage, but this rifle still has a good group at @50 yards. Well, $180 changed hands it came home with us, and I still have it today. I picked up my first Luger 42-P08 matching magazines & holster at a gun show in 1977. I got a pretty good deal @ $65. It was from an old man who had all kinds of German military stuff he came back with after the war. As the years have rolled on, I lost count of all the fake stuff out there that ends up at gun shows. You hit the nail on the head, NEVER, NEVER, never run some ones reloads throw your gun unless you know that person well and trust them. I hate to say it, but as far as knowledgeable vendors out there, they only know what were told and more than half is wrong. Gun shows today are not SHOWS at all. Too much greed out there. And some people don’t care of you get hurt, they just wont your money.
Everyone, BE CAREFUL when firing steel cased vintage (WWII) Axis 9mm. The rounds intended for the various SMGs are hot and can wreck a weak Luger, etc. The bullet noses are black and the primers are often black. If this has worn off, you could have a real problem.
Before I learned my lesson, bought a Garand at a gun show. Didn't know that "CAI" stood for "Can't Assemble It". The barrel was, quite literally, bent. Not so much that it could be easily seen with the naked eye, but a machinist friend put a true straight edge on the top of the barrel aligned with the front and rear sights and sure enough, there was a slight bend visible against that reference. Which explained why no matter how much windage correction I put in it still hit pretty far right of point of aim.
Where is the CAI stamped?
Century arms international, an importer, Sometimes they sell crap and some of it’s actually OK.
@@humpy936 The stuff they import that others have built can be okay. I have an excellent AK pistol, that I took a chance on. Turns out it was factory assembled in Romania.
Always check closely....
1. Take a bore light
2. Smell for cold bluing and practice at home
3. Check Serial Numbers. Not necessarily applicable on War related Firearms. Not since Eli Whitney as in Pratt & Whitney, got his start in making weapons by using Tolerancing for Rifles. He had a competitive bid but when the Army showed up he had a line with buckets of parts and a stack of stocks. He told the Army guys to go down the line grab a part assemble everything into a Rifle and at the end of the line, load it and shoot it. They did, it did, he got the Contract.
I'm also one of those older guys that roamed all the shows back in the 80s and 90s. Back then the dealers would pack up the stuff that had been sitting in the shop longer than they'd like and sell it at substantial discounts.
Somewhere around 2000 that ended and you got guys ordering extra and charging 30% or more above what they had the same items in their stores for. Around 2005 I gave up and have seen no compelling reason to go back. I have all the beef jerky, stickers, dvds and crappy nylon holsters I need
Absolutely, why do we buy crappy gun show holsters?
What's wrong with us?
This post sums up gunshows to a tee. 100% spot on
@@sawyermontoya +100: Totally agree!! From another old grumpy gun show guy
I stopped going to the gunshow when I kept seeing the same stock of overpriced Milsurps everytime. I began calling it the Moving Gun Museum. Prices no better than local shops, often higher.
Amen
Some years back, I found an ammo reloader at a local gunshow who had a good reputation. I bought his reloaded .22-250 and .22 Hornet. Superbly accurate, both calibers. Far better than any factory ammo I ever used. I was able to very nearly replicate his loads by figuring which specific components he used, and trying a few powders.
The only thing I really avoid at gunshows is the gut-burner hotdogs! Made that mistake only once! 😄
Did you get his business card or address?
Please share if so.
We have Tommy Burgers is a chili burger It will clean out your system. But its sooo GOOD
@@thisismagacountry1318 ok fed
@@Mabungo I only want good ammo for the coming Civil War.
You should too.
For us, it was the food from the ARAMARK style Event caterer that worked the show. Way overpriced, like we were at the Ballpark!
Big thing is being prepared to do research if its collectible. Went to a show and found Winchester 30-06 that my dad was looking for (really likes his and wanted to buy another). Was being sold private party for 950 which wasn't out of the realm of their standard cost. After about an hour of research it was found to be an early model red letter which was valued at around 1200 or so. It was confirmed via the serial number and a few other stampings. Seller took my dad's 850 offer and he got it. When he took it home to clean it, it was basically brand new. Barrel was near perfect and everything else was almost unused. It also had a mid tier 300-400 scope on it as well. Deals can be had. Just have to have a good eye
Several years ago I bought an early Browning A-Bolt Medallion in .257 Roberts from a private seller at a show. Selling it because he changed to a more accessible chambering. I knew .257 Roberts had become scarce and expensive, but because I reload and already had a source for the brass and dies, that would not be an issue. The price I paid was a bit on the high side, but the rifle was in excellent mechanical and aesthetic condition. An utterly beautiful piece. It runs smoothly and is more accurate and precise than I am. I have never regretted buying it. You don't find a lot of these just lying around, you know.
There's a gunshow in my area that many vendors use as a "soft opening" before Shot-Show... Ive gotten some great deals on products before they've ever hit the open market...
Giving feedback and building relationships with vendors over time has definitely worked to an advantage for me and many of the vendors.
The Pro-Gun event is not associated with SHOT and certainly not a gun show as described here.
14 years ago I helped my daughter buy a Colt King Cobra at a gun show. They guy was waiting in line to go into the show. The gun was a mint 4 inch and she paid $600, about $100 under market. The gun is a great shooter and worth much more than she paid for it.
Hopefully you still have it. Those are getting tough to find cheap these days.
Grandpa Tell me about the good old days hahaha
@@noname-wo8zp A SKS used to be 100 bucks in the early 2000s 👴
@@Adam-dt4cg Dude, I remember when they were $59.99 at my LGS in Austin, Texas. Mid 1980s.
Same for me….best Sig i own was a guy selling it..he had a baby on the way and was giving up a gun he liked….helped his young family and got myself a good weapon
As someone who ran and sold reloaded ammo professionally, you can take easy steps to prevent getting screwed on ammo. Especially if you know what you're looking for. Carry a case gauge with you and check a few rounds out of the batch. They are cheap and made to the cartridge max specs. I do this personally for calibers that dont make sense for me to reload economically. Check to make sure the projectiles are the same, obviously. Ask whoever is selling it who reloaded it. Ask about the components. What powder charges were what their tolerances are... Ask if they have a spec sheet with charges and muzzle velocity for every cartridge they sell. Any reputable person will have one. Look in the box for brass shavings, loose powder, etc... look at the case mouths for any imperfections. Small hydraulic dents on the shoulder are fine, and they will blow back out when shot. This typically happens from too much case lube during sizing. Big giant dents and dings going down the side of the case are a big no-no. And as always, if it's too good to be true, it probably is... Don't be a dummy and buy from sketchy people, basically.
If I have to do all that, I'll just pay full price and go to a store or online..
@@grumblesa10 guess what? You should be inspecting all ammo no matter who the manufacturer is. I have never had an issue with any of my handloads, ever. But I have seen catastrophic failures from plenty of factory options...
@@terpsurfer7221 Yep. If somebody put 72 gr. of Auto Comp into a .300 Win Mag, cartridge measurements can be identical to the Hornady Load Book but Heaven help you if that bomb goes off...
Easier to learn yourself...
Have you ever considered not having sex with your ammunition ?
I miss the bargains on surplus military rifles.
But for the reasons in this video, I am not inclined to go to anymore.
The juice just isn't worth the squeeze 🤷♂️
I thought I overpaid for capture phosphate k98 with a hooded sight when I forked over $230, that was 2010.
I've bought and sold hand guns ,and rifles at gun shows. It's perfectly acceptable to take a tie off to check out a gun. I even had a guy take apart a p38 I was selling to check serial numbers. Totally fine. I've had worse luck with venders not standing behind their products!
For buying firearms, my advice is to roam all day just looking. Wait until the last hour of the show to make any purchases. Vendors are more likely to be flexible with their prices as the show winds down. I’ve done this multiple times at the Crossroads of the West shows and have got some killer deals, including a NIB Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Mag for $300.
Careful on the "last hour". If a vendor is FFL, you have to go through the system. Can take a while when system backed up.
The last few in san antonio they'd be packing up within the last 3 hours. They would just wait until the next month with the same high priced stuff.
One word of caution regarding Flitz. True, it won't damage most factory blue jobs but don't ever EVER let it touch a case hardened finish. You'll end up with an "in the white" receiver, frame or whatever. I've seen a few very expensive shotguns, antique SAAs and lever guns defaced in that way.
The one and ony time I went to a gun show. I got screwed buying a semi auto pistol. The barrel moves and you can't get any repetitive shots.
Been to a gun show 2-3 times my entire life. Will never go again. Just a bunch of bubbas selling pawn shop junk guns at a premium. That and they want you to pay to get in just so you can look around? Give me a break.
Just enter thru the vendor gates lol works for most fairs
I quit going to gun shows because the cost to get in, to just look around, was ridiculous. I remember when the cost was almost nothing and it was a joy to go. Now the only reason to go and pay that price is to check out a gun you're interested in, then go on line and buy it at a good price. Thank you for the good advice If I go again, I'll keep that in mind. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya
This might be the real answer as to why gun shows have gotten more expensive. Not failing anyone, is so the same, but it's just how markets evolve and how the internet disrupted so much.
@@mbessle5102 Could be now. I used to get into gun shows cheap $2-3 bucks a person. I purchased a gun at a gun show because it had a good price, back when the price to get in was reasonable. Now you go pay 10 bucks to get in and the prices are more than what's on line or same as if you went to the gun store. Gus shows have only one advantage and that's to hold multiple guns you're looking to buy, then buy them on line.
@@keithnoneya same with local gun stores only good to check out the gun in advance. I laugh at these charity types who wanna support their local business….
Agree, I've bought several new guns at shows from gun shops represented at gun shows with no problems, never bought a used gun. What I wanted was the cheap bulk factory ammo, witch after adding up gas, paying for parking, and admission, the price of that ammo was not so cheap anymore.
@@keithnoneya I went to a gun show and it was $20 just to get in.
I bought a keltec p32, new in the box, never fired at a gun show from a guy wandering around, below market. It worked well for me.
In Hungary, the law prohibits the sale/handover of homemade ammunition. You can reload ammunition only for your own purposes. There are many stupid laws in Hungary, but this one is one of the better ones.
Bubbas out here pissing hot reloads too often.
@@Ekdrink Yeah, you wouldn't want my .45-70 reloads unless you had a Ruger #1 or other similarly strong action (mine is a Siamese Mauser conversion). They ARE published loads, but they are specifically meant for the strongest actions, not a Marlin or a trapdoor.
I think the best thing is for new shooters to go around look at everything, touch the guns, see what they are like, ask questions, don't be afraid of your rights, then go home and buy after doing some research online. Its like going to a gun store but instead everything is laid out for you to check out, and you get more choices. I've watched so many videos but actually seeing and handling guns adds a lot.
Thanks for watching
Please consider Subscring?
I have been going to gun shows for thirty years--yes they have evolved into a flea market, prices are sky high, but I have sold many guns, bought lots of guns (often basket cases) and I love going to all of em. Even if I don't get a deal immediately something always happens that is excellent--for example a guy dumped a box of parts on the floor by accident--I helped him recover his stuff which scattered everywhere. He thanked me and offered me any item on his table--I picked a lefty holster for my 1911--I love it and use it to this day (ten years later). This kind of thing happens to me at every show. The gun show people are generally excellent!
Thanks for watching
Are private sellers a common thing? & how would u spot them??
It's like everything in life, if you don't know what you are doing, it's better if you don't. Maybe this guy has or just likes gun shops. Beating on a M1A charging handle with a hard mallet told me everything I needed to know. Lol
@@richwilson7619 tf are you on about? asked a simple question not for a life lesson
That’s a lot of the reason I go. You never know who you are going to meet. Sometimes I find something neat. Sometimes I don’t. But I have fun every time.
The only gun I bought from a gun show happened to be an Enfield mk3 from 1943 in amazing condition. Seriously, it looked like it had been manufactured done 6 months to a year of guard duty and mothballed. Love that gun.
I agree man, I managed to find a beautiful condition Zastava M57 Tokarev with holster and an extra mag at a gun show, one of my favorites!
I sell guns in gun shows and occasionally and everything he says is true. I've had a couple different times that guns I took in on trade only to find out later that the gun was stolen. I bought an AR15 that actually had a defected spring in the trigger that made the weapon fully automatic and didn't find out until I took it to the range to find out. It just so happened that the range master was an ATF agent so when I pulled the trigger the AR15 racked out seven rounds in a split second. The range master ran over to me to tell me that this wasn't a fully automatic range. I explained to him I just purchased the gun and all the parts in the gun was AR15 parts and not an M16. I let him inspect the gun and after he examined the gun he said I was right but the gun couldn't be shot at the range and would have to be repaired by a gunsmith before using the gun again. So in short it's a good idea to test any weapon you buy at a gun show not on the Range. I had inspected the AR15 when I bought it and could see all the parts were AR15 parts and not M16 parts so I had no idea that the gun was fully automatic needless to say I was very surprised upon pulling the trigger at the range. I disassembled the gun at the range and took in home for a complete breakdown of the AR lower receiver kit to find out the spring was defective from the kit manufacturer. After replacing the spring the gun shoots as it should with one shot for one pull of the trigger. I have been shooting guns since I was 5 years old being that my family was in the military and was a member of the NRA as a child. You never really know what your getting at a gun show in many cases.
It didn't happen to me, but a friend I worked with. My buddy bought a late 70s blued Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 rem mag at a gun show. It was a month before we made it to the range. The gun was skimming lead off the top of every round fired. We called it quits soon after, and he took it to a gunsmith for evaluation. He determined the top strap was bent. It became his favorite $300.00 paperweight. I learned my lesson from him to buy only new guns at gunshows. 😊
Ha! I saw it sold to him at Ft. Worth!
I've bought lots of guns from "walk ins" both as an individual and as a vendor. Never had a problem. It's easy to check the gun's function: Just go to a vendor's table and ask them to cut the zip tie and replace it when you're done, or go outside. It's up to the buyer to know how to check a firearm's function.
Exactly, there's usually a gun range close by any gun show where you and the person selling the gun can shoot the gun you want to buy.
I've gotten a lot of very collectible firearms from just individuals going in and out of the gun shows. I always bring something to trade as well. The main thing to watch out for is ammo so I agree with you there.
I'd be fine buying from an individual walking around the show, so long as I knew what to look for in what I was buying. Once I bought a 1892 Bertheir rifle at one booth and found the correct bayonet and scabbard at another booth once. I stuck the bayonet on the rifle and was walking around with the rifle slung over my shoulder and had to take it to the car I got so many people asking if it was for sale. :)
The last gun show I went to was pre pandemic and out of roughly 150 tables only 3 had guns. Every gun on those 3 tables were essentially micro 9’s and all of them were well over MSRP. Essentially no ammo and a crap ton of gutter guards, dream catchers, leather products, bird feeders etc. the fact that I paid ten bucks to get in still kinda bothers me 6 years later. Never again.
Another note on the handguns, at a gun show, there is a possibility that they are stolen. My neighbor had this problem. He didn't find out until he had held a criminal at gunpoint for a bit, just until the police showed up. They confiscated his pistol. When he tried to get it back a few weeks later, he was informed that it was a stolen gun. Unfortunately, he didn't have a bill of sale for it. They did believe him, though, that he had bought it at the gun show.
the police may have just confiscated his gun and said "its stolen" . .sad but true.
Law enforcement officers follow the Frangi rules of acquisitions. “ Once you have their money “ or in this case, your gun “never give it back. “
They don't need a license to sell at a gun show?
@@JBlades88WV nope. As a private seller, I can walk in there with a gun and sell it. No FFL or other license needed. I have done it before.
@@factsarenotopinions That is quite possible. I even suggested as much to my neighbor.
During the first ammo shortage, I went to a couple of gun shows and they were selling at much higher than brick and mortar stores. Larger volume, but exorbitant prices. At that time brick and mortar were rationing ammo, but at reasonable prices. You could tell that the gun show vendors were reselling ammo they had bought at some of the local stores based on in store brands, etc.
It’s been years since I’ve been to a gun show. The last ones really left a bad taste in my mouth. Will probably give them another chance in the future. They are sometimes the only place to find hard to find parts, mags, etc. so there is still good cause to go.
Hard to see anything wrong with reselling ammo to a willing public. It's good to have the choice, if it comes down to that, between limited ammo at the usual price and lots of ammo at a premium. I know, for example, that when my basement floods I would pay extra to get a sump pump when local stores are sold out at the normal price.
@@rcnelson market clearing price. Those that are willing pay, those who don’t want to, don’t. Same can be said for all goods and services. The question is what are the ethical standards and when and how do they get into the equation? Can you imagine what I could’ve charged to resuscitate when I worked as a paramedic or later as an ER nurse?
Bad taste huh? I don't know why the hell you decided to start chomping on bullets in the first place. Try a bag of sunflower seeds next time. Less expensive and taste a lot better. Your welcome.
@@chuckark5742 bad taste? Dude you’re trying to get the moral high ground on a conversation that happened two weeks ago and didn’t even involve you. What are you doing with your life man?
You hit the nail on the head with this video!! When gun shows started selling tobacco pipes I was out. Haven’t been to one in years.
I experienced a negligent discharge at a gun show back in the 80's. A young man blew a hole in his palm goofing around at his dads booth. Luckily no one else was hit.
Great video man. All of the gun shows around here are local FFLs trying to sell old stock at overinflated prices to gullible buyers.
Thanks for watching
Apart from my mandatory basic training in light arms when I joined the navy (UK) back in the 1970s, I have zero experience with guns. Watching this kind of video fascinates me, listening to the experts explaining what to look for is always a good thing.
I had a bad experience with reloads I bought at a local gun store. Shooting reloaded 5.56 through my Colt AR15 A1 when there was an explosion. It jammed the bolt carrier all the way back, broke 3 lugs off the bolt, tore the dust cover completely off, and blew the floorplate off the bottom of the magazine and rounded the bottom of the magazine. I found out the owner's son's reloaded the rounds and the owner accused me of shooting a dirty weapon as the cause. Eventually he made things right and repaired my rifle.
so what I was wondering was, how does one DISPOSE of dud reloads? what do you do with JUNK ammo?
@@babagalacticus have you ever considered that most junk ammo just gets broken back down into components unless its just trashed aka lost durring an operation with bang stick tool duty.
Jokes and slang aside if you keep duds just know its possible to take a bullet apart without it detonating like a grenade..... Because most ammo is not grenade like at all
@@babagalacticusyou can get a empty mayonnaise jar and put some cooking oil in it. And, put the bad rounds in it. It stops the powder from igniting. Plus it's the safest way to dispose of bad ammo.
@@babagalacticus Pull the projo's out of the brass casings. Dump the powder...If you really want to destroy the brass, turn the case, bottom up & take a nail & hammer to the primer.
What happened to you was you got an overcharged round. You were lucky. You can use several different powders with 5.56 rounds. But some burn faster than others. Even a grain or two can make a big difference.
Bought a .45 in knoxville back in the 80s . Extractor was broken . Learned my lesson .
A 1911? That's a $20.00 fix back in the 80's.
Easy fix
@@johndeiter.4272 What prepper doesn't keep a few firing pins and extractors in the spare parts kit!
I bought Billy the Kid’s colt and George Custer’s Winchester at a gun show. Amazing finds.
Good eye bro, you need to do some UA-cam videos for us newbie collectors. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
😂
And I also found Lee Harvey Oswald's rifle, and The one that was used on Abraham Lincoln at a gun show.
I bought three coins dated 195 BC
@@aarongreenfield9038 “Sic Semper Tyrannis”
The last 4 things I bought at gunshows. 1) Beef Jerky. 2) A couple T-Shirts. 3) A case of 12 gauge Federal L.E. only 00 buckshot. 4) A couple of cheap Osprey scopes "Both of which I deeply regret"! Usually I go in and wander around for 2-hours, get overwhelmed and leave with beef jerky! I often do the same thing in bass pro shops!
Sometimes you can’t beat that beef jerky, or venison jerky, or some of those other exotic jerkys. It’s a last resort purchase, when you see nothing worth your while.
Ours has cinnamon roasted pecans…..jsut the smell alone is worth the admission price
Buy a book of targets from the guy that prints his own. At least it is functional!
Osprey is garbage. I held one of their red dots ( on the brightest setting) up to a window. The dot was hardly visible.
Live in Kaliunicornia (unfourtunately- it is a family thing) & unless I see something worth a little gamble generally only get factory boxed ammo, just because I own several antique guns & getting ammo online in Ca. is a pain in the *ss.
A few years ago, I picked up a pretty nice M96 Swedish Mauser from the gun show. I was being lazy and wanted to pick up some ammo for it at the same time, being completely naive to what ammo at gun shows is often like. I did think "Hmm, these are some... Vintage boxes, must be new old stock". I fired a couple before I realized that they were for sure reloads, and they were "pissin hawt" as they say. It was also pretty obvious that the brass was not on its first reload, more like some guy decided that when he was ready to be done with his brass, he'd load up some rounds and sell them at the gun show. Total garbage. Once I loaded my own ammo with new brass, the gun did turn out to be solid so no regrets there!
"pissin hawt" is super funny...."Bubbas pissin hawt reloads" lol 😂
By the time you pay for parking,admission,fuel to drive etc at gun shows,in the used market I’ve found adding up the TOTAL costs was equivalent to buying the same new at our local shop.
You got that right 😆
I like buying bulk ammo... usually about the same price as online... but no shipping. Most of the guns are the same story.
Very interesting video and well presented - My #1 tip for gun shows now a days is to NEVER go to a gun show - I quit going to them a few years ago because I went to three different local gun shows in my area and the prices on everything was ridiculously too high - guns, ammo, everything, prices were crazy high. I couldn't even discuss prices with these vendors, they thought they were Gods or something. So effe that - I now got to a few well know gun stores in my area and get way better prices and deals on everything. Gun shows have ruined themselves.
My dad started taking me to gun shows in the early 80s as a kid. I used to love them. I used to be able to find all kinds of cool stuff at great prices and the vendors were knowledgeable about what they had and so where the people attending. When I got older we would set up as vendors. I noticed around the time that the concealed carry craze came along in the mid 2000s, shows started going down hill. It was a combination of everyone and their brother (or wife and girlfriend) looking for guns, most of which were new gun owners who honestly had no business owning a gun without some sort of training, and dealers were there to price gouge them, and the internet and online marketplaces like eBay. Now you can get a far better deal on just about anything online, and dealers still sell the same stuff with huge markups (I'm guessing they think they will find people who are internet illiterate or just don't know any better?). I miss the shows of the 80s and 90s. I don't think we will ever experience shows like that again.
The more law abiding people owning guns, the better. I'll take more armed citizens at the expense of gun shows being ruined any day.
I still like gun shows. Even though I might not buy anything, it is still really cool to see some of the older rifles you might not see in a brick and mortar store. Also, I did get a really great ammo can for a great price at the show in Dayton. So, I would say that guns shows still have a place in society, but I do agree with you, that they definitely need to be improved upon and made a lot better
Training requirement is against the second amendment. Where does it mention training? The can be NO restrictions on ownership or age.
@@billpugh58 : Maybe not a requirement, but you should have knowledge of what you are going to shoot with and be safe doing it. That goes with anything including the operation of your car.
@@billpugh58 I'm guessing your attention span want long enough to read that little part about well regulated did you buttercup.
I got my P08 Luger at a gun show and actually got a pretty good deal. It was from a collector who had all kinds of Lugers, C96s, and other German military handguns for sale. I got mine for $1,050, some pitting, the blue was in okay condition, but it all matched, had all the proper proof parks, and was unit marked. Additionally I found out later the gun is an original 1908 first issue due to its unit marking and lack of stock lug. Most other Lugers I'd seen for sale online or at this show were $2,000+. The thing runs like a champ and I couldn't be happier.
I'm currently looking for a Luger myself.
Do you have any tips for me? I'm somewhat suspicious of a lot of online prices for Lugers.
@@officerbarbrady8387 I would say the market is pretty screwed right now, you gotta look on auctions or gun shows if you don't want to pay an insane amount. I was looking for 8 months before I found a good deal, and it was from a private seller not a business. So most importantly be patient, and don't succumb to just overpaying to get one, if you wait a good deal will come along, you just gotta keep looking.
I’ve gotten many used guns over the years. And I have found that honestly most people don’t shoot the guns they buy. The people who do you shoot the guns they buy usually don’t get rid of them.
i find that to be accurate
Always remember that if you buy a from a non acredited seller,you don't know where that gun has been or what it has been used for.If you buy second hand,take your time and do the history and also if you do buy second hand,only buy from folk you can build some trust or already have.
If you do not have much experiance with gun shows ask an experienced friend to accopmany you,they may save you from many pitfalls and maybe save you some money.
As to ammo,check out what happened to Kentucky ballistics when he put unknown sourced 50 cal through his Barret.He is very lucky to be alive and it was a definative education on this point.
Very good advice from PA.Thankyou
I bought my first Enfield out of a barrel of cosmolened milsurps about 25 years ago. Paid 60 bucks for it. Had to re-stake the front sight assembly as it fell off first range day but has been a solid shooter ever since.
Wise advice. I once purchased some hard to find rounds...and sure enough, they had been loaded with brass that was defective. As this guy was in the business, he knew or should have known. After case ruptures, learned this lesson the hard way - fortunately without damage to self or rifle.
In the 70s, 80s and early to mid 90s gun shows were GREAT! I would never miss one and would hit any show within a 2 hour drive and spend hours and hours there. I am a collector, mostly Winchester rifles/shotguns and S&W handguns but lots of other stuff also. Gun shows were a treasure trove of parts and pieces and you could get some really good deals, or more often, good trades.
The internet and internet sales ruined it.
The ONLY thing I still buy at guns shows is propellent powder for handloading. The "hazard fees" charged for shipping powder make it impractical to order online in small quantities. Primers? Maybe. Someday. If I ever need them again in my lifetime. In 2015 I was gifted nearly 80,000 primers of all types by the widow of an acquaintance who hoarded them. Along with a hoard of component bullets, brass cases and many hundreds of rounds of his handloaded ammunition. I still have about 50,000 primers on hand.
I handload for 81 different cartridges, so I tend to use a lot of propellent, but not a lot of any one kind, so buying a large quantity of one type isn't practical.
The dealer I buy from will bring whatever propellent I ask for, I just call him a few days before and tell him what I need. He has it ready for me when I come to the show.
Wow. You are set. Thanks for watching
@@PracticalAccuracy Let's just say, I never noticed the "ammo shortage".
81 different cartridges? I thought my 17 cartridges was a lot. Good gracious man.
@@Rustebadge Well, that includes 5 shotshells (12, 16, 20, 28, .410)
Yes, I handload for every gun I own. I've been handloading since the 60s and since 1973 for metallic cartridges. (I still have my first loading press and powder measure in regular use)
I am also a collector of Winchester rifles/shotguns and S&W handguns...plus others that aren't Winchester or S&W but were interesting for one reason or another OR were hand-me-downs from a father and grandfather that collected guns. My grandfather, for example, collected any firearm designed by Browning...so that means I have a bunch of Winchester lever rifles, and Remington Model 8 and Model 81 rifles (.30 Remington and .300 Savage) and some Colt handguns like a Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP.
Many, many of them are obsolete/semi-obsolete cartridges that are no longer available so I must handload to get ammunition. For quite a few, I make my own casings by reforming other cases.
FYI, I also cast at least one bullet for every cartridge (except .22 centerfires), though many of those will work for many different cartridges. I cast a .30, 150 gr, flatnose that works for .30-30, .30 Remington, .30-40, .30-06, .308, .300 Savage, .300 Blackout. I can even use them "as-cast", without sizing, for .303 British. Cast of wheelweight metal they easily "bump up" when fired to provide good accuracy for fun shooting. Though I also have a .311" 180 gr. mold just for the .303
Now that I'm retired, I just load ammunition and go shooting...or go fishing.
Could you please estimate what a good-condition Winchester model 1897 12 gauge is valued at? Thanks!
I appreciate the way you immediately address your topic right from the beginning of the video. No theme songs or sequences of you shooting at targets or pretending to be in combat -- just useful info right from the get-go. Thanks!
I had a S&W Shield in .40 cal that I wanted to sell while at a show. I was offering several holsters, and accessories along with the upgraded APEX trigger (already installed with the original in a bag for them to have) The gun was my carry gun and was in perfect working condition. I sold it and got a fair price which was higher than I would have gotten at auction saving all the fees and FFL transfers. There are good reasons to keep your eyes open for these deals but you must know about the item you are going to purchase.
Completely agree.
100% agree….if you can read people, you know if their scamming you. Most “gun” folks aren’t their to scam you, they’re in a bind financially or jsut want a new toy
To a vendor? Or did you walk around with a sign on your back "Ask me about 40S&W for sale"?
@@cycleboy8028 I sold it to a vendor. He saw I had a gum bag and asked if I was selling. We discussed the Gun, I showed him all mods and the original parts and all accessories I was selling with it. He loved it and wanted it for his wife. We made a deal and both were happy.
From the vendor side of the table, all the good deals are done before the gun show even starts. You are either buying a very marked up gun that was just sitting on a different table, or the good ones just became part of another vendors personal inventory.
As a gunsmith, EVERY used gun that has ever been offered to me only had a box of ammo through it. Used is used.
Thanks for the comment
I bought an old commercial Steyr Mannlicher hunting rifle at a gun show that I knew had some cosmetic damage as a result of an acrimonious divorce. For this reason the price was too good to pass up. I was hesitant to fire it, so I left it in the safe for ten years until my brother came to visit. He was willing to test it and it functioned just fine. It's nice to have daring younger brothers of dubious intelligence.
😂😂 I'm definitely that younger brother in my family. I've fired some busted up, suspicious, and broken guns. Only one that had me concerned enough to bury my face away from the receiver was a lever action Winchester my brother got for free from a guy... The guy handed him a barrel, a stock, a tube, and a zip lock bag of fully disassembled everything else, covered in rust, with an "everything should be in there" lacking any confidence... After a sketchy test fire, Gun works great.
@@cameronberry1959 What model and caliber - and how's your face look?
@@Paladin1873 lol. Face is still intact. Gun worked fine. Has maybe a hundred rounds through it at this point.
model 94 in 30-30. Late 60s not exactly sure on the year, but, I do know it's post 64, if you're a winchester purist 😂
@@cameronberry1959 Post-64, eh? Lucky to be alive man, lucky to be alive.
;-)
@@Paladin1873 😂😂😂 haven't had one blow up on me.... Yet....
When I was a bit younger, I met an old timer at the range with an M1 Garand. He said he got it off a guy at a gunshow for 350 bucks, probably between 2010-2012. It was in pristine condition and shot well.
Regarding re-loads: I learned my lesson years ago when I watched a friend's brand new 9mm barrel become plugged [and then nearly explode] when a re-loaded squib load sent the bullet nearly far enough (into the barrel) to chamber another round. And HIS reloads were purchased from a gun shop.
Until then, I had been buying re-loads at gun shows "for plinking." Since then, I buy factory ammo only.
I've had a squib from factory ammo. Left the bullet in the barrel as well.
@@Keifsanderson Lol I knew somebody was gonna say that. Yeah, I've seen it as well. But while it still happens with factory, it happens a lot less than reloads mass produced in a hurry in somebody's garage, so they can sell them at gunshows
@@jmmartin7766 I've never seen stats, but I'm sure you're right. I was just shocked when it happened to me. New, high-quality ammo in a .380 pocket gun that I rarely shoot. I would have expected my first squib to come in 9mm, 45ACP, or 5.56. Something with volume. What's kinda scary to me about squibs is if you are rapid firing, I'm not 100% sure I would catch it before the next trigger pull. You just hope then that it was so weak the action can't fully cycle? (It did on my little blow back 380).
@@Keifsanderson I still carry .380 on occasion... Don't care what anyone says, I've seen a HP go through drywall, then wood, and then make a serious dent in steel. Out of curiosity, what brand were you using? I HAVE discovered, over the years, that even when times were better, .380 of more than a few makes still wasn't being produced with the same QC as 9mm and larger...
@@jmmartin7766 Speer Gold Dots. I love that ammo and use it exclusively in all my carry guns, where I test them with 200 rounds before calling it good. Has run flawlessly in everything I own, save that one single squib. I'd love to hear from people who shoot A LOT about how many times they've had this type of malfunction. I feel like it's pretty rare, but obviously not unicorn territory.
Lately the shows have been higher prices than my local dealers, especially for ammo. Two dealers told me the 1911 I wanted was no longer available, got it at Bass Pro at a discount later the same day.
I think it will be a long time before I go to another.
Sage advice, sir. Only item I passed on at a gun show that I regret NOT buying was a few boxes of 12ga Mortar rounds. Man, that woulda been boss. For DA revolvers I check the top strap behind the forcing cone for excessive wear and cylinder lock up with hammer down, among other things. Being a septuagenarian now I don't do the gun show thing anymore. Years ago I really dug going to them.
I only go to gunshows for the beef jerky.
I don't go to gun shows much anymore, but it's more because my wife is handicapped, and it's a lot of trouble to weave her in and out of the traffic in her wheelchair than anything else. I didn't go to buy anything, anyway. I just enjoyed the experience of being at the show, meeting people, talking about guns, seeing guns I'd never seen, and just plain "people watching." I did buy a Makarov pistol once, and various revolver grips and such. I've never bought a gun from a walk-around, but I have sold a couple that way. Want to check out the action? There was always a table at the show where they'd cut the tie off and you could check out the action or whatever. Then if needed, they'd re-tie it and you could start over. My wife liked the "non-firearms" vendors. She'd buy jewelry, and such from them, which to me is a good reason to have them there. Not everybody at the show is a "gun person." She has an inexpensive ring that she wears to this day, and tells everyone "I got it at a gun show." She'd get inexpensive ear-rings that she didn't have to worry about losing. Those vendors help the show make money, and I'm all for the show making money. If they're selling something I'm not interested in, like time shares, I know how to just walk on by. If those people go away, maybe the show goes away. .
I bought a Hungarian PA-63 at the last gun show that I went to. It's a pretty cool little Weather PPK ripoff in 9mm Mak. It does tear up brass, but it shoots pretty accurately.
After listening to the speaker of this informative video, I am reflecting on how naive I have been at gun shows. I will definitely, now approach my purchases with considerably more caution. Excellent video.
The only thing that bothers me about gun shows is the prices, usually boosted up some over thier shop price. I understand that its theirs and they can charge what they want to, but gun shows used to be a great place to change up your inventory a bit, especially for small shops! I kinda like seeing a huge variety of items at shows, especially parts!
man they wanted 5k for a scar16s whereas ym local gun store had the proper scar17s in 7.62 nato for 4 after taxes lmao yeahhhh im not going to gun shows anymore even the aks were over 2 bands. im sticking to local.
@@pablo4yu welcome to the world of rare guns. 5k isn't that crazy. How many people pay 35k for a mp5? TONS!
I had a scenario where, i owned an IWI Masada. I bought for 300 at the time. No kidding, two months later, Gun show lady from New York state had it for 750 bucks...
I worked for a gunshop for 14 years. We did all the local shows and would fill 12 tables with rifles and shotguns, 6 with handguns. There is no way on earth we'd had time to make new tags for that many guns, then switch tags back again when we brought them back to the shop again. If a guy has a table or two yeah, he's got time to change prices. We had to sell 25 guns at a show just to break even.
We had a really good gun show around here once a month for many years it had every thing and lots of parts almost as good as going to Numric parts at that time who were very rerliable.
Up until now I thought I was to clever to learn anything new on this subject-however, I never gave any thought of bulk ammo in a non manufacturer labeled boxes or bags. They could be a death trap. Thank you!
Of yeah. Many guns R.I.P. because of that stuff. A lot of trips to the ER as well.
My favorite has to be the "green tip" scam on 5.56. people would literally take a green sharpie or paint pen and color a green tip on the standard FMJ ammo. Lol
I purchased a used Beretta 92 in the early 90’s from a guy walking around a gun show. It’s a great gun, I still use it more than 30 years later.
I’m young and new to the hobby, so I’ve only been to one gun show. I was very happy to find a Mosin bayonet for $10 when the are usually $30 online. Was one of my only missing parts.
Good to hear
When I was younger and not as informed I purchased reloaded .308 ammunition. I fired several rounds through a ruger m77 mark II .308 but one round had so much pressure it blew the shock apart. I was very lucky to walk away fairly good considering how bad it could have been. I always tell everyone I know to never buy reloaded ammunition from someone u do not know. It's good to see someone talking about it so that more people will see and understand the dangers that can happen.
Thanks for watching and the comment
It may be time to rethink ALOT of things when you start bringing a hammer/mallet to the range.
Ask yourself what the difference is between "somebody walking around" vs somebody "with a table". Answer? About $80. If your general advice is do not buy used guns, then your argument makes sense. Better advice: Dont buy something you dont know how to inspect yourself.
I've had mostly positive experiences at gun shows. However, since my state pretty much outlawed them, its been a while. I do travel out of state from time to time to go to a big one. But, I've been that guy walking around trying to sell a pistol or rifle. Not a thing wrong with them. I got low ball offers, people calling my Sig 'junk', etc. But then someone would offer me a fair price and we shook hands. I carried some zip ties with me and my leatherman to cut the tie myself. I have also purchased firearms this way. It can be nerve racking, but if you know what you're looking for, deals can be made.
I would be a bit concerned though, if a perspective buyer wanted to shmoo some paste crap on my gun I'm actively trying to sell. That would probably be a 'no.' You're already getting a deal, if you're so nervous about buying a gun with some possible (no from me) touchup marks, you should probably go buy from the dealers table... roll your dice there. See if they let you shmoo some crap on their guns.
I loved going to gun shows in the early 2000s. All I had was money I earned mowing lawns and I would buy beat up WW2-era rifles for cheap just because I wanted to have them as a piece of history. The vendors would even warn me if they were in bad condition but I assured them that I just wanted them for their history. Went back to one a couple years ago and it was odd. Way for fewer guns and way more crappy knives. The vibe was strange in there and it felt like everyone was trying to scam me.
America isn't who she used to be.
For real it's not like in the 80s or 90s. A whole new world. . And it's sad.
I hear you. Where I'm at gun shows are still pretty good but you still have to know what you're buying. There are very few sellers I know well and would buy from them sight unseen. Everyone else I take everything they say with a grain of salt. I'd rather be too cautious than too trusting.
Last "gun show "I attended was selling lawn and garden equipment, insurance and outdoor BBQ. I paid 10.00 to walk through Home Depot.
@@Leftcoastrefugee if you came out unscathed, it was cheaper than a walk through home depot. 😉
Little tip on stuck cases and charging handles; put tension on the charging handle in the rearward direction, hold the rifle with your other hand, then swing the rifle butt downward onto the ground or a sturdy surface, while keeping tension on the charging handle. It is quite effective, and far safer for the gun’s finish and charging handle than hitting it open with any object.
I think that's called Mortor-ing it.
I agree never ever bang a gun any part of, with a hammer ffs!..