Please Help! Going to my first gun show, don't know what to buy...haha. >_<"
I am going to a gun show next weekend and would like some suggestions on what to buy. I have $500, but would prefer to spend around $300-400. I want to go home with at least one gun, a holster, and ammunition.
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I've been looking at 4" blued revolvers like the S&W M10 and Ruger Security Six...and the Ruger GP100 with 6" barrel in blued. If i get a revolver i'd like it to be in .357 mag, blued, with 2-piece wooden grips.
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Also looking at Walther P38.
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Not quite sure what kind of prices I'm looking at. Also looking at Taurus revolvers and pistols, and I've seen mixed reviews about their reliability.
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Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Your better off buying from a shop usually as you can get service if there is a problem. Also alot of people go to gun shows to unload problem guns. The Ruger would be a good choice.
Well, I will have a couple people with me who know guns really well. So I'm not too worried about getting a bad deal, I just want to know what I should keep an eye out for when I'm looking. I'll definitely keep the Ruger in mind thanks.
Again, any help would be appreciated people! Thanks! ^_^"
Gun show prices are usually higher these days. You used to be able to get some deals there. I would look on www.budsgunshop.com for the best deals. Riverview Gun Sales is pretty good too. If you want the gun, holster and ammo for under $500 look at a Taurus Millennium or an EAA Witness. Both are great guns and can be bought around $350 to $375.
I agree. Gunshow possibly not best bet at getting a good deal these days. I went to a big one last weekend, prices were WAY UP. Even the Heritage .22 SA's that sold for $150. last summer were priced at $250. now.
I would suggest you look to a reputable local dealer or possibly online auction for best prices.
But keep this mind. At gunshows the vendors are usually most willing to barter late in the show. Most shows run 2 days. About noon'ish on Sunday is a good time to start making offers.
Well...I'll be going when they open in the morning on saturday, to have a wider selection, which is an upside, although there won't be much bartering in it for me. haha. that's alright though. i should do fine. thanks for the suggestions and keep 'em comin'!
I'll post pictures of what I get on this thread after the show. check back next sunday or monday.
I agree. Gunshow possibly not best bet at getting a good deal these days. I went to a big one last weekend, prices were WAY UP. Even the Heritage .22 SA's that sold for $150. last summer were priced at $250. now.
I would suggest you look to a reputable local dealer or possibly online auction for best prices.
But keep this mind. At gunshows the vendors are usually most willing to barter late in the show. Most shows run 2 days. About noon'ish on Sunday is a good time to start making offers.
Very true. I bring print outs from Bud's for the guns I want. They will often match the price. They will try to charge a bit more saying when you pay shipping when you buy online. Bud's does not charge shipping and the dealers know that. They just hope you don't know that. Also when you buy on line you don't pay any sales tax. Point that out to the dealer at the gun show.
I would suggest checking local prices on anything you might be interested in -- write them down in a little pocket notebook. Then don't get carried with gunshow fever and feel you must spend your cash at the show. The general feeling around here agrees with FATSTRAT that you can get a better price during the last few hours of the show than early on since the dealers may not feel like packing everything up again.
Case in point - last weekend I went to 2 shows. Sold my Yugo on Saturday for a $70 profit over what I paid in a store last spring. Bought a '94 Winchester at what I thought was a good price. Went to a second show on Sunday, where I saw several '94s way nicer than the one I bought for not much more money. I ended up selling it for a whopping $5 profit. I've been looking semi-seriously for a .357. I saw a Dan Wesson with 3 barrels in among a bunch of autoloaders at one table. The guy I was with decided he wanted one of the autoloaders, and we looked at the DW pretty hard. They had a decent price on it, but I hedged quite a bit. The guy offered to sell it at that price and he would pay the tax -- about $35. I still hedged. He came down another $25, and I still wasn't sure about it. I offered him another $15 less than that, he countered with a price $5 above mine, and I took it. I specifically asked him about selling a bit cheaper as the show was closing and he confirmed that they often would. May not be true for all dealers, but for this guy, it was. The revolver was also kind of misfit -- they seemed to specialize in used Law Enforcement issue guns. One of the guys was in fact a working cop who moonlighted working shows with his friend the dealer.
Private sellers sometime have tables, too. These guys will often have prices higher than the dealers since there is no paperwork to go with selling parts of a private collection, at least around here, and folks are willing to pay for the anonymity. By the same token, these guys may be selling something they bought long ago and could be more willing to deal than a dealer who knows exactly how much he has in any particular item, how often he has lugged to shows, and so on.
Good luck, have fun, and let us know how you do.
Don't feel like you need to buy the first thing you see, but don't pass up a good deal if it is something you want. Half the fun is deciding whether to get the one you like or wait in case you see a better deal later in the day, but wondering if the first one might get bought out from under you.
__________________ Teach
Taxpayers voting for Obama are like chickens voting for Colonel Sanders.
Yeah, haha, I'm worried about the time situation, i'm getting there early, so it'll be hard to jew anyone down (no offense if anyone takes any); but I'm also worried about finding something early on, buying it, and finding a better deal later in the day. But it's all part of the game i suppose and i look forward to going!
Make sure you check out your local shops. I went to a gunshow last weekend trying to find a nice AR and none of them were under 1500 bones, so I went to the local hole in the wall and picked up a nice Smith M&P 15 LE flat top for 989.00
Any gun show I have been to since November is milking the "Obama Scare" hard. There were pictures of him all over the Miami Gun Show saying "Buy them while you can". The prices were very inflated.
yes i would say buy acup of coffee look everything over use the first trip to get the feel of the game go slow yoyu may go 2 days in a row you know look everthing over then buy
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A LOADED GUN IN THE HAND IS BETTER THAN A COP ON THE PHONE
Think of it as a flea market specializing in shooting related items and you'll have the right attitude. All prices are subject to negotiation and all purchases are guaranteed until you leave the table.
__________________ Teach
Taxpayers voting for Obama are like chickens voting for Colonel Sanders.
What gun should i buy. I'm not limited to just revolvers...I think that's what I'll end up getting, but please give suggestions on any handguns! (other than glock) Preferably in .45 ACP (for autoloaders; absolutely no .22 LR). And for revolvers, as I mentioned earlier, .357 Mag. But any suggestions are appreciated!
What gun should i buy. I'm not limited to just revolvers...I think that's what I'll end up getting, but please give suggestions on any handguns! (other than glock) Preferably in .45 ACP (for autoloaders; absolutely no .22 LR). And for revolvers, as I mentioned earlier, .357 Mag. But any suggestions are appreciated!
For a .357 I would go with a Ruger or if you want to keep the cost down a Taurus. On an auto Springfield bu far and again Taurus if you want to keep the costs down. I have my Tuarus .357 snubby in my pocket as I type. By all manes, say no to Glock.
I'm telling ya man. Unless you're looking to buy used, a gunshow is not the place to buy right now.
Those gunshow vendors are milking Obama mania foe every cent they can get. And have marked up their guns to outlandish prices. I'ma member of several gun forums and everyone is talking about it. And the ONLY people buying are greenhorns who have heard that "gunshows are where the deals are". Which historically has pertained mainly to used/collectible gun buying anyway.
Gunshows have changed over recent years w/more Federal laws implimented. Used to be that one rarely saw new guns for sale. But now w/the stricter private sales restictions, there are more FFL vendors selling new guns.
But these vendors are small time compared to large retail outlets such as Acadamy. Who buy from the MFG in much larger volume and can therefore pass the savings on to you.
And why would you buy from a fly by night vendor who will be GONE tommorrow if you have a problem and need service or help w/MFG warranty?
Even if you pay a little more, you will be much better advised to buy from a reputable local shop that offers full service or will help w/warranty issues.
Gunshows have always been cut-throat "horse trader"affairs where knowledge is power. And while there are some good reputable vendors, the vast majority are something along the lines of carnies running a traveling pawnshop. And they will lie to and cheat you in a heartbeat if you don't know your stuff and let them.
Take your time.Go to a gun shop w/range that lets you try out (rent) guns to shoot. And figure out what kind you want. Then buy it locally.
Please Help! Going to my first gun show, don't know what to buy...haha. >_<" 
Teach
