Please Help! Going to my first gun show, don't know what to buy.
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, 13, and 19 and Ruger Security Six...and the Ruger GP100 with 6" barrel 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!
Last edited by Rob529; 03-08-2009 at 10:05 PM.
Reason: correction
Welcome to the forum, Rob. I'll offer my opinion. (I'm real good at that.)
Given you want to go home with a complete setup of holster, pistol and ammo, the first suggestion I'll offer is to forget the P-38 completely. The latest shipment to come in to Southern Ohio Gun wholesale for $500 apiece. Retail is more like $800. And that for the pistol alone.
Your choice of ex-police officer type revolvers is a smart one. They are unfashionable at the moment, In terms of manufacturer, don't overlook Rossi, Armscor, Comanche or Charter Arms in addition to Ruger and Smith & Wesson. All of them make blued, 4 inch barreled revolvers in your price range. The Rossi R971, the Armscor Model 200 (in .38 Special only, but that's good to start with - if you want oomph just go to +P hollowpoints), the Comanche III and the Charter Arms Police Bulldog (ditto Armscor) are models to watch for; also the S&W Model 10, particularly the later models from 1970 on made to handle +P ammo with bull barrels and ramp front sights.
For gun leather, look for anything that will take a K frame Smith. If it will take that, it should take any of the pistols I named.
As far as ammo, Southern Ohio Gun (which I use as my gun and ammunition price benchmark) is selling .38 Special +P jacketed hollowpoint at $14.29 per 50 round box, $279 per 1000 round case. You're going to want to start with that and trade up to .357 Magnum ammo when you have more experience with your pistol. Just a bit of advice you can take for what it's worth.
Spend all the money you have leftover from the gun and holster on ammunition. Don't save any of the 500$ if you have any leftover. Invest in more ammo.
I would think that with $500 and a little luck, you might come home with something really nice. There are plenty of good deals to be had from folks who need grocery money more than a gun.
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The nerds will never understand the awesomeness of it.
If you do have any money left I'm gonna tell you to go on an buy a Mosin Nagant rifle.
I know your interest is in a pistol but if you hang around Gun and Game very long you'll soon discover quiet a few members here have one and for good reason.
There the finest cheap rifle your ever going to have a chance to buy.
There also cheap to shoot and there Fun !!!
Keep an eye out for them and if you see one in very good condition for a hundred bucks or less, grab it up and you'll be glad you did.
Check the numbers on them to see if they match which is easy to do and there are different models but space want allow me to go there.
Check out G&G Mosin Forum to learn about Mosin Nagant rifles and you'll see why i typed all this.
About pistols I would only buy a New Taurus brand pistol if you can get a good deal on one of them, otherwise you may be buying someone else's trouble on a used one.
I don't know how much you know about guns but you will need to be careful at the gun show. Some of the guys at those booths may not be the most honest people you come across. So watch out and remember if the deal seems like it is to good to be true it probably is.
BTW the other day I bought a new taurus 85 with a 2.5" barrel holster and ammo for $450. so if you look you will be able to find what you are looking for.
Anyone have suggestions on what i should keep an eye out for?
Yeah, just keep in mind that 99% of those vendors are there to make money. If you look or act like you've never been to a show before most sellers will pick up on this and assume that you're an idiot. Maybe bring an up to date price book or at least research and write down prices for the guns that you're interested in. Maybe take someone with you who really knows their stuff (I'm lucky in that my wife's uncle is an endless pit of gun knowledge and advice). I guess just use common sense; if a deal sounds to good to be true... well you know .
Good luck. and have fun.
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"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" -Benjamin Franklin
I'm already making a list of guns with used and new prices. Plus I'm a good actor, they will think I've been to a million gun shows. haha.
What gun should I buy?
Do you know any one that owns the type of Gun that you are looking for? Like a revolver 4" that you can shoot before you go. It is best that before you get real serious about buying you need to also do alot of hands on research as well. shoot as many as you can before you buy.
Yes, my uncle has three, two Rugers and one S&W. I love the way they handle. I know basically what I need to know about what I want. I just don't know specifically what make/model to get. (within my price range of course. no more than $450)
I have a ruger gp-100 and it has been a great firearm if I could only keep two or three of the firearms I have currently the gp-100 would defently be one of them,If your a little short on the moneys be patient & get what you really want,When I purchase a firearm it is for lifetime&then to be passed on to the kids.Jusy my 2cents.
Please Help! Going to my first gun show, don't know what to buy. 
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