Posted: 9/3/2009 6:32:59 PM EDT
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I honestly have never been to a gun show and im planning on going to a "smaller" one tomorrow. I really have never been to one since i just recently (in the last two years) started to buy mroe and more guns, and the admission fee is what really made me decide not to go.
I was just wondering what the prices and selection on firearms and ammo is usually like. Im really hoping to find a springfield XDm40, so im crossing my fingers. If i were to find one anyone know what a decent price would be, i just looked on gunbroker and they range from $520-$600 for an all balck model. Also maybe a MBUS I am also wondering how stiff people are on prices, is it a no-no to ask for a lower price? I ask because i would rather pay low $500's instead of near $600 for the XDm. |
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Quoted:
Tip. Get there very early on the first day. That's when you find the good deals, and they go fast. By noon, they will all be gone. It starts tomorrow, but unfortunately i cant go until noon. ETA, good thing you said something, i just looked and since its friday, it starts at 4pm-8pm, but on the weekend it starts early in the morning. |
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Check your hometown forum... ask about that particular show. There will be local arfcommers familiar with it who can tell you whether it's good or bad, and who the better dealers are.
FWIW at a show in Ohio a couple of weeks ago there were a couple of dealers with a lot of XDs. |
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Gun shows are hit or miss.
Know the value of things before you go around making offers. If you don't know the value of something, either find out (from a different, credible source), or don't buy it. Take cash, as it has a way of helping you reduce the price of things. Be ready to walk away if a deal isn't what you want it to be. Be prepared to walk around and buy NOTHING, something, or a lotathings |
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Just go to enjoy yourself. Know the prices of the things you are interested in and then buy/negotiate accordingly.  Yep, knowing the prices ahead of time is key. People get in the show and make bad decisions sometimes on things they coulda just got cheaper at the local store. But typically for me, I have found that the handguns are usually cheaper at the shows because of so many dealers under one roof competing, so the prices are fair right off the get go. |
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Take cash, as it has a way of helping you reduce the price of things. This X 1000. Otherwise, if you see a gun you'd like to buy, always ask if you can pick it up and look at it, or have the dealer hand it to you. Hand it back action-open, and don't sweep anyone with it. I was swept 2-3 times a day when I worked shows. |
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i've been going since i coulld see above the tables (over 30 years) and it is kind of a ritual for me. Go and have a good time, and as far as admission costs, come on cheapo.  I'll admit that i am cheap, but i always thought, if they want me to buy why charge me to get in, not like they are going to beat internet prices! I honestly thought the only way to buy things was cash, do they actually have things set up to use credit cards and such? |
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Well i just got back, kind of dissappointed. 99% of the guns were AR's which were fro $800-1200 depending on brand, and everything there WAS cheaper online, except one or two things.
The ONLY good deal i found was $4 a box for 5.56 blanks, i got the guy to give me 3 boxes for $10. Everything else was overpriced, SKS's for $250-450, M44's for $200+, the cheapest AR mag was $15, and they wanted $20 for one box of XM856 |