The 1500 Is it worth it?

[BGDave]

Re KellyinAvon.
Time for another gun show tidbit. I was looking at a gun kit (some kind of belt fed) an arm came around and picked up a part of it. The arm had really nice jewelry and rings. Perfect nail polish. The arm was hooked to the nicest perfume ever (Island Gardenia-pretty sure). Made me take a look at the rest. Beautiful summer dress. Then she spoke. Sounded like Jack Elam. Had a little bit of a five o-clock shadow. I lost interest in that gun kit pretty fast. BTW, she was wearing some really nice heels.

 

[TANK BOSS]

Deals? Not really.
It's a fun way to spend a free Saturday afternoon if you have one fondling a few guns you have had your eye on to get a feel for etc.
You might even impulse buy some jerkey or candied nuts...

(he he he he said fondle and nuts)

"Candied nuts" he says...NOIICE!

 

[KellyinAvon]

Re KellyinAvon.
Time for another gun show tidbit. I was looking at a gun kit (some kind of belt fed) an arm came around and picked up a part of it. The arm had really nice jewelry and rings. Perfect nail polish. The arm was hooked to the nicest perfume ever (Island Gardenia-pretty sure). Made me take a look at the rest. Beautiful summer dress. Then she spoke. Sounded like Jack Elam. Had a little bit of a five o-clock shadow. I lost interest in that gun kit pretty fast. BTW, she was wearing some really nice heels.

Sounded like Jack Elam? Did she have one eye looking off to the horizon?

 

[red@cted]

I'm gonna be a bit harsh. I went last year and found it entertaining at best. Quite a bit of cheap Chinese stuff. All the mags and ammo I looked at were overpriced (even by covid standards). Most firearms were similarly overpriced. Not very many things I would consider particularly cool/rarities. I am curious if anybody knows if more quality vendors show up during certain times of the year or one specific show (if it isn't random). That may change my mind. Otherwise don't think I'll be going again anytime soon.

 

[Flytj]

I'm gonna be a bit harsh. I went last year and found it entertaining at best. Quite a bit of cheap Chinese stuff. All the mags and ammo I looked at were overpriced (even by covid standards). Most firearms were similarly overpriced. Not very many things I would consider particularly cool/rarities. I am curious if anybody knows if more quality vendors show up during certain times of the year or one specific show (if it isn't random). That may change my mind. Otherwise don't think I'll be going again anytime soon.

I end up going a couple of times throughout the year - usually the first one, and the one in the fall. Its fun to browse, and I always get some fudge since I need to justify my entrance fee since I dont ever really buy anything. Seems like the prices are just way to high for a show. I was looking for a 1911 mag, and found some for sale, but when I looked on (of all places!) amazon, they had them cheaper, and it was on my doorstep the next day.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I'm gonna be a bit harsh. I went last year and found it entertaining at best. Quite a bit of cheap Chinese stuff. All the mags and ammo I looked at were overpriced (even by covid standards). Most firearms were similarly overpriced. Not very many things I would consider particularly cool/rarities. I am curious if anybody knows if more quality vendors show up during certain times of the year or one specific show (if it isn't random). That may change my mind. Otherwise don't think I'll be going again anytime soon.

The last show???

The Chinese garbage is there because $400 (minus the weekend booze). People want garbage so the tables have garbage.

Mags were dirt cheap. I jumped on a bunch of EPMs for $8 a pop and color-coded Duras for $10 a pop (gold, blue, red, etc). Dealer had cases of them. Now is not the time to buy ammo. Time to buy ammo was 2017, 2018 and 2019. You shouldn't buy ammo now, you should buy what is cheap--mags, AR uppers, parts, optics. Buy ammo when the price drops and buy a lot of it.

I got mags (M-16 and SR-25 and peanut butter Glock), a cool knife knife and a NIB Colt LE#'d M6720 all for around $1,250 (IIRC). Note that I went Sunday, after a Broad Ripple brunch, so all of you just strolled by the 6720 instead of scooping it up on Friday afternoon as it deserved.

Lots of cool/rare guns. Not my style, I am a more practical buyer, but there were a bunch, and no one bought them. If they sold, people would bring more of them to sell.

Whether people enjoy gun shows is all governed by knowledge. The more you know the market and the more you know what you are looking for, the more fun you will have.

From last show where there ain't no good deals, my rights!:

 

[BGDave]

You pretty much stole that 6720. They are a really nice LW carbine. Hate myself for selling mine.

 

[Lex Concord]

I haven't been to the 1500 in years. I used to never miss one but after a while it just became the same thing all the time and everything is marked up very high and nothing ever new. Has that changed? Thoughts and opinions on your 1500 experiences.

I stopped going a decade or more ago for the same reasons.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

You pretty much stole that 6720. They are a really nice LW carbine. Hate myself for selling mine.

I think far too many people go with the attitude that they will have have to shop/work. That by paying a parking fee and admission that doing so entitles one to free stuff.

I think this is part of a larger cultural problem. However, I think, like everything else in life--investing, career, marriage, interpretative dance--the more you put into it, the better it will be.

 

[HiRoller]

It is what everything has become. I have been on both sides of the table for many years and still find myself wanting to attend now and again. I usually find what i'm looking for be it odd caliber ammo, small hard to source parts, or possum jerky.

 

[Bang-bang]

I have been to several shows, and when compared with the Haz mat fees for shipping, it's, OK

Everybody needs something to Laugh at, where else can you compare pink guns.
.

 

[Hkindiana]

I find deals at EVERY 1500, I guess it just depends what you are looking for.

 

[femurphy77]

We used to go just to tire kick although I have made a few purchases while there. With the EVER increasing cost of parking and the high door fee it's no longer a reasonable price to pay for a few hours entertainment.

That and my safe is full!

 

[askeen289]

I used to go frequently but the last time I went a few years ago it was crowded and over priced in my opinion. There we some military vehicles and artillery there which was cool but not sure if the admission was worth it. Haven't been back since

 

[Chewie]

Haven't gone in a few years, it's about time for visit. Love to laugh and gawk AND if I time it right with a taco bell burrito on Friday night I can crop dust all morning and watch/hear the aftermath. GOOD TIMES ABOUND! LOL!

 

[xwing]

National Gun Day down in Louisville is a good show as well. Looks like the next one is coming up at the end of February.

National Gun Day - the best national gun show

www.nationalgunday.com

Is National Gun Day any better? Used to be that you could find good prices on both accessories and firearms at gun shows. But when I see an item I'm interested in, I always pull out my phone and price compare online. It seems I can always find better prices online, regardless of the item. Maybe it's worth it for small items where shipping eats up any savings, but the fee to get in the gun show ruins that idea.

 

[stormryder]

Last chance I had to go was the last show for 2020. Place was very dead and not much to show for it.
I think there was less than 30 tables and plenty of space to walk around.
Did buy all of the Brown Bear 9mm that one table had that was the cheapest(.25per round), just to justify the trip from Batesville.
Did see a 6" King Cobra I been looking to replace after foolishly trading it years ago, but guy was asking way too much money($2K).
May go again when I finally get my Tax Returns.

 

[Onebad06vtx]

I stopped going years ago.
To many rude people and I could never find that '' GUNSHOW LOOPHOLE'' they tell you about on the trust worthy news.

 

[foxjr]

I haven't been to the 1500 in years. I used to never miss one but after a while it just became the same thing all the time and everything is marked up very high and nothing ever new. Has that changed? Thoughts and opinions on your 1500 experiences.

I still find it to be expensive

 

[Daburkster]

If 15 dollars to walk a show is worth the admission price it is a gun show.

Haha. You aren’t wrong