4 things to never buy at a gun show

For my video on the 5 Gun show secrets click here. https://youtu.be/_ODqZtFUSEc Also, leave a comment about a good or bad deal you got at a gun show.

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'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".

Munching on beef jerky while looking at/buying guns and ammo is a time honored tradition!

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.

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!! 😃

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

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.

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.

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.

I totally agree with you about buying reloaded bulk ammo. What a bad idea that is. However, I love the buffalo jerky sold at my central California gun show. I can buy it online. It’s always nice to see family that makes it and try their new items. The gun show would not be the same without them! Thanks for the video, my friend!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

This is a very good video. I learned about the cold-blue trick. As a reloader I am pleased to see your covering of rookie hand-loading mistakes.

Thank you for the excellent advice. I bought reloads at my local gun range and have found a couple different caliber reloads in the bag.