Gun show etiquette

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Be sure to take in the spectacle of overweight 'preppers' blowing up their credit cards at the ammo tables.

Buy some funny bumper stickers, nazi memorabilia, rusty oddball caliber ammo, a stun gun, made in china leather wallet, cheap chinese faux tactical accessories for your rifle, airsoft supplies, and maybe some turqouise jewelry.

Sign up for a non California ccw class even though we are in California.

Check out all the gangbangers admiring the AK's and the blinged out 1911's.

See if you can count the number of obese people on electric scooters with long beards and suspenders.

On your way out, pick up a couple bags of snake and duck jerky for the ride home.

[alfred1222]

This^^^

And remember to dress like the characters on SWAMP PEOPLE. Always have some spiddle from chewing tobacco running down your unshaved chin.


Be prepared to pay for parking, stand in line a long time and pay to get in. (20 bucks already down the drain). Want a beer? Bring $12 for the beer.

Want to eat terrible food? Bring $12 for a stale sammmich....

Or do what I do when I bring my grandson (fun Saturday stuff) pack some food and drink in a small backpack to save yourself $20.

I seriously think no good deals exist at gun shows (at this time). Everything is overpriced and you're competing with NOOBS who don't know any better and will pay those inflated prices.

JMO

This is the truth... I don't go to gun shows. It's full of idiots selling junk

[tcrpe]

If it's "Crossroads of the West" you'll want to wear a kevlar vest.

[Divernhunter]

The best advise I could give you is: Stay at home! Then you will avoid the crowds and overpriced everything. You will also avoid the rude and pushy people and the overinflated cost of parking/admission and all things in the building.

Take your money(and you do not have enough to even go to the show) and look around for something better priced.

[keenkeen]

Don't use your cell phone to take pics...

Bull...if you want to take pics, take them...

[paul0660]

Don't use your cell phone to take pics...

Why do you say that?

[OCD41911]

Hope you like a circus of the insane, that's what kind of etiquette you'll see. You will probably be the best behaved person at the show.

[thomashoward]

Dealers are not your friends. They will skin you if they can. Go with someone who knows something about guns.
You need to know the "new unfired" gun with all the unburned powder in the barrel isn't unfired.
Look for buggered screws
The Winchester 94 with the Browning stock is a clue, walk away.

The Hawken smoke pole I saw had a crack in the stock
Know current pricing.
Take a small flashlight. The light in a gun show favors the seller,you will miss something you would see in better light.

with $200. less parking and admission, you might get a few smaller items.
maybe purchase some entry level reloading equipment.

remember you are late to the party,it wasn't always a feeding frenzy.

[epilepticninja]

Take cash. Some vendors only deal in cash, and almost all of them will only negotiate if you have cash.

[CBruce]

I plan on going to my first gun show here real soon and was wondering if there are certain etiquettes or unwritten rules I should know about? It may also be my first rifle purchase. Should I bring locks, socks, or anything like that? If there are any tips you guys can give me it would all help, thanks.

Ask before picking a gun up.

Always treat every gun as if it's loaded. Even if you know it's not, treat it as if it is.

Keep your finger off the trigger at all times.

Always be aware of where the muzzle is pointed. Very easy to get distracted while fumbling with a magazine release button, flipping a gun over to find the safety, etc. to forget about where it's pointed. Always keep in mind where the barrel's pointed and keep it away from anyone.

If you're handed a gun, immediately check to make sure it's not loaded. If it's magazine-fed, remove the magazine (keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction). Rack the slide to eject any rounds (keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction). Hold the slide open and physically look into it to make sure there's no cartridge in there. Even if the guy just did all that themselves while you watched, you do it too. Once you've verified it's unloaded and safe, treat it as if it's loaded.

Be respectful and gentle with other people's property. Don't slam magazines in, flip a revolver cylinders closed, or let a slide slam shut.

Don't turn your back on them while you'r handling their gun.

Don't talk about anything illegal. No jokes about assassinating the President, killing your ex, converting a gun to full-auto. If you wouldn't say it to a cop down at the local police department, don't say it.

No one is born with knowledge about guns. If you don't know anything, that's perfectly fine. Don't try to bluff your way through things. Be honest and ask questions. Ask about everything. If you're remotely unsure about something, ask. Is it okay to handle this gun? What's this button do? Is it okay to dry-fire this? If they're rude or impatient with you, then move on...it's not a good fit for either of you. Do what research you can beforehand.

[Chucko]

Well maybe I'll save my money or try to find a good deal on here. I'll hit up a show next year when the madness slows down.

[Chucko]

Once again thank's for all the incite.

[Chavelo]

Most gunshow vendors (90+%) are seedy, dishonest, broke, desparate fly by nights. Their pricing is geared to the greater fool contingent. I recomend avoiding gunshows like the plague they are a complete waste of time and money and are full of predatory LE and gang scum.

Their is NOTHING for sale at a gun show you can't get cheaper online. The gun shows are withering on the vine anyway, the CalExpo and vacaville shows in the 70's used to be bigger than Shotshow is now. The CalExpo show in the 70's used to fill both floors of 2 of those giant 2 story exhibit halls, now there are at most 100 vendors at the "big" shows, most whom dont even sell "guns" or ammo...

[The sarge]

I'm going to my first one tomorrow in hopes of finding the parts to complete my rifle. I may also buy another gun or two depending on what's there. Not looking to get raked over the coals but if I find what I want I'll probably buy it. Maybe I'll even get some ammo but I just want a couple hundred rounds of a few different things if the price is right. Any tips on what time I should get there if I actually plan to buy stuff. I planned on being there before they opened but how early do I need to be? Will it really be full of rude *******s?

[MFortie]

Good luck finding parts or ammo. I'm guessing you're going to Del Mar since you're going tomorrow.

I'll be there as well 'cause my son wants to go and 'look around' -- I consider it another recreational activity that costs me $20 or so to get in (still cheaper than D-land!)

Back in the old days, I'd buy primers and or powder 'cause I could I a) already paid to get in, b) get them in bulk. I've never been one to buy other people's reloads and used to be able to better deals online for new ammo.

Basically follow all the advice above and enjoy yourself and don't expect to find any 'killer deals' ('cause someone else will probably have already scooped them up if they exist!)