San Jose Gun Show -- a dud

[graceunderfire]

I went to the San Jose Gun Show today. Big mistake. No powder or primers. Very little ammo and with the exception of the Load-X guy it was overpriced. They did have magazine rebuild kits. Lots of empty tables and small crowds.
Save your money.

[DennisCA]

Appreciate the info - I've heard that the SJ Gun show wasn't worth goingto, you just confirmed it.

[Chefantone]

I've found this to be the case In Costa Mesa the last few times as well. Is it done by Crossroads of the West up there as well? They have been very disappointing.

[hambam105]

I arrivied around 1:00 P.M. Sad. It was sad.

Their must of have been 5 sellers for every buyer. Maybe even 6 or 7 to one.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Haven't been to an SJ show in a number of years. Mainly because they suck. Last one I went to was about 4-5 years ago, and they were going downhill fast even then. Not worth the time, effort or $$$ anymore.

I'm sad!

[dinkydau]

I went to the SJ gun show in the mid 70's and it was packed. I went there last year and only about a dozen tables there. I walked in and out in 10min. Wont go there again. The local gun shows in Vallejo are usually worth it. I may be wrong, but, the same people that do them in Vallejo, handle the one in San Jose. More space, people and vendors in Vallejo. Of course the bigger one is at the Cow Palace.

[Merc1138]

I went to the SJ gun show in the mid 70's and it was packed. I went there last year and only about a dozen tables there. I walked in and out in 10min. Wont go there again. The local gun shows in Vallejo are usually worth it. I may be wrong, but, the same people that do them in Vallejo, handle the one in San Jose. More space, people and vendors in Vallejo. Of course the bigger one is at the Cow Palace.

I went to the SJ show a few months ago, had more than a dozen tables(not much more), but the massive crowd of people walking back to the parking lot with empty arms should have been a sign.

No ammo, no ammo cans, 1 table full of chinese pot metal AR uppers, a table of C&R rifles, the typical table full of magpul and other tacticool AR/AK accessories, a table for rebuild kits, and the rest seemed more like they were there to show off collections of misc. stuff than actually sell anything(and I'm not saying this because of prices).

And yeah, about 10 minutes to walk through the place is all it took.

[toby]

Crossroads is the worse, not even worth the bother.

[tuolumnejim]

It's been crap since the 80's.

[DBADRAT]

I haven't attend a gun show in at least two years, they all seem to be he same. Nothing worth paying the parking or admission fee plus gas

[Merc1138]

I haven't attend a gun show in at least two years, they all seem to be he same. Nothing worth paying the parking or admission fee plus gas

Well, they're definitely not the same. While the shows in SJ may have next to nothing, the cow palace shows do actually have dealers there with guns and ammo. Of course the lines are long, the prices aren't amazing(even before the current panic), and you get more beef jerky, beanie babies, "ninja weapons", harbor freight tools, but at least there's more to look at(there's also way more surplus stuff, accessories, etc.).

[GW]

Haven't been to an SJ show in a number of years. Mainly because they suck. Last one I went to was about 4-5 years ago, and they were going downhill fast even then. Not worth the time, effort or $$$ anymore.

I'm sad!

This! I decided I would take the $15 it would cost me to park and get into that show and spend it at my LGS instead. That way I have something to show for my money and the shop that has been there for me benefits too. The SJ Gun show has been crap for 14 years now.

[highpower790]

twenty years ago i bought my safe at the san jose show, it wasnt great then.save your money and go to sacramento or the big reno .reno is by far the best within driving distance of bay area.

[DTOM CA!]

I used to get so excited when the Pomona Fairgrounds gun show was coming up. It was huge with lots of great deals. Now they cost a lot to get in and don't have much (unless you are looking for beef jerky).