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First gun show

7K views 88 replies 22 participants last post by  ysacres 
#1 ·
Although I've been involved with firearms since I was a kid,I've never been to a gun show.My friend called and said he wanted to check it out.Figured I'd pick up some ammo if nothing else.Dont think I'll ever go to one again.Show was in Albany,NY by the way.First negative was as we approached there was a big sign advising that no concealed weapons are allowed and had to be checked.I approached the NYS Trooper posted beside the table where they were checking and asked "who was going to secure my weapon",as I had no intention to hand it over to the 2 guys at the table.I was told that they dont secure the weapon,they merely check to insure it is unloaded and then put a zip tie thru the action with a tag with my name and the serial # from the gun.I got no problem with this on the face,but not having a secure area to unload and clear my pistol is foreign to me.Then watching the ************ ahead of me removing the mags and racking the slide with the weapon pointed at the guy sitting at the table or,worse,turning to the left and pointing it at the Trooper posted there,irked me.When it was my turn I walked over to a large garbage can at the end of the table and pointed it at the base of the can,to my surprise,this they had a problem with,the guy at the table jumped up and quite angrily asked where I thought I was going,the Trooper just smiled and nodded at me.When I returned to the spot in front of the old guy at the table,he continued to "admonish" me for failing to follow "procedure" whatever that means.I just bit my lip and re-holstered my "cleared" weapon and went inside.Actually went into the restroom first and wondered what would prevent me from reloading and entering.Anyways,inside it was way too crowded to comfortably examine the goods.The prices were comparable to stores for the ammo and most of the "factory" ammo were in boxes so old I had to question if it was actually factory and not reloads in old boxes.I did buy one box of Winchester .45 auto,50 round box for 18 bucks,Wally world has the same ammo for 20 bucks,big saving.Never again.
 
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#3 ·
Gun shows haven't been enjoyable to me for over 20 years. Used to be a great place to find odd parts and get a good deal on ammo/reloading supplies. Now it's filled with black rifles (just not my thing) and survivalist booths. Ah to long for the good old days.
 
#4 ·
Even though I have not been to one in several months, I still enjoy going to gun shows. There may not be a whole lot of savings at most of them, there is that occasional "find" that outweighs the other BS you might have to put up with. I enjoy walking around just looking at everything, whether I can afford something or not, and it is usually not!

Every gun show that I have EVER been to hasn't allowed you to carry a loaded gun in. When I drive into the parking lot, before I get out of the car, I will remove my gun and leave it in the car. That way I don't have to put up with being slowed down at the door or having to walk back to the car to deposit it where I should have left it, to start with. If they had a big sign in the entrance, you should have already figured on leaving it in the car.

This being your first one, you might give it another chance before you decide to never do it again. Heck, a $2 savings is a $2 savings. And with enough of those little savings, you might even offset the price of getting into the place!!;):rolleyes:
 
#5 ·
we call our local shows the "Arts and Crafts Show" because of all of the beef jerky, jewelry and remote control toys.
Its a waste of $6

On the other hand, there are two shows in Dallas and Ft Worth that are amazing. You see firearms and accessories there that you would never see at a local show. Thousands of tables and it takes a good 5 hours just to walk it.

I found a distributor exclusive G19 there that I had never seen before, then I found 5 dealers with one. I was able to get it for a great deal by the end of the day.

Don't give up, just go to the good ones
 
#10 ·
On the other hand, there are two shows in Dallas and Ft Worth that are amazing. You see firearms and accessories there that you would never see at a local show. Thousands of tables and it takes a good 5 hours just to walk it.

Don't give up, just go to the good ones
I got to go to a gun show in Dallas many years ago that has to be the best one that I have ever been to. I think the name of the place was the "Dallas market center" or something similar. You pretty much described the amount of time it took to see it.

When I lived in Nashville, TN, some of the shows were held at the state fairgrounds that covered four huge buildings. Now those were the days!
 
#6 ·
Around my neck my of the woods gun shows aren't what they used to be. Like DB said, to much remote control cars, junk made in China knifes and stun guns. Ours costs 8 bucks to get into, I've never been able to offset the entry fee on a "deal". The only thing gun shows around here are good for are those rare or old military items one might be looking for.
 
#7 ·
Leave it in the car????Not even gonna comment on that.I got no problem being "slowed down at the door" and fully understand not wanting people having a loaded weapon inside,but I got a problem with people loading and unloading in an open,crowded hallway,pointing loaded guns where they shouldnt be pointed.And I'm pretty sure I was one of the few people who didnt just re-load in the bathroom and carry a loaded gun inside. Yeah,db,way too much of that "arts and crafts" crap.There was some interesting looking guns,but trying to pick one up and look at it was just too annoying with people pushing and trying to look over your shoulder to get at the spot you're standing in,way too crowded.I saw nothing in the way of bargains I couldnt get at one of my local gun stores.And I didnt save 2 bucks,it cost me 7 bucks to get in,so I paid 5 bucks more than Wallyworld for that box of ammo.
 
#11 ·
I still go to the annual "main" one.Lots of ridiculous stuff and overpriced guns, but there's always the chance of finnding that "something you've been searching for.And here if it's a used gun, hand them the money they hand you the gun and off you go.
 
#12 · (Edited by Moderator)
Really?Smarter than the average burglar?How about the average car thief?I was a LEO in NYC for 30 yrs,if I ever left my sidearm in my car and the car got stolen,I was in a world of sh**,not to mention the guilt of knowing your gun is now in the hands of some thug.There are only 2 places acceptable to me that a gun is secure.On my hip or in a secure locked gun safe either in my house or in a police facility.If that Trooper told me I was gonna have to leave my gun with those yo-yo's at the table,I was going home.Leaving it in a car,unattended is not safe,I dont care how smart you think you are.
 
#14 ·
I had to go into Federal Court,I left it in the Marshalls office,in a gun locker that they gave me the key to take with me.There's always an option,leave it home before leaving it in a car.I was in a motorcycle accident,when we got to the hospital they wanted to take my weapon and turn it over to hospital security.NO WAY! These guys werent authorized to carry,so they aint takin my gun.The doctors were having a fit,I needed emergency care but no way I was turning it over to them.They called the police,I got a receipt from the responding officer and picked it up at the precinct the next morning when I got out.Never leave your gun unattended or in unauthorized hands.Period.
 
#26 ·
I think your position on leaving a gun in your vehicle is a little recalcitrant.
There isn't always a good option. I've been out, miles from home and had to go into a place of business or government office that didn't allow firearms. I was not going to drive 20 miles round trip to take my gun home. There are cable locks made for guns and small flat gun cases that are meant to be theft deterrent.
If a thug gets into my locked truck in mid day, in the middle of the court house parking lot and finds my locked gun, under my seat locked with a steel cable, he isn't going to afford himself the time it takes to overcome the cable, nor will be have the tools to do it.

What I'm saying is, you are entitled to your opinion on the matter, I assure you that , but there are others here like me with LEO backgrounds, and Military who have been around firearms for work and hobby for decades and we have our own experiance and training to draw from on the subject.
 
#15 ·
Unless you are a Leo in ny right now, I'd say your argument is invalid ;)

Car thief.. Ok.. I drive a 99 custom long bed / chassie ( cab n chassie ) ford F450 diesel dually. It takes a well trained and experienced wrecker operator with the larger of the full sized roll backs, way longer than normal to get my truck loaded... And that's nose first onto the truck. My 19.5" tires are usually riding his rails. With my aux fuel tank setup, disabling fuel delivery is a hidden switch away from easy.

This I dont park nose out. Add to tho the straight on lead and line up the wrecker needs to get me on a snatch n grab roll back will consume about 2 more car rows.. So.. I'm about 99% sure that its where I left it when I walk out.

That handles the drive off/ pull off car thief.. Now we are down to burgler, that has to bust my window to gain entry, then search while my alarm goes off. Yeah.. Not that alarms do much.. But all someone has to do is see it and it puts time pressure on the smash n grab burgler.

now.. Back to that hidden part.

Do you realize how may cubes if space there is in a truck cab that seats 6 average adults comfortably?

All that plastic molding covering all those hollow body panels. All that area that you can't see under the dash that you can reach a full mans arm into places you can't see without a 3' bore scope . Access panels to doors, ducts, split foam cushions, passanger compartment access to tire tools, passanger compartment access to 2 safety switches that require removing 2 different plain, yet hidden panels, that require no tools and only seconds. Switches that by the WA changed locations in 95, 97 & 03, and are different for cab chassis, 460, 350, /250, and 150 trucks.

Sure, if you have about 10 hours and a pry bar and bore scope you can find my stuff, but you ain't doing that in the gun show parking lot, and unless you have a lift helicopter, you probably aren't getting my truck outta the lot in the time I'm in the show.

That's all it takes to deter theives. Planning makes it take too long/hard to get your stuff.

Anyone here can break into a commercial fire rated safe inside someone's home, if they have unlimited time, an oxy/acet torch, wrecking bar, plasma cutter, abrasive blade, etc, and aren't worried about noise.

99.899999999% of the time, crooks dont have that advantage.

Pop a window, check glove box, center console, under seats, run...

On me they will get a map, a penny or two, an ink pen, and maybee a breath mint.

I'll get to replace a 100$ window.

On second thought.. Maybee the fact that you were a Leo in NYC for 30 years is part of this gun phobia problem ?? Its ok to talk about it if you want to... ;)
 
#18 ·
All court houses in NY have magnatometer security details,if a person brings any item that is legal,yet banned from the facility,such as a knife or a licensed handgun,it is secured and a receipt is given.If you referred to that officer as a "guard",that would explain why you were told to "take it outside".
 
#17 ·
So you have the only theft proof vehicle in the country,I see.There is absolutely no such thing,if they want it,they'll get it.So you have compartments usually used by drug mules to hide thier stash,oh,and guns.You think thieves dont know about that trick?If I'm breaking into a car at a gun show,guess what I'm looking for?And all alarm systems are foolproof,I guess.
"Unless you are a Leo in ny right now, I'd say your argument is invalid ;)"
Exactly WTF has that got to do with anything?Leaving a gun unattended is not safe.Its not a phobia,its 30 yrs of training and living by the rules.I suppose if your gun is stolen your attitude would be,"so what,I'll just buy another".Exactly what the anti gun people live for.Look,we could go on forever with this,if you think leaving your gun in a car is safe,go for it,I aint leaving my gun nowhere.
 
#30 · (Edited)
Well I have 2cents worth. Jury duty at our court house, and I emptied my pockets at the check in desk. They told me to take my knife back to the car. I asked couldn't you just keep it here for me. Was told yes but it would be confiscated. So that's two Constitutional violations.
Now I don't want my gun stolen or my car. Yes I know there is growing effort to put the blame of gun crimes on the victims of theft. But feel guilty because some one stole it from my locked car or house, and now has a loaded weapon. Forget it.
Yep, tedwitt, I intend to get a safe for my truck.
 
#40 ·
O, our hitman, where art thou to ostracize thee abrasive one :D

Just kiddin' ;)
 
#42 ·
Ok, I'm just askin, not stirring the pot. I'm gonna start carrying soon. I was at the Ft. Worth gun show years ago to sell a gun. I was in the same position as the OP, and needed to get my unloaded gun zip tied to enter the show, and sell it. I did not feel comfortable racking the slide with no safe place to point it. So I just handed it to the officer at the table and let him check it.

So now for my question. I like the idea of the OP pointing at a trash can. So I remove the mag, rack the slide. My live round is going in the trash can, on the floor, maybe the table. Where? Now that I've hijacked the thread could you please give me some suggestions. After I remove the magazine. I'm thinking point it at the floor, rack the slide, and let the round go on the table, good? Or put the muzzle straight down against the table and rack the slide?
 
#61 · (Edited by Moderator)
This..........I witnessed an accidental/ negligent discharge just out side the door at a gun show years ago. A fella modified a truck fender demonstrating that his 410 was MT.

The Glove box and console are the first two places they look, then under the seat.
But not IN the seat.
 
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