Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Gun Show Scores?

Been a while since I found anything I wanted (or was reasonably priced) at a gun show but last weekend I found an unopened pound of H322 for $25 (wish he'd had about 5 of these) and one of IMR4198 for $20! Same guy with the 4198 had 350 50gr V-Max's for $40. Didn't even haggle with them.

There was still plenty of overpriced primers, powders, guns etc. but it was refreshing to find a couple guys that just wanted to get rid of some stuff.

I found a used C-More Tactical at the last show. Got it mounted and sighted in yesterday. Also found two cans of 4320 that are kind of old but I think will still work.


The next show will be in Lewiston ID the week end before Thanksgiving.

I tend to find the best deals toward the end of the last day from individuals and/or small time guys that went in to share a table. The pickings are slimmer, but several times I have found good deals from folks that need some sales to top off their weekend. In the last several years, though there are fewer and fewer decent deals.

This thread is WORTHLESS without stories about jerky.

Kind of kicking myself for not picking up a pretty nice 39A for $350.

I quit going to gun shows approximately 20 years ago when I realized I had been going to them for 30+ years and never found anything I needed or was reasonably priced.

And/or Salsa, beanie babies, Ninja stuff, and offers to join Amway and Pampered Chef.

Small timers 1-2 tables full spectrum of goods usually means estate stuff and decent prices trying to get rid of it. Allways a deal or two . Tables with stacks of powder and primers just scalper fugs blow on by. Mb

I've never been to a gun show, so my only story is the $70 early 1910s H&R 32SW tip up from a local gun store.

Grungy thing, but cleaned up reasonably and shoots and totally worth the $70 to clown on a friend who was looking for a sub $100 H&R 32sw for his display. And still is.

One of my boys wanted to go to a local gun show in a neighboring town a few weeks ago. I hadn’t been to one in a few years.
The place is usually packed. There was maybe 20 people there. As soon as you stopped and looked at anything the vendors were knocking money off or asking you to make an offer.
I picked up a like new in box Leupold 4X Rimfire for $225 dollars.
Bought lots of reloading stuff cheap and came home with a Remington 788 in 223 that looked like it had never been fired.
Lots of nicer, older guns there.
There are a ton of older guns coming into the market.
A gun shop one of my boys was in a couple of weeks ago had just purchased a collection of 300 revolvers and I was in a Cabela’s in September that just purchased a collection of 300 guns of all types. I was sorely tempted by a 722 in 257 Roberts.
Another one of my boys was at a local pawn shop and picked up a Franchi 48 in 20 gauge from 1967 that looked brand new for $450.
Times they are a changin’ boys.

My best score was in 2008 before the presidential election. I found an 8# box of HP 38 with water stains on the cardboard box for $50. Bought it and it got me through several ammo shortages. Hodgdon hasn't packaged powder in a cardboard box since sometime in the 1970s. It was priced low because of the water stains, but the powder was packed in a static free plastic bag and tied with a short hemp rope. At $8.25 per pound, I don't think I will ever beat that deal.

I would be too. I have several that give me nightmares!

Just the opposite when I've gone recently. They sit there very proud of what they have and act like there's is the only one in the world.

Yep. I haven't been buying and for good reason. Deals are starting to show up. The reasons that is happening is not good and both the have to sell and the amount of them is gonna get more frequent.

I don't go to gun shows but I do go to a local flea market or 2 and there is always a 1/2 dozen or so guys there with guns on the tables. I've picked up some real good deals in the last 8 yrs or so, and passed on a few I probably should've bought.

Wow, you NEED to be kicked, that's for sure.

I'm heading to the Kerrville show on Sunday. I have found a few deals there in the past. Nice little show.

Not a fancy high dollar gun but over the weekend on the last afternoon of a show I picked up a nice older Ithaca 37 Featherlight fixed modified barrel 16 gauge for $225. Was just traded to a seller I am somewhat acquainted with and he didnt feel like lugging it back to the shop so let me have it for $50 over what he gave as trade value. Will be put to use the next time I chase pheasant.

Picked up a new in box set of vortex Pmr 30mm rings for $16.00 a few weeks back.

I scored $25 and my entire afternoon times about 100 when I quit going to them 25 years ago. The only half decent deal I ever found was for a case of primers. My experience pretty much mirrors what Slummy has described lots of times.

Windowed 30 round M3 PMags $10 no tax. As many as my oldest boy and I could hand carry. Also SCAR 17 mags in FDE $30. Had to put those in my pockets.

I don't generally don't go to gun shows but we were out and the boy had never seen one. It did not disappoint, with two well stocked jerky tables, a couple of hoveround boomers, and several slow walker enfeebled boomers. Primers were an eye opening $149 / 1000.