Thinning The Herd - What Are You Looking For?

[sheriffjohn]

Many guys my age are disposing of unused caches of our things. Personally, I enjoy setting up at gunshows with a couple of tables. Others sell online, etc. The question is - right now, today, specifically, when you go to a gunshow, what are you looking to buy? Ammo? Parts? Sporting collectibles? Reloading supplies? What calibers? Milsurp?

Would you buy a "basket case"? - pertially completed projects missing parts? Rare items (originals). Modern in-line muzzle loaders? The shows are overvlowing with AR things, Btw Don't go there. Thanks.

 

[Teep]

I'm slowly eliminating some, sold two revolvers at the last two shows I attended. Just turned 80 and am getting a little to shaky, will only be shooting handguns from a rest anymore so I'm sticking with single shots.

 

[sheriffjohn]

I'm slowly eliminating some, sold two revolvers at the last two shows I attended. Just turned 80 and am getting a little to shaky, will only be shooting handguns from a rest anymore so I'm sticking with single shots.

At 76, I'm not far behind you. Still enjoy fooling with things, but along with the fact that most of my shooting friends are either dead or not physically able to do the things we used to, it's time to pass things along.

 

[Longcarbine]

Was going to go to the local gun show this week end but of course the weather put a stop to that. Right now I am looking to purchase a .22 revolver, been looking at the Taurus 992 or maybe a Ruger Single Six. Also looking to pick up a 9mm 1911 pistol.

 

[sheriffjohn]

Was going to go to the local gun show this week end but of course the weather put a stop to that. Right now I am looking to purchase a .22 revolver, been looking at the Taurus 992 or maybe a Ruger Single Six. Also looking to pick up a 9mm 1911 pistol.

Bad roads do no one any good. Some vendors travel quite a ways, make their living selling at shows. Others are local - probably more collectors than the others. Regardless, when roads are bad, shows tend to do poorly - both in attendance and vendors. We had a good one in Hannibal recently Over 800 people. For once, even though it was cold, roads were clear. This week ...uh....

 

[Bobcat]

I’m slowly divesting myself of most of my collection. I’m keeping the guns I like to shoot, selling off the ones that I don’t shoot or passing along the family keepsakes. Last weekend I sold several guns from an antique Colt Lightning .22 short to a new Weatherby Element 2 that was purchased for a hunting trip that didn’t happen. I sold parts, ammunition, optics and reloading components. I made some space but I still have things to unload. I try to have something for just about everyone who walks by my tables.

 

[sheriffjohn]

I only do 3-4 shows a year, lately forgoing the St. Louis ones due to rough stuff (fights, thefts, and attempted straw purchases). Collector ammo's been easy to sell, but it doesn't travel well - easy to see the boxes are getting dog-eared. Clunkers (rough old guns) have also been good. Reloading things...bullets, dies, some powder ...not so much now that the panic's over and cheap ammo's available.

We all see the guys that bring the same guns to every show ..priced too high every time. I'm trying to bring things I won't have to pack back home, not make a living or buy/flip. Bullets are heavy. Books are, too. My decoys haven't sold even though priced cheap. Some shows end up with non-gun related vendors - jewelry, bird houses, etc. Anyway ....

 

[MOELKMAN]

Personally, I go to a gun show mostly to find something I didn't know I needed/wanted.
I expect to pay a fair price for whatever it may be. Less than typical retail.
On the selling side, mostly disappointed. Dealers want to buy really low. Unless you find someone seeking exactly what you have, getting that fair price is not going to happen.

 

[Bobcat]

Personally, I go to a gun show mostly to find something I didn't know I needed/wanted.
I expect to pay a fair price for whatever it may be. Less than typical retail.
On the selling side, mostly disappointed. Dealers want to buy really low. Unless you find someone seeking exactly what you have, getting that fair price is not going to happen.

I always tried to give a fair price, I typically didn’t buy guns but I did take some trades. Keep in mind that dealers are doing this to make a living, they have to make a profit. When I had my FFL I would occasionally buy guns for resale. When I did, the price I was willing to pay had to take into account a full tear down, cleaning and inspection along with test firing. I did this to every single gun that came through my shop. I’m not saying every dealer does this but I did. This adds labor and material costs and then you still need to make a profit. I always tried to get the customer to set the price, in most cases they were way too high. Sometimes, rarely, they were too low and I would offer them more than asking. I had a good reputation as a fair trader. My business was mainly a repair shop, but I was operating in the very early days of internet gun sales so I did ship and receive guns for folks also. It never hurt to have a few guns on display when someone came to pick up their online purchase.

 

[jaybird75]

About the only Gun Show I attend is Tulsa. I look for affordable old 1911's. I usually find two deals out of all of those acres of tables.

 

[sheriffjohn]

Tulsa's definitely on my bucket list. Got spoiled at an early age - Curley Williams' Lake Ozark Gunshow in the 60's / 70's at the school. Now, it seems there are some really small ones or redundant ones by a couple of promoters. I obtained a C&R license last year but have yet to use it. One advantage for buyers via shows is "no shipping/hazmat". Internet buying's been a mixed bag. Been taken twice - my bad - gullible old guy.

Heading to the one at Cairo (Moberly). Pro-Motions show. Friday night and Saturday next week. Dan Downing puts together a nice show. Knife collectors are fun guys. Coins? Interesting but never been my thing. My goal is to get rid of stuff we saved for our kids that they don't want.

Any leads on upcoming shows near you?

 

[MOELKMAN]

I always tried to give a fair price, I typically didn’t buy guns but I did take some trades. Keep in mind that dealers are doing this to make a living, they have to make a profit. When I had my FFL I would occasionally buy guns for resale. When I did, the price I was willing to pay had to take into account a full tear down, cleaning and inspection along with test firing. I did this to every single gun that came through my shop. I’m not saying every dealer does this but I did. This adds labor and material costs and then you still need to make a profit. I always tried to get the customer to set the price, in most cases they were way too high. Sometimes, rarely, they were too low and I would offer them more than asking. I had a good reputation as a fair trader. My business was mainly a repair shop, but I was operating in the very early days of internet gun sales so I did ship and receive guns for folks also. It never hurt to have a few guns on display when someone came to pick up their online purchase.

I always tried to give a fair price, I typically didn’t buy guns but I did take some trades. Keep in mind that dealers are doing this to make a living, they have to make a profit. When I had my FFL I would occasionally buy guns for resale. When I did, the price I was willing to pay had to take into account a full tear down, cleaning and inspection along with test firing. I did this to every single gun that came through my shop. I’m not saying every dealer does this but I did. This adds labor and material costs and then you still need to make a profit. I always tried to get the customer to set the price, in most cases they were way too high. Sometimes, rarely, they were too low and I would offer them more than asking. I had a good reputation as a fair trader. My business was mainly a repair shop, but I was operating in the very early days of internet gun sales so I did ship and receive guns for folks also. It never hurt to have a few guns on display when someone came to pick up their online purchase.

In my experience, you Sir, are a unicorn. I have inquired about firearms for sale, from a dealer that were not NIB, and never received a response like yours. Certainly understand the profit part. Agreeing on a price is often a challenge.

 

[Bobcat]

I try to treat people the way I want to be treated. Unfortunately, we have more than enough unscrupulous dealers that only care about $$ and have no regard for others. The world would be a better place if everyone followed the golden rule. The position I’m in now, profit is of no concern, as long as I break even I’m happy. I’m downsizing and if I buy a gun then I sell 2. Most recently, I bought a new Ruger American 2 chambered in .270 Winchester. The Ruger is replacing a Weatherby Vanguard in .257 Weatherby that I sold to my cousin and a Thompson Center Venture in .270 Winchester that’s still for sale. The only reason I am parting with the T/C is because it’s not threaded and the barrel diameter is too small to thread without cutting it way back. I’m asking exactly what I paid for the Venture and I have had it for several years, it’s a solid and accurate rifle and will make someone a great rifle.

 

[sheriffjohn]

Are there any calibers of ammo guys are looking for but having a hard time finding? Reloading stuff?

 

[Bobcat]

I’ve sold a little ammo, most of it at bargain prices. I don’t usually put much reloading gear on the table, I had a couple of the old red and black box Lee Loaders at Farmington the other day and only had one guy look at them. A few years ago, those things were gone in minutes. I intended to pick up some primers for my .357 and .38 special loads but forgot to.

 

[MOELKMAN]

Are there any calibers of ammo guys are looking for but having a hard time finding? Reloading stuff?

6.5 Grendel, prefer 123gr SST
375 H&H, prefer 270gr

AR upper, 20", heavy barrel, 1:7 or 1:8. .223 WYLDE