Just got back from a large gun show in Mobile. While I've never been a fan of the shows I do appreciate the fact we still have them, people show up and show an interest. Over the decades I have found an item here and there but overall it's been a bust for me. After a 10 year absence I decided to go back and see what has changed. Except for the prices--nothing. It looks like the same old guns I have always seen such as bead blasted and refinished M1 carbines with hardly any markings left for $2200. But for this price you do get a brand new cheap looking birch stock. Navy Arms repro guns are priced higher than the originals and so forth. I went looking for a couple of AR15 stripped lowers for some of my projects. I found only one table that was selling them. They were Anderson's for $55. Recently they could have been bought for $35 on-line but still not a bad price considering the transfer fee would make up the difference. Not the brand I wanted so I passed. Most every one was only interested in selling the assembled AR's for $750 or so made up with $350-$400 worth of parts. I know one of the dealers and we spoke. I told him: "look around, no one is buying anything" and the prices look like the sellers paid retail brought them to the show then marked them up.
Buyers go to gun shows for deals and hard to find items.
Sellers go to gun shows to unload slow moving items they can't sell in their shops and run the prices sky high to pay for the table rental fees.
The 2 kinda mix like oil and water.
Anyway after driving 3 hours in heavy traffic (this show is only 35 miles away) in the heat of the day. Fighting the crowds inside the show along with all the kids that the parents brought along just to come home empty handed, I think I'm finished with them. Over the years I have bought the majority of my guns through Gun Broker and AA w/o hardly any problems. You have to buy from sellers with good feedback and show postage rates otherwise leave them alone. I do prefer buying primers and powder at local gun shops but few in my area stock them and I don't intend to pay hazmat fee's unless I order a lot. Surprisingly only one table sold reloading supplies and their selection was poor. Overall I've had great experience's with on-line purchases and poor experience's at the shows but some of this may be due to the geographic location I'm in. Some of you mention good finds at the shows but how many did you have to go to find anything? This is just a rant and I'm not trying to persuade anyone. Just stating how it is here and has been for many years.