[Brett Joshua]

I have not been to a gun show yet, but I am planning on going to one in Ft. Lauderdale later this month, and one in Coconut Grove on Nov 1st. In general, do you find better deals at gunshows? I know I will have my FL CCL by the Nov 1st show. Is it better to buy firearms at a retailer or at a gun show?

 

[fivemile]

I have had real good luck at gun shows on shotguns and a pistol. Asking prices were high, but they were prepared to negotiate. I saw a lot of guns that looked like they just sat in someone's closet for years without being shot.

 

[wwb]

If you are going to a gun show with a SERIOUS intent to purchase, restrict yourself to 3 models at most - it's hard to remain fucused if you're open to anything there... but if the deal of a lifetime presents itself, and you know it's a great deal, take it.

Take along a Blue Book, know what you should have to pay, and what your budget is. But before you go, learn those three models INSIDE OUT. What are the quirks and weak points of each, what to look for in terms of wear, what should be tight, and what's okay to be loose, etc.

Also, take along a rod, brush, patches, & solvent. You wouldn't believe how many guys at gun shows have firearms for sale with FILTHY bores -- clean the bore and inspect it good. If the guy doesn't want the bore cleaned, walk away.

You can occasionally get a good deal at a gun show, and rarely get a great deal, but at least there's a whole bunch to choose from without having to drive all over three counties checking all the shops.

 

[Brett Joshua]

Are most of the guns used, or do they also sell new ones?

 

[fivemile]

They sell both new and used; but most of the guns are used.

 

[BlackDragon]

I can't got to those shows anymore. Something about pudgy 50 year old men walking around in tactical gear just annoys me.

 

[JMCCOYB]

Black Dragon, at least those 50+ year old men know how to construct a sentence. If it were not for them, you may not be here.

Be constructive or shut up. Sorry you are "annoyed"

Sorry, Jay, I am no longer "nice".

 

[BlackDragon]

Black Dragon, at least those 50+ year old men know how to construct a sentence. If it were not for them, you may not be here.

Be constructive or shut up. Sorry you are "annoyed"

Sorry, Jay, I am no longer "nice".

Geez, chill out man. Apparently you are either a disgruntled 2nd grade english teacher or you must be one of those guys. Beyond that, I can't remember the last time a fat 50 year old SWAT-team wannabe saved my life.

Their insanity cannot be justified simply by citing the fact that they carry guns and support the 2nd Amendment. Just because they are armed does not make them right. If our founding fathers taught us anything, it was that.

 

[Kanada]

how is his sentence not constructed properly. He used annoyed in the present tense, so it STILL annoys him....

 

[BlackDragon]

how is his sentence not constructed properly. He used annoyed in the present tense, so it STILL annoys him....

I think the fact that I accidentally used "got" instead of "go". Look at what time I typed it; I was half asleep. I think I hit a point too close to home for him and THAT is his real problem.

 

[Jeff23]

Um, 1) I agree that his sentence doesn't matter much, since this is informal writing and--get this, I am pulling rank!--I am a university professor with a Ph.D. in English. Easy on the typos. 2) However, I DO think some of those 50-plus year olds deserve all the respect you've got. If they're Vietnam era vets, especially combat vets, they fought in an agonizing place and a political context that would daunt the toughest soldier ever spawned. So watch it--please make sure you know a man well before you decide to mock him. To tell you the truth, I've almost never, upon investigation, found a man who was worthy of my contempt. Wait, make that a solid "never"! No matter what they were wearing. (see? that last was a class A sentence fragment :lol: ) JMCCOYB--cheer up, my friend. All will be well eventually and, as the Indians say, in the next place we will ride the hanging road together with our best friends, hunters and warriors all. 8)

Jeff23

 

[BlackDragon]

I'd rather not turn this post topic into something other than was intended, but apparently that is where this is going anyway.

My gripe is not with Vets, it is with militia-types. If a milita-type happens to be a Vet, then my gripe is with him too. We all see these guys at the shows. The guy wearing a pair of shooting glasses, a police tac-vest, where, to my amuzement, his stomach sticks out farther than the flashbang pouches, and a shirt or button that says "From my cold dead hands" or some equally ignorant equivalent. What annoys me about these guys is that this is what it would take for them to give up their firearms. I am sure I am of the minority here on this forum, but the day I would even think of taking a shot at a police officer intent on taking my guns away from me is the day I need to re-examine my life's priorities.

Take the guy from Ruby Ridge. He lost his wife and son for what? Now he has his winchester lever-action to keep him warm at night instead of his wife. What a waste.

 

[Kanada]

oops sorry, ill be quiet now

 

[Guest]

I'm probably throwing fuel on a fire best left to die, but there seem to be conflicting issues here. I, for one, have the utmost respect for anyone who served in Viet Nam, regardless of the fact that the vast majority never saw combat. Nevertheless, I think that "Dragon" makes a valid point about wannabes (sorry for the use of a word not found in the O.E.D., Prof.). Anyone wearing tactical gear or other paraphernalia of a profession for which they have no credentials makes a mockery of those individuals who have paid a high price for their expertise.

 

[Jeff23]

Granted! And hey, not being in the OED's no harm to a perfectly good word like "wannabe" (and anyway--did you check? It may be in an update someplace or on the CD or the web). :lol: One last remark, in all seriousness: I wasn't trying to put down Black Dragon or anyone else, though I thought his tone was hasty (I'm a typical old guy, everything seems too quick for me), and I certainly see how it could have been read as an attack; for that I apologize. *points two fingers at his eyes in the "watch me" sign* See that Dragon? However, I was trying to suggest that it's easier to find fault than it is to take the trouble to learn what people's genuine virtues are. Everybody's got 'em, you know, even the fat guys with the tac gear and the second amendment patches. Maybe all they have is a family they love, a concern--according to their lights--for their country, and a sad wish that they'd been better or braver men in 1968. They only have the one life to look back on, and if they skipped out on service in the late 60's, I wouldn't want to have it to contemplate for the rest of my days. Would you? It wasn't an easy time--I don't recognize your screen name, so perhaps you were around and you know. I guess that I'd rather let a few wannabees have their fun and make their somewhat goofy statement than I would make iffy decisions about who deserves my contempt. That's really the way I see it, my friend. I'd like to convince you and the others, but in the end you're right. What you and Black Dragon think of me is none of my damn business. It's taken me a long time to learn that, and here it is, saving me again. Good luck--sincerely--to both of you, and if you'll grant an old fart a dignified parting word: we'll all need every bit of luck we can get before the current ration of crap is over.

All the best,

Jeff23

 

[Guest]

No, Professor, I believe you're the one who's right. I'm in total agreement with your views on the live-and-let-live question. As a poker player, I try to do exactly as you've suggested and look for the motivation behind the action. I just have an admiration for contrarians, such as Black Dragon, who aren't afraid to put their brass BBs on the chopping block. I don't think there was any contempt, just a little exasperation.

BTW, you are also correct in that I failed to check the latest rendition to see if "wannabe" had been inducted.

Keep your powder dry.

M

 

[wwb]

There are some valid points on both sides here. Let me put in my 2 cents worth. First, I'm a vietnam Vet - and I wasn't a REMF - I was a LRRP - Co. E, 2nd Batallion, 28th Regiment, First Infantry Div - also known as the Black Lions of the Big Red One. It has been my experience that the overwhelming majority of the "camo vets" were not grunts - the closest they came to real combat was a fistfight at the E.M. Club. All the ex-grunts I've known want nothing to do with the "camo vets".

How about the paramilitary non vets? This is the United States of America - they have the right to dress as they see fit, proclaim their beliefs on their T-shirts, and wear body armour (even if it doesn't fit around their beer gut). But there is something deeply troubling about that sort of behavior. I wonder how many of them contribute to the NRA's I.L.A. or Political Victory Fund - or if they're even NRA members. I also wonder if they realize how much damage they do to the public's image of pro-gun people.

Now my own irrational pet peeve... As someone who has way too much experience with them, I can't understand the fascination with the AR-15, SKS, and AK-47. They are not suitable for much of anything except close-quarters combat (surprise... that's what they were designed for)

 

[Guest]

"I can't understand the fascination with the AR-15, SKS, and AK-47. They are not suitable for much of anything except close-quarters combat (surprise... that's what they were designed for)"

An AR-15 can make a fine varmint and coyote rifle, an SKS or AK-47 make excelent, thick-cover deer rifles. Heck, due to the SKS's better accuracy it can even serve as a general purpose deer rifle for a shooter on a budget, or someone who needs a jack-of-all-trades rifle.

 

[wwb]

Guest -

If I were to use a .223 as a varmint rifle, my first choice would be a bolt action, not an AR-15. And if I was gonna shoot coyotes, I'd take a .243 or a .22-250 over a .223 any time.

The 7.62x39 is illegal for deer hunting in Minnesota, where I hunt, and shouldn't be used as a deer cartridge anywhere... it doesn't have enough oomph. Sure, you can kill a deer with a .22 rimfire with superb shot placement, but it's not a smart thing to do; anything less than a perfect shot and you've got a lot of trailing to do, and you may not ever find the deer. Don't you owe the animal more than that?

 

[wwb]

Oops!!

Rechecking Minn DNR website... 7.62x39 is legal in MN, and has been for a few years. Doesn't change my opinion that it's too light, however.