Be careful at the gun shows

[Dolomite_Supafly]

I was at a local show yesterday, first time in over a year. I was talking with a dealer while a friend was looking at a gun. The conversation turned to safety and how many negligent discharges have happened in the recent past. He said an ever increasing problem at the gun shows he attends is anti gun people walk through the show looking for guns that are not zip tied open and insert a round in the chamber then walk off.

I quit going to the gun shows because I thought there were way to many guns being unintentionally discharged. The last one was a 22 rifle that had been on the table for at least a day when someone picked it up and pulled the trigger causing it to go off. I blamed the dealer for not checking his guns but maybe these anti gunners managed to put a live round in the rifle without anyone noticing. Luckily the person was smart and had it pointed at the wall in an unoccupied part of the building.

I swear more people are loosing their minds every day and are willing to risk life in their quest to make a irrational point.

 

[Blue Sky Country]

What the fuck???

People who get spotted doing that kind of shit should have their asses beaten, and I mean beaten stupid.

I frequent gun shows all the time and while we all knew how to spot the usual types of troublemakers, this is the first time I have heard of this kind of horsefuckery. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Maggot]

I quit going to 'gunshows' awhile back. They seem to attract idiots, there just isnt much good stuff shown, and its over priced. There is lots of cheap garbage for sale, though.

 

[Campguy308]

I quit them too.

 

[antithesis]

I have never been to one - just assumed that nobody would be able to pick up something that could be fired without the seller handing it to them. If that is what's happening then there are idiots on all sides. The dealer and the buyer should both be clearing the gun (obvious), and I am 'guessing' the ass the put the round in the chamber would be looking at accessory to murder.

 

[Veer_G]

Gun shows attract great unwashed hordes of the prohibited here in PA. Private sales of long weapons by and from PA residents can be done without paperwork. Throw in the cross-river/out of state traffic from areas without healthy gun cultures, and it's an absolute petting zoo of finger-fucking fucktards who ignore every "Don't Touch" and "Please Ask First" sign. Whatever you do, don't go in summer: there just isn't enough air flow to dissipate the stench.

 

[Nik H]

Gun shows used to be a great place to buy and sell. They also were a place where like minded people could pass the time. I used to go mostly for the good deals on ammo.

Nowadays, they are like public ranges...so I avoid them like the plague. Really too bad.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

He said an ever increasing problem at the gun shows he attends is anti gun people walk through the show looking for guns that are not zip tied open and insert a round in the chamber then walk off.

Plus there are people/groups going around to ranges that are not monitored or where RSO's are over loaded an shooting up everythingon the range an past the range to get them closed. This has happened at two ranges in Bama I know of.

 

[BLKWLFK9]

I have been to the local gun show here quite a few times and i have yet to buy a single thing. Looks like a ghetto flea market in there. Too many knives that look like they were props from Conan the Barbarian, and more cheap tasers than guns. As far as guns go, the nicest rifles available are RPR's. No thanks. Its a shit show, literally. They show nothing but shit and thats the type of people that go.

 

[Liberator52]

I quit going years ago. Way more trinket tables than gun tables + couldn't stand all the Wal-Mart idiots.

 

[Mwalex]

I was at a local show yesterday, first time in over a year. I was talking with a dealer while a friend was looking at a gun. The conversation turned to safety and how many negligent discharges have happened in the recent past. He said an ever increasing problem at the gun shows he attends is anti gun people walk through the show looking for guns that are not zip tied open and insert a round in the chamber then walk off.

I quit going to the gun shows because I thought there were way to many guns being unintentionally discharged. The last one was a 22 rifle that had been on the table for at least a day when someone picked it up and pulled the trigger causing it to go off. I blamed the dealer for not checking his guns but maybe these anti gunners managed to put a live round in the rifle without anyone noticing. Luckily the person was smart and had it pointed at the wall in an unoccupied part of the building.

I swear more people are loosing their minds every day and are willing to risk life in their quest to make a irrational point.

Every time you pick up a gun, be it rifle or pistol, it is a good habit to check the chamber. Even if someone "slipped" a round into the chamber the person that pulled the trigger was negligent.

 

[SilentStalkr]

What the fuck???

People who get spotted doing that kind of shit should have their asses beaten, and I mean beaten stupid.

I frequent gun shows all the time and while we all knew how to spot the usual types of troublemakers, this is the first time I have heard of this kind of horsefuckery. Thanks for the heads up.

And what should happen is that the nearest ATF agent should arrest them. They attend every show in some capacity. They can review tapes to see who it was. The key is to catch them before they leave. This is also why it’s so important to check the chamber before squeezing off any trigger. It’s just good practice.

Plus there are people/groups going around to ranges that are not monitored or where RSO's are over loaded an shooting up everythingon the range an past the range to get them closed. This has happened at two ranges in Bama I know of.

Exactly. I know of some as well. Their devious plans seem to be working.

 

[XLR308]

Since my two sons were old enough or strong enough to hold a firearm I have drilled into them to first and foremost ensure the weapon is clear and also before handing it to someone else.

 

[EXTREMEPREJUDICE]

I was at a local show yesterday, first time in over a year. I was talking with a dealer while a friend was looking at a gun. The conversation turned to safety and how many negligent discharges have happened in the recent past. He said an ever increasing problem at the gun shows he attends is anti gun people walk through the show looking for guns that are not zip tied open and insert a round in the chamber then walk off.

I quit going to the gun shows because I thought there were way to many guns being unintentionally discharged. The last one was a 22 rifle that had been on the table for at least a day when someone picked it up and pulled the trigger causing it to go off. I blamed the dealer for not checking his guns but maybe these anti gunners managed to put a live round in the rifle without anyone noticing. Luckily the person was smart and had it pointed at the wall in an unoccupied part of the building.

I swear more people are loosing their minds every day and are willing to risk life in their quest to make a irrational point.

Rule #1

 

[brianf]

gun shows are like dinosaurs..
but they used to be good for "rambo knives", cheap pouches, and tracer or AP ammo

gun shows/army navy stores => shotgun news => internet

 

[canezach]

I quit going to 'gunshows' awhile back. They seem to attract idiots, there just isnt much good stuff shown, and its over priced. There is lots of cheap garbage for sale at ridiculously high prices, though.

Fixed it for ya!

 

[Fig]

Sorry kids. I guess it's a bygone era. They were awesome back in the days before the internet. You really could find smokin' deals on all sorts of vintage guns, militaria, and especially imports. The late 80's and early 90's were the heydays.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

That happened at a Raleigh NC gun show back in 1989... same cause. Idiot loading guns to cause an incident. Happened while my buddy Paul and I were there. Talk about a room getting quiet all at once!

Sirhr

 

[QuickNDirty]

Every time you pick up a gun, be it rifle or pistol, it is a good habit to check the chamber. Even if someone "slipped" a round into the chamber the person that pulled the trigger was negligent.

"All guns are always loaded"

I dunno how many dumbass mistakes that assumption has saved me from over the years.

 

[cornhusker86]

Gun shows were good when the Shotgun News was still relevant. Nowadays, most of the local shows have the same guys trying to sell the same overpriced shit they've been trying to sell for years. Back in the 90's my friends and I would go to a show a few times a month. Now, I go once or twice a year. Beef jerky is readily available at the gas station. Don't need to pay a cover charge at a gun show in order to buy some. Chinese knives, beaded leather goods, and jerky take up 50% of the tables. No thanks.

 

[W54/XM-388]

I pretty much only rarely go to the shows these days. Usually just when I need to meet up with some metals sellers, or hang out with my favourite knife maker.

Better deals are usually had both new and used at my LGS

 

[Redmanss]

I quit going in the 90s when I would see booths recruiting for KKK/neo-nazi bullshit in NC/SC. I popped into one in FL in '05 to see if things changed, it hadn't, that's the last show I have entered.

It's fudd central for the most part, no serious shooters frequent the run of the mill gun shows these days. Only the major events attended by industry leaders like SHOT/NRA Convention are worth the time to attend.

 

[Unknown]

I like gunshows. They are great places to buy beanie babies, old VHS porno tapes, worn out old hunting clothes from 30 years ago, overpriced reloaded ammo, cheap Chinese made knives, strings of beads that look like they came from a flea market, various over priced firearms, see nice firearms that aren't for sale, meet grumpy as hell vendors, veterans who were door gunners on the space shuttle or some such lie, and listen to lies about a rifle that someone used to own that would shoot 10 shots into an inch at 500 yards with iron sights.

And best of all, last time I used my credit card at one, there ended up with about $600 worth of unauthorized charges that I had to straighten out.

But at least they are entertaining.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

Gun shows were good when the Shotgun News was still relevant. Nowadays, most of the local shows have the same guys trying to sell the same overpriced shit they've been trying to sell for years. Back in the 90's my friends and I would go to a show a few times a month. Now, I go once or twice a year. Beef jerky is readily available at the gas station. Don't need to pay a cover charge at a gun show in order to buy some. Chinese knives, beaded leather goods, and jerky take up 50% of the tables. No thanks.

Cheap knives/swords and jerky? Sounds like you're paying admission to a truck stop.

 

[Veer_G]

Cheap knives/swords and jerky? Sounds like you're paying admission to a truck stop.

No CB radio shop ...

 

[Campguy308]

Some of the big shows are ok, but most of the stuff serious shooters are into is pretty esoteric, and usually not to be found. Plus all the points mentioned above about expensive junk, 30 year old MREs, and flea market trinkets.

 

[Alabusa]

The last local to me gun show had a gentleman shot by a state trooper inside the show. The trooper pulled his duty weapon, to get an estimate on trade, pulled the trigger hitting the man next to him in the hip. That was the last straw and we have no more gun shows. Not that I ever went to one of them.

 

[Flyingbullseye]

The last local to me gun show had a gentleman shot by a state trooper inside the show. The trooper pulled his duty weapon, to get an estimate on trade, pulled the trigger hitting the man next to him in the hip. That was the last straw and we have no more gun shows. Not that I ever went to one of them.

Could it have been this guy?

 

[cornhusker86]

Cheap knives/swords and jerky? Sounds like you're paying admission to a truck stop.

That same show used to be a good source for once fired pistol brass and cast bullets. Sapp Bros. has less jerky than this gun show! LOL

You ever go to the Fremont show? Used to be decent.

 

[Erno86]

Plus there are people/groups going around to ranges that are not monitored or where RSO's are over loaded an shooting up everythingon the range an past the range to get them closed. This has happened at two ranges in Bama I know of.

I've heard stores on the range...that some people leave overcharged rounds lying on the ground around the range for somebody to pick it up and fire it.

Also....buying reloads is a no-no for me.

I'm sure some neophytes --- especially at a gun show --- don't even know how to check for an empty firearm for that matter.

 

[BLKWLFK9]

That happened at a Raleigh NC gun show back in 1989... same cause. Idiot loading guns to cause an incident. Happened while my buddy Paul and I were there. Talk about a room getting quiet all at once!

Sirhr

You in Raleigh, sirhr?

 

[ArmyJerry]

Sirh is the Yankeeiest of Yankees

 

[lightman]

Every time you pick up a gun, be it rifle or pistol, it is a good habit to check the chamber. Even if someone "slipped" a round into the chamber the person that pulled the trigger was negligent.

I agree, safe gun handling would prevent these problems. I also agree that anyone caught doing something like this should be beaten senseless.

I also find a few loaded rounds at some of the places where I shoot. I pick them up, take them home and break them down.The bullet goes into my scrap lead stash, the powder goes into the jar that I take to deer camp for light shows around the fire and the case goes into my scrap brass bucket. Most have a very light firing pin strike like you see with a dirty AR. But, I would never consider shooting on of these.

 

[Dolomite_Supafly]

Yeah, shows are for predators to take advantage of ignorant buyers.

Right after Obama was elected the first show was full of crooks. One guy had a sign that said "Green tips $1 each" and was selling them. My wife commented that the green didn't look right as well as the fact some were green almost to the case neck. I picked up one of the rounds and it had RP on the back. Apparently the guy was buy cheap white box Remington and dipping the tips in green paint.

Another dealer was selling 22 ammunition with a sign that read that the ammunition wouldn't expire. I asked what he meant and he said Obama made all the ammunition expire in 6 months. He was selling Stingers for $27 a box of 50.

 

[Unknown]

In my previous posting I noted that after I used my credit card at a gun show, someone put $600 worth of unauthorized charges on the card. The way it was discovered was when my wife and I were paying bills and she noticed the charge and asked me about it. I told her I thought she bought some thing, she said she thought I bought something.

As neither of us recognized the company name the charges were under, we started digging. The charges were for a phone sex company, and my wife then said "Is there anything you want to tell me about before we go any further with this?" I said "no, let's find out about it." it turned out that the charges originated in Denver, CO on a day when I was testifying in court in Oregon, and my wife was at work in the same state. So clearly, neither of us authorized the charges, and we easily got them reversed, cancelled the card, and no further incidents happened.

I never did find out just how long $600 lasts on a phone sex line though....I have always wondered about that.

 

[powdahound76]

@cornhusker86

If in Fremont, just go by Cylinder and Slide...... anything else is prolly not as cool.

Gun shows used to be fun. I would take a thermos of coffee and shoot the breeze with cool people. Talking about sexy side by sides, old Winchesters, great revolvers, and of course the 1911.......
Learned a lot from many nice folks after polishing my skills at reading who was full of it.....

After 2008 election it all went to hell. Been back 2 times, both to meet people to sell them stuff.

 

[cornhusker86]

@cornhusker86

If in Fremont, just go by Cylinder and Slide...... anything else is prolly not as cool.

Gun shows used to be fun. I would take a thermos of coffee and shoot the breeze with cool people. Talking about sexy side by sides, old Winchesters, great revolvers, and of course the 1911.......
Learned a lot from many nice folks after polishing my skills at reading who was full of it.....

After 2008 election it all went to hell. Been back 2 times, both to meet people to sell them stuff.

Been there, done that. Old school craftsmanship.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

That same show used to be a good source for once fired pistol brass and cast bullets. Sapp Bros. has less jerky than this gun show! LOL

You ever go to the Fremont show? Used to be decent.

I went up there once about 5-6 years ago. Lots of shit besides guns. I think that was the last time I went to one.

 

[hankpac]

Went to the Saxet show in San Antonio, several years ago. 16 year old kid was checking firearms at the door, and doing a really poor job of it. The first table next to the door had a bunch of cheap ass Makarovs, and nothing else. Wife and I breeze past and head to my powder guy. We browse around a bit, and are now at the far end of the show. A shot goes off near the front door, so, I head that way immediately, to see if I can render aid, cause sure as shit, someone was probably hit. I arrive at the Makarov table, and sure enough, there is a guy lying down, near the entrance, where he had just seconds before, walked into the show. Standing in front of the Makarov table is an idiot with a stupid look on his face, and the Makarov still in his hand (no one had moved to disarm the guy, even though it had been at least two minutes since the shot). Also, not a single cop in sight.
The guy had picked up the pistol, and immediately pulled the trigger, firing a shot at the floor, which ricocheted into the victim's grin. Negligent as hell.

I approach the wounded guy who has been hit in the right groin, a bad spot, because of the major vessels in the area. An off-duty fireman is already applying pressure, and says the FD is on the way. I assist, and someone eventually thinks to recover the pistol. The operators of the show shut down the table and both the table owner and the negligent shooter, disappear before the police get there.
The patient held status well, and was handed off to the FD Paramedics.
I gave a statement, to include the observation that the show operators didn't seem to interested in zip tying the firearms, at the door, or on the table. Never been back since.

 

[clcustom1911]

gun shows are like dinosaurs..
but they used to be good for "rambo knives", cheap pouches, and tracer or AP ammo

gun shows/army navy stores => shotgun news => internet

SGN!!! I remember the first time I picked up a copy of that. Damn near better than porn.

 

[Fig]

Shotgun News and

I used to have a stack of them...long gone...

 

[Surfingsk8r]

What the fuck???

People who get spotted doing that kind of shit should have their asses beaten, and I mean beaten stupid.

I would add to that they they should be also charged with some form of attempted murder after said beating. It seems to me that these people should lose access to their families and freedoms.

 

[Erno86]

My best chance of getting a fine firearm is at our outdoor range. Some guys patrol all the firearm shops around for good deals --- buy them --- then they sell them for a decent price at our range. I've picked an bought up a number of curio and relics there.

Our range also have plastic 'dud' jars hung every 20 feet on our over head canopy range poles. They have cup holders, with the cups have drain holes on the bottom.

 

[Dolomite_Supafly]

We had a vendor showing off his new laser sight to a friend. He put his hand in front of the muzzle and pulled the trigger. Boom, went through his hand, through the table and bounced off the ground. Luckily no one was hurt other than the idiot that shot himself.

Public ranges scare me to death. It is like all the idiots figure out when I was going to be there and show up. I cannot recall a single trip to the range when something didn't make me say WTF.

Last time I was up there some kids hopped the gate that is locked for member access. They spent the next 20 minutes flagging people and clearing malfunctions towards cars. The were shooting bolt guns without sights or optics just so they can giggle. They were playing quick draw with loaded handguns. We tried to warn them but they gave us nothing but attitude back. 10 minutes later law enforcement showed up and arrested every one of them for trespassing.

Had a guy have a malfunction with his newly made hand loads. It failed to go into battery and began cussing. My wife yelled at me and as I started over to see what was going on the guy came walking towards me. He held the gun by wrapping his right hand around the grip and his thumb through the trigger guard pressing on the trigger. With the left hand he was beating the back of the slide trying to get it to go into battery. Had he been successful it would have went off. He did this while walking 2 feet behind everyone else on the line with the muzzle pointed at their backs. As soon as I seen what he was doing on I snatched the gun from his hands. It was but a cunt hair from going into battery and going off. I made it safe, handed it back and just stood in disbelief at what had just happened. He asked if I was going to help him and I told him no because he almost killed someone. He got upset and he said "Fine, I will just pack up and go home then". I told him that was probably a good idea, he turned and stomped his feet as he walked away like a 2 year old. A minute or so later the gravity of what just happened set in and I started shaking, got nauseous and almost threw up. I packed up my stuff, left that range and never went back or renewed my membership.

 

[Milo 2.5]

I made it safe, handed it back and just stood in disbelief at what had just happened. He asked if I was going to help him and I told him no because he almost killed someone. He got upset and he said "Fine, I will just pack up and go home then". I told him that was probably a good idea, he turned and stomped his feet as he walked away like a 2 year old. A minute or so later the gravity of what just happened set in and I started shaking, got nauseous and almost threw up. I packed up my stuff, left that range and never went back or renewed my membership.

Sorry, glad you helped keep things somewhat safe. But really, you missed an opportunity to try and educate a gun owner.
There is no certification, or qualification to buy and shoot firearms, just buy and go. No training whatsoever, and most public ranges do not even have requirements, or tests, just pay and blast. No hunter safety, and training classes can get to be pricey, a lot of people are not willing to pay.
The guy asked for help, you turned your back on him. I seriously think 99.9%+ of the people who go to a range, or shoot for fun do not want to injure another person.
We can call people uneducated for not knowing or understanding, does not mean they are stupid, they just need some guidance.

 

[powdahound76]

So when guys are swinging loaded guns around flagging everyone, ones self included, would you draw on them and make them put it down?

As per CO law, I would be in fear and absolutely think my life was in immediate danger.

Had some douche do that at my range a couple years back.
RO was at his 8 oclock and the guy turned with his brand new 500 S&W, fully loaded (minus the 1 he just shot) and swept the other 3 of us that had stepped out of our lanes to watch the fool.
I was just clear of my holster when the RO got his arm, commanded him to remove his hand from the trigger, and guided him back into his lane. They took his pistol, unloaded and boxed it up. He was informed he could return to the range once he had completed their basic handgun safety class and was advised to possible look into a pistol he could actually control and shoot.

 

[Milo 2.5]

So when guys are swinging loaded guns around flagging everyone, ones self included, would you draw on them and make them put it down?

As per CO law, I would be in fear and absolutely think my life was in immediate danger.

Had some douche do that at my range a couple years back.
RO was at his 8 oclock and the guy turned with his brand new 500 S&W, fully loaded (minus the 1 he just shot) and swept the other 3 of us that had stepped out of our lanes to watch the fool.
I was just clear of my holster when the RO got his arm, commanded him to remove his hand from the trigger, and guided him back into his lane. They took his pistol, unloaded and boxed it up. He was informed he could return to the range once he had completed their basic handgun safety class and was advised to possible look into a pistol he could actually control and shoot.

Yes, shooting him would have solved it all, good luck with that.

 

[powdahound76]

Did I say I was going to shoot?

 

[Milo 2.5]

Did I say I was going to shoot?

I took it you were drawing your handgun, the guy was a tool, not threatening to kill people. If you were not going to shoot, why draw?

 

[Rlandry]

Rule #1 for Gun Dealers. If they are selling, it's a rare and collectible piece. If you are selling or trading, it's a POS and they are doing you a favor by taking it off your hands. Then you have the guy who sits and polishes on one revolver forever, like it's his cherished baby.
Gun shows used to be a great place for bargains on reloading components, but those days are gone.
The one thing that I just can't handle is the smell. What type of mentality thinks it's OK to go to a crowded venue with filthy clothes and a three day shower?
I'll pay a little more for a firearm at my LGS and wait for no hazmat days at Powder Valley.