There's a Collector's West Gun Show the Expo Center in Portland, Or this weekend. Yes, I know it's not WA, but it's just across the river from The Couve, so I'm goin'. The gun show runs from Friday to Sunday...unfortunately I've only got Friday to hit the show since I go back to work Saturday night.

Spent the afternoon at the Portland Expo Center for the gun show today...wasn't all that impressed by what was offered. Being the first day there were still a few empty tables, and quite a few of the vendors were still setting up their displays. Ammo offerings were a joke in my opinion, and there was a very sparse selection of reloading equipment, limited brass and bullet offerings, and practically no powders...at least for my purposes. I did pick up some accessories for my AR, and I looked into picking up some more magazines for my 3.8 XDM40 and 1911, but found the prices high...I can definitely get them cheaper online.

I fully expected to be able to save some money by getting the stuff I wanted at the gun show rather than buying online, but I noticed that a good portion of the vendors increased prices to help offset their cost of attending the gun show. One place in particular had noticeably higher prices...the Surplus Ammo and Arms tables. Their prices at the show were higher than what I can get from them either online or at their actual shop. Looks like places such as Midway USA and CTD will continue to get my business if this price trend at the gun shows continue.

That's true at the WAC shows in Washington, too -- SAA's gun show prices are higher than their in-store prices. However, you're not paying additional tax on the gun show prices, so that accounts for some of it.

Sorry, but I'm "off" Gun Shows. They're getting to be like Auctions where those who have no clue end up running up the prices. Ditto at Gun Shows where the naive are willing to pay too much thus the prices asked.

There's a Collector's West Gun Show/knife show in Ocean Shores, WA this coming weekend...March 17th & 18th. I'm planning on going on Saturday.

I have always heard these were decent shows!

I won a pair of tickets to this show via a local radio station, and since I live in Hoquiam, The Ocean Shores Convention Center isn't much of a drive from where I'm at. I went to one of these shows a few years ago, and it wasn't too bad.

I went to the Albany Gun show down south of Portland last month...

I have to say only $5 to get in but didn't save a whole lot. Got some ammo but it wasn't "cheap" Saw a lot of over priced stuff... priced for newbie's and folks that just plain don't know that they can get it cheaper if they looked just a bit harder...

Also put off that I couldn't buy anything that went bang... I like the gunshow here WAC puts on. Yes, there are overpriced stuff but you can find some decent prices. Just have to look and keep looking and be patient.

Granted I usually do a circuit around Puget Sound and hit up all the gunstores from Bellevue down to Tacoma... I like to find out what's new and what the going rate on prices...

If you only put in an hour looking... you won't find those "deals" Just like anything else... you have to put in some time and effort or just get plain lucky or both...

Thanks for the heads up on the Ocean Shores show, might have to try and sneak out.

G,
UrbanMiner and I are heading there this weekend. Maybe we can car pool or meet up there...You all need to check out the Centralia Gun Show. Better deals...F**K WAC and Guns West....

The show on Saturday opens at 9am. I plan on being there at 10am. I'll be driving my old '94 maroon Ford Tempo.
I'll be wearing blue Carhartt jeans, a red polo shirt, and a tan jacket. I'll also wear my BladeForums ID badge that has my "user-name" "glockman99" on it near the bottom. If (you) see me there, feel-free to come up and say "Hi".

Lets keep in touch, my wife has signed me and my 22 month old son up for a gymnastics class on Saturday, so I'm a little conflicted . . . . . in more ways than one. I might have to sit this one out.

Well, I did go to the gun/knife show in Ocean Shores today at 10am...I only stayed 'till about 10:45. I wasn't all that impressed with this gun/knife show, although a vendor there had a NICE Ruger stainless GP-100 with full-length lug, 4" barrel, in .357 magnum, for somewhere around $475. I was very tempted to buy it, but my wife would have killed me...

I actually went there looking for some .357 magnum Hyrda-Shok ammo, a Pachmayr Gripper Grip (for Ruger Police Service-Six), and a speedloader "split-six" belt carrier...All with no luck...

Checked it out also. Small. Many vendors were lured away to the Portland Show. Sold $100 worth of ACU's in large sizes to one of My contacts. Saw a few 91/30's that caught my eye..Nothing to really mind blowing...

Ahh, doesn't sound like it's worth the drive. See you at Centralia next show.