Is the Vancouver Gun Show worth going to?

GWS · Sep 8, 2018

After 1999, the gun shows in California sucked. The "Assault Weapons" ban, "safe" handgun roster and magazine restrictions had all gone into effect (Please vote "NO!" on I-1639). This essentially made the shows jerky, knife sharpener etc. flea markets. $10-$15 entry and another $10 to park for junk. Hence, I stopped going to gun shows in California over 15 years ago.
Now I'm up here in the great Northwest and I discover there's a gun show at the Vancouver Elks Lodge today.
So...Is it worth going to?

GWS · Sep 8, 2018

No,
It wasn't.

DirectDrive · Sep 8, 2018

GWS said:
No,
It wasn't.

And odd that the premier gun enthusiast forum did not get a heads up that the show as even happening.
That's a boner right there.

Alexx1401 · Sep 8, 2018

I have not been to one since the middle of the great mag ban. They sadly long ago became a "don't bother" for me. Last one I went to was only due to a guy I worked with giving me a couple in the wrap M9 mags. He was a retired Sargent Major, fairly sure he relieved the Gov of them, but gift horse, mouth, and all. At the time only large cap I had was my Ruger 89 and could not find a trade for them. Back then the old Lakewood Mall still had that Quonset Hut looking thing they used to rent out and had a show. Paid, took me seconds to find a table with the mags I wanted who would swap me. Since I had paid I looked around and it was just flea market, junk guns, nice guns at inflated prices. From what i keep hearing this is sadly pretty much the norm now.

GWS · Sep 8, 2018

So, is there a big gun show in Portland/ Vancouver area? In Washington state?

Mikej · Sep 8, 2018

GWS said:
After 1999, the gun shows in California sucked. The "Assault Weapons" ban, "safe" handgun roster and magazine restrictions had all gone into effect (Please vote "NO!" on I-1639). This essentially made the shows jerky, knife sharpener etc. flea markets. $10-$15 entry and another $10 to park for junk. Hence, I stopped going to gun shows in California over 15 years ago.
Now I'm up here in the great Northwest and I discover there's a gun show at the Vancouver Elks Lodge today.
So...Is it worth going to?

Keep an eye on the "Events and Get Together's" for gun show listings.
Events & Get Togethers

The Washugal gun show was today up the The Gorge.

The ARPC show in Albany is the 22nd-23rd. THAT'S a good one.

MilitantBEEMER · Sep 8, 2018

Eugene gun show was ok. There was a guy selling misc parts and mags, I scored a Wilson combat and a chip McCormick 1911 mag for $10 ea. Other than that there was very little at good prices.

AMT · Sep 8, 2018

The one at the Elks is very hit and miss. Free parking and $3 entry(?)

A couple years ago i went there to get out of the house and waste a little time. There was an RCBS rock chucker on this guys table. $20. I pull out my money and only had $16. He said "gimme $15. I don't want to take all your money".

Another time i was there and a military guy had a Ruger 10/22, synthetic stock, and stainless. He claimed it was used, but i couldn't tell. $150.

I also found an RCBS loading dies for 357AMP. $20.

Yes, it is very hit and miss.

GWS · Sep 16, 2018

Well, I wasn't impressed with the gun show at the Clark County Event Center. I went at about 1:30 today. Hardly any customers and the prices on ammo were ridiculous. I only saw 2 smallish signs against I-1639 and didn't even notice them till I was on my way out. They had plenty of the anti I-1639 fact cards but I wish I had my yard signs as I would have given it to them just to have a big sign for people to see as they entered.
At any rate, this reaffirms my belief that money spent at a gun show ($6 parking & $10 Entry) is better spent at my local gun stores.

Joe13 · Sep 16, 2018

GWS said:
Well, I wasn't impressed with the gun show at the Clark County Event Center. I went at about 1:30 today. Hardly any customers and the prices on ammo were ridiculous. I only saw 2 smallish signs against I-1639 and didn't even notice them till I was on my way out. They had plenty of the anti I-1639 fact cards but I wish I had my yard signs as I would have given it to them just to have a big sign for people to see as they entered.
At any rate, this reaffirms my belief that money spent at a gun show ($6 parking & $10 Entry) is better spent at my local gun stores.

Thanks for the follow up