Your First Gun Show: A Complete Beginner's Guide

Before you go

Confirm the date and hours with the promoter — shows move more often than people expect. Plan to arrive right at opening on Saturday for the best selection, or Sunday afternoon for the best prices.

Bring cash in small bills, a photo ID, your carry permit if you have one, and a bore light. Many tables are cash-only or add a card fee, and ATM lines inside the hall are long and expensive.

Getting in the door

Admission usually runs $8 to $15 and often covers both days. Discounts for military, veterans, and law enforcement are common.

Any firearm you bring in to sell or trade must be unloaded and zip-tied at the entrance. Loose ammunition and loaded magazines are turned away at most shows.

Working the floor

Do one full lap before buying anything. Prices for the same model can vary by hundreds of dollars between tables in the same room.

Ask before you pick up a firearm. Keep it pointed in a safe direction, finger off the trigger, and do not dry-fire without permission.

For a used gun, check the bore with a light, look for uneven wear on the muzzle crown and locking lugs, work the action, and check that the serial numbers match on frame and slide where applicable.

Paperwork and legality

Buying from a licensed dealer at a show means the same Form 4473 and NICS background check as buying in that dealer's store. There is no exemption for gun shows.

Private-sale rules vary by state, and several states require every transfer to go through a licensed dealer. Check the rules for the state hosting the show before you plan a private purchase.

Negotiating

Haggling is expected, especially on used inventory and on Sunday when sellers would rather deal than repack. Bundling — a gun plus a holster plus ammo — gets better movement than asking for a flat discount.

Cash gets a better price than plastic almost every time. Ask 'what's your best cash price?' rather than naming a lowball number.