HGCA Show Jan 21-22 Questions

[jkchan83]

Hi All,

I was planning to go to the HCGA show this weekend at Reliant, but I have a couple of questions for those who have been before:

1. Any chance that vendor turn-out will be hurt by the SHOT Show being this week, too?

2. Any regulars who deal in optics? For example, does SWFA come down for this show? I am eyeing their 5-20x for my new .308.

Thanks for the input.

 

[matefrio]

The only thing shot show will do is reduce the folks working at the tables. I doubt it.

I think SWFA stopped doing gun shows years ago.

 

[shipwreck]

We'll just have to see about the vendor turnout. But yea, there may just be less people at each table instead of an entire vendor being gone

 

[Mikewood]

I doubt you will notice any change. SHOT is kind of a draw for the entertainment value but the money is made at the show. Besides the new guns won't be out in quantity till after spring.

 

[Glockster69]

Anyone go to this show?

if so

How did it compare to last Octobers show?

 

[shooterfpga]

nope didnt have money for it. tryna sell my rra 20" a2 upper for a 20" a4 upper.

 

[SC-Texas]

All the venders were at shot ordering next years inventory.

 

[matefrio]

Anyone go to this show?

if so

How did it compare to last Octobers show?

Just as busy. Some of the vendors were dog tired from the shot show though.

 

[Acera]

Real busy when I was there. Good turnout and there were lots of deals to be had walking in the door. A buddy managed to get a few as he worked the show from people showing up and selling. I just missed a deal on a real clean Springfield M1903 for about $600. A lot of folks sitting in chairs filling out paperwork at the bigger vendors. The bullet man was there for the first time in years, with ammo cans filled with bulk projectiles. Got 1K loose .45, 185gr JHP for $165 cash as I left. Number of guns I was looking for were not to be found, Joseph Smith and his Johnson rifles was not there, did not see a single CZ .22 auto-loading rifle, no Browning Renaissance pistols (want a Hi-Power in a used, as in already fired 90% example).

Historical displays were good. A few WWII vets signing stuff at tables.

Lot of stuff going on at Reliant, so parking was hit and miss with the other shows crowds.

I will probably make the trip again tomorrow and take my time walking the show, had a companion that wanted to see everything at a quicker pace than I normally travel it.

 

[Glockster69]

Thanks for the info matefrio & Acera. I was busy today but hope to make the show tomorrow.

 

[shooterfpga]

how much is it total, parking, entrance fee? i may try to go sell an upper and lmt mws tomorrow.

edit: per the other reliant thread its $18 total?

 

[TwinGlocks]

It was my first time going to this show. It was better then the gun shows at GBR. I picked up a scoped Mosin Nagant and a K98 Mauser.

how much is it total, parking, entrance fee? i may try to go sell an upper and lmt mws tomorrow.

$10 is you park at Reliant Park. Entry Fee to the show is $8.

 

[shooterfpga]

It was my first time going to this show. It was better then the gun shows at GBR. I picked up a scoped Mosin Nagant and a K98 Mauser.



$10 is you park at Reliant Park. Entry Fee to the show is $8.

thank you. if i can get there tomorrow it will be my first time at any shows here. hopefully i can make it and someone buys my stuff.

 

[jkchan83]

Will be there Sunday. First time to an HCGA show. Looking forward to it.

 

[jtriron]

Be warned ... an iced tea and pretzel cost me 10.75.

 

[Glockster69]

Eat 1st!!! ... gotcha jtriron

 

[benenglish]

Eat 1st!!! ... gotcha jtriron

Good advice.

I picked up a MKI Ruger .22 auto at a decent price. I also got a highly-collectible full box of AMU-loaded .38 wadcutters for $65 and a few other minor items.

Some notable memories and sightings -

• Winchester 43, circa 1938, in decent shape for $1295.
• 3 H&K P9C pistols at different tables for $700. One guy had one of the same for $1120 but everything on that table was way high. That guy also had an XP100 original stock (You know, the ones we threw away for years and nobody should be crazy enough to pay more than $50 for) for $125. He actually had that cheap, plastic pistol stock wired into his alarm array as if it were a firearm. Just plain idiotic.
• One vendor had exactly the sort of pistol I like, a German falling-block free pistol of pre-WWII style. Unfortunately, the frame was sized for a 10-year-old girl and the price, at $1995, was too high.
• One guy near the front had what looked like a Goncz carbine. He had some Class III stuff on his table and given the year (1984) Goncz started production, I suppose it's possible that they made a full-auto or two. If they did, those would be really, really rare. But I still had a very hard time taking seriously a $125,000 price tag prominently displayed on a 9mm blowback-operated carbine.

One complaint - The show was supposed to last until 5PM. A number of vendors were in full "pack up and run" status by 1:30. By 3, a noticeable number of tables were abandoned. When I left right after 4PM, I'd guess that around one-third were either completely gone or were so busy packing they couldn't effectively do business. I know there's always some tension between show operators and vendors on this issue, but this show was much worse than it should have been in this regard.

 

[shipwreck]

Shramm was not there (a big vendor), and I wanna say. That one other large vendor wasn't there, but I'm not sure which one it was...

 

[Acera]

Shramm was not there (a big vendor), and I wanna say. That one other large vendor wasn't there, but I'm not sure which one it was...

You might be thinking about SOG Armory, they were absent.

I don't remember seeing Bachman Pawn out of Dallas either.

The older guy that has a bunch of hard to find magazines was not there. The guy with the big "Clips" sign was, but he is more mainstream in his inventory.

I think the SHOT show had an impact, a lot of dealers who attended were tired. Some might not have made the trip due to having just gotten back from Vegas.

 

[jkchan83]

You might be thinking about SOG Armory, they were absent.

I think the SHOT show had an impact, a lot of dealers who attended were tired. Some might not have made the trip due to having just gotten back from Vegas.

SOG Armory was there. They had a very tired bunch on the right hand side about halfway up when I was there on Sunday. I only recall about 5 or 6 AR-15's on their table.