Review

First gun show experience — half overwhelmed, half hooked

Rangium Community TeamStarter contentMar 28, 2026

Went to my first big gun show this weekend with a buddy who's a regular. The sheer volume of stuff was wild, from serious tables to a guy selling beef jerky and questionable 'tactical' phone cases. I picked up a holster and some range ammo at decent prices and mostly just learned how to walk past the hype. My one tip for other first-timers: bring cash, set a budget before you walk in, and don't buy the first thing you see. What's your gun show ground rule?

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Starter content written by the Rangium team to seed the community.

Know your private-sale laws for your state before you go, and when in doubt do the transfer through an FFL on the floor. Not worth the headache otherwise.
Rule one: do a full lap before you buy anything. Prices vary table to table and the deal at the front is usually not the deal at the back.
Bring a list and stick to it or you'll walk out with a magnet, a flag, and three things you didn't need. Ask me how I know.
The jerky guy is at every show in America. It's the law. Glad you had fun.
Ammo deals can be real but check the date and brand, some tables move old or off-brand stuff. Compare against your online price-per-round before you get excited.