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Review of various guns shows in NE IL area?


buildbigboats

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While reading the "Reloaded vs Remanufactured" thread I saw a reference to Fox River Ammo. That lead me to their website which lead me to a listing of the various gun shows where they sell their wares.

That got me to wondering....

I am fairly new to the area and have yet to go to any of the local gun shows. Can anyone provide some feedback on the shows in McHenry, Crown Point, DuPage or Kane (or others I may have missed)? Of course it might be interesting to check them all out at some point but would like to get an idea of which to go to first.

Thanks in advance

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DuPage http://www.pvsashow.org typically 1st Sun of month. Dealers start leaving by 11:30 or so

 

Kane http://www.kanesportshow.com typically second Sunday of month. As with DuPage, many dealers start packing up noonish.

 

Both seem to have had fewer dealers this season. Havent been to the others

 

Once a year show in Joliet April 1st and 2nd

http://www.thecloegroupllc.com/speedway-show.html

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I like the McHenry County show. Fox River Ammo is always there if I'm looking to stock up on some range ammo and there's a variety of vendors there to make it interesting. It looks like it's at a new location this year but still run by the same folks.

Here's a link for gun shows in Illinois: https://gunshowtrader.com/gunshows/illinois/

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Thank for the info folks.

I did want to get an idea as to whether these were more like flea markets than the gun shows I had been to in VA. Didn't imagine any would be as large with such variety and quality (and no waiting period!) but wanted to ask.

RandyP...thats what I'll do. Pick closet one to start and see whats what.

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If you'll drive just a bit more, maybe 60 miles south of Joliet, check out the Bloomington show.

 

I went to the last one, it was my first time there, and it was very good. Next one isn't until July I think. It's worth the trip.

 

The Kankakee shows are pretty good, but a lot smaller than Bloomington. The same people run the race track shows in Joliet.

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DuPage http://www.pvsashow.org typically 1st Sun of month. Dealers start leaving by 11:30 or so

 

Kane http://www.kanesportshow.com typically second Sunday of month. As with DuPage, many dealers start packing up noonish.

 

Both seem to have had fewer dealers this season. Havent been to the others

 

Once a year show in Joliet April 1st and 2nd

http://www.thecloegroupllc.com/speedway-show.html

Gee hate to pick on a website but wow pva could use some help...

 

Zurko has taken the CADA over and running it with the civil war show in Dupage.

https://www.cadagunshow.com/

 

Sure would like to see that come back to life, the last "revision" also included modern firearms and ammo etc, I think that's still the case.

Fox River Ammo was at the last CADA but he didn't look to happy, there wasn't much to be happy about for anyone.

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I enjoy the DuPage and Kane gunshows maybe 2-3 times a year. I mostly just like seeing what's out there, hanging out with like-minded people, and getting an idea of prices.

 

My gripes are mostly these:

 

1). While most vendors are exceedingly friendly when they're not being overwhelmed with potential clients and keeping an eye on their wares, every now and again you run into someone (usually some old codger) with a God's gift to the gun show attitude. Let's just say there's not a lot of customer service mindset in these few individuals. I remember recently at the Kane County show finding a table with a bunch of pneumatic (CO2 and BB) guns on the table. As I have a small collection of these, mostly from the '80s, I asked him if he knew where I might get mine checked out and serviced as some have dry seals. He said 'yep' and turned away. I asked him a follow-up 'are you willing to share?' He responded with a 'nope' and that was the end of that conversation. Reckon he figured if I wasn't going to buy anything from him he didn't have time for me. Kinda spoiled the next 20 minutes of the show for me but I got over it. Fortunately experiences like this are rare.

 

2). Prices are usually steep. I figure I'm going to a gun show to find items that aren't normally stocked at my LGS but I don't expect to be paying full MSRP or even more for items that are not collector pieces or even particularly rare. That said, I did find a great deal on a Crimson Trace LaserGuard (green) for my M&P Shield ($150) and I was able to find a magazine or two for my A-Bolt Medallion .22. Otherwise the items I'm looking for are available on the internet for usually much better pricing. Purchasing firearms at a gun show is inconvenient with the waiting periods. I don't want to have to wait till next month's show to pick up my item or have to traipse dozens of miles to the store at then end of the waiting period. If I have to do that I expect considerably better pricing than MSRP.

 

3). I can't believe the number of tables that have nothing to do with hunting/shooting. From vendors selling subscriptions to food (like Seattle Sutton or Nutri-system) to sunglasses to cheap knives, to whatever else. The last time I was at the Kane County show I felt like I was at the Kane County Knife Show (slogan: we also have guns).

 

I like the Fox River Ammo booth, BAT arms has a very good selection for anything AR and good prices as well, I bought an upper from them, Hipshot is always a pleasure to run in to, and there's another table that sells magazines that has come through for me in the past although I think they have too many tables with too few people staffing them.

 

At any rate, I go more for the experience not expecting to buy something although I usually show up with a few hondo just in case. I have been occasionally surprised. Then it's out and off to church.

 

edit: Oh, and because I'm a sucker I always end up spending a bunch of money on raffle tickets. I never win anything except the warm glow of satisfaction that comes from supporting a worthy cause. That's usually offset by the fact that I never win anything...

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Gun prices at gun shows around here are usually anything but a bargain. That said, if you are on the sell side, and ask reasonable prices, you can really move some of the iron you want to part with. In fact, if you're selling guns actually priced to sell, you will stand out. That's been my experience.

 

There are a few FFL dealers with tables at these shows that will handle everything for you on a very reasonable % basis. (He's also collecting a transfer fee from the buyer) You just let the FFL/dealer know the minimum price you'll take for each gun. He'll do the rest.

 

At gun shows I'm always amazed at how few gun trades actually occur. These guys go back home every time with 99.99% of what they packed in. Maybe it's just an excuse for them to get out of the house. (You'd think they'd be less grouchy!) But like I said, if you're selling, at a realistic clearing price, you can go home with just cash.

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I wonder how many look at it as just another shop day, just at a remote location. They figure they'll have a much bigger customer pool at the gun show than they would if they'd opened the doors of their shop for the day. So, they figure they can charge their shop prices and hopefully something will sell due to the much larger base. It seems also to me that if they offered better prices they'd be moving the stuff they can't sell at their shop.

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What I have been told by a friend that does the antique and civil war shows he always has a table at those and it is about the same at the gun shows he says . I pay $ 40 - $ 60 for a table and bring just enough to fill the table and price high , not really intending to sell anything but if someone meets my price fine . I set up fast and I get early entry to look at all the good stuff first . Lots of sales take place before the place opens up to the public . All the good stuff or good priced stuff is gone when the doors open to the public . He said the stuff I have bought is worth the price I paid for a table because without that early entry I would not have obtained those items .

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I've been debating making the trip into Kane or DuPage. Not sure if it's worth it any more. Is DuPage really down to one building? Haven't been to a show in over 10 years. Back in the day (late 80s early 90s) we would go to the DuPage show almost religiously. Used to joke: some people go to church on Sunday morning, some go to the gun show. In the days before the Internet the gun shows were something.

Kane is closer so if it's a wash... Does DuPage still have those beef sandwiches? Haha

Maybe I'll make the trip to that Bloomington show some time

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What I have been told by a friend that does the antique and civil war shows he always has a table at those and it is about the same at the gun shows he says . I pay $ 40 - $ 60 for a table and bring just enough to fill the table and price high , not really intending to sell anything but if someone meets my price fine . I set up fast and I get early entry to look at all the good stuff first . Lots of sales take place before the place opens up to the public . All the good stuff or good priced stuff is gone when the doors open to the public . He said the stuff I have bought is worth the price I paid for a table because without that early entry I would not have obtained those items .

 

Regardless if it's CADA or Vegas all the good stuff/good priced is bought and sold sometimes several times before the show opens. Antiques are just different then modern firearms, everyone knows what a modern firearm is worth. Dealers will pick up collections and may not know all the details on a specific model/variation of a manufacture that another dealer or collector would know especially in many cases there simply isn't any records. If I can't make the setup at an antique show it's often just a social event however occasionally you can get lucky. I don't know how you would "fix" this it's also a perk / incentive to get people to come to the show. I haven't seen a $40-60 table at least for CADA for 20 years civil war show I don't know but add travel and hotel it's not cheap to do a show if your not local.

DuPage will be two buildings one for the civil war and one for the CADA however you only pay once for both shows.

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