Indy 1500 Gunshow why you are or are not going.

[KellyinAvon]

View attachment 81428

I should've not invoked the theme song from a near-50 year old sitcom with this crowd.

 

[fullmetaljesus]

I should've not invoked the theme song from a near-50 year old sitcom with this crowd.

True story I have the vinyl record with the theme song and a few other songs from the show.

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

For me renting tables and interacting with the public was enlightening. I learned what sold and why gun makers offer such schlock instead of quality. People want schlock, free if they can get it, crap if they have to buy it.

I learned about the degree of mental illness (austism spectrum) in the gun culture. e.g. I have a habit of holding my thumb and 2 fingers up when I sign 3 instead of the more American way of the middle 3 fingers (like a W). I almost started a panic all 3 days by gun show attendees who were scared out of their wits by something different of witnessing me throw up 3 fingers. One guy asked me if that was a "gang sign" between panic breaths. He had to sit down.

I've dealt with autism a lot in my profession but did not, until that show, realize how common it is in the gun culture. Nothing dangerous, I just had been blind to it as I was buying not selling.

I think every gun owner should be on that side of the table, you learn a lot.

That is the way Europeans display numbers with their hand. Thumb is one. Then they add a finger for each additional number. Thumb and two fingers is three. I do it the same way.

 

[fullmetaljesus]

For me renting tables and interacting with the public was enlightening. I learned what sold and why gun makers offer such schlock instead of quality. People want schlock, free if they can get it, crap if they have to buy it.

I learned about the degree of mental illness (austism spectrum) in the gun culture. e.g. I have a habit of holding my thumb and 2 fingers up when I sign 3 instead of the more American way of the middle 3 fingers (like a W). I almost started a panic all 3 days by gun show attendees who were scared out of their wits by something different of witnessing me throw up 3 fingers. One guy asked me if that was a "gang sign" between panic breaths. He had to sit down.

I've dealt with autism a lot in my profession but did not, until that show, realize how common it is in the gun culture. Nothing dangerous, I just had been blind to it as I was buying not selling.

I think every gun owner should be on that side of the table, you learn a lot.

Wait. A guy had to sit down bc of how you displayed 3 fingers?

 

[4sarge]

Parking and admission costs are too high, that's mainly why I rarely attend this show. I still go once in a while, but I just don't get excited about it. Lots of non-gun related flea market junk too. 20+ years ago when there were multiple stocking NFA dealers at the show and no flea market junk, it was one of the best shows around and I always looked forward to it - bought lots of stuff too. Nowadays I find just as much good stuff at the small shows and without the high cost of parking and admission that the 1500 charges.

Cost is Prohibitive and now live 2 hrs away. 20 Dollars in the Hole before I've even Purchased Anything. Louisville & Knob Creek had Better Shows. Have not been there for awhile.

 

[BJones]

The gun show is not what it once was. I am amazed the the Indy 1500 management has not moved to a better venue. The fairgrounds is just awful and expensive, if you can get parking within a mile, there is a good bet when you get back to your car it has been broken into or hit by someone who parked to close. With the admission cost and the parking fees, I would rather add that money to my next gun or ammo purchase. The local gun shops have way better deals than the 1500 gun show and you can get ammo online at better prices delivered to your door. It was fun years ago, but I would not bother attending as long as its at the Fairgrounds.

 

[drillsgt]

Because that is what sells, crap. I rented tables there November of 2018 and expressed the frustration when I ran into the trash tier seekers.

$400 is the max out of an ATM so that is what moves. Just the reality of the market there.

I did not let it stop me. Got a lot of trading done and made real progress on the armory.

I went to the show, it wasn't bad I saw some good deals here and there but nothing I really wanted that badly. I was going to take a couple to sell but they are higher end so I knew I would never sell them so I ended up not taking them. You're right about the price point, about 400-500's the sweet spot much like the INGO classifieds.

 

[Sheriff Dave]

I should've not invoked the theme song from a near-50 year old sitcom with this crowd.

Loved that show, many today could learn from it Lol.

 

[Flash-hider]

Wait. A guy had to sit down bc of how you displayed 3 fingers?

Maybe because the fella was so amazed to see a Proctologist looking for business at a gun show.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Wait. A guy had to sit down bc of how you displayed 3 fingers?

Not only sit down but he was sucking wind and shaking.

I did not know he was on the spectrum. I would not have done it had I known. I had a person the spectrum run to my office bathroom and refuse to come out as I talked loudly (I can project) over a beeping trash truck outside my window.

People on the spectrum like that are not dangerous, but "off" or "different" to most of us. Just something to be aware of when dealing with the gun public.

 

[KokomoDave]

It would seem I got out of the biz of setting up at the right time. I sold out to Applied Ballistics and have never been back since. It was fun when I would set up next to Lee Koch (RIP) and meet all the Purdue shooting club kids he sponsored. He sold Swiss Army, Spyderco, etc and I had the Emersons. A LOT of water has passed since those days. Most attendees don't even remember me anymore. I'm just another dumb Korean Hillbilly.

 

[BLindzy]

Well, I had planned on going, but the wife made other plans for me... Next time I guess.

 

[MillenniumC5]

Not going because they put these plastic thingys on my carry gun that I have to cut off once I get inside to put my loaded magazine back in... Shall NOT be INFRINGED

 

[ar15_dude]

I went Friday, only to find lots of missing tables and a sparse crowd.

1500 ain’t what it used to be, but I’ll attend because it is likely the biggest show in IN.

Guess I just like gun shopping enough to put up with all the negatives: parking and entry fees, disarming at door, bad neighborhood, etc.

 

[ront1960]

broke and had to work. I like to go a couple times a year if I can. I enjoy looking at everything.

 

[wb3beader]

Haven't been in a few years. Cost of parking on the fairgrounds is ridiculous at $8. Cost to get in Indy 1500 is also too much. Generally have to wait in a long line to get in and once inside it's too crowded. Needs to be cheaper and in a larger place so we can view over priced guns and accessories plus all the flea market crap! Just my opinion...

 

[shawnppickett]

Not going because of the crowds, costs, and my experience at the smaller shows was there wasn't much in the way of deals to be had.

 

[Trigger Time]

It would seem I got out of the biz of setting up at the right time. I sold out to Applied Ballistics and have never been back since. It was fun when I would set up next to Lee Koch (RIP) and meet all the Purdue shooting club kids he sponsored. He sold Swiss Army, Spyderco, etc and I had the Emersons. A LOT of water has passed since those days. Most attendees don't even remember me anymore. I'm just another dumb Korean Hillbilly.

I remember you. Fun times man

 

[hANNAbONE]

I like the November show and enjoy the 1500 in general. However, I am not looking to buy or sell much of anything right now and sciatica is keeping me from getting around much anyway.

Not going either, I can go to several different gun shops and see and fondle what I am looking for instead of going to a crowded & expensive gun 'show' that has mostly used iron that I don't care about. Thy rarely have what I want and their prices aren't any better than the local gun shop I frequent.

Sorry to hear you are somewhat down, Snorko.
I hope you get well soon.

 

[ACC]

I never ended up making it. Did anyone see a vendor there selling plate racks?