Next gun show is in march.  What kind of things would you like to see and how can it be improved.

More fire sales.  But understandable since everything is mom and pop.

My main complaint is that I would like to see more information on who is selling the products at each table. I want to know how I can get a hold of them later. Some have a business card like DCT. All of their cards were gone by the time I got there at 2 pm Saturday. I'm sure they restocked for Sunday. HGS just got their banner fresh off the press and even the booth babe had a monogrammed t-shirt. X-ring has a massive sign showing who they are. I may not want to hand over the cash at the moment but I might soon after thinking about it. Usually, I wait until the next show and wonder if the seller/item will still be available.

A reloading clinic
Chicks who can shoot

Better advertising/ contact info of sponsors is a good idea, as is a reloading clinic.   Perhaps can charge people a reasonable amount to take them through the steps of reloading ammunition of their choosing?  The vendor could also possibly make extra sales on reloading equipment.  Or at the very least, perhaps one of the clubs could have a guy cranking out bullets nonstop, while someone else answers questions.  Great ideas!

Can't sell powders at the show  , so would this prevent a reloading clinic? They have conference rooms upstairs but can be pricey. I wonder if Blaisdell would allow powders in the rooms?

Can't sell powders at the show  , so would this prevent a reloading clinic? They have conference rooms upstairs but can be pricey. I wonder if Blaisdell would allow powders in the rooms?

not supposed to even have powder at the show
i highly doubt the management would be ok with someone actually producing ammo at the show
most people i know would not be willing to teach a public reloading class due to potential liability anyways...

Better advertising/ contact info of sponsors is a good idea, as is a reloading clinic.   Perhaps can charge people a reasonable amount to take them through the steps of reloading ammunition of their choosing?  The vendor could also possibly make extra sales on reloading equipment.  Or at the very least, perhaps one of the clubs could have a guy cranking out bullets nonstop, while someone else answers questions.  Great ideas!

Rules by Hawaii Historic Arms says no reloading or smithing.

Rules by Hawaii Historic Arms says no reloading or smithing.

Thanks, I didn't know all that. 

not supposed to even have powder at the show
i highly doubt the management would be ok with someone actually producing ammo at the show
most people i know would not be willing to teach a public reloading class due to potential liability anyways...

Interesting that gunpowder is seen as really bad and dangerous when there's tables with completed ammunition everywhere.  I'd think the ammunition with firearms everywhere is more potentially dangerous, as smokeless powder wont detonate if it's not compressed.... versus some looney tunes buying 357 ammo at one table, loading up a revolver at the next.

Is there a comparable powder material that could be used for demonstration purposes but flows like gun powder? Just gotta pull the bullets afterwards.

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond-Blasting-Abrasive-Misc/dp/B0000AXAUQ/ref=sr_1_1

Is bullet casting considered smithing according to HHA? Oldfart could sit outside and cast bullets all day long.

Is there a comparable powder material that could be used for demonstration purposes but flows like gun powder? Just gotta pull the bullets afterwards.

Is bullet casting considered smithing according to HHA? Oldfart could sit outside and cast bullets all day long.

sand.  lol   If primers are an issue, you can load using spent primers. 

I doubt they'd let you cast lead outside, gases poisonous. 

Thanks, I didn't know all that.

Neither did I.  A gun show is a place where you would be allowed to carry your firearm according to the law.  But HHA rules state not allowed. NBC doesn't not allow it.

If primers are an issue, you can load using spent primers. 

LOL. Got a lot of those...

Is there a comparable powder material that could be used for demonstration purposes but flows like gun powder? Just gotta pull the bullets afterwards.

Is bullet casting considered smithing according to HHA? Oldfart could sit outside and cast bullets all day long.

...
A static display of the casting and reloading process would be interesting.
I thought about doing that but it's pretty low on the priority list.

The prohibition on powder and operating loading equipment at the show has been in effect for decades.
Not likely to change in the future.

Change the venue to a more gun friendly CHEAPER place.

Get rid of the Displays Tables ,  I don't even pay attention to them..............More tables should be used for selling stuff.

Change the venue to a more gun friendly CHEAPER place.

Get rid of the Displays Tables ,  I don't even pay attention to them..............More tables should be used for selling stuff.

I agree though we are more focused on promoting our club activities such as shooting at Puuloa. We signed up 3 new members ver the weekend. We offer range days mostly once a month and we struggle just to find people to come out and shoot.
Most people I spoke to are not genuinely interested in shooting but more fond of telling me what they have and what their rifles are capable of doing rather than coming out to shoot at the range.
The crowd at the gun show are mainly buyers and not shooters. They have a safe full of firearms but are more fond of having them than using them regularly.
The M1 on display garnered more offers than questions of shooting it at distance.

The crowd at the gun show are mainly buyers and not shooters. They have a safe full of firearms but are more fond of having them than using them regularly.
The M1 on display garnered more offers than questions of shooting it at distance.

very true

I noticed most people are just buyers and don't shoot much or practice.  Hence the classified sales with lots of low round count guns.  I wonder if people just don't want to shoot or if they don't know how to train.

I always see a lot of interest in how to reload.  Could create a display with all of the equipment needed and do a short class on the costs, advantage/disadvantages of reloading, types of equipment, and how to get started.  If you wanted to demonstrate, tumbling media may work in lieu of gun powder.  I learned how to reload on my own and it took me a while learn while making lots of mistakes with spilled powder, squibs, disassembling dozens of reloads, etc.  Could do it as a seminar session.

A directory seems very simple to do.  A handout, listing on their webpage, or a poster you can take a pic of.

I like the displays.  There seems to be a general lack of knowledge for most gun owners and a lot of the times is the only way for them to learn something.  Maybe the gun show should be split up into sections...sales, displays, non-profits.

I don't know of any cheaper venues of that size on the island, unless it was held outdoors which would really suck. 

Loaded ammo is safer than powder/primers because it's harder to set off and doesn't really do anything if it did.  Think about airline rules.

Carry a loaded firearm at the gun show?  None of the clubs at Koko Head will let you carry off the firing line, even for those that advocate CCW.  And that's at a gun range.

More fire sales.  But understandable since everything is mom and pop.

There's not much incentive for businesses and sellers to do fire sales.  Why go through the trouble of going to a gun show to sell stuff at a loss after expenses are factored in.  SEC always has good ammo sales, but I don't think they make much money from it.  I try to sell different stuff at the lowest price I can and end up making about minimum wage for all the effort.  I do it to gain experience and knowledge and help my nephew learn about business.  Most people with gun show tables with displays, non-profits, and businesses do it for the enjoyment of doing it and helping to create the only gun show here.