Vintage Gunners Cup 2024?

[Dr Bob]

Bill is right about the Vendor list. The Lefever Arms Collectors Association is listed. We have not yet committed to the new venue. We are waiting to see what the response is and how many plan to show up.

[Mills]

I enjoyed the year we had the PGCA annual meeting at Hopkins. To me, the best thing is seeing folks in person and getting to visit

[Dr Bob]

Harry is right in that there should be some reach out to an accessible mid-west/east of the Mississippi with a multi-day event like the Southern or Northeast (Haussman's). You need more than one day to attract vendors who hope to sell something or collectors associatios with a display or manufacturers competition. The far Upper Peninsula shoots are too far away to justify traveling for a 1 day expo.

[Dean Romig]

I would definitely travel to Ohio for a 3-day event.





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[Craig Larter]

I think the days of attracting vendors to outdoor gun exhibits are behind us, three reasons, travel expense, vintage gun auctions and the internet marketplace. The main reason to attend in present times is to shoot and visit with friends. However, if Guyette and Deeter scheduled a gun auction on the same weekend as a Vintagers event at Pintail that would be a big success in my opinion. Dealers could set-up in the auction parking lot or tables sold at the auction facility. This is the formula G&D has used for their decoy auctions for years.

[Bill Murphy]

I disagree with Craig on about all points he makes. Sorry, Craig, but running two major check writing events several miles apart on the same day or weekend makes no sense at all. I have been at G&D auctions in Maryland for decades and no parking lot swap meet has ever been held while the auction is in progress. Maybe somewhere else, but not in Maryland. I am editing this post to say that my comments refer to parking lot events and did not mention the tables set up inside the building in the side room at G&D auctions. However, there is no parking lot event during the auction. Sorry for not fully explaining my post, Craig.

[Craig Larter]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

I disagree with Craig on about all points he makes. Sorry, Craig, but running two major check writing events several miles apart on the same day or weekend makes no sense at all. I have been at G&D auctions in Maryland for decades and no parking lot swap meet has ever been held while the auction is in progress. Maybe somewhere else, but not in Maryland.

They always have tables for dealers that are open for business during the auction.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Harry Gietler

IF What you are saying is thru, The Southern would be ''No More''. Most of the guys I know go their for the Vendors First, than the Shooting. Take away half the vendors, and attendance would Drop Sharply. Look what happened at the North East!

Harry

P.S. The Guys at the Southern Also Buy from the Vendors.

Well over 90% of the guys I know go to the Southern to shoot. Shopping is secondary. If they do look through the tents it’s for a very specific item or they look in the parking lots for good deals that walk-ins bring to sell.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Harry Gietler

Well you said it right their, 90% of the guys you know ''IF THEY LOOK'' thru the tents, ''IF''. That is the reason to go West Ward, most of the guys you know are most likely from the Far North East, AND DON'T BUY and don't even go into the Tents or Pavilions.

Harry

Uh no , he knows a good many from down south and the Midwest . Look it’s no secret you go to these things to sell and make money . So if you’re unhappy with table pricing take it up with the places you wanna go . Correct me if I’m wrong but Mike allows anyone to display and or sell at his place at no cost .

[Ed Blake]

Unfortunately the shooting at the Southern is not that good if you are not participating in the Challenge Cup. The course at Deep River is always crowded and the targets never seem to change. Wait times at the stations can be excessive. Lots of guys shoot nearby courses Thursday and Friday rather than suffer through the waits and crowd at Deep River. Hopkins will have better shooting and Rock Mountain has some of the coolest targets I’ve ever shot. I look forward to Hopkins this Fall and Rock Mountain this summer. Management at Hopkins knows how to put on a shoot. The folks at the Vintagers last year didn’t have a clue. As far as vendors go, the Southern has the best venue by far. I hope Hopkins will be well attended by both shooters and vendors.