The Missoula Show has been held at the University's Adam Center (basically the sports gym) for many years. Used to hold 800 tables, with a few adjoining rooms and the upstairs area full of tables.

This weekend, they had ALL of the tables in the main room. There was maybe 4' between tables, and MUCH diminished space BEHIND the rows of tables for the table holders. So EVERYONE was cramped.

You couldn't barely LOOK at anything without holding up others trying to walk down the narrow aisles. And You were constantly being nudged or bumped into, as there was NO damned room between tables.

Then add in; NO A/C, and it was 90+ yesterday. And ventilation there anyway is poor.

The guy who puts on the show either cheaped out and didn't rent the other rooms? OR who knows? No matter what....an unpleasant Show for ALL who attended.

I hate when a formerly enjoyable Show goes downhill. So few good ones remaining.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FN in MT,

Sounds like the college is trying to squeeze the show out. I have seen this at fairgrounds.

quote:

Originally posted by DSgrouse:
Sounds like the college is trying to squeeze the show out. I have seen this at fairgrounds.

Considering that Missoula is the Leftist armpit of Montana....THAT thought has been thrown out there.

The Mayor and City Council are all gun hating lefties too.

Still....Sad , as it used to be a great show.

quote:

The guy who puts on the show either cheaped out

Considering the attendance at the gun shows here, I'd bet the promoter didn't want to spend the money.

Don't tell me. Stinky people. Lousy food. Nazi gear. Crappy prices. Welcome to gun shows 2017!

The problem comes and goes. Dixon used to have pretty darn good shows at his National Gun Day. Now he can't get enough vendors to fill the halls, so he's given everyone more room. Gunshow vendors and patrons aren't the timid type. A while back we even got warned by the "new" owner of the S&W forum to take it easy on the guy. He'd somehow managed to squeeze in 2 additional rows. To every ones pain and suffering. Now that he's run his show down this far, he can't even fill the hall.

About 25 years ago they had a show down in far southern Kentucky. We'd never Been to that venue so we decided to take a road trip. We couldn't find the show. Asked a few "outdoorsy" looking guys in a filling station, but no joy. Finally a guy said it was a couple of miles up a road, out of town. Best darn show we'd seen in years. Lots of small vendors, all local guys. We were just relaxing when we heard a gun go off. Then another. Turns out they weren't welcome in town so the Legion hall was rented. Out of town, no laws against shooting. They had a cut out back, probably 20' high. Targets set up. Even a range officer (hillbilly) who demanded to see that your gun was empty before you were allowed back inside! It let you test shoot something before you bought it. The downside was the gun was then dirty.

Amen, rburg! Ten years ago we used to go as a group to the National Gun Day shows at the fairgrounds. When they squeezed you down so you could not go down the aisles one abreast we gave up. Making our group give up gun shows was no mean feat. I think this was when Dixon was trying to fund his political campaign.

quote:

Originally posted by p.d.:
I think this was when Dixon was trying to fund his political campaign.

It was kind of fun. He was running up in Ohio, so he bored us here in KY with his campaign talk. None of us voted for him because we couldn't.