If you spend much time at gun shows you’ll hear a lot of comments that make you raise your eyebrows. Some remarks and overexplaining moments might surprise you, but for the most part, the off-base things you hear at a gun show are predictable. We’ve chosen some of the most cringeworthy things we’ve heard at gun shows to share here. Check it out, then tell us what you think we missed in the comments.
“Put water in the nose of hollow point bullets for more power!”
More than a few times someone has come along talking about the practice of putting water in the nose of a hollow point, and then sealing it with wax. They describe it in excruciating detail, then lean in as they explain how this method creates a cannon ball-sized wound cavity and will stop any and all threats, up to and including rampaging elephants. This is because, on impact, your water-filled hollow point will explode dramatically (they say). One variation on this is using mercury rather than water in the nose of the bullet.
So, should you do it? No. Not only does this practice not have the effect some people believe it does but it can cause issues, too. Stop and imagine throwing a wax-covered round into your Glock. Where exactly do you think the wax is going? And whether you use water or mercury, it’s not going to help the performance of the round. In fact, it could cause it to fail. Technology has come a long way so even if it did work — which it doesn’t — there’s no point in trying. Our hollow points expand reliably, retain the majority of their weight, and create sizeable wound cavities, just the way they are.
“I don’t need a suppressor, I just grab a solvent trap!”
Let’s just be blunt and say “No.” Seriously, do NOT do this.
It’s not only at gun shows you hear people talking about the brilliance of getting a solvent trap and using it in place of a suppressor. By using this method they believe they’re saving all kinds of money and, of course, putting one over on the government. No federal agent is going to tell them what to do with their guns!
Here’s the lowdown on solvent traps:
Let’s consider whether they work before we get into the legalities. Can a solvent trap perform like a suppressor? Sort of. They won’t work as well or nearly as long as an actual factory suppressor. This one falls under sort-of-kind-of-works — for a while. Legally, the ATF classifies solvent traps as suppressors. So if you want to try this out, you’re going to need to fill out your Form 4 and pay your $200 stamp fee, then wait to see if you get approved. If you’re approved, you can go about making one. The ATF has been involved in court cases about solvent traps for over a decade and it’s unlikely to stop anytime soon.
A couple of side notes. The phrase “solvent trap” is now also applied to some do-it-yourself suppressor kits. These kits are parts that are factory-made, so they’re going to work better, but they also require the same Form 4, stamp fee, and approval from the ATF.
In short, stay away from so-called solvent traps. They’re a bad idea all the way around.
“Those AR-15 guns are unreliable. When I was in ‘Nam…”
This one’s something we’d all do well to remember. Say it with me: Technology advances with time. The platform or system you saw as a huge failure years ago can be fixed and work fantastically in the future. The most common system that gets routinely insulted at gun shows is the AR-15. This usually involves remarks about the M16 or M4 and how the gun failed horribly in Vietnam, so it can’t be trusted today (or just isn’t worth the time).
Did the M16 fail in Vietnam? Yes. This was back when it was a brand-new platform that still needed some tweaking, and on top of that, the soldiers weren’t being trained in its use. It’s true that there were serious issues with the platform at that time. However, those issues were resolved and the military continued utilizing the M16 and M4 in combat for decades.
Plus, the AR-15 isn’t the same as an M16 or M4. At all. Not only is it a different, semi-automatic platform — as opposed to the military’s full auto platforms — but it’s been refined repeatedly over time. Today’s AR-15s are accurate, reliable, and easy to maintain.
“It’s okay, it’s not loaded.”
It is physically impossible to attend a gun show without seeing guns being waved around like starter’s flags. People are sweeping one another, gun safety gets thrown out the window, and there’s going to be random dry firing. Something that seems especially prevalent at gun shows is the display of the belief that it’s either totally fine to aim a gun at someone if it’s not loaded, or that because it’s a gun show, it must not be loaded (and this person never checks).
I have news for you! Aside from the fact that one of the golden rules of gun safety is that guns are loaded at all times and should be treated as such, it’s not at all unheard of for a randomly loaded gun to find its way into a gun show. Even when they do door checks and zip-tie chambers, it happens.
Let’s make it easy. All guns are always loaded. It is not overreacting to immediately deal with someone who thinks it’s okay to wave a gun around. Of course, you can also just leave the area. How you deal with it is up to you.
“I’ve been around guns all my life.”
This line is usually spoken by someone who knows nothing about guns. These are the people who believe they learned all they need to know because there was an old shotgun in a hall closet, or because they sometimes went deer hunting. For the sake of space, we’ll include the idea that having been in the military or law enforcement makes someone an expert in guns. Nothing could be further from the truth.
We all learn at different rates and have various areas of knowledge — and there’s always more to learn. Assuming you’re good to go because you grew up around guns, or were in the military or law enforcement, is setting yourself up to fail. The same goes for assuming that someone in your life is an expert for those reasons. It doesn’t work that way. Developing real skills with firearms takes time and training beyond what you’re going to get just having been around guns or shooting the occasional qualification. Perhaps the worst part of this mindset is that it creates dangerous situations because the person saying it doesn’t acknowledge how little they really know, or that there are gaps in their knowledge.
There’s always more to learn. Always. Don’t shortchange yourself or others by believing you’re totally fine for whatever reason. And above all, be safe.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve heard at a gun show? Tell us in the comments.
