Texas International Firearms Festival

Machineguntony · September 10, 2014, 12:31 AM

Anyone in central Texas going to the Texas International Firearms Festival?

I was told that there would be some silencer dealers there, and that there would be demos available to shoot.

So, I guess no one is going

burrhead · September 10, 2014, 08:54 PM

Admission is $59 for one day, $90 for two. Not sure who their market target is. I'm not going.

**JohnKSa** · September 11, 2014, 12:50 AM

I imagine their target audience is anyone who likes shooting & guns.

"...shoot the latest guns from FN, GLOCK, Taurus, SIG SAUER, Mossberg, Barrett, Beretta, McMillan Firearms, Springfield Armory, Henry Repeating Arms, Armalite, PWS, Underground Tactical and Tracking Point for one low price ($59 for one day, $95 for two days). Guess what? That includes ammo!"

That's 14 companies with guns available to shoot for anyone who has a ticket. I think I could probably get $60 worth of enjoyment from that.

If I go to a range to try out a bunch of guns, I'm going to pay maybe $15 for the range fee. Then, each gun I rent is going to cost me at least a few bucks--let's say $2 per gun--that's about as low as I can imagine. Rental ranges make you buy their ammo to use in their guns so figure at least another $2 bucks per rental gun. Let's assume you bring your own targets so you don't have to buy any at the range. So after a range trip like that, where you try out 14 different guns, you'd pay about $77 after tax.

Even without getting to try a lot of different guns, just going to the range to shoot a couple hundred rounds of 9mm will cost more than the $59 ticket. 200 rounds of 9mm will run you at least $50 before tax. Throw in the range fee and tax and you're easily over $60.

There is also supposed to be some entertainment provided--at least one exhibition shooter. Also other exhibits--something like a gun show.

Yup, I agree, it sounds like a real ripoff...

CowTowner · September 11, 2014, 08:19 AM

Oh yeah, TSRA members get a discount as well.

Brian Pfleuger · September 11, 2014, 11:38 AM

I'd gladly pay that fee... if I were in Texas.

Theohazard · September 11, 2014, 11:54 AM

Yeah, if I still lived in Texas I'd gladly pay that much to go. $59 a day, ammo included? That sounds like a great deal to me.

viciouskitty · September 11, 2014, 10:23 PM

Sounds like fun! It looks like me and my buddies may have to carpool up there!

Machineguntony · September 11, 2014, 11:05 PM

Awesome! I will be there. I am very interested in this.

Bozz10mm · September 11, 2014, 11:58 PM

Is it near Austin?

**JohnKSa** · September 12, 2014, 12:34 AM

It's actually in Liberty Hill which is about 35 miles north and a little west from the center of downtown Austin.

Machineguntony · September 12, 2014, 11:09 AM

I just realized something. There are expecting 5,000 people per day, with dozens of exhibitors. The organizers claim that 30 bays will be available for shooting demos.

I am a member of Best of the West, and they do not have 30 bays. I guess they could have 30 bays if they partitioned or segmented the pistol, rifle, and clays range. 30 bays among 5000 people may be a long wait to demo stuff.

I hope this event is successful and they return every year.

Machineguntony · November 3, 2014, 08:31 PM

I will be at the Texas International Firearms Festival this weekend.

Anyone else going to be there?

Machineguntony · November 9, 2014, 05:18 PM

I just got back from the Texas International Gun Fest. Took some pics. Shot some fun stuff.

Machineguntony · November 9, 2014, 05:26 PM

I shot a slide fire for the first time.

As an owner of F/A firearms, I was one of those guys who poo-pooed the slide fire stocks, even though I had never used one.

After demoing the slide fire at the TIGFest, my opinion has changed. It is actually a very brilliant idea. Other than for the fact that the slide fire shooter holds the forend in a forward manner, the slide fire replicates full auto fire nearly perfectly.

It is very simple to use, requires nothing more than an explanation (doesn't require practice, if you've ever shot a gun). The slide fire does not require force or strength to shoot; actually a soft touch makes the slide fire work better.

If there is one chance of removing F/A firearms from the 'uncommon and unusual' designation, the slide fire stock will surely help. It truly is full auto for the masses.

Machineguntony · November 9, 2014, 05:59 PM

I am a big fan of the guys at Silencer Shop. They give the NFA and firearms business a good name. They are friendly, professional, and won't look down on you if you are a firearms newbie. And they have awesome prices.

The main complaint I have about the whole event was that VIP was a bit underwhelming. VIP had two main benefits: catered lunch from 11-2 and closer parking. However, the parking benefit was minimal, as you can see from the pic of the entire parking lot that I posted above. It wasn't much of walk even from the back.

The organizers should have made a VIP line for demos. That would have been worth the price of VIP. The wait to demo items was way too long/slow. Hopefully, next year, they implement the idea of a line for VIPs next year, or else there is really no reason to buy the VIP pass.

I would say the most important thing is to get more exhibitors. It felt a bit empty.

Overall, I really enjoyed it.

It was a first year exhibit, and hopefully next year's is 10x better. We need more of these events in central Texas.

**JohnKSa** · November 9, 2014, 08:33 PM

Maybe it will grow. I'd like to make it down there for one but this year was a no-go for me.

September 10, 2014, 12:31 AM	#1
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	Texas International Firearms Festival Anyone in central Texas going to the Texas International Firearms Festival? I was told that there would be some silencer dealers there, and that there would be demos available to shoot. So, I guess no one is going __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x Last edited by Machineguntony; September 10, 2014 at 11:00 AM.

September 10, 2014, 08:54 PM	#2
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	Admission is $59 for one day, $90 for two. Not sure who their market target is. I'm not going. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

September 11, 2014, 12:50 AM	#3
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,972	I imagine their target audience is anyone who likes shooting & guns. "...shoot the latest guns from FN, GLOCK, Taurus, SIG SAUER, Mossberg, Barrett, Beretta, McMillan Firearms, Springfield Armory, Henry Repeating Arms, Armalite, PWS, Underground Tactical and Tracking Point for one low price ($59 for one day, $95 for two days). Guess what? That includes ammo!" That's 14 companies with guns available to shoot for anyone who has a ticket. I think I could probably get $60 worth of enjoyment from that. If I go to a range to try out a bunch of guns, I'm going to pay maybe $15 for the range fee. Then, each gun I rent is going to cost me at least a few bucks--let's say $2 per gun--that's about as low as I can imagine. Rental ranges make you buy their ammo to use in their guns so figure at least another $2 bucks per rental gun. Let's assume you bring your own targets so you don't have to buy any at the range. So after a range trip like that, where you try out 14 different guns, you'd pay about $77 after tax. Even without getting to try a lot of different guns, just going to the range to shoot a couple hundred rounds of 9mm will cost more than the $59 ticket. 200 rounds of 9mm will run you at least $50 before tax. Throw in the range fee and tax and you're easily over $60. There is also supposed to be some entertainment provided--at least one exhibition shooter. Also other exhibits--something like a gun show. Yup, I agree, it sounds like a real ripoff... __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

September 11, 2014, 08:19 AM	#4
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	Oh yeah, TSRA members get a discount as well. __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

September 11, 2014, 11:38 AM	#5
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I'd gladly pay that fee... if I were in Texas. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

September 11, 2014, 11:54 AM	#6
Theohazard Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2012 Location: Western PA Posts: 3,829	Yeah, if I still lived in Texas I'd gladly pay that much to go. $59 a day, ammo included? That sounds like a great deal to me. __________________ 0331: "Accuracy by volume."

September 11, 2014, 10:23 PM	#7
viciouskitty Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 316	Sounds like fun! It looks like me and my buddies may have to carpool up there!

September 11, 2014, 11:05 PM	#8
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	Awesome! I will be there. I am very interested in this. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x

September 11, 2014, 11:58 PM	#9
Bozz10mm Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2013 Location: Central Texas Posts: 287	Is it near Austin?

September 12, 2014, 12:34 AM	#10
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,972	It's actually in Liberty Hill which is about 35 miles north and a little west from the center of downtown Austin. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

September 12, 2014, 11:09 AM	#11
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	I just realized something. There are expecting 5,000 people per day, with dozens of exhibitors. The organizers claim that 30 bays will be available for shooting demos. I am a member of Best of the West, and they do not have 30 bays. I guess they could have 30 bays if they partitioned or segmented the pistol, rifle, and clays range. 30 bays among 5000 people may be a long wait to demo stuff. I hope this event is successful and they return every year. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x

November 3, 2014, 08:31 PM	#12
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	I will be at the Texas International Firearms Festival this weekend. Anyone else going to be there? __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x

November 9, 2014, 05:18 PM	#13
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	I just got back from the Texas International Gun Fest. Took some pics. Shot some fun stuff. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x Last edited by Machineguntony; November 9, 2014 at 07:22 PM.

November 9, 2014, 05:26 PM	#14
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	I shot a slide fire for the first time. As an owner of F/A firearms, I was one of those guys who poo-pooed the slide fire stocks, even though I had never used one. After demoing the slide fire at the TIGFest, my opinion has changed. It is actually a very brilliant idea. Other than for the fact that the slide fire shooter holds the forend in a forward manner, the slide fire replicates full auto fire nearly perfectly. It is very simple to use, requires nothing more than an explanation (doesn't require practice, if you've ever shot a gun). The slide fire does not require force or strength to shoot; actually a soft touch makes the slide fire work better. If there is one chance of removing F/A firearms from the 'uncommon and unusual' designation, the slide fire stock will surely help. It truly is full auto for the masses. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x Last edited by Machineguntony; November 9, 2014 at 05:41 PM.

November 9, 2014, 05:59 PM	#15
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	I am a big fan of the guys at Silencer Shop. They give the NFA and firearms business a good name. They are friendly, professional, and won't look down on you if you are a firearms newbie. And they have awesome prices. The main complaint I have about the whole event was that VIP was a bit underwhelming. VIP had two main benefits: catered lunch from 11-2 and closer parking. However, the parking benefit was minimal, as you can see from the pic of the entire parking lot that I posted above. It wasn't much of walk even from the back. The organizers should have made a VIP line for demos. That would have been worth the price of VIP. The wait to demo items was way too long/slow. Hopefully, next year, they implement the idea of a line for VIPs next year, or else there is really no reason to buy the VIP pass. I would say the most important thing is to get more exhibitors. It felt a bit empty. Overall, I really enjoyed it. It was a first year exhibit, and hopefully next year's is 10x better. We need more of these events in central Texas. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x

November 9, 2014, 08:33 PM	#16
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,972	Maybe it will grow. I'd like to make it down there for one but this year was a no-go for me. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?