Any good gun shops in the Birmingham, AL area?

[Lone_Gunman]

I lived in B'ham about 10 years ago, but I didn't have much money to spend on firearms back then. I am better off now, and will be going back for a visit there soon.

Are there any good gun shops in the area now? I remember a pretty good one in Bessemmer (I think), but can't remember the name.

Are there any shops there with an interest in old guns and reproductions?

 

[Cacique500]

Marks Outdoor Sports

Plaza Gunworks

The Gun Cellar

(in that order)

Not much in milsurp stuff - The Gun Cellar has milsurp ammo but it's $$$$$ (think 2x or 3x what you can get it for online)

Marks is by far the largest and busiest - normally has about 40 customers every time I'm in there. HUGE selection of modern rifles and an excellent HG selection (including high end like Nighthawk).

 

[Souris]

Simmons on 2nd ave Bessemer - Decent selection, fair prices and excellent Service. Also the only shop in Birmingham that carries reloading supplies
Marks Outdoors Hwy 31 Vestavia - Good selection of high end guns w/ moderate to High prices. Sales clerks can be pushy.
Gun Cellar Hoover hwy 150 and Hwy 31- fair selection w/ lots of hanguns. Used prices are fairly high.
Plaza Gun Roebuck corner of Ruffner rd and Hwy 11- not much selection but has some odd things and a few milsurps
Southeastern Guns Hwy 11 Trussville- good selection hit or miss prices and so so cutomer service
Southern Firearms Appraisels(SFA) Oak grove road Homewood- consignment shop with an odd and changing inventory and has a little of everything.
Jo Jo's gun and pawn- hit or mis on prices, customer service and selection.

No particular order. The ratings are from my experiences and may differ from yours.
My favorites are probably Simmons,SFA, and Mark's.

 

[Nicolai]

Don't know anything about Birmingham, but Larry's Pistol and Pawn in Huntsville was the best gun store I've ever been in. I lived in Huntsville from late 80's to 1996 and seemed to spend all my discretionary income there. Knowledgeable staff, great selection, good prices, on-site range, but I don't think they had a store mascot.

 

[nitesite]

Ala_Dan...

Care to add your thoughts??????

 

[ALHunter]

Since AlaDan hasn't made it yet, I'll plug Simmons Sporting Goods for him. I was a long time customer of Marks. Their poor customer service finally drove me off. Their prices weren't that great either. Simmons Sporting Goods in Bessemer is 20 more minutes of a drive, but worth every minute of it.

I'll second what Souris said about the Gun Cellar and Southeastern Firearms. I didn't even know about SFA in Homewood til I read Souris's post. I will check them out.

FWIW, Woods 'n Water in Tuscaloosa has a good selection. I was there in October and they had a great deal going on Benelli SBE II's. Customer service was good. Haven't purchased anything there and only been there that one time.

 

[greyhound]

Simmons and Mark's are both good. Mark's is always very, very crowded....

 

[smince]

I'll second Nicolai: it would probably be worth a day to go to Larry's. I go every time I'm in Huntsville, a little over an hour away from me. Usually busy, but a very good selection of most all types of guns (no NFA), plus an indoor range with rentals.

 

[CSA 357]

so many gun shops , so little cash!

 

[Jim Watson]

A Wayback Machine and a visit to Aeromarine Supply and Birmingham Loan.

 

[rick newland]

For the Huntsville area guys there is now a Gander Mountain one mile north from Larrys.

 

[smince]

there is now a Gander Mountain one mile north from Larrys.

I didn't think it opened until the 27th?

Thanks, Jim. I'd forgotten about Aeromarine!

 

[rick newland]

Gander Mountain opened this week. A guy I work with went there and it sounds like I should stay out of there for ahwile.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

If you are going back to B'ham you might want to get a gun before you get there.

That is the only place I have ever had to brandish a weapon in my entire civilian life.

Of course I wasn't in the best part of town at the time and that was 15 yrs ago.

 

[Ala Dan]

Of course, I partial to

Simmons sporting Goods, but there are other good gunshops
in the area; such as The Gun Cellar, Marks Outdoors, Woods & Water,
Pleasant Grove Gun Supply, The Pistol Parlor, and a few others. I know
most of the folks that own/run these shops; but I will stick with my all
time favorite:

Simmons Sporting Goods


Darn good prices, and fine folks runn'in the show~!

 

[smince]

Gander Mountain opened this week. A guy I work with went there and it sounds like I should stay out of there for ahwile.

Yep. Grand Opening is the weekend of the 27th. My error. Sale flyer in todays Huntsville Times.

 

[BB93YJ]

Was visiting my son in Hartselle last month, he took me to Larry's in Huntsville. I second the motion that it's the best gunshop I've ever been in. The owner himself yakked with me for about fifteen minutes, and that was with a store full of people. Wish it was a bit closer to Texarkana.