Favorite and least favortie gun shops

[-v-]

Coal Creek Armoury, Knoxville Tennesse - Great customer service, nice indoor range. Selection of handguns can sometimes be a little hit-or-miss, depending on the time of year and inventory. Currently do SAIGA-12->12K conversions.

Tucker Gun, Atlanta, Ga - Good customer service, staff is very friendly, but prices are iffy. The guy who does the internet sales is rightfully kept locked up in a small room. Usually most of their stuff is about $50-100 over what it can be had on the 'net for. Great selection of CZ's, but again $100 or so above what the internet going price is at. However, have great selection of handguns and interesting long-gun selection, including a 1912 Mosin rifle, complete with Imperial Russian proofing marks that I unfortunately passed on.

Another small place on Kingston Pike in Knoxville, whose name eludes me. Friendly staff, very pro-1911. Good selection of long-arms, small but passable selection of handguns with the most popular major brands in stock. Very good stock of accessories.

Not so liked:

Chuck's Guns - Buckhead area of Atlanta is the 8 circle of traffic hell. The owner came across as already knows what you are going to get, even if you don't. Also if you don't come packing wads of cash, don't soil his carpet and just stay out.

 

[McCall911]

Alabama
Simmons Sporting Goods, Bessemer

+1.
I live in east Alabama, but it's too far for me to go to Simmons Sporting Goods regularly.

However, I do like http://www.marksoutdoorsports.com/ despite the occasional wait. It's crowded for a reason.

 

[Deer Hunter]

A very small, but amazing shop.

The Store
in Cushing, TX.

 

[ArmedSkeptic]

Not so good - I have had both bad and good experiences at Greentop. I would stay away totally but they have such a large selection. But one more bad experience and I am probably gonna avoid it more than I already do.

Good - De Goffs. they took their time explaining a few things. I didn't buy the gun I came in for originally but i did get a couple of other long guns and supplies.

 

[WayneConrad]

ske1etor, How did you get first-hand knowledge of that many gun shops in that many states?

Least favorite: Lone Wolf, Glendale, AZ (I think they've moved a few blocks East and may be in Phoenix now). Won't darken their doorstep.

Favorite, believe it or not: Sportsman's Warehouse, I-17 and loop-101, Phoenix, AZ. The guys behind the counter are top notch. Especially Bob Buffa. Beyond compare.

 

[Furncliff]

Jean's Westerner, Montrose, Co. ... While the gun counter only accounts for a small part of this store, they do have a bit of everything. They have done special orders for me, no problem. They have a reloading section, but no used guns. The staff is their ace. Nice people and knowledgeable.


Tom

 

[Girodin]

FBMG in Draper, Utah has been hands down the best shopping experience for guns I have had. The staff was friendly, knowledgable, very willing to help and answer questions, and didn't treat me like I was an idiot. They also didn't tryto sell me something I didn't want or wasn't right for me. In fact more than trying to selling me anything they tried to help me identify my needs and the pro cons and compromises of various choices. The owner also is a very frinedly and genuinely nice guy IMO.

Those things have not been very common in my experiences at other gun shops.

There is a great little pawn shop in CO but it is where I find all my impossible to find guns and great deals so I dont what to let that secret out.

Places I have not liked:

Cabelas: Although the staff was frinedly and tried to help they didn't strike me as people who really knew anymore than I did. They are always super busy and one litteraly has to take a number. Prices are too high as well. Transfer fees are out of sight.

Gallensons in Salt Lake City where my parents live. I went there for my B-day with my father who was going to buy me a rifle. I was looking for a Saiga. They guy proceeded to berate AK-47s with every stereo type about them. He seemed to have no clue what a Saiga was and why it was different than the POS AKs on his rack (they are a dealer of Century built AKs). He then tried to sell me a Mini 14.

Even when I expressed that I really wanted a Saiga and had no interest in mini's. He went on about the vices of an AK (everything he said holds more true about mini 14s than saigas IMHO) and treated my like I was retarded for wanting some gun he had never hear of and not the one that was in his hand and more than twice as expensive.

It is a product of being down town but the parking sucks as well.

I've been in Doug's that was previously mentioned in this thread. They act like they couldn't care less if you were there or not. Service would get a zero on a scale of 1-5.

 

[Flintlock Tom]

Southern California

Have to chime in from San Diego:

Discount Gun Mart: Lots of beautiful rifles, high end pistols and a really well run range. Good, knowledgeable staff.

Southern California Gun: Friendly, helpful staff, good prices, amazing selection.

Royal Loan and Pawn: small selection of rifles and shotguns, but more pistols. Really friendly and professional in doing an out-of-state transfer for me.

El Cajon Gun Exchange: High quality inventory and friendly, knowledgeable staff. Black powder and reloading stuff out the wazoo. Pardon my French.

 

[The Swede]

GAT Guns, Dundee, Illinois. Huge selection, good staff. Can't think of too much they don't have.

 

[Wopasaurus]

I love going to Shooter's Supply in Loveland Ohio, as well as One Shot in Newtown Ohio.

Both are right outside of Cincinnati, and have the most knowledgeable and friendly staff I've dealt with at a gun shop.

 

[neapoi]

I thought that I'd contribute to this thread, as I just had a very positive experience at Wades guns in Bellevue WA.

Long story short, I ordered a shotgun from them middle of March. It was an 870 super turkey magnum. Ran me around 400 bucks with tax. I call every week to see if the gun has arrived. No word.

It turns out that the guy who was supposed to call me and tell me that Remington discontinued making that gun forgot to call... so from middle March to beginning May, I was without shotgun. Meanwhile, I continue to call each week wondering where my gun is.

I get a call last week from the owner. He says that 1) He's super upset that this happened to me, 2) the guy who screwed up was on sabbatical, and 3) I was more than welcome to take a complete refund on my payment-in-full - or come in and they would 'take care of me'.

The way I figure it, I could be a huge jerk (not something that I do) and try to get something extra, or I could go on the word of the owner that I would be taken care of. I walk into the store, and everybody there made sure I was taken care of. Mind you I'm a 28 year old kid with long hair and a bandanna. I end up walking out the door with a Remington Wingmaster w/ 28 inch barrel for 350. They also throw in 100 rounds ammo for clay and a boresnake kit for my new shotty!

They went above and beyond to fix a problem, and because they owned up to their mistake, and tried to make it right - Wades will always get my money here in Western Washington.

 

[Tribal]

In Virginia:

Dominion is overpriced and most of the stuff is cheap.

Bob Moates', near Richmond, is pretty decent. Prices are very hit or miss, though, with Russian Mosin-Nagants going for over $200 but other stuff at normal prices.

GL's near Williamsburg is...well, basically it's a gunsmith who has a few things for sale, including NFA stuff. While I was there one of the "regulars" was talking some pretty vile racist stuff, and that turned me off a lot.

 

[possum]

least favorites:
in n.c. Hyatts gun shop which i call high dollar hyatts.

Pms guns, which stands for pay more for your stuff.

in kansas pats pawn and gun

favorite
in georgia/ hinesville area mission essential.

in n.c the fallout shelter

 

[zoom6zoom]

Fav:
DeGoff's Guns, Mechanicsville, VA.

Nice enough shop. But don't bother asking them to do a transfer.

 

[NDGeek]

Bismarck, ND:
Best: There isn't one, the good one closed (Marvs)
Bad: Scheels, over priced but somewhat helpful.
Worst: Gun City, Extremely over priced and grumpy

Fargo, ND:
Best: Sportsman's Warehouse: good prices and big selection
Middle of the Road: The outdoorsman, sometimes helpful, decent prices. Plus they will do FFL xfers
Worst: Scheels, over priced and and never helpful.

 

[doublesharp]

111 Gun Shop Clarksville Indiana

The way a gunshop should operate. Clarksville Indiana right off I-65. $15 transfers, friendly, knowledgeable staff and they sell at fair prices.

 

[RickH]

Best in my area: DJ's loan and sport.

Worst in my area: Wades in Bellevue.

Honorable Mention: Kesselring's up north, if you are in B'ham it is worth the drive.

Honorable mention #2: Federal way discount gun, I've never been there but heard a lot of very good word of mouth from many many different people.

 

[GingerGuy]

This one works well for me. Good selection and knowledgeable staff.

 

[give]

favorate place was called bob's guns,i know orignal,anyway hell of a nice guy,always helpful,loved to talk and prices were actueally low,least is a place called johnsons,what a theif,you could go to most gun stores and see a perticular gun,then go there and it would be 100 bucks more,,both places are in croydon pa

 

[Ltlabner]

I love going to Shooter's Supply in Loveland Ohio, as well as One Shot in Newtown Ohio.

Both are right outside of Cincinnati, and have the most knowledgeable and friendly staff I've dealt with at a gun shop.

Couldn't agree more. Two of my favorite stores also. I've spent many "lunch hours" at One-Shot.

Target World on the north side of Cincinnati, on the other hand, is horrable. Wouldn't step foot in there except for free ammo and guns day. Even then I'd have to think about it.

 

[mnrivrat]

Favorite : Hunters Den in New Ulm , MN

Nice folks , privately owned by the man who is always there. State of the art indoor shooting range . Fair prices ,and stands behind what he sells.

Least favorite : Chain stores

 

[.cheese.]

Favorite: IPS/911 Store - Hollywood, Florida

Least Favorite: tie between Only The Best Firearms in Pompano Beach, Florida and Lou's Police Supply in Hialeah, Florida.

 

[SG1]

My favorite gun store in Louisville, KY is Knob Creek Gun Range. They have a nice selection and decent prices.

Don't really have a least favorite.

 

[Sapanther]

HUGE+1 to Don's in NLR Ark

Of course the usual, holier than thou attitude, wasting their time, don't really want to speak to me, but check this out. I wanted to see a SU-16 in person because I have heard from a couple of folks the bipod/foregrip was kinda flimsy. I ask the guy if they carried them and he said they didn't carry anything by Kel-tec. I shrugged and he asked me why I would want such a gun anyway. I basicly tell him I wanted something different. His eyes brighten and he replies "you want to see different?" and showes me a ....

PLR-16

Indecisive: Gander Mt. in NLR. I got some wierd vibes off of the guy who finaly decided to take time for me. Wasn't actively hostile, but didn't seem to want me to be there.

HUGE Positive vibes from the guys at Fort Thompson in NLR. Seriously, if you are ever in the area, stop by there. When I told a friend that I wanted to look in to the SU-16, he told me to stop by there. I said sure, but Don's was closer so I stopped there first. When the saleman told me he didn't have the gun I was looking for, he told me to try Gander. I mentioned that my friend said to try Fort Thompson also. His eyes grew hard and didn't reply. After his brillant display of intellectual prowess I figured FT might have something going for them. They didn't have what I was looking for, but they had no pronblems taking as much time to answer any questions I had. They were more than happy to let me fondl, drool over, and basicly molest any gun they had in stock. While my money won't stretch far, they will get any I happen to spend in a gun shop.

 

[delta53]

I must switch the order

Least favorite Sarco counter help nasty mean and knows everything but the just had there FFL not renewed, BY BY mean and nasty

Favorite none,:banghead: not much to choose from in NJ and thats why they get away with it