[Miami357]

Forum: I am livng part time in Northern Virginia, in Fairfax County, and would like to purchase a handgun. Any recommendations on any gun shops? Also, would prefer to buy from a shop that has an indoor range, and that would offer a Basic Pistol course for my girlfriend.

Thanks

[ZeSpectre]

I like...
-Virginia Arms in Manassas (very clean, very professional)
-National Pawnbroker in Arlington (if you can get in good with Hal the gun guy).
-Shooters paradise (closed right now as they had a fire).
-Indoor shooting... go to the NRA range at the headquarters building.

Places I dislike...
-Gilberts (run too much like a good old boy's club and not enough like a business for my taste, also if you don't buy a membership and get their "special discounts" the prices are high).
-Dawsons (Prices are WAY high and hoover over you while you browse).

[HammerBite]

Gilbert's (http://www.gilbertrange.com/homepage/)

[fast200]

I think the consensus in this area is that Virginia arms is the best dealer in NoVA all around. I've experienced this personally and the customer service there is outstanding. Thats not to say you won't have a good experience somewhere else, but VA Arms is the more reliable IMO.

[flashman70]

+1 on Virginia Arms. Gunshop only, though. The NRA range is a good place to arrange for lessons and a very nice (50 yard) indoor range. There is a gun show coming to Chantilly Expo in late July.

[dmccorki]

Guns and Ammo Warehouse--down the road from Virginia Arms on Route 28. No range,but has an interesting "auction" process in the rear of the store where one can acquire pre owned never fired guns as well as typical used guns. As is the case with all pre owned guns, you need to know what you want and real market prices.

Clark Brothers on Route 29 has a range where one can shoot just about anything if you buy the ammo from the store. It is my impression that their prices are a little high for handguns but I have not compared recently.

[gudel]

I've been to Virginia Arms. They're pretty neat. I couldn't find Quantico Arms! You guys got some strange road ways over there

[flashman70]

I had a hard time finding Quantico Arms myself and I live near there. It's in a commercial park off the Prince William Parkway near a post office and BJ's wholesale club. It has lots of gear and 5.11 items, but not very good pricing on guns.

No one mentioned Blue Ridge Armory in Chantilly.

[tinygnat219]

gudel,

You mean you couldn't find it off of Rte.1/Jeff Davis Meml. Highway/Blue-Gray Highway? :neener:

If you aren't familiar with them they can be maddening.

[BigG]

I used to shoot at Clark Bros and patronize Potomac Arms in Alexandria, both were good to deal with but I haven't dealt with either in about 10 years. YMMV

[ZeSpectre]

Potomac arms is long gone (sadly)

[KONY]

-National Pawnbroker in Arlington (if you can get in good with Hal the gun guy).


Hal's a great guy. Unfortunately, his health has not been so good lately and he can be cranky, especially if he does not know you. However, he is a bastion of knowledge and its worth the trip just to chit-chat with him.

[crebralfix]

Virginia Arms outperforms ALL other gun shops because of their 100% satisfaction guarantee.

"No sale final until you are satisfied."

They mean it. I returned a malfunctioning Kimber Tactical Ultra II, magazines, holster, and miscellaneous parts one year after I purchased it for a FULL refund.

[gudel]

gudel,

You mean you couldn't find it off of Rte.1/Jeff Davis Meml. Highway/Blue-Gray Highway?

If you aren't familiar with them they can be maddening.

in a commercial park off the Prince William Parkway near a post office and BJ's wholesale club.

heh, after I visited Virginia Arms, I went to look for Quantico Arms.
I was on the right track, I was at that post office! :D No signs, so I didn't find it.

Compared to couple local shops here, VArms has quite a selection.

[gdvan01]

Frederick County Firearms in Winchester. No range.

[ZeSpectre]

Hal's a great guy. Unfortunately, his health has not been so good lately and he can be cranky, especially if he does not know you. However, he is a bastion of knowledge and its worth the trip just to chit-chat with him.

Yeah, I've been really worried about him lately (I wish his wife would stop feeding him cookies given how diabetic he is!)

[Miami357]

Thanks for all replies.

I will look into visiting a few of the recommendations.

The NRA headquarters sounds interesting (I am a member).

Nothing in Reston or Herndon?

[gdvan01]

Nothing in Reston or Herndon?Pawn shop, maybe.

[tinygnat219]

Closest to Reston and Herndon is Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly for gun store, and NRA for the range. Nothing else exists in either Reston or Herndon.

[tinygnat219]

Potomac arms is long gone (sadly)

Closed when the City of Alexandria used Eminent Domain to seize their waterfront land. Owners got 2.5 million for their land, but it was sad to see them go.

[flashman70]

Yeah a former boss of mine and I used to ride over from DC to Alexandria to Potomac Arms. He was buying and I was wishing he paid me more money. I went back about a year ago and it was their last day - all the merchandise had been cleared out and they were closing down. I hate it when a gunshop closes.

[CajunBass]

Clark Brothers' ammo prices are high, but in my experience, it works out about the same as buying my ammo elsewhere, and going to "The Range" where I have to pay range fees.

So what my wife and I do is go to Clark Brothers to shoot our rimfires (pistols), more bang for the buck, and to the Range to shoot centerfire.

Oh. "The Range" is an indoor range in Stafford County, on Potomac Creek Drive, just off Rt 1. Paul and "Bing" are great guys, but it might take you a couple of visits to see it. They sell a few guns, rent a few, sell ammo, offer classes...Well here....

http://indoorrange.com/contact.html

[usp9]

"The Range" is an indoor range in Stafford County, on Potomac Creek Drive, just off Rt 1. Paul and "Bing" are great guys

The Range may only rate a "C" at best, ( a little run down), but +1 on the guys and the friendly folks there. Good people.

[LittleLebowski]

Another vote for VA Arms.

[Tin Gizel]

I miss going to 'The Range' I use to frequent it often when I was going to school in FBurg.....used to take new shooters there and rent the full auto MP5...

Another +1 for Va Arms....i used to go to Loudoun Guns in Leesburg but now am strictly a VA Arms guy. Buy my guns there and shoot them at the NRA range after work/sometimes during work....

There is a guy in Herndon that runs a Class 3 shop....an online store...doesn't hold store hours but you can call him and he'll meet you at his warehouse to sell you things. I can't recall the name or the website now...

[chris in va]

VA Arms also has a decent selection of consignment handguns too. I like the store, wish I was closer.

Frederick County Firearms in Winchester is similar to 'NoVa' style shops. You'll know what I'm talking about if you step foot in the other local stores, especially the one with the attack dog.

[Kimber1911Fan]

I would recommend Roanoke Firearms -- John and DC are excellent; good selection and fantastic customer service.

Neal

[LittleLebowski]

Avoid Old Dominion Arms in Manassas like the plague.

[KONY]

Avoid Old Dominion Arms in Manassas like the plague.

+1

[usp9]

Quote:
Avoid Old Dominion Arms in Manassas like the plague.

+1



Why?

[moxie]

I don't know why the negative post on Gilbert's. It's a nice range, great gunshop, and the people are very knowledgeable and helpful. They do conduct classes. Yes, it's best to join as an annual member. If you shoot a lot it's an especially good deal.

Blue Ridge is also convenient to your location and offers full service.

The NRA has no gun shop but does have a state of the art range. Hours can be quirky due to competitive events so it pays to call ahead.

[crebralfix]

Gilbert's...what a joke. Tactical Ninjas run the counter and their prices are terrible.

They do have a good gunsmith...at least he's done good work for me.

Blue Ridge is even worse...Tactical Lawyer Ninjas run their counter. If any of those idiots behind the counter starts giving me an opinion, I either just mutter "uhhmmm...yeah...maybe....sounds interesting" or just tell them I'm not interested in their opinion. They really need to train their newbies too. The whining about going home at 2030 while I was filling out the forms on a RARE S&W (only reason I was there) made for a less than good shopping experience.

The store usually has next to no guns in it. Prices used to be terrible; Glocks were $600+. Heck, I could save $100 on a Glock just driving to Virginia Arms...oops...already did that ten times. $250+ for an $80 rifle off aimsurplus.com seems a bit excessive to me.

[smoots]

For those further west of NOVA, The Gun Shop at Front Royal is an excellent shop, its a smaller with plenty to choice from

[KONY]

Quote:
Quote:
Avoid Old Dominion Arms in Manassas like the plague.

+1


Why?

Have been there several times and was not too impressed with their demeanor, which does not help since their prices are too high. Have also read posts about their gunsmithing "service". Would steer folks over to Bernie & co over at VA Arms.

[LittleLebowski]

I asked their "gunsmith" to reassemble a Browning Buckmark I was given that is in pieces. For over 7 months, he told me "the parts are on order", "I got behind because of hunting season", and "it will be done next week." I went in to see it after 7 months and it was in the original bag I had given it to him in, still in pieces. I requested the parts he had ordered (the story had changed from getting the parts from Brownells OR Browning itself depending on the day I called) and he did have any parts to give me.

Not to mention the shop is full of cigarette smoke, his unprofessional demeanor, and condescension towards my fiance. He has called me twice since then, as he has lost the information from one FFL transfer I did through him. One look at his mess of a shop and you'll see what I'm talking about. Inflated ammo prices too.

I'm all about small shops surviving but after his lies I will warn others.