[Sentry]

Inquired about an HP-22, M1 Tactical, M4, and 870 Express with an 18 inch barrel, and was told that Gander Mountain has never, and will never sell any arms not deemed to be for a hunting purpose. So apparently, killing animals is above saving humans. Great policy.

[Redlg155]

At the Destin, FL Bass Pro Shop you can buy a Mini 14 but they don't sell semi auto handguns. If I recall correctly all the revolvers had at least a 6" barrel.

Seems like most places have their own little quirks.

Good Shooting
Red

[Triad]

I would point out to them that most any firearm can be used for hunting. The end use is dependant on the user not the tool.

[Sentry]

It's corporate, not them that is preventing it.

[Telperion]

It's their company, but it's also your money. Feel free to take it elsewhere.

[Bill Hook]

Not to me they won't

[Sentry]

I don't HAVE anywhere else. This is Iowa, we don't have gunshops on every corner.

[Bill Hook]

Surely you can find an independent shop worth buying from in your county or the next one over.

[Sentry]

As I said, we do not have a lot of shops, nor any independant owners worth going to. This is not a gun friendly area.

[swingset]

Go here:

http://www.auctionarms.com/help/fflnetwork.cfm

Enter Iowa and find an FFL near you that will do transfers. Now, order from any of the thousands of gun stores and businesses that DO sell "non-hunting" arms. Most transfers are $20 or less, some charge more but shop around you might even find someone to do a transfer for as little as $10.

Many internet dealers, including AIM and SouthernOhioGun offer great prices and aren't corporate run wally-world type outfits.

You will not only get better prices, but will support the good businesses and save some sales tax too!

[BluesBear]

Hmmm maybe you should get an FFL and open your own place in Iowa.
I have met lots of people in/from Iowa who appreciate firearms.
Surely you don't think you're the only one there who wishes there was a nice shop around?

[Sleeping Dog]

Gander Mountain in Taylor, MI, sells various non-hunting handguns. Used cop 9mm SIGs, new Kimber (and other brand) "Colt-45" clones, etc.

The long guns all seem to be the "sporting" varieties, no FAL's, AK's or AR's.

Regards.

[IAJack]

See this gem of a thread!

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?threadid=39890

Also Sentry, if you need give me a shout I am not far and can hook you up with people who will order anything you want from 10-50 dollars above dealer cost! Even with a small drive to pick it up you'd be ahead as I think GM is expensive on stuff?

Also do a search on here for the word Iowa, there are several members also close to you that would be glad to help you find a good independedt dealer also.

We can all use another shooting buddy also, give me a holler to just go throw some downrange sometime.

[Ol' Badger]

Sure Glocks are for hunt'n! Their good for most two legged game in urban areas.

:evil:

[dandean316]

Gander in my area of Minnesota sells all kinds of non-hunting guns. They may know nothing about them, but they do sell them.

[lee n. field]

I've never paid much attention to log guns in the Gander Mountain in the next city over. The do display plenty of self defense type handguns -- Glocks, Ruger autos and revolvers, Berettas, Tauri, Colts and clones. Nothing very small though, and their prices are on the high side.

I go there because they are one of the few places around that carries reloading equipment and consumables.

[Orthonym]

Brownell's is in Montezuma. (Not to mention Sig, if you like model airplanes:D )

[iamkris]

Just another example of how the shooting community will bring itself down.

I am a capitalist and businessman at heart (and work in the Fortune 500 world) and understand how these decisions get made. It is like watching sausage being made...

My (quite gloomy) prediction of the gun industry...

* "Corporate" sales outlets will slowly yield to "popular" opinion (maybe not even majority opinion but the most vocal) and phase out different types of guns -- today military style, tomorrow semi-autos
* Fewer and fewer people, even in the shooting community are exposed to anything but mainstream guns
* Non-mainstream guns are pigeon-holed into small specialty shops and distributor outlets. Small shops may/may not be able to compete on price and may/may not go out of business.
* Shooting public dwindles
* Eventually e end up with Canadian/UK/Australia style laws

The only way tostop this is write letters/talk to the manager/talk to congress/be vocal but not obnoxious/take a kid hunting/take your co-workers shooting/join and donate to as many gun orgs as possible.

The enemy is us and we better get active.

[gun-fucious]

i saw an SKS at the Greensburg PA, Gander Mtn

[Black92LX]

The Bass Por Shop here in cincinnati sells Ruger Mark II's. That counts as a semiautomatic handgun right.

[Sentry]

There are no FFL's around here that I've seen charge less than 35 or so. If I had the money, I would indeed open my own shop. The funny thing is they indeed sell plenty of "non-hunting" handguns, just not rifles. Where abouts in Iowa are you, Jack? Thinking about this, they refused to sell me an HP-22 because of it's barrel length a month ago, yet they had an overpriced used Beretta Bobcat in there yesterday, also. Looks like they can't even follow their own policy.

[Bill Hook]

Black92, I thought semi-autos were prohibited in Cincy.

[BluesBear]

All you need to get an FFL is a business presense and the fee. It can still be in your home if your locale allows home businesses. If you grab a copy of Gun List or Shotgun News (Wal-Mart sells Shotgun News) there are plenty of ad from suppliers that will sell you the required bound books and they usually have a application kit with a money back gyarantee.

[Futo Inu]

We MUST boycott any outfit like this that is on the hunting/sporting arms political bandwagon, for sheeple propogandization purposes, for our rights. As mentioned, the use is what the user does with it, not the design of the arm.

[IAJack]

I am in South Cent Iowa, Oskaloosa to be exact, a ways but like I said, I bet we can hook you up. Heck I used to drive to Scheels in Corralville all the time until I found out about their bass akwards policy! We have a couple more members up that way too like I said

[Black92LX]

Black92, I thought semi-autos were prohibited in Cincy.

nope, though it is illegal to discharge a firearm in the city limits. as it is in many cities.

[Sentry]

I couldn't afford an FFL nor would I want to subject myself to the ATF. Cedar Rapids is where I'm in Jack if you know of anyone in the city.

[MrMunster]

I lived in Iowa City for 7 years and used The Ammo Bearer for several transfers. Last one I did cost me $25 (or less, I'll have to double-check). Of course, that was 3 years ago.

If they are still in business, you might want to give them a call. As for Scheel's, they can keep their high-priced inventory; I took my business to Fin & Feather, despite the fact that I lived close enough to the mall to shoot out the Best Buy sign with a .22 -- and believe me, I thought about it more than once since it shined right into my bedroom window.

If memory serves, there is also a guy in Williamsburg that will do a transfer for a reasonable cost.

[IAJack]

Ahh yes ammo bearer is still there as well as the guy in Williamsburg.

[FedDC]

I was at gander mtn and they had all inds of pistols...kimber..ect.

[Sentry]

Haven't heard of The Ammo Bearer before, problem is with the gas to get down there and time and what not, I might as well just pay to do a local transfer. I'd use Fin and Feather, but the last time I ordered just 3 magazines, they took 5 months to get them, and overcharged me after they got the restricted wrong ones. As to Williamsburg are you talking about the guy who is the police chief?

[Bigjake]

I don't know whats wrong with your gander mountain, but we just got one and its the best gun store around (pretty much the only one too, unless you count wally world). they have almost everything gun wise that you can think of. hell, you know a store is decent when a whole wall is one big gun counter!

[IAJack]

Ammo bearer is right there in Iowa City, close to Carlos OKellys

[skippie]

I work part time in a Gander Mountian in Minnesota, and the reason is the old c.e.o. did not allow them, nor did he allow any pistols or revelvers with a barrel less than 3", but we have a new c.e.o. now and are slowly getting short barreled handguns in, and the way things are going more stuff to follow...