Do You Patronize Your Local Gun Shops?

Sorry if this has been done before. But reading through some threads got me thinking about this. I wanted to do a poll and see how many people utilize local shops for a majority of their gun related purchases. If not, other options would be large retailers, online stores, gun shows, swap meets, face to face, etc.

I have a feeling I know what the majority will be, but I wanted to get an accurate count.

I live in a large city and there are shops all over the place. But personally, I don't purchase anything from any of the shops in my area. I even hate to have to go into one of the shops. I think my primary reason for this is because it drives me up the wall to have to listen to the idiots behind the counter. I would say 90% of the people that work in the shops in my area are about 95% full of crap! They're just big blow-hards who think they know more than everybody and don't hesitate to let you know. I would put them on about the same level as a used car salesman. If I'm going to buy a gun, you'd better believe that I've put in some serious time researching it. So when I go to a shop and talk a guy about a particular gun and it becomes obvious that he's making it up as he goes, I'm done. If you're unfamiliar about a particular gun, just say so. I don't expect gun shop employees to be the walking encyclopedia of guns. Shoot straight with me and tell me what you know. If you don't know much, that's okay, just tell me. I can't tell you how many times I've been into a shop and observed someone new to guns go up to the counter and ask about a gun. The guy gets all puffed up and starts acting all tough and cool and 99% of the time does more talking than listening. It turns me off so much that I almost refuse to patron those shops if I'm given the choice.

Recently I did purchase a gun from a local gun shop. Found the place in the yellow pages calling around for pricing. He had the lowest price so I went by to buy the gun. It was a 70+ year old man with hearing aids and baby blue double-knit pants and cowboy boots. He shot straight with me and didn't feed me any lines of BS. He had the best prices around and made sure I was happy with the gun before I bought it. He went the extra mile and listened more than talked. I've been to a lot of shops, and in my area, this guy is a minority. He will definitely be the first place I look on my next gun purchase.

Kinda hard for me not to... ;)

Kinda hard for me not to...

Good point! :D

I do not know anymore how many Gun Stores are here in Las Vegas.


But, there are two I have bought from, or which I visit now and then.


These two are down to Earth, no BS, friendly, genuinely patient and constructive with people who come in who know nothing or who are confused and inexperienced...and just all round good natured...never any pressure to sell anything, yet prices are reasponable and well thought out for whatever Arm it is.


Some of the other Gun stores I had visited were not like this at all, high prices, cold or distracted attitudes, irrational claims or assertions about old bad condition items, impatience, rude demeanor of salespeople, so I saw no point in trying to patronize them.


Possibly there are more than 'two' good Gun Stores here, but I have not stayed on it to know who else is out there.

I voted yes to the title question, but it is different from the poll question. I shop EVERYWHERE that I possibly can. If the local shop wins my business, goodie, if the online shop gets it, yippie. Locale doesn't matter to me, price does. Having said that, I believe 5 of the last 7 guns that I've bought, were from online sources. So no, the majority of my recent purchases haven't come from the LSG.

My next gun? I have no idea whether the LGS will have a better price or the available inventory. I'm pretty sure there are a few online dealers who might have a better chance with both.

The question in the poll was what I meant to ask. Sorry for the confusion.

Yes

Not really, except for having transfers done through them. They rarely stock anything I'm interested in.

I try to keep my business local as I like my local shop, very friend people with a nice selection. If/when I pick up a used gun (thru PAFOA or the high road) I try to do the transfer there, or ship it out from there.

I voted "yes" because I most of my guns from a local pawn shop. I buy most of my ammo and reloading supplies locally to avoid the high shipping costs and hazmat fees on powder and primers. If it something I can't find locally then I'll buy it on line.

But, there are two I have bought from, or which I visit now and then.

Which two are they? I assume one is New Frontier Armory. That is the only one in town that I will buy from. All of the others that I have been to are a joke.

Most of my purchases for ammo are from Walmart. Guns are from Budsgunshop.com, private sellers, and from the one gun shop in town that I will visit. I want to give my business to the local shop, they are good guys, but if I am getting a better deal somewhere else, I'll probably get it somewhere else.

No, because they're all severely overpriced. I'm NOT paying a $200 markup. That's obscene. Their prices on surplus guns are absolutely laughable, too. I've seen $200 for a Nagant revolver, at a time when they were $75 online from various sources.

There are about 7-8 gunshops in my area (within a 45 minute drive), 4-5 of them are local non-chain places. I try to spread the money around and buy something from each of them, mostly ammo and accessories. I will shop around for the best price on bulk ammo and actuall firearms, the local places are pretty competative.

One of the local places I frequent has consistantly had the SD ammo I prefer (Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .38 Spc +p and Federal Hydra-Shocks .40 S&W.) This place always gets some money from me everytime I walk in, even if their guns are a little over priced.

I like to keep the local guy in business. But it's getting to be tougher. He's carrying less and less of what I need. I seriously think he's going to go under eventually.

I rarely find what I am looking for in my local shops, and when I do, it has a tendency to be far over priced. I have gotten accustomed to purchasing online and using my local FFL for their fantastic $10 transfers.

I'm a huge supporter of buying local, but there is a point of absurdity when the prices are hundreds of dollars more than online.

I would like to send some cash to my local guy, but the shelves rarely have the guns I am interested in. I tried to purchase 30-30 last weekend, no go none in stock. Ya gotta be kidding. When I lived in Omaha I was close to the Scheels store there. They continuously competitive shopped to make sure prices were fair to better than the competition, huge inventory of guns and ammo, no junk, the salespeople were brow beaten by management enough that they didn't hassle you, but would be able to answr questions. :)
I found some killer deals there too, they like to keep inventory moving, and do a good job marking down slow movers to get em' outta the store.

I would love too but don't. They don't stock what I want, are over-priced, rude, and I've seen customers manhandle merchandise and they don't say anything. Scratches on new guns, I kid you not.

I answered no before I realized it was for related purchases as well. Most factory ammo and if they have what I'm looking for, I'll support the local guy. Why Academy won't order other guns for you, I couldn't tell you :(

When they have what I am looking for at a realistic price, sure. I'm willing to pay more locally accounting for FFL fees/hassle, shipping, and the instant gratification factor.. but when the pricing is ridiculous I go straight to the Internet. it ends up being about a 50/50 proposition so I'm not sure how to answer the poll.

Yes. I have never purchased a firearm online.

I do buy some reloading components and tools online.

I am very fortunate in that I have great little gun shop just about 2 miles from home. It's owned by a couple in their late 60's, who are always friendly, never pushy, and will order just about anything I want if they don't have it, or in some cases tell me which other shop in the area has what I need.

I mainly buy mail order, due to that I shoot predominately vintage & antique guns that the components for are seldom seen in the average gun store. I occasionally pick up smokeless powder, primers & caps at a gun show or Sportsmen's Warehouse due to the HazMat charges when shipped, but buy all my blackpowder online as few places even stock it anymore.

For most of the firearms that I have purchased in the past decade I have been able to use my 03FFL, the rest I have been able to use the 01FFL of a friend, a true "kitchen table" dealer.

One time, years ago, in the spirit of "support your local gun shops" I went into a relatively new local gunshop with the intent of asking them to order a specific pistol for me ... I ended up leaving after they, apparently, did not approve of my choice and entertained themselves with that quite a bit. They told me that the pistols were no longer made and no longer available. I went home from there, fired up the 'puter, quickly found a one (NIB) online at a good price and ordered it.

I haven't been back to that gun shop since that day ... but in the recent past I have read that, perhaps, I hit the guys on a bad day, so, next time I am in the area with some time to kill, I may drop by.

No. My local gun store is owned and operated by a extremely rude guy. He has not been rude to me in particular, but I have been in there and what he says to other customers just gets on my nerves. I won't do business with someone who acts the way he does. Honestly you would just have to meet the guy in order to grasp to what extent I really mean. :)

The most local I go is to stores like Academy, and Cabelas.

I would patronize the local gunshops more if they:

1) could even come close to the internet/large retailers on ammunition and gun prices

2) had what I wanted or had the ability to order what I wanted

3) had greater ammunition diversity in the right calibers

4) had competative FFL transfer fees and

5) would perform FFL transfers on gun models that they are also selling instead of refusing to do so in hopes that I'll pay their $100-200 higher prices.

Fortunately, there are pawnshops, large retailers, and internet retailers to patronize instead. I will grant that there are some local shops that are friendly and helpful that I'd LIKE to patronize more, but I just can't bring myself to pay double for a box of .22 WMR. If I want to spend money on smiles, I can get prettier ones down the road at a different kind of shop.

We're lucky here I guess. There are a few who are rude that I won't do business with, but there are a few that are great. Usually when I find something online, by the time I pay shipping, tax and ffl transfer fee, I can buy it locally just as cheap. If I could really save money though, I would buy online.

I have been pretty lucky here in Central NJ over the years. Several excellent gunshops, and I miss those that have closed.

Yep, because there is no choice. And what a vast array of local dealers we have. <cough>

Not enough ammo variety? "Obscene" $200 markups? Have to pay an FFL transfer fee for an internet purchase? That we should have such "problems"!

Do You Patron Your Local Gun Shops?
Rarely anymore. My purchase are mostly online and at gun shows.
But, there is a new gun shop just opened right around the corner from me, that has fairly decent pricing. On top of that, the FFL transfer fee is only $15. I might start going there more often.

I hate large chains. I like to patron my local shops. They are better on service and usually price. I like the idea of supporting the local economy as well. I have never had my shop snicker at my gun choice and if they don't have it in stock they will order it and charge me when it gets there. I do my transfers through them too.

I avoid the places that talk the bad talk with the masses unless absolutely impossible to go elsewhere for something.

The itnernet is simply not worth it due to shipping charges for the onesy-twosy stuff I buy. Like why would I pay $3-4 shiping on a set of uncle mike's sling mounts...making it cost more than if I was to just buy them locally?

I only buy local.

Since I'm new to gun ownership, I've purchased somethings online then somethings local as well. Purchased my P226 not too far away from my place. My ammo I purchase near my work. Other stuff has been purchased online.

I don't have a local gunshop anymore. :( Had a great one but it closed a few years ago when the owners retired. It's hard to believe that a city in Texas with over 100,000 resident doesn't have a local gunshop. :confused:
All we have is WallyWorld :barf:

Cabela's is about the closest but I don't consider it a local gunshop and it's 20 miles away.

Firearms are almost entirely purchased locally. Ammunition is a mixed bag as most of the shops do not handle what I want or they are too far away for convenient shopping. Price is an issue also on ammunition. Usually the local dealers do just fine on firearm pricing. I am not particularly concerned about trying to save another $20 by driving to 5 different shops for pricing.

At one time we had Monkey Wards ( out of business)
Sears, K-Mart & wally world---around here none of these sell any guns or ammo.
There are 4 gun shops within 20 miles--only one has a good stock of guns, ammo & reloading equipment---they have had my business for about 52 years.
I purchase all my guns & ammo from local shops.
We have a Cabelas 47 miles away---I do not go there much.
I purchase a lot of items from Midway---dies, reloading equipment, bullets, brass, etc. I have been reloading about 40 years---it's my hobby.......:):)

If you count about 60 miles away as "local" yes. I drive past a couple of closer stores to get to the one that pretty much gets all my business. Good selection, knowledgable staff, a good layaway program, and the fact that I have to drive by a couple of times a week anyway, make it well worthwhile.

I've never bought a gun online, my local shops always have or can get what I need and I've never found better deals online (after factoring in FFL fees).

I have developed a great relationship with my local gun shop owner. On slow laid back days he will sit around a table with a few of us regulars, after closing time, and kick back a cold one with us and socialize a bit. He always tries to give those of us regulars the he considers legitimate 'friends', the best deals possible. When he is able to come close to online prices I buy from him, even if I have to pay a little more to support him and cover his overhead. When he isn't able to come close to online prices, he does transfers for me for $25.

This relationship has paid for itself off, not just in a good friend, but in the form of some really great deals on used guns. For example, he just let me have a like new Sig P238 Custom Shop SAS model (MSRP $735) for $495.

When the Sig 556 first came out they were only being shipped to Sig direct dealers that made qualifying orders. He actually went factory direct with Sig and made his qualifying order so that he could get one for me. He let me have it for $950.

Also, I recall a time that I was looking at a .308 AR when he was real busy. I asked him the best he could do on the rifle, as he was walking by, and he responding saying it was already priced at the best he could do and walked on. I went ahead and bought the rifle from one of his clerks. After the deal was done and paid for, he came up to me and said he thought I was joking about actually wanting the rifle. He then walked into the back room and came out handing $100 in cash. This is the kind of treatment that keeps me loyal to him.

There are 6 gun stores within 30 minutes of me, and I've been in all of them.

And I honestly can't remember buying anything from them. There are WAY too many LNIB, used, 20-40% off guns and ammo out there.

I support their existence and wish them well, but they just can't compete with used private sales, if a buyer is not in a hurry.

It's been hard to save up enough for high quality his and hers carry guns, HD shotgun, and an all-purpose, white-tail capable carbine. Plus holsters, a good supply of ammo, etc. You all know that's expensive, and I'm done buying anything for a while. All the bases are covered, and I'm stocked on ammo.

Local gun store prices don't fit with that mission, when on my budget. But I almost feel an obligation to help keep them around.

Yes. I am fortunate to have a couple of good shops nearby, and thus have never purchased or sold a firearm online. Sure, I could have squeezed a few more dollars out of the deals online, but I am willing to pay a (slight!) premium to avoid the hassle of shipping and FFL transfers, and to have the weapon in hand the same day I purchase it.

However, I almost never buy accessories at the local shops. I prefer the lower prices and unlimited selection found on the internet.

Ammunition, it just depends. If I only need a box or two I'll probably buy locally to avoid the shipping fees and the wait. If I'm buying in bulk I almost always buy online, unless I happen to stumble across a great deal at a local shop.

R

Lawton, OK has no gun shops. The closest gun shop is in Duncan, OK. That guys prices are sky high on everything he sells: i refuse to buy from him. My new guns come through a pawnshop owner who charges $40 above his wholesale price.

Not really. Being in the province, they don't stock that much. If they do have something that I want, it's severely overpriced. I'd rather take a two hour drive to buy them.

But I do check them out every now and then. Sometimes, I end up buying a few things.

Assuming you mean primarily for gun purchases, I'd have to vote "no." I tend to buy used guns at this point, wherever I can find them. Those I find on-line are handled by an FFL who doesn't keep a storefront and who will receive shipments from private sellers. I do drop by my LGS regularly. I look at his used guns, and sometimes pick up reloading supplies. I'd do my transfers through him if he'd receive from private sellers, but he won't. His choice, of course, but lost business, too.

Yes, I do. The little town I live fairly close to barely qualifies as more than a wide spot in the road but we do have two gunshops. One has been here for years and isn't large but he will get anything you want. I have to qualify that statement as a lot of things haven't been easy to find for a couple of years but it's definately getting better. He's not the cheapest but is very reasonable. It's a mom-pop type store. Pop manages an oilfield supply store during the week and mom handles the store. Pop is there late in the afternoon and on Saturdays. I have known the owners almost forever and they are nice, friendly people.

The other store is fairly new but is a mom, pop, and son deal. Mom and pop own an oilfield supply store (huh) and I've know them for quite a while also. Very nice people. Son does most of the gun related part of the operation. I've known him since he was a little kid. He was a good kid and is a nice young man. Prices here are fair too.

I buy some things from Walmart and Academy Sports also. It just depends on what is available when I want it. I have never purchased a firearm online except for a blackpowder revolver. Doubt that I ever will.

Seems the biggest reason for a "NO" vote is that the LGS isn't stocking what you want - either in the way of guns, or ammo/accessories. Have any of you TOLD those guys what you would like to see in stock, or asked them to order it for you?

They may not be stocking what you want because they don't know what you want.

Just an idea...........

I live in an urban/suburban area. None of the gun stores around are any good, with the possible exception of the two Dick's. Bad prices, even worse selection, brusque attitudes.

There are a few good gun stores I like, but they're all at least 2 hours away. I'll do business there, or online. For as often as I need to go to a gun store, I don't worry about convenience.

Only one local place gets my money:

www.northtexasarms.com

The rest of them, literally all of them, make you feel like you are about an inch tall when you walk into the store, tell you what you need when you already know what you want, and then either refuse to order what you want or gouge you on price when they will actually order something. I refuse to support someone's business when that business doesn't support me.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

The shops around here jack the prices up so high that I dont bother with them anymore. I would say they have 70% of their firearms marked up about 300 to 400 buck more. Most are now even asking 20% on a consignment fee :(

Yes,

I have found by just calling around to my LGD's I can find really good deals on all my firearm purchases. Just as good as online with no shipping cost. They also warranty their used guns for a year.

...

Yep, all 3 of them.

2 of them are owned by the same owner, just different names and locations.

The other IF I need a 1911 or need gunsmith work and it's where I'm a member and do my shooting..


Ls

I buy some things at one place, no guns though, the prices are insane. There is another place where I do my transfers, and I've come close to buying a couple from him. One I went back for a day after I saw it, after I came into some cash unexpectedly, and it was gone.

There was a place where they were so good at ignoring you, you almost had to check to see if you were invisible. They only seemed to notice you if you had cash waving around, or you were one of the regulars. I bought one gun from them, supposedly new, but there was a year old receipt under the foam, and I went back and got a fair chunk of change back from them for trying to rip me off. They're out of business, the sons ran it into the ground about a year after the old man died.

I patronize about 5 or so local shops regularly, there's probably been 5 others I'd never set foot in again either due to poor selection, ridiculous prices or poor attitudes by the staff. I haven't come across any screaming deals or steals yet on any of my revolver purchases, but usually come just under the prices I see on gunbroker, especially once you factor in the FFL and shipping charges. I've even been in one shop where they actually ziptied all their revolvers, one piece I clearly showed much interest on they refused to remove it for further inspection. Now I can understand pulling that crap on some rare $2500+ item but it was on a used $500 revolver :scrutiny:

I do buy most of my things at a little shop that is just down the street from me. Their prices are a little higher than other local shops, but I feel that I should support them. Their ammo prices are actually pretty good, so I try to buy ammo from them when they have what I need, but no one in my family has purchased a gun yet from them. They just don't have much of a selection in guns.

I am blessed with a great local place here in Columbus Ohio named Vance Outdoors. They usually beat online prices and they have a great monthly flyer. It can be viewed online also. Knowlegable staff and good customers make this place top notch. Won't local shops match online prices? I bet if you are a regular they would especially if you buy the accessorys at the same time. Big boxes are nice but they just don't have that personal touch. Support your local gun shop it's not all about price. ...Russ

Local Toy Store vice online or big box alternative: I patronize my local shop, Hunter's Haven, here in Gloucester because when you need after sales service, because the competition (pawn shops, bix boxes) give you the Sgt. Schultz response if you need something fixed "right then and there". My case...I'd bought an AR during the election runups, and stopped by regularily to see what was on sale. Sure, I could have bought online and had it FFL'd cheaper, but mom and pop shops are what keeps our real economy going. Anyhow, two weeks back, like a fool, I fed my AR some Wolf and ended up with a signficant event on the range...one in the chamber (unsure if it was FTF or FTE) and one jammed behind the BCG. Anyhow, took it to Hunter's Haven on Labor Day (open for business)...I'd called ahead giving them a WARNO and the owner met me and took my AR back to his work space...BLUF: he was able to safely eject the jammed round then eject that (thankfully) spent cartridge out of the chamber. This was on a Labor Day, and I'd bought the rifle two years prior....how much did he charge? Nadda. That's the kind of service and support that brings folks back. The factory lifetime warranty didn't cover it, but local shop attitude did. I'm a happy camper. They have my business and subsequently, I walked out of the store with another purchase. Try this at your local Big Box...

I buy the vast majority of my guns locally, and resell almost exclusively through two LGSs. I buy most of my supplies and accessories online.

I prefer our local dealer to either Scheels or Cabela's. He has a much better selection and lower prices.

Russ: I buy at Vance's too. I've found some good stuff at Blackwing and at the range in New Albany too, but nobody around here can compete with Vance's for everyday deals.

R

I think you should support your local businesses as long as they are in the ball park on price. This applies to most things that I buy. The only things that I commonly buy online is ammunition, scopes, binoculars, and stuff that I simply can't find locally easily. I am not going to spend an entire day searching to buy some $10 widgit locally if I have any choice. But if I know where to find it locally and it is $12, I'll probably buy it there. ACE hardware is a classic location example for this kind of purchase.

I don't visit any in my city, but I do have a shop where I do all of my buying from.

The owner is a nice guy and doesn't BS around, he tells you he marks his guns up 10% over cost, and that's what you pay. I have yet to find a place that can beat his prices, even online.

I stop and shop anytime I run across one but if they are rude I scratch them off my list. I hit my home town shop once a week.

The closest one to me I do and the owner doesn't try to BS you. He shoots in the 1000 yard shoots that they have in Williamsport, Pa. He's full of information about long range shooting. There is another one about 6 miles further up the road and since the new owner came in it's gone down hill and I use to shop there all the time. I can remember going into that store when it was just a one room store and then the original owner retired and passed it to his nephew who built it up into the premier gun shop in the area. He sold out and the new owner isn't a very friendly person with prices for the most part is high than the store closest to me.

I frequent several LGS in my area. One in particular has a HUGE selection, good prices, and has sold me almost every gun I own. (Bud's usually only beats them by a few bucks) Another is owned by a fella in my church, and has a good selection of primers, and lead. The third has about 2/3 of the powders currently in production. I try to spread what little wealth I have around as best I can.

The only thing I go online for is parts.

The last gun that I bought was from a little store about 2 hrs away from here, but I bought it from them via GunBroker. Instead of bidding, I just called them and made an offer (which happened to be the starting bid). They said yes, and since I would have to pay tax on it, they comped the shipping for me. That's cool.

So I guess my last purchase was an LGS/online hybrid buy.

Normally I strongly support my LGS, but if I didn't get the great level of CS that I do from them, I wouldn't have any issue buying online all the time. Usually they will quote me prices really close to whatever I would end up paying online. However, it there's a difference of something like $200, well... I'm not just going to throw away $200 when I could have it to spend on ammo.

I never patronize any of the local gun stores...never.

I shop at four mom-n-pop local gun/pawn shops frequently, and have purchased from three of them a lot, some new, but the majority second-hand. I have also purchased on-line, new and used. Nothing quite like holding the unique firearm in your hand before making the decision. I don't find the locals shops around here to be unreasonable at all in their prices, and they're all nice folks. I love going into the local stores frequently just to troll for cool second-hand "finds",

Les

Yes, most definetly.

At my local shops I can do "lay-away":).......can't do that online.

Also.....I need to see in person beforehand what I'm buying. My local shop are good folks. I've had wonderful service. Back in May I picked up a sweet deal on a S&W model 29-2. When I picked it up I asked about any possible warranty with it being a 40-year old gun. They told me that if I ever had any issue at all with the gun to not even think twice about bringing it back and they'd make it right. "We'll take care of you".....were his exact words and I believe him.

THAT's the stuff a customer wants to hear.


Russ

i have never purchased a firearm from the local gun shops. the big modern ones are high price and lot of attitude.

they can not begin to match the selection and price i get from private sales and auction sites.

i do buy my accessories from a small dealer closer to home. friendly, helpful and low prices.

There are two major gun stores in town and some small ones. One major has attitude. The other is nice. Their new gun prices are high (but I did get a good deal on a SW 1911). Their used guns are decent.

The gun shows are the best for standard guns. Ammo at the big box, best prices. One big box has decent gun prices. The other is high.

So I'll shop around. One major story had attitude and folded. Pompous, self proclaimed commando experts.

I try to purchase locally, honest I do, but here's what happened to me on last month's gun purchase, and it's not nearly the first time:

After reading many online reviews, I developed a lustful hankerin' for a GSG 1911 .22 caliber pistol. The GSG website listed my local gun shop as an authorized dealer, whom I immediately called on the phone. He wasn't familiar with the pistol, but promised to find out if he could get it and get back to me. Never called me back. I tried again. Nothing. So I ordered online---no fuss, knowledgeable, friendly, no tax ... and fast. I refuse to beg my local gun shop to take my money.

One more anecdote. Several years ago, I took an old S&W .32 New Departure to this very same shop for repair. They kept it for nearly 6 months, reassuring me every few weeks that they'd get to it "next week." When it became evident that they had no intention of repairing it I went to retrieve the firearm and they couldn't find it! It took several days before they finally did. I located an online gun repair shop who repaired the firearm expertly and at a reasonable cost.

Sorry to be longwinded, and I'm sure this is just a local problem. I could go on, but these are just a few of the reasons that 95% of my purchases are made online. And for conversation and great advice ... there's The High Road! :)

To be honest, I don't. But I should, I mean, I live in the south for goodness sake!

At my local shops I can do "lay-away".......can't do that online.

You may know this, but Bud's has great prices and they do layaway. I wouldn't think twice about buying from them. Although they do massive online sales, they're still basically a mom and pop operation out of Kentucky, and everybody I know who has bought through them says they are great folks.

I go through a local place called Gilcrest farm and supply. They never have more then 15 guns but they keep lots of powder and primers on hand and its been run as a family business so they ALL know alot about what they are doing.

Locally, I'm looking at prices $50-100 higher than the web for guns. Add the 7% sales tax, and then it's $100-150 higher. It's hard for them to compete for my $$ unless they lower their prices.

Case in point: Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22, Magpul edition I just bought.

Local Price: $569.00 + Tax 7% (39.XX) = $610.00

Online Price: $459.00 + Shipping ($25) + FFL XFR ($20) = $504.00

Pretty much a no brainer for me. Add to that the fact that magazines locally were $25, but online were $14 and I could include them in my order for no extra cost.

I buy cleaning supplies and some ammo from my LGS, but mostly buy ammo in bulk when the gun show is in town, for a savings of $30-$50 per thousand rounds.

Seems a lot of us buy an awful lot on the internet, I'm no exception. I could almost say I buy excusively on the internet. Over the past year, local shops have gotten about 1% of my gun money. I could tell why, but it would be more of the same that has been said.

Those that only buy locally are missing avoidance of sales tax, it's almost 9% in my local. On gun purchases, many times the saving in sales tax more than pay for shipping. I'll also say it's a huge unfair advantage our states have setup for out of state businesses.

I'd like to see the poll and comments from folks who aren't using an internet forum to chat. The one thing we all have in common is using the internet to facilitate our hobby. There are no doubt a lot of gun people who never use the internet and they're not included in the poll.

I mostly look for and buy older rifles/shotguns/handguns. Wally World doesn't carry much in that line so it's off to the local gun shops, sometimes Gander Mountain to see what they have used on the racks.

I buy ammo at the LGS whenever I stop in just because. Most of my ammo purchases are at Wal-Mart but probably 20% or so is at LGS, mostly calibers WM doesn't stock.

I've recently gotten back into reloading so the LGS will see a slight increase in sales if he will stock some of the bullets and powders I will be using (he probably will).

I have one LGS I use quite a bit and three or four others I stop at on occasion. I like to spread the wealth, problem is I don't have all that much wealth to spread :)