Handguns - Where I Buy From and Why

[wbond]

The below is based on my experiences. Your experiences may differ. If so, I'd like to hear about who you like. Let's just stick to who we like or like well enough to use. i.e. - don't mention any you hate. I don't want to slander any gunstores in this thread, even if they deserve it. If they aren't mentioned, it will be understood that they either are unknown or not recommended. Let's just leave it at that. In this way we can be positive, or at least neutral in our comments.

To explain where I like to buy, I also must explain what guns I like. Namely I like certain models of Firestorm, Taurus, Ruger, Bersa, CZ, and Makarovs. My favorites are Firestorms, Rugers, and Taurus. This will help explain where I buy and why.

For any model of Ruger, and some models of CZ and Taurus, I can't beat my local gun store and you probably can't beat yours, once you consider shipping and FFL transfer fee. However, there are some models they can't get.

I'm fond of CZ-83s and Makarovs, for which http://www.Makarov.com is an excellent place (possibly the best). Sometimes http://www.GunsAmerica.com is also good. The thing with Guns of American is that I never know who I'm dealing with. So far I've been lucky each time. There might also be other good places for CZs and Maks.

I'm also fond of Firestorms and Bersas. My favorite place to buy these is either of my local gun stores, if they have them in stock. They often stock two tone Bersa .380, but rarely other finishes of Bersa. Never other models of Bersa. They never carry Firestorm (my favorites). They can order Bersas and Firestorms in most models, but they are often VERY SLOW to get Firestorms. The same applies to Taurus, but there are models they can't get (like Taurus.32 Mag).

Therefore, I give my local store the business whenever they can help me in a timely manner. As for price, if the local store already has it in stock, then it's usually cheapest locally. If they have to order it, it usually costs about $15 more locally than if I bought online (after considering shipping and FFL transfer fee). I'd rather give the local gun store the business, if it is less money (in stock) or cost $15 more (if they order). However, I'm not willing to wait more than 2 weeks. If they can't promise to get it done within 2 weeks, then I'm going to check online.

My favorite online gun store is http://www.thegunsource.com because they carry Bersas and many other brands at very good prices and their customer service is excellent, including their phone answering and email response. They carry more Bersa models and lots of parts (various magazines). They have models of Bersa (.380 ACP 15+1 for example) and Taurus (.32M for example) that no else has or can get. These guys are the best for Bersa, Taurus and for many other brands as well. Unfortunately, these guys do NOT carry Firestorm (my personal favorite brand along with Ruger and Taurus).

That brings me to http://www.impactguns.com/store/ for Firestorms because these guys carry them at the best prices available for Firestorms. Firestorms are sometimes not easy to find at any price. These guys have Firestorms, Bersa, Taurus, and many others for excellent prices. They also sell models and parts (magazines) that you can't find anywhere else.

Unfortunately, Impact Guns often is hard to call due to busy signal. When I do get through I am sometimes on hold a long time. Other times they're OK. Same with their email response. Sometimes prompt, other times several business days.

Bottom Line: Impact Guns offers good prices on brands and models you cannot find elsewhere. They seem honest and will do right by you eventually, but don't expect prompt service.

That's why I suggest going to http://www.thegunsource.com first (fast, reliable, honest, pleasure to deal with). If they don't have what you want, then check out GunBroker.com (crapshoot) and ImpactGuns.com (slow, reliable, honest, aggravating to deal with due to slowness of customer service)

Both TheGunSource.com and ImpactGuns.com regularly offer things that are out of stock. ImpactGuns.com is notorious for this. However, they (both) inform you of availability before you order. After you order from them, they will order from their supplier. In some cases, they actually have the gun in stock when you order and you get it fast. They are good about informing you before you order. With GunsAmerica.com you just never know what to expect, though I've been lucky so far and had all good experiences, so far.

Bottom Line: I wholeheartedly recommend your local gun store first, then TheGunSource.com. Both will be excellent if they have or can get what you want in a reasonable time. I highly recommend Makarov.com for Makarovs, CZ-83s, other commy guns, parts, and upgrades. I recommend GunsAmerica.com and ImpactGuns.com with some reservations, but I'd still buy from them again.

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If you have places you like to buy handguns from, please post them, including a link to them and a detailed explanation of why you like them.

I'm hoping this thread can be like free consumer reports for all of us.

If you prefer your local sources, that's fine and do tell us about them. However, I am most interested to know about national sources we can all use so that we can all benefit from this thread.

 

[poppy]

OK, I'll play.

1st choice: Private sellers at local gun shows. My best deals by far have been ANIB handguns (and sometimes NIB) from either individuals walking the aisles or non-dealer table sellers.

2nd choice: FFL dealers at gun shows. Competition is pretty good around here, so some dealers don't mark up guns very much plus charge less for cash. Have bought both used and new this way.

3rd choice: gunbroker.com. So, far it is the only online source that I have used and it has worked for me in buying used Hi Powers, because the Ohio gun shows don't have very many.

An alternative 3rd choice would be online forums, that I really didn't discover until after I had used gunbroker.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I pretty much just buy and sell FTF, generally through people found here or in other forums.

It limits the ability to buy a particular item right now, but it also minimizes hassles and cost.

 

[Flame Red]

I have noticed that the auction sites, GA, GB, AA - prices are getting out of sight. The only exception seems to be the penny auctions on AA. With the FFL fees and shipping rates, local gun shows are my best bet. But the old rule applies - if you are looking for something specific, you will never find it at the local gun show unless you don't have any money to buy it. :banghead:

Private sellers at the guns show have the best deals. No tax either

 

[bpisler]

90% of the guns i buy are used and
mostly out of production.I start by
looking in the local gun stores,if
i don't find it there i go to
auction arms.If that doesn't work
out i try gunbroker and guns america.
I also check the gun forums for good
instate deals.So it really doesn't
matter where i find a good deal at.

 

[Jim PHL]

I have purchased from gunbroker.com with good results. Currently the only things I'm shopping for are used S+W revos and Colt 1911's. It seems ALL the auction sites have prices way up there on these particular items. The classified boards on the popular forums also seem to be premium priced for everything. One of the local shops usually has a good selection of used revos and I expect to buy one there within the next couple of days.
Sometimes I feel like I will never be able to afford a stock blue Colt 1911 Commander.

 

[Dienekes]

Prefer gun shows--but then I don't really "need" anything at this stage of the game. To get me wound up the item has to be something pretty special, at a pretty good price, and the money won't be missed. From when the kids were little and all the way through college I got very good at walking away from things that I couldn't afford--and can still do it.

I surf a couple of forums for gun sales and a couple of the auction sites, but have not bought anything on them to date. Although some of the photos are very good, I'm leery of forking out money for something I can't see and handle first.

Then too, the FFL and shipping fees are getting out of hand. At a gun show I just throw down the money and take the gun home. Simpler is better.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Mostly from gun shows.
Best price.
Best selection.
Once in a while run across a very good buy from an individual.

 

[eastwood44mag]

gunbroker.com consignment sales. Shops near me want to mark-up prices to $300+ for a USED Buck Mark (no, not the top dollar target model).

Find somebody with a wife who doesn't like big bores, and doesn't bother to tell him until after he's bought it--saved me a nice chunk of change on my first.

 

[sfhogman]

I live in San Francisco, so my first choice is the local gunshop in Pacifica or the local range in South San Francisco. They need my support.

 

[lawboy]

for new handguns, one particular local shop.
for used handguns, another particular local shop, plus any where I happen so see something I want.
These days my buying habigs lean strongly towards used s&w revolvers with pinned barrels, firing pins on the hammers and, where applicable, recessed cylinders. There are some shops that do more consignment business than others and I frequent these shops.

 

[ugaarguy]

I prefer my local gun dealer that recently opened shop for several reasons:
1) He runs a small shop with pretty good prices even though he doesn't have mega store inventory.
2) If I find something online, in The SGN, etc. that I want he charges me actual shipping plus a small percentage FFL fee which ain't bad at all.
3) He gives everyone excellent customer service. He and his wife are good folks who truly treat me as a friend first and customer second. They're always happy to shoot the breeze with me and just talk guns when I'm in town even if I'm not buying that day.

For anyone who's in Southwest Idaho I highly recommend seeing Bernd and Annie at Freedom Firearms in Mountain Home.

 

[SeanSw]

I use one of my local gun/pawn shops for purchases. Their transfers are NOT the cheapest in town and their prices are NOT necessarily a bargain. They have given me a lot of face time and allowed me to handle their firearms while providing useful advice. Although I consider myself a bargain hunter, going to wits end to find the best prices on all purchases, sometimes I can accept the "pay to play" mentality. They've spent their time, so why shouldn't I spend my money?

Also, being new to firearms I have wanted to develop a report with local gun enthusiasts. I don't expect the store owners to cut a bargain for the new kid on the block, the one who comes in every few weeks and never purchases anything.

I don't make a lot of money. If I shop around online I can still save $25 on a pistol by having it delivered, even after FFL fees and shipping. Well...... It's worth the extra $25 to me to deal locally and not deal with communiction, shipping, or quality issues through a monitor and phone reciever.

During my summer lay-off period I am an organic gardener. I personally don't have any stake in the landowners business, but I am a longtime worker of his, and without the community support he wouldn't have any business at all. What goes around comes around, y'know?

 

[wbond]

What is AA?

Is that alcoholics anonymous? Are they selling guns now?

Please don't use an abbreviation in a post until after you've spelled it out fully at least once.

Also, if you mention an online place, please include a link to it.

Thanks.

 

[usp9]

AA is http://auctionarms.com/

In the past four years I've bought;
one gun at a gun show,
one at a small local gun store,
one at another small local shop,
three at Gander Mtn.,
three off of GA.

Local is best, but sometimes local doesn't carry what I'm after. The only problem with gun shows, at least in the N. VA. area is that they are TOO CROWDED to move or get waited on.

Internet sales are OK only if I use a credit card. That is the only protection from being ripped off by a crook.

 

[rtl]

sfhogman: " ...the local gunshop in Pacifica or the local range in South San Francisco. They need my support."

No kiddin' they do. Thank you!

 

[trickyasafox]

i stick to local gunshops. walmart and dicks may be slightly cheaper, but they dont have the selection or the customer service. i'll support local business where ever i can, despite being on a shoe string budget

 

[Manedwolf]

For any model of Ruger, and some models of CZ and Taurus, I can't beat my local gun store and you probably can't beat yours, once you consider shipping and FFL transfer fee. However, there are some models they can't get.

Sure I can. Local stores want $492 for a CW-9 and $360 for a Taurus Millenium.

 

[22-rimfire]

On new guns, I generally head for the local gun shop. Prices are very competitive and they have a good inventory. I am not worried about $10 difference and would rather give the local shops business. Ocasionally, I will make a impulse purchase at a gunshow on a new gun. An example is a 3" GP100 which I purchased at a show, because it was a fair price and I wanted it.

I don't buy on line and I don't have any special arrangements with gunshops for the transfer. I like to handle my guns first. Ocasionally, I will buy at an out of state gun show and transfer through an in-state dealer. Again, I handled the gun prior to sale and negotiated the price face to face.

I have bid on some special things at the firearm auction sites, but have not been the high bidder yet. Again, these are special and hard to find items that you are unlikely to find at a gunshop or at most gunshows.