Minnesota guys...callin' you out.

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"Am I the only person thats had crappy experiences with Gun Stop?"

rep -

Can you give some details of your experiences?

Aside from Howard occassionally giving more attention to his dog than customers, I've never had much problems.
 
http://www.ahlmans.com/ especially if you get out toward owatana to hit cabelas, swing by ahlman's, they have a real fun shooting fest every year, and the owner is a skilled gunsmith specializing in cowboy action shooting

the frontiersman is a decent shop, prices a bit higher than most places, but has a decent selection of milsurp.

I tend to steer clear of bills gun show for price reasons, they tend to be high. Also, they seem to have good knowledge of handguns and home defense type weapons, but your average hunting shotgun or bolt rifle, they can be lacking.


burnsville pistol range is the best, most economical gun range in the area
 
There are a lot of nice places.
Gunstop flat is the best in MN prices, trading, and reloading supplies is second to none!
Little Crow in Hutch used to blow out Bushmasters a while back,; the just had the best prices.......
Ahlmans is neat place to go to....
The Frontiersman has a nice selection and staff.
Bill's aside from the ranges, I would not buy stuff there. Sure like their spring and fall shooters shows! J&S well they are way over priced, but they have their customer base. Hart Bros. is good for selection and service.

The chains well Sportsmans Warehouse sure does have a good selection of stuff and sell EBR's. Scheels sure has some nice selections and prices to go with but has selective policies. Cabelas for reloading supplies they are best by mail order...., but they sure have a selection. Of course their ever present CC deals are enticing. Gander well gotta give them credit for getting new format stores, and their foray into EBR's. Dicks well, ever since they bought out Galyans.....
 
I really like the organization of guns, the staff and the great mix of shotguns at the Frontiersman. In general, their prices are higher, but I've seen a good deal there once in a while - 10% off used pump shotguns right now (or if it just ended, ask about it).

They alway have a lot of nice Wingmasters in the $200-$250 range - they probably hit a lot of estate sales. They also seem to always have some very nice used Ruger #1s that are right around $500 - a good price, but always outside of my budget.
 
Can you give some details of your experiences?

Aside from Howard occassionally giving more attention to his dog than customers, I've never had much problems.
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Here's what I wrote about my experience with them a while back:

I went in because so many had praised them, looking for a P3-AT. They were quite busy so I really didn't think much of it when it took them several minutes to get to me. I asked if they had any P3-ATs, and I was shown the display case that contained it, and the clerk ran off. Since I was just looking to verify they had one, this wasn't a big deal, but a day ot two later I came back with a pocket full of cash and a burning desire to spend it.
Unlike before, the place was quiet. There were 2 guys working there, and one customer that was just there for chatter and donuts. I walked in and was ignored for several minutes while they chatted about random stuff and milled around behind the counter. When my presence was finally acknowledged, I told him I'm going to buy that P3-AT right there. No tire kicking, no haggling, I got some dead presidents and I wanna trade 'em for that gun. After 5 more minutes of milling around and BS'ing, one of them finally said "well I guess you better fill out the form."
It wasn't until I started counting out the greenbacks that I got anything even remotely resembling service.
I wasn't rude and I don't look like a scumbag. (Heck I was on my lunch break, so I was in business casual) So I don't know why my experience was so different from everyone else's.

That said, they were the only shop I found that had a P3-AT and the price was fair. (Which is the only reason I didn't walk out)
 
I haven't bought a gun at Ahlman's but they did fix a Bersa of mine and the service was really good. They also have a great selection of handguns and rifles. The staff there have always bee patient and courteous and the seemed knowledgeable. They also have a huge selection of ammo and CCW holsters. They rank pretty well among the shops I've been in. If I was still a MN resident I would still definetely shop there.
 
I've been to Glen's in Grand Rapids a few time. They have changed a manager or two their and are much more relaxed than they used to be. Great selection and knowledge. Reeds has good prices, but they don't 1) Care about you if you don't show money/haven't bought something there before. 2) Only a couple employees know squat about their products.
 
MN is about the same as Fla. Need a permit to purchase or carry, use NICS with no waiting period. Most people in MN are used to guns being a part of their lives and aren't to concerned with them.
 
Pirate,
The gunlaws are pretty fair, IMO but could use some changes. We are now a Shall Issue for CCW and are working on getting Castle Doctrin passed. The City of Minneapolis is VERY Anti-Gun as are some of the other Larger Cities.
Good Hunting and Fishing almost anywhere, practically right out your back door.
 
I like Wolf's Den. I often get bullets from them at one of the shows. I've only been to their store twice though.

MDig said:
Add On: Also found a few nice buys at the Gun Show at Canterbury Park, Not so much from the MWCA shows.
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I didn't know they had a regular show scheduled. When is it?

repsychler said:
It wasn't until I started counting out the greenbacks that I got anything even remotely resembling service.
I wasn't rude and I don't look like a scumbag. (Heck I was on my lunch break, so I was in business casual) So I don't know why my experience was so different from everyone else's.
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They can be kind of funny sometimes. They have regulars that hang out a lot and sometimes help out behind the counter. Depending on when you show up, there can be a few guys BSing, and it can get a little deep. There's very much an "in" crowd that hangs out there, but they are good guys. I do get reloading supplies from there from time to time, and they can be very helpful, but they can also kid around a bit.
 
In some ways MN's law is better than FL.

"might be moving to MN. How's the gun rights/gun laws there? I'm from Florida and we're very pro-gun down here.
__________________
مسلم (Muslim) "

Open carry is allowed, not that I advocate it, but you don't have to worry about breaking the law if your coat blows open in the wind exposing your gun. You can carry in a bar just to name a couple examples.

If you are in the Twin Cities area give me a call, I would be glad to go over the details of getting a permit with you.
 
Al's in WBL is a pretty good place, real small but loaded with quality guns. he does not sell much crap and he prices things to move not be a shelf weight.

Al has some really cool personal collections that from time to time will be shown.

Nit pics, Al hates cell phones in his shop, because everybody else shuts up to let the guy talk, killing business. If you get a call, step out side or just let it go. If have seen him go half postal on guys who spend 10 minutes on the cell phone in his shop.

Ahlmans is a great place. really cool stuff, better staff too.

At cabela's remember all prices are just opening bids, I often buy used there for less that 2/3 of asking. Both Rodgers and Owatonna.

Howard at gunstop or Larry seem to just float around somedays, its not that they are rude by choice, but they can be a bit at times,

One place not mentioned is Muzzleloaders. Jim is pretty good guy and although i have not been there for a year, he often has some really good deals on very collectable or old school guns. Last gun I bought there was a Inglis Hi Power, with many GI mags, a case and a extra pair of grips for 450. For the condition that was a steal.

There is a gun shop in Pine City that is pretty good too, I bought a Ruger .257 Bob from them for a very good price with a "OK" Nikon scope on it. The kid behind the counter was very fair, knowledgeable and more than willing to show me lots of things while i decided on the .257.
 
One of my favorite shops is Hunters Den in rural Springfield. They are about to move to New Ulm in July and will be opening an indoor pistol range there later in the year. (one of only a few in the state)

Look for them on Hwy 14 just down from the new super Wal-Mart. In the mean time they will remain open in their old location ( look for their web site for location )

Tell Dave I said hello !
 
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