Whittaker Guns

Some years ago I bought a CZ rimfire from them (not locally) and they were good to go. They were kind of one of the go to places for CZ 452s at the time.

I've ordered a couple of rifles from them. Best prices I've found on those guns. They are right with Buds Gunshop as far as online sales are concerned. Never been inside the store, but it has to be pretty big to be bigger than https://adventureoutdoors.us/ in Smyrna GA.

I've been there a few times over the last 10 years or so, at the old store and the new one. I've always found their prices to be very competitive on new and used guns. I remember seeing far more hunting rifles and shotguns than AR's but it's been about a year since I was there last and inventory could have changed. I do remember their long gun inventory to be quite extensive as far as manufacturers and models on display, far more than I've ever seen at the big box stores. Guns you see in magazines but not in most shops. As far as them being the largest privately held gun shop, I have no idea about that claim but it is a very large building.

They are on the other end of the state from me so I only get to go occasionally. I usually made a day of it by hitting Whittaker’s and Moonlite BBQ. The last two times I’ve gone happened to be near Christmas, and both since they moved. After the last trip I told myself I’m going to give them one more visit sometime not around the holidays and if they don’t have something I can’t live without then it will be my last trip. Both of my last visits I wasn’t at all excited by their inventory. They used to have a much better selection of LH guns...but like I said I was there near Christmas and their inventory might have been severely depleted.

IMO there have been two events that might have impacted the retail business. First was the death of the father and second was new building. I think their new prices reflect the need to pay off the new building.

I can’t comment on the internet business other than to say they had the absolute lowest price on a Leupold rimfire scope when I was looking for one this fall and they delivered with no issues.

Hmmm...I think I may have to visit next week. It’s far enough from Christmas that the inventory should be topped off.

I wish some of these huge stores would post their used guns on their website. I know that it would require more web updating but I would love to have a good online source for used stuff other than auctions and I sure don't trust classifieds to send money to someone I've never met.

It’s not what it used to be. Old man Whittaker used to sit in a chair by the front door and even though he didn’t move much he was the life of the place. His kids listened when he spoke too. He was a no nonsense kind of businessman but he didnt mind to BS a bit either. I remember him talking about how they built him a special blind to hunt out of one year as his health kept him from going the normal route. He passed on and things started changing. I bought a bunch of stuff from him, his kids... not impressed. They didn’t inherit his wit or demeanor.

I’m sitting here trying to think of what all I bought there...
Brolin inline 50cal muzzleloader (junk)
Stevens 12 ga sxs
Mossberg intl 17hmr
Henry lever carbine
Ruger mk1
Arminius hw3
Ruger single six
Winchester 1300
Hi point 995
Llama maxi .45

They used to be open 364 days a year, only closing on Christmas. Now they close two days a week.

I’m about a hours drive from them and when they were in the last building and Darrel was still alive it was a hard place to leave without spending some money. It was also a place to get overwhelmed and leave without a thing. A friend and I went there about 4 months after they moved into the new building and I was not impressed. I used to keep their website in my favorites list and I deleted it about a month ago. They’ve never had a good website and I looked last week to see if things had turned around and they’ve redone their site. It really sucks now. From the things I managed to figure out how to look at on their site almost all of it was out of stock. What a mess. I told someone a few weeks ago that I’d give them two years and they’d be out of business. Unless they find a way to clone Darrell that ship is sinking....fast!
My new home gunshop (the old home wasn’t Whittaker’s) is now Uncle Lee’s in Greenville. They’ve never let me down and they’ve always been polite and helpful.
RIP Whittaker’s, you’re acting like you’re to big to fail!

Creed Bennett said:

I’m about a hours drive from them and when they were in the last building and Darrel was still alive it was a hard place to leave without spending some money. It was also a place to get overwhelmed and leave without a thing. A friend and I went there about 4 months after they moved into the new building and I was not impressed. I used to keep their website in my favorites list and I deleted it about a month ago. They’ve never had a good website and I looked last week to see if things had turned around and they’ve redone their site. It really sucks now. From the things I managed to figure out how to look at on their site almost all of it was out of stock. What a mess. I told someone a few weeks ago that I’d give them two years and they’d be out of business. Unless they find a way to clone Darrell that ship is sinking....fast!
My new home gunshop (the old home wasn’t Whittaker’s) is now Uncle Lee’s in Greenville. They’ve never let me down and they’ve always been polite and helpful.
RIP Whittaker’s, you’re acting like you’re to big to fail!

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Uncle Lees isn’t what it used to be either. Buds Gun Shop buying them out increased the inventory a lot, but the old department store feel was great and prices were good. I’m not even going to mention some of the pretty faces at the registers... I’m starting to sound like a grumpy old man, I’m not. I’m in my 30s...

I've shifted to KY Gun Company in Bardstown. A few less miles, great inventory and excellent prices. I too used to frequent Whittaker's. Back when the used guns were listed on their website. Early on, the used handguns were on an open display table with a cable lock running through the trigger guards too. I myself liked it smaller. Darrel sitting in his chair at the front door would tell you his best offer on a trade-in and there was no back and forth. His guns were priced at the lowest he would take. No back and forth. I've not been there since the new building move. I guess I should though just for old times sake.Lots of good memories from the old Whittaker's days. Don

Elkins45 said:

They are on the other end of the state from me so I only get to go occasionally. I usually made a day of it by hitting Whittaker’s and Moonlite BBQ.

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Every time I've gone there I made it a point to go to Moonlite BBQ, good food especially the Burgoo.

George Dickel said:

Every time I've gone there I made it a point to go to Moonlite BBQ, good food especially the Burgoo.

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Yuck. Moonlight is probably the worst BBQ I have ever had. The beer joint across from Whittaker’s actually has decent food. (At least it did, I haven’t been to West Louisville in about 4 years)

I've purchased a handgun and rifle from Whittaker Guns in the past 2 1/4 years. Both buys were excellent deals and transactions smooth as silk. Ordered over the phone, sent money orders for both, guns were immediately shipped out to my local LGS. The rifle was a new T3x 7mm-08 for $480 because the owner of Whittaker was straight up honest in posting that Tikka was going to raise their prices. A month or two later that same rifle jumped up $150 more and it has never come back down in price. Bud's has some good deals but they really cycle their prices up and down a lot. I bought a Ruger MPR from Bud's for $580 a week after I saw it at $560 something and within a week or two that same gun shot up to $700 then the price started backing down again. At least Whittaker prices seem relatively stable, unless of course they announce a big sale on particular guns.

I bought several CZ rimfires from them about 20 years ago. They were great to deal with then.

I'be bought from them many times when CZ's were "what is that" they were always very friendly and gave me good deals, they had a big selection of used firearms that they don't list anymore.
Since, I dont have FB lost tacks for new site and so on.

I went on Wednesday. The only bargains to be found in the whole place were $39 Anderson AR lowers and a used Beretta PX4 9mm for $299. They had a used CZ P10 for $3 more than Bud’s new price. It used to be that I would spend 2-3 hours in the place, but I doubt I was there more than 45 minutes.

It’s hard to imagine me making a special trip just to go there again. I hope they are doing a booming business on the Internet because their retail store sure doesn’t seem to be what it once was.

jmr40 said:

I've ordered a couple of rifles from them. Best prices I've found on those guns. They are right with Buds Gunshop as far as online sales are concerned. Never been inside the store, but it has to be pretty big to be bigger than https://adventureoutdoors.us/ in Smyrna GA.

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This is what I found. I get their Email specials. Pretty good prices on a lot of guns.

We have a local store, Vances, that opened an online gunshop/seller under a different name. Outdoors Supercenter. I think that was so they could sell things for less and not have the problem of people trying to get the online price at the local store

I've bought a few guns from their website, but have never been to the physical store even though its only an hour or two from me. Buying online I have found them to have good prices and had no issues during the transactions.