Trip to Cabelas

GEM said:

I was bored so I took a trip to Cabelas. My observations:

...

NSSF says there's been massive gun buying focused on semi handguns, then shotguns and EBRs. Large increases in female and African American purchasing. Reasons, primarily SD and the on coming opponents in the apocalypse, depending on which side you are on, sad to say (the latter view from some other surveys).

Click to expand...

The number of first time gun buyers relocated to Fla from the Northeast in the past few months has been eyebrow raising. Can't count the number of times I've been told "I didn't think I'd ever buy a gun!" And I'm a pretty durn good counterer.

Having health risks I've been avoiding going to public places as much as I can. One of these days I'll be back to my old haunts of LGS and pawn shops. No Cabela's nearby but I remember going to the one in Hamburg, PA back in the day. But I do look in on the online shops and it "feels" like inventory is coming back.... some. Probably one of the most productive industries right now, what with demand.

GEM said:

Everyone had masks but one dude had it under his chin.

Click to expand...

Interesting. None of the gun related places I go to require a mask. People that come in wearing them take them off.

I think Cabelas/big box stores are suffering from the economies of scale. They need to buy in volumes that are currently not available to keep shelves looking stocked. I've been able to find or order the stuff I need from a couple of small, well run, gun shops.

GEM said:

NYS requires them. Can't get in to a place without them.

Click to expand...

Same here in Ohio:
The order only requires those 10 years old or older to wear a mask.
All individuals in Ohio must wear facial coverings in public at all times when:

• At an indoor location that is not a residence.
• Outdoors, but unable to maintain six-foot social distance from people who are not household members.

All retail outlets included. Simply put anywhere in public. Most places will give you a mask if you don't have one. I haven't been to Cabela's in awhile but do occasionally look at their Gun Library online. Probably the lowest inventory I have ever seen.

Ron

My impression of Cabelas: Finance company that fronts guns and gear for sportsman!

I only go there as a last resort or to save on shipping on some items.

Never ever go there to dispose of a firearm!

Smiles,

GEM said:

NYS requires them. Can't get in to a place without them.

Click to expand...

The gun places here know our governor's mandates have no teeth.

I went to my local cabelas Wednesday afternoon.
Zero primers
Some powder - maybe 15# of different (less desirable ) types.
Plenty of projectiles.
-bought a 50 count bag of starline brass for 45-70 and one 100 count box of 158 grain xtps for my 357.
Ammo was pitiful, a few revolvers and hunting rifles and that was about it. A couple goobers wandering around looking for a deal but otherwise not many people there .

kidneyboy said:

The gun places here know our governor's mandates have no teeth.

Click to expand...

True. Gun stores , tire shops , machine/fab shops - not a mask to be found. I don't even keep one in my truck when I'm out and about.
LGS has handgun ammo - for a price.

Obturation said:

A couple goobers wandering around looking for a deal

Click to expand...

How did those guys earn that unflattering description?

Waveski said:

How did those guys earn that unflattering description?

Click to expand...

Possibly an unfair judgement , this cabelas is where a lot of city of Chicago folks go (I think it's the closest one to the city), being in cook County there's a .05 per loaded cartridge centerfire & .01 per rimfire cartridge tax, there's a large gun store not even 3 miles up the road that's in the next county that doesn't impose those taxes. So really guys searching desperately for ammo at this location are sadly uninformed. The couple guys in question were decked out like mall ninjas and scouring the handgun ammo isle thinking they'd find that forgotten box of ammo that hasn't been bought up .

Reloadron said:

Same here in Ohio:
The order only requires those 10 years old or older to wear a mask.
All individuals in Ohio must wear facial coverings in public at all times when:

Click to expand...

Multiple "chain" type gun shops have posted their own policies describing the masks as mandatory unless exempted by a medical condition. If a person enters their retail store without a mask, it'll be assumed they're medically exempt and they will not ask due to HIPPA laws. Vance's Outdoors and Fin,Fur& Feather (or whatever they're called) are 2 that I've seen.

GEM said:

I was bored so I took a trip to Cabelas.

Click to expand...

I sincerely hope I never get that bored.

Waveski said:

How did those guys earn that unflattering description?

Click to expand...

Before Cabelas was owned by ole Johnny, you could get good deals on Cabelas merchandise. But I’ve been to many cabelas across several states. I’ve never seen what I consider a deal on a used firearm. Most are just below new prices. Now, if they sell the Savage 12FV for $299 ever again.....

I have $138 in credit at Cabela's. I want to use it before the elections I think. I was going to spend it on ammo if they have any I can use. I am pretty well stocked on everything except a couple guns I just acquired. I realy don't need much of anything.

Howland937 said:

Multiple "chain" type gun shops have posted their own policies describing the masks as mandatory unless exempted by a medical condition. If a person enters their retail store without a mask, it'll be assumed they're medically exempt and they will not ask due to HIPPA laws. Vance's Outdoors and Fin,Fur& Feather (or whatever they're called) are 2 that I've seen.

Click to expand...

Soooo, they have lung, breathing issues so I'd think the last place they would want to be, being an AT RISK person, would be in public..IF they ARE 'medically exempt'

GEM said:

I was bored so I took a trip to Cabelas. My observations:

1. Lots of hunter type folks
2. Lot of hunter gear
3. Lots of shotgun ammo
4. Very little rifle, a few boxes of 30.06 and 7mm
5. Handguns, nothing except for a lot of 22 ACP, 357 Sig, 41 mag and 22 Mag
6. Handguns for sale - quite a few 22 semis. Quite a few Kimber 1911s, some Ruger 1911s, one forlong G17 and G29. A scattering of LCRs, a 43C J frame. Some foreign old 380s in the gun library.
7. Hunting rifles, a few - 'tactical' shotguns - nope.

NSSF says there's been massive gun buying focused on semi handguns, then shotguns and EBRs. Large increases in female and African American purchasing. Reasons, primarily SD and the on coming opponents in the apocalypse, depending on which side you are on, sad to say (the latter view from some other surveys).

Click to expand...

About the same, plenty of shotgun ammo, but No Buckshot when I went.

Bass Pro Shops here in what's projected to move from the 7th largest US city by population to 6th when the 2020 Census results are declared complete requires face masks as do many grocery stores etc especially after experiencing a large second wave of cases requiring hospitalizations as well as fatalities after the initial draconian restrictions were lifted shortly before Labor Day Weekend and the following events. We honestly achieved 17% unoccupied hospital bed capacity in a city known for its healthcare facilities and education.

That place has become my go-to for powder and primers as a new reloader. I previously used Academy Sports and Outdoors for ammunition and I picked up some materials there when they were available but they don't offer online orders for anything not in stock at a particular store location. The Bass Pro Shop and Cabela's system allowing online orders with free ship-to-store has been my source for some powders and almost all my primers, with a few of those being items I randomly found actually available on the store shelves there.

I'll make a trip probably tomorrow to pick up several orders and see what I can see between when I present my online order numbers and ID at the online orders counter and they actually have my online order boxes retrieved from "in the back" and transported to the online orders desk.

Bass Pro Shop is a 20 minute in town drive for me, the nearest Cabela's is an out of town 1 hour + drive for me depending on traffic along the notorious San Antonio to Austin I-35 corridor and I've long since found anything other than the online accessible used gun library to distinguish between the two.

The gun library (I think it called) is fun to look at. Sometimes some nice firearms there and all for sale.

I've made one purchase from the Cabela's Gun Library, a 7mm-08 rifle from the Owatonna, MN store at the other end of I-35. The employee at that store was courteous and helpful with me. When my options for pickup at my nearest Bass Pro Shop vs nearest Cabela's entered the equation, I was informed there would be an additional $20 charge to pick it up at Cabela's and $0 additional fee to pick it up at Bass Pro Shop. My experience with the local Bass Pro Shop employee was less than stellar (previously posted on THR) but no escorting to the door or anything like that involved and an at no additional charge (required by Bass Pro Shops) gun lock (plus key) included for me to keep.

Mr. Zorg said:

I've made one purchase from the Cabela's Gun Library, a 7mm-08 rifle from the Owatonna, MN store at the other end of I-35. The employee at that store was courteous and helpful with me. When my options for pickup at my nearest Bass Pro Shop vs nearest Cabela's entered the equation, I was informed there would be an additional $20 charge to pick it up at Cabela's and $0 additional fee to pick it up at Bass Pro Shop. My experience with the local Bass Pro Shop employee was less than stellar (previously posted on THR) but no escorting to the door or anything like that involved and an at no additional charge (required by Bass Pro Shops) gun lock (plus key) included for me to keep.

Click to expand...

Prior to Bass Pro buying Cabela's I used their gun library several times. Heck, no matter where I saw a gun they delivered it to my local store for my consideration and never an increase in price.

Ron

GEM said:

NYS requires them. Can't get in to a place without them.

Click to expand...

Texas too, but not 100% enforced.

Timeless said:

The gun library (I think it called) is fun to look at. Sometimes some nice firearms there and all for sale.

Click to expand...

Agreed, but my local Cabela's has had it closed pretty much for the duration of this virus

GEM said:

NSSF says there's been massive gun buying focused on semi handguns, then shotguns and EBRs. Large increases in female and African American purchasing. Reasons, primarily SD and the on coming opponents in the apocalypse, depending on which side you are on, sad to say (the latter view from some other surveys).

Click to expand...

I'm beginning to think there's a domestic arms race going on. This has gone far beyond the needs of simple self-defense.