Favorite and least favortie gun shops

SE Michigan:
I've only bought guns at 2 stores:
Top Gun Shooting Sports in Taylor (indoor range/ gun shop) and Firearms Exchange in Wayne.
I highly recommend both places. Friendly, knowledgable staff and pleasant to deal with.

In Connecticut -

Good places (IMO): JOJO's Gun Works in Southington; not a big selection, mostly used, but VERY helpful, and Excellent gunsmithing.

Hoffman's in Newington; large selection of new guns, decent amount of used guns, retail prices on new, decent prices on used, good counter help (moving to a new store w/ indoor range).

Newington Gun Exchange in Newington; large selection of used guns, some new guns, prices aren't bad; counter help can be hit or miss.

In New Jersey (since I lived there 20 yrs)

Harry's Army Navy in on Rt. 130 Bordentown: Big selection of new and used guns, decent prices, counter help ok unless it's busy.

Sportsman's Center in Bordentown (just down the road from Harry's); good selection of new and used, good counter help, decent gunsmithing (although turn around time is long).

I can't remember the name, but it's in Vineland, NJ and has a good selection of used guns, some new, very good counter help and decent prices.

Also, agree about Ray's in South Plainfield.

Midwest Ordnance, Royal Oak MI
admittedly not always the cheapest... but the best to deal in Detroit metro area.

Best: East Side Gun Shop - Nashville, TN. Its a small shop, but has some good deals. The owner is great & knows his stuff.

Runner up: Franklin Gun Shop - Franklin, TN. Good selection, tons of handguns, pretty good assortment of military style weapons, and occasionally some decent used & mil-surp guns. Tends to be a tad overpriced on most things though, and it can take awhile to talk to a salesperson since theyre always really busy.

Worst: Gun City USA - Nashville,TN. I used to go to their indoor pistol range and everytime I did, I feared for my life. It's dirty, the range is unkempt and has lots of bullet holes where there shouldnt be any and its packed with shady characters. They could make a killing if they sold these

LaVergne, Tn. Specialty Arms is great. Feel like Norm from cheers there. I haven't bought a gun there in 2 years and they always have time to show me what I want to look at or shoot the bull if no one is waiting. Prices are fair and they will work with you on some of them, will get whatever they don't have ordered while you wait.
Murfreesboro, Tn. On Target is great too. Small selection but will try to get whatever you want, class III dealer and rents some at the indoor range. ALso has training rooms for CC and offers many other calsses as well. Sent my wife in alone and she was treated like I was, not the newb she is.
Franklin, Tn. Franklin Gun Shop, nice selection but the prices are higher than I like.
Mt. Juliet, Tn. Reloader's Bench. OMG I wanna move in!!! Ammo galore and components out the yin yang abound in this place. A reloader's paradice to be sure and the prices aint too bad either. Tiny store cramm packed with guns and accessories on one side and ammo and reloading stuff on the other. If you are larger of ststure(fat like me) you may have to slide sideways down the aisles in order to go home with an empty wallet. I never leave that place with any money.
Nashville, Tn. Gun City. Not going back. Nice open store with lots of room to look around, but the prices are way too high for me. The older guys working there seemed to be allright, but I shop by price and, they like their stuff too much.

Bullseye308: Ive never heard of Specialty Arms, I'll have to check it out sometime. Where are they at in LaVergne?

In SW Virginia Whitetail Outfitters pretty much all you need.
It can get busy but that in it’s self is testament to good business.
Rifle, pistol, ammo, reloading, as well as archery. These guys will do you right.

Another is Millers Gun Shop, been open about one year.

And as said before Trader Jerry's; good selection, great prices, friendly staff.

Roanoke Firearms and Bryansteen's Guns. Never been to those but all the shooters I’ve talked to say they are top notch.

Alabama

Good: Simmons in Bessemer, Al. Friendly knowledgeable staff, fair prices. Plus they carry reloading supplies.

Not so good: Gun Cellar in Hoover, AL. Indifferent staff, high prices.

I've got mixed feelings about Mark's Outdoor Sports. They have some items I can't find anywhere else locally. The sales staff has always been cordial. But the prices are a little high, and the store is so crowded most of the time (very narrow aisles) that it's unpleasant just being there.

In SE Michigan
Williams in Davidson, I've heard good things about them. I've never bought any guns there as I like to be able to browse the used stuff and they have most of their pistols on racks behind the counter. I'm sure that they would hand you what ever you wanted, but given all the stuff I like to look at, it is too much hassle.
Guns Galore, lots of handguns, very good used prices, good prices on new stuff too, don't take the staff's attitude personally, they treat everybody like that. I shop for the prices and ignore the attitude.
Michigun in St Clair Shores, Not the biggest selection, very good prices, they only carry the top end lines generally. Staff generally helpful and friendly, except for one guy who tends to be very pushy. If you call in to ask about the availability of a guns, he starts in with the "it's the deal of the century and you have to come and get it right now" stuff. Again. I just ignore him.
Firearms exchange in Westland, decent people to deal with and I've bought a gun or 2 there. The biggest problem with them is on a gun show weekend, the store has no merchandise as it is all on the tables at the show.
Westborn in Taylor, been in there and the service seemed good, but didn't buy anything.
Firing Line in Westland, good staff and good prices, I like this place.
Whites Gun Shop on Cooley Lake Road in Waterford. This is one of those places that is really just a clubhouse for some old pals to get together. Overpriced and hostile to strangers.
Midwest Ordinance in Royal Oak. You are better off shopping their stuff at local gun shows. They have 2 price levels and the shop price is higher. The people I have dealt with tend to lie at a somewhat higher level than the average for gun sellers. I have bought stuff from them at shows when the price was right. They carry a lot of the really cheap guns.

I can't remember the name, but it's in Vineland, NJ and has a good selection of used guns, some new, very good counter help and decent prices.

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I believe the shop is called Butch's Gun Store.

I've got two very good local stores in Corbin KY:
Kentucky Outdoorsman and Dave and Rex's

Both have prices comparable to Bud's in Paris. If they don't have what I want, they'll order it for me. I don't have a worst. After finding these two, why shop elsewhere?

New least favorite in the Columbia, SC area: Shooter's choice

I only had to hear one salesman, while he was showing an AR to a customer, say something along the lines of "Obama is going to start race wars. I don't give $h#@ what happens, I'm gonna kill me some f#*%@&% n-words."

They won't see a dime of my money.

hmmmm.

In Denver... Green Mountain guns....They are great.

In Longmont... Grampa's Pawn. Holy Cow. Worst

In Denver... Gunsmoke. Horrible prices, Horrible gunsmithing. I mean, really, they couldn't get 2 scope rings to line up. Stay away from this bunch of fiends.

Jensnes up in Loveland is fun. Lots of NFA and tacticool stuff. My favorite place to play.

Adrian, Michigan

Johnson's Sporting goods. They have an excellent selection of firearms and all of the accessories you would need. Prices are great. If they don't have it on the shelf they are more than happy to order it for you. Service is friendly and knowledgeable. They treat you well even if you are just browsing. No question is too dumb to ask. Gunsmithing is good. They don't try to steer you to the most expensive gun, unless that's what you want. I have bought all of my guns from them and had repairs/modifications done by them. I've got no complaints.
And, no, I don't work there.

Worst:

DiscountGunner.com, Lexington KY

Refused to honor legitimate online auction win, after he confirmed the terms numerous times prior to his refusal to honor them.

I like it when you walk into a gun store and the person behind the counter says, "Can I show you something?" or, "Here, handle this gun, tell me what you think."

Favorite: Taylor's Trading Post, Biglerville, PA. Scott is a real expert and has EVERYTHING.

Least favorite: Southside Guns, Richmond, VA. Poor selection, poor customer service and not particularly interested in customers.

The Best and Worst.

Absolutely the best in the area is Stockers Shop in Champion, Ohio. Great selection, knowlegeable staff and decent prices. Of my last half dozen gun purchases, all have been from them. Ammo now, too, since my last place (wally world) went up in price.

Worst place in the area is Georges Gun Shack in Warren, Ohio. Never open, stocks only long arms and is vocal about the evils of handguns. Oh, and his prices are a good fifty percent higher than anyone else around. Haven't been back inside the joint in years.

These places are only fifteen minutes apart, but are a study in stark contrast.

My new favorite in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is B&S guns in Garland. Don't know about their firearm prices/transfer fees yet but the customer service I've received has been great. They went out of their way to get the ammo and accessories I needed.
I've been using Sporting Arms in Lewisville for transfers ($20) and Becky is very professional. I've got one of the new no-lock 642's on layaway with her. Rays wants $50 for a transfer fee , they won't get a nickel of my money. Other shops around here seem to have either tacticool ninja's or racists working for them.
I've bought guns at Bachman Gun & Pawn but the prices are on the high side.

Don's Guns is without a doubt the worst I've seen

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You evidently Haven't been to ludco's in parker city Ammo prices higher than suggested retail and Fred who own's the place Is a top notch JACKASS
Roy

Since the Original Post, Get Some Guns has moved into a new building w/range, and they are also heavily focused on EBRs & Class 3. They now have a LARGE selection, including lots of Barrett .50BMG rifles.

Gallenson's in downtown SLC is still really good.

FBMG in Draper, UT is very good if you're wanting EBRs, tactical clothing & gear, gunsmithing and education. We all know Correia, and this is his shop.

Cabela's has an extensive selection, but the prices are only good during sales, or if you have Cabela's points on your CC to use.

Best: Acme Sports in Seymour Indiana. The employees are pretty nice and they help you with anything you need. I shop there quite a bit and I know them on a first name basis. There's only 3 people that actually work there so you get to know them all pretty good.

Worst: Bass pro shops in Seymour also. The employees tend to be a bit rude and sometimes stupid. I went in there to buy an RIA GI 45 and an older lady took it out of the cabinet and was pointing it straight at me, didnt bother to release the mag or check the chamber and she kept waving it around while pointing it at me. The only reason I go in there anymore is to get some ammo that I know only they would have or to get something I couldnt get elswhere.

Green Mountain Guns

GREEN MOUNTAIN GUNS / Metro Denver


I once posted something critical of Green Mountain Guns, but you know I went back with some family a month ago.

We had a great time and got pretty good service.

My wife noticed that the staff seemed to ask the men if they need help and tended to ignore her.

Maybe they just wanted to give the "lady" some space though.

Anyway, we did business with them. They were nice this time and all went well.

All's well that ends well I hope. Green Mountain Guns was okay by me.



Oh, you know what else? My son (who is new to guns) got into a conversation with a real collector, and picked up all kinds of information such as technical stuff about Mosin Nagants and other rifles and shotguns etc. He had a great learning experience there! When a customer is an expert, it don't get no better'n that.

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Then there's JENSEN's GUNS in Loveland, Colorado up North of Denver about 30 minutes. They're good up there too.

I can't say that I know of any shop that is just terrible. I haven't been treated lower-n-gully-dirt anywhere, so I'm happy that we've got good shops and good service.


I always enjoy the Sportsman's Warehouse staff on South Wadsworth Blvd in Southwest Denver. "Jingles" and "Joe" and those guys are friendly all the time to us, and they have plenty of experience. Sometimes I've just stood there and chatted with them for half an hour.

I don't hate anybody. What the heck is wrong with me? Don't I shop enough?






I can't say that I measure up to any shops standards though. As a customer, I'm a real jerk....


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All-time fave: Meraux Sporting Goods, Meraux, La. Friendly staff, get anything you want, great deals. Destroyed by hurricane katrina. R.I.P.

Current (North Carolina) faves: Ed's in Vass, Young in Apex.

Worst: can't say I've had any really bad experiences in a gun shop (yet). Some places are too pricey... I don't go back to those.


E

Best:

In Prescott, Az, J&G Sales. Great stock, Great prices (especially for used and Mul-surp guns, Ton's of AK's and SKS's, Outstanding Service and 30 day guarantees on all sales.

In Prescott Valley, Az, Prescott Valley Guns. Excellent prices on both new and used guns, Huge selection of used shotguns and rifles. Extremely friendly sales staff.

I don't work for either of them.

Worst:

Most pawn shops in Prescott have unknowledgeable and unfriendly staff and worse deals than you would find at a gun shop.

Anywhere that a salesperson tells me what I "Should" buy as apposed to what I asked for (unless it's because it's a better deal). What works for you may not work for me, or may not be what I want. Either way, you just lost a sale; jerk.