Any good Virginia gun shops?

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Miami357

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Forum: I am livng part time in Northern Virginia, in Fairfax County, and would like to purchase a handgun. Any recommendations on any gun shops? Also, would prefer to buy from a shop that has an indoor range, and that would offer a Basic Pistol course for my girlfriend.

Thanks
 
I like...
-Virginia Arms in Manassas (very clean, very professional)
-National Pawnbroker in Arlington (if you can get in good with Hal the gun guy).
-Shooters paradise (closed right now as they had a fire).
-Indoor shooting... go to the NRA range at the headquarters building.

Places I dislike...
-Gilberts (run too much like a good old boy's club and not enough like a business for my taste, also if you don't buy a membership and get their "special discounts" the prices are high).
-Dawsons (Prices are WAY high and hoover over you while you browse).
 
Gun shops

I think the consensus in this area is that Virginia arms is the best dealer in NoVA all around. I've experienced this personally and the customer service there is outstanding. Thats not to say you won't have a good experience somewhere else, but VA Arms is the more reliable IMO.
 
+1 on Virginia Arms. Gunshop only, though. The NRA range is a good place to arrange for lessons and a very nice (50 yard) indoor range. There is a gun show coming to Chantilly Expo in late July.
 
Guns and Ammo Warehouse--down the road from Virginia Arms on Route 28. No range,but has an interesting "auction" process in the rear of the store where one can acquire pre owned never fired guns as well as typical used guns. As is the case with all pre owned guns, you need to know what you want and real market prices.

Clark Brothers on Route 29 has a range where one can shoot just about anything if you buy the ammo from the store. It is my impression that their prices are a little high for handguns but I have not compared recently.
 
I've been to Virginia Arms. They're pretty neat. I couldn't find Quantico Arms! You guys got some strange road ways over there
 
I had a hard time finding Quantico Arms myself and I live near there. It's in a commercial park off the Prince William Parkway near a post office and BJ's wholesale club. It has lots of gear and 5.11 items, but not very good pricing on guns.

No one mentioned Blue Ridge Armory in Chantilly.
 
I used to shoot at Clark Bros and patronize Potomac Arms in Alexandria, both were good to deal with but I haven't dealt with either in about 10 years. YMMV
 
-National Pawnbroker in Arlington (if you can get in good with Hal the gun guy).
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Hal's a great guy. Unfortunately, his health has not been so good lately and he can be cranky, especially if he does not know you. However, he is a bastion of knowledge and its worth the trip just to chit-chat with him.
 
Virginia Arms outperforms ALL other gun shops because of their 100% satisfaction guarantee.

"No sale final until you are satisfied."

They mean it. I returned a malfunctioning Kimber Tactical Ultra II, magazines, holster, and miscellaneous parts one year after I purchased it for a FULL refund.
 
gudel,

You mean you couldn't find it off of Rte.1/Jeff Davis Meml. Highway/Blue-Gray Highway?

If you aren't familiar with them they can be maddening.
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in a commercial park off the Prince William Parkway near a post office and BJ's wholesale club.
Click to expand...

heh, after I visited Virginia Arms, I went to look for Quantico Arms.
I was on the right track, I was at that post office! :D No signs, so I didn't find it.

Compared to couple local shops here, VArms has quite a selection.
 
Hal's a great guy. Unfortunately, his health has not been so good lately and he can be cranky, especially if he does not know you. However, he is a bastion of knowledge and its worth the trip just to chit-chat with him.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been really worried about him lately (I wish his wife would stop feeding him cookies given how diabetic he is!)
 
Thanks for all replies.

I will look into visiting a few of the recommendations.

The NRA headquarters sounds interesting (I am a member).

Nothing in Reston or Herndon?
 
Yeah a former boss of mine and I used to ride over from DC to Alexandria to Potomac Arms. He was buying and I was wishing he paid me more money. I went back about a year ago and it was their last day - all the merchandise had been cleared out and they were closing down. I hate it when a gunshop closes.
 
Clark Brothers' ammo prices are high, but in my experience, it works out about the same as buying my ammo elsewhere, and going to "The Range" where I have to pay range fees.

So what my wife and I do is go to Clark Brothers to shoot our rimfires (pistols), more bang for the buck, and to the Range to shoot centerfire.

Oh. "The Range" is an indoor range in Stafford County, on Potomac Creek Drive, just off Rt 1. Paul and "Bing" are great guys, but it might take you a couple of visits to see it. They sell a few guns, rent a few, sell ammo, offer classes...Well here....

http://indoorrange.com/contact.html
 
"The Range" is an indoor range in Stafford County, on Potomac Creek Drive, just off Rt 1. Paul and "Bing" are great guys
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The Range may only rate a "C" at best, ( a little run down), but +1 on the guys and the friendly folks there. Good people.
 
I miss going to 'The Range' I use to frequent it often when I was going to school in FBurg.....used to take new shooters there and rent the full auto MP5...

Another +1 for Va Arms....i used to go to Loudoun Guns in Leesburg but now am strictly a VA Arms guy. Buy my guns there and shoot them at the NRA range after work/sometimes during work....

There is a guy in Herndon that runs a Class 3 shop....an online store...doesn't hold store hours but you can call him and he'll meet you at his warehouse to sell you things. I can't recall the name or the website now...
 
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