Austin (Texas): Pawnshop Guns Tour

[MatthewVanitas]

I moved to Austin back at the start of the Fall semester, and have been surveying the local gun scene to a limited degree. I have on a few occasions found good guns in pawnshops, so when I move to a new town I like to check out the pawnshop scene. The following are my recent observations.

Cash America (various branches in North and South Austin): no impressive deals yet. Usual array of a couple hunting guns, Tec-22, WASR, and a stainless SIG 232 damaged beyond comprehension. I have no idea how you can beat a stainless gun that badly without dragging it behind a truck. I was momentarily excited to see a Colt New Frontier for $199, but it turned out to be .22Mag. VERDICT: PASS.

Mustang Pawn (52d and South Congress): minimal selection, horrendous prices. Though their slick-side Colt SP-1 for $1100 might actually be reasonable depending on the model, but I don't know much about older ARs. VERDICT: PASS

Southside Pawn (47th and South Congress): definite potential here. Some unreasonably high prices, to be sure, but some moderate. More importantly, a decent selection of the unusual items that sometimes crawl out of the woodwork, and cheap plinkers. They had quite a few Glenfields and equivalent (Marlin 60) for $69; if they can go down to $55, that's not a bad deal for someone who's short on cash. They also had one of those H&R .22 sixguns (the solid-frame that looks like an SA, but is DA) for $119. Assuming substantial wiggle-room in those prices, it might be an okay place to bring friends looking for a cheap plinker. VERDICT: HOLD FOR OBSERVATION.

The actual gunstores I've seen in Austin are okay, but not outstanding. I've been to the big ones (McBride's, Red's, Tex's), but still need to scope out the tiny ones. For mainstream stuff, Academy Sports has new Marlin 60s for $99, carries M4geries, new $350 Ruger 9mms, etc.

The best deals I've found in Austin are at the monthly gunshow on North Lamar. It's an actual gun show, not jerky/Nazi/beanie-baby show, and had some decent used gun deals (bought my Marlin 39A for $175). More notably, good deals on new guns from stocking dealers: new BMs and RRAs in the box at good prices, and Arsenal (of Houston) was there selling their very cool US-made Kalashnikovs for $499 and up.

The above aside, Austin also has THR members "waterhouse" and "Spreadfire Arms" doing FFL-transfers for $5 and $10, so the wholesale-to-FFL scene is outstanding.

I welcome any other reccs as to gunshops to check out, and hope the above might save some folks some time in hunting pawnshops. Still vaguely tempted by that H&R revo plinker (would $99 OTD be okay?).

Take care all, -MV

 

[hkmp5g17]

Thanks for the info! The thing i like about most pawnshops is that hagglings okay. I got a Mossberg 500 with a Choate topfolder and all the other tactical goodies for $200 plus tax. Original price when we started talking was $369.

Try doing that kind of haggling at most gunstores.

Never pay the asking price!

So- what are you looking for in your pawn shop searching?

Anthony

 

[MatthewVanitas]

For pawnshop searching, I just look for the odd outstanding deal, or just inexpensive fun-guns. Too bad .38S&W is so expensive.

I did some research: the little revo at Southside is an H&R 622 (see attached pic), but there's one going for $50+$8ship (+$10 FFL) on Gunbroker right now, so even $99 would be a little much. Maybe next time I should go in, give them a business card, and say "call me if that H&R gets down to $70." It looks fun, and sturdy-inexpensive guns make good trading fodder.

I'm tempted to haggle-down one of their Glenfields, but I've already wasted enough time refinishing and cleaning my $175 Marlin 39A.

That's some good haggling on your shotgun! Are you Austin area, or just like pawnshop threads?

-MV

 

[hkmp5g17]

There have been several pawnshop threads lately so I was just checking it out. I get a lot of my deals in pawn shops. I just ask- "what's the best you can do- cash" and pull out some money. When they respond I offer a little less- works lots of the time as long as you do it politely.

I'm not in Travis County though- I'm in Colorado.

Used to live in Victoria and Edna and go to Austin all the time when I was younger- love Lake Travis!

take care-Anthony

 

[Manedwolf]

I remember that S. Florida pawnshops used to always have a lot of cheap TEC-9s that looked like they'd already blown up and been put back together from salvaged parts.

Probably had been...

 

[Drizzt]

Keep checking McBride's from time to time. Their prices may be a little high on the new guns, but they sometimes get some good used guns in there, and often have good prices on those. Another one to look at is Sportsman's Finest (I think that's the name) at the corner of Bee Caves Road and 71. I know there's another store out in the Leander/Cedar Park area that is really good, and has also been very supportive of local 2A efforts.

 

[drannor]

McBride's occasionally puts odd items on sale at decent prices. At one point all of the CZ pistols in stock were marked at the lowest NIB prices I've ever seen. I also picked up a LNIB SIG P226 SL Sport II there for $750, these usually go for over $1000 used so I think someone made a clerical error.

I'm trying to remember the name of the S. Congress pawn shop on the west side of the street maybe a mile south of 290. Large selection of pistols, priced horribly, but you can haggle. Last time I was there they had two Delta Elite 10mms, a S&W .44spl stainless carry piece, and a decent python.

Sportman's Finest has a large selection, and carries Class III toys too. They had an M60 and a .30cal Browning last time I was there. Neat place and definitely worth checking out.

Keep Austin Weird.

 

[MrMex]

Who cares about Austin, what about San Antonio pawnshops?
Do we have any worth checking out?

 

[jtward01]

If that Colt New Frontier in .22 Mag is in real good condtion then $199 is an excellent price. Those go for $450 and more (up to $750+ for mint in box) on Gunbroker and GunsAmerica. Unlike the Frontier Scout, which had an alloy frame, the New Frontier .22s and Peacemaker .22s had steel frames and were hand fit and finished. That gun would be an infinitely better plinker than that H&R, plus with the adjustable rear sight you can really dial it in. It would be an excellent small game revolver for use on those Texas jackrabbits.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

@ drannor: you're thinking of Southside Pawn (47th and S. Congress). Yep, they have some interesting stuff, assuming some major wiggle-room in prices.

jtward01: I believe it may have been a Frontier Scout, now that you mention "alloy frame". It looked like an alloy frame with chipping black finish, rather than blued steel. Plus it was a little beat cosmetically, ejector-rod tube dinged, and had what appeared to be aftermarket grips. $199 seems a bit high for that in WMR, when I've seen Ruger Single Six for less than that used.

I am captivated by the boxy crudeness of that little H&R; I may go in and lowball them next time, just for giggles. They also had a Norinco copy of the Browning .22LR auto which was kind of cool.

-MV

 

[waterhouse]

I'm trying to remember the name of the S. Congress pawn shop on the west side of the street maybe a mile south of 290. Large selection of pistols, priced horribly, but you can haggle. Last time I was there they had two Delta Elite 10mms, a S&W .44spl stainless carry piece, and a decent python.

I can't remember the name of that one either. I've gotten some great deals there though. One of my HK p7s came from there, with a really low price tag . . .the tag was marked "H&K VP70" so I guess they looked up the wrong gun in the blue book. They are somewhat open to negotiation too, especially when you point out that they same gun has been in the case for a month.

The above aside, Austin also has THR members "waterhouse" and "Spreadfire Arms" doing FFL-transfers for $5 and $10, so the wholesale-to-FFL scene is outstanding.

So, am I famous yet?

 

[tuckerdog1]

Check out COST+10% On Burnet Lane ( a small side street just east of Burnet Rd, about a block north of 2222 ). He stocks only a few guns, so you'll probably have to wait for what you want to be shipped. But prices are good. His ammo is cheap as well.

Tuckerdog1

 

[MatthewVanitas]

@ waterhouse and @ drannor: I say again, you're thinking of Southside Pawn. I'm fixing to head down there with a $79 Yugo SKS and see if I can't snag a couple Glenfields, or maybe a Glenfield and that H&R 622. Just got to get my "I'll give you this military assault rifle for your little toy .22" patter down.

-MV

 

[waterhouse]

Matt, yeah, that's the one. I didn't think we were talking about the same one because of how far north 47th street is. I could be very wrong, but I think it's the 4700 block of Congress (4714 S. Congress Ave.), not Congress and 47th street. I don't think Congress hits 47th, and if it does that would be way farther north than the pawn shop I'm thinking about.

I have the worst direction skills on the planet and my car actually tells me how to get places, so take anything I typed above with a grain of salt.

Either way, good luck with the trade

 

[HankB]

Sportman's Finest has a large selection, and carries Class III toys too. They had an M60 and a .30cal Browning last time I was there.

Woundn't mind that M60, but I don't have a spare $44,000 (+ tax) burning a hole in my pocket right now.

It's not a pawn shop, but I've found good prices at Sportsman's Warehouse, off I-35 in Round Rock, just north of Austin . . . and each time I've been there, the staff has been courteous and helpful. (Unlike the surly old coot at Cost +10%)

 

[Daniel T]

(Unlike the surly old coot at Cost +10%)

Heh. Good 'ole Jim. Great prices on ammo and guns. He's never rubbed me the wrong way, but then I never bother arguing with him.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Ditto on the Cost+10% guy; his stock is minimal, and I'd far rather pay THR members $10 for an FFL rather than pay 10%, especially on a large purchase.

@waterhouse: you're absolutely right, 4700 block, not 47th street. I just went there today to work some magic. But first did some rambling:

Went to CashAmerica on 290/SoCongress. They had one of those Taurus 380s, looked like a cute stubby li'l M9 for $199, great shape except for Bubba's "J.D." initials. Decided to show some gall and offered him an SKS for it. Says he: "SKS? Nah, we sell those for $69, I can't give you more than $30 for it."

Now that's odd, because the other CashAmerica on South 1st claimed that it was "against company policy" to deal in assault weapons, and was very unpleasant to YHN when I offered them an SKS towards their $175 Colt New Frontier .22Mag (worn finish, cheesy aftermarket grips). The CashAmerica in North Austin must have missed the policy memo, what with their WASR and Tec-22.

Went to Southside, very nice guys there, and some of them know quite a bit about guns. Tried to argue a trade, my SKS for a Glenfield and cheap 22 boltie, no dice. Ended up trading the SKS for a little H&R .22 revo exactly like the one I attached above yesterday, plus two boxes of S&B 9mm. So I figure I got a neat little DA plinker for the equivalent of $65. I probably got taken a wee bit, but I've taken worse hits from overdue library books. This is entertainment for me, not business.

I'll write up the H&R in the Revolver forum, but I got it purely for it's funkiness. It seems well made, quite heavy, and passed Mr March's sixgun tests. Finish worn but not abused. SA is okay, DA so-so. It looks kind of like an SA, but it's a fixed-cylinder DA. There's no half-cock notch, but you can hold the hammer back a smidge to roll the cylinder to clear it. Presumably one removes the cylinder to load and unload, and uses the cylinder rod to poke out the empties.

Overall, it's a sixgun in its simplest form of expression, which was exactly why I bought it.

 

[jtward01]

My first handgun was a little .22 revolver similar to that H&R. It was given to me by the father of a friend when I was 16. The guy was a cop. (Can you imagine what would happen to a cop today who gave a neighborhood kid a "Saturday Night Special?" The guy would lose his job at the least, and probably end up facing jail time.) He knew I was into guns and hunting (I had several long guns by that time) and his kids weren't, so he gave it to me.

Anyway, I carried that little .22 in the glove box of my car and several days a week after school I'd go out to a local Optimist Club where they'd built a small range next to the club house. Most days I'd be the only one there, unless I brought a friend or two with me.

I did get in a little bit of trouble with that pistol, though. One night I stopped in at a conveniece store to buy a Coke and left the gun - in it's holster - laying on the car seat. I guess another customer must have seen it and called the police 'cause when I came out of the store there were three or four cruisers and about a half-dozen cops were waiting for me. One of them took the gun and my Mom had to go down to the police station with me the next day to get it back.

The gun was eventually stolen by one of my so-called friends, who sold it to somebody he met on a street corner. The parents of my "friend" gave me $100 to forget the whole thing and not call the cops.

 

[MacPelto]

Did anybody happen to see any muzzleloaders at any of the P-shops while they were there? I'm always on the prowl for blackpowder guns, but never get to any of the pawnbrokers.

Mac

 

[MatthewVanitas]

All I saw was a BP Colt revo at the CashAmerica over on Airport, just a couple blocks NW of the Airport/I-35 overpass. Honestly, what with BP firearms being sold mail order, I'd imagine you could do much better just ordering online. I'm sure the lads in the BP forum can reccommend a good wholesaler who can ship you a smokepole.

Airport Blvd shop also had a Marlin 336 for $180, and a Marlin 60 and Win tube-fed .22 for $50-some each.

I'm still vaguely tempted by that Frontier Scout, but not $175 interested...

Southside is still the best PS by a fair margin.


@jtward: would you call the H&R 622 a SNS? Granted, I just got it, but it seems like a pretty solid little piece. More like an NEF shotgun than like a Bryco. Crude, but effective. The coolest part is that it doesn't look like someone did a crummy job making a normal sixgun, it looks like someone did a bang-up job making the most primitive DA revo possible.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Right place, right time

Went to go return my defective Rossi 511 down at Tex Guns. (MacPelto and jeremeywills know the one I'm talking about, sorry 'bout that fellas) Tex Guns was very cool about it, gave me a full refund.

Since I was going to be down there, I planned to swing by Southside and talk them down to $60 or so on any of their used Glenfield/Marlin 60 that they have on the rack. I dimly recalled that CashAmerica on Airport had one for $55, so thought I'd stop there first. Went there, and it turned out to be a Winchester model that looked just like a Marlin 60. Was about to buy it, but then saw a guy at the counter pawning a hunting rifle and a Marlin 60.

As subtly as I could frantically amble, I put down the Winchester and walked past the customer. As I walked past him and the manager dickering with him, I whispered "le ofreceria mas pra el veinte-dos," and went to peruse the power tools that I don't need. I turned around a minute later, and his mom was still there with the hunting rifle, but the 30-something son and Marlin 60 were gone. He was waiting for me outside, said the shop offered him 40. I offered 45, he countered 50, so now I have a solid post-83 (bolt-release model) Marlin 60 .22LR for $50.

Only downside: the rifle smells like his mom. That is, cooking oil, cheap perfume, and cigarette smoke. So I took off the stock, carefully washed it, and now it's suspended above my tub being cured with cedar incense. It was all I could think of, the stench would hit my nostrils every time I shouldered the rifle. Good thing I didn't buy the Winny though, according to THR archives it's junk.

Buying a $50 Marlin .22 seems to be a THR rite of passage. Today I am a man...

-MV

 

[Texfire]

Went to go return my defective Rossi 511 down at Tex Guns. (MacPelto and jeremeywills know the one I'm talking about, sorry 'bout that fellas) Tex Guns was very cool about it, gave me a full refund.

I'm glad you had the same experience that I've had with Chuck, Casey and Mark. Real class act, and they stand behind what they sell. Best customer service that I've experienced at a gun store, or any other kind of store for that matter.

Tex