Big 5 Sporting Goods

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Add me to the list of 1894C buyers.

I have a couple of other Marlins (1894P, 336SS) and I note one difference is the lack of checkering on the 1894C stock. I think it's also birch instead of walnut. No big deal to me, but I take it that this is a "Big 5" model and one of the reasons you can get them cheaper.

Does anyone know of any other differences? Haven't even fired it yet.

Ed
 
I'll top you all on the Mosin front - at my local Big5 I picked up a "Mosin" which was actually a Finnish M24 with a SIG barrel - they screwed me for $89.00 for that hunk-O-junk.
 
Not reading the whole thread, but here's the deal with Big5: They mark up above the MSRP for normal price, then have WHOPPING sales that get it slightly cheaper than most places nearby (they can't beat walmart, but just about anyone else). You just have to wait a week or two until the specials change. Or you can get to know the manager and see if they'll give you the special price after/before the "sale". All you have to do is ask. They've done it for me several times since I used to buy there so much.
 
Ruger you bastard!

I buy Tula's from Big5 all the time on their sale prices, but I havn't scored a Hex yet, Good pickup!
 
Noxx, this is the part you're going to hate: I didn't know squat about Mosins before I bought this one. I only knew I kinda wanted to play with one. The one above (36 Tula Hex) is the one they pulled out of the stockroom still in the box, when I said I'd take it.

I had looked at a '42 Tula on the rack, and I said "Wait a minute, I wanted the one on the rack." And they said, "Well take a look at this one." I did, and I decided to take the boxed one because the crown looked a lot better, (the '42 was nicked.) It was only after I got it home and spent some time perusing 7.62x54r.net that I discovered I had something somewhat more desirable than that '42.
 
I have a couple of other Marlins (1894P, 336SS) and I note one difference is the lack of checkering on the 1894C stock. I think it's also birch instead of walnut. No big deal to me, but I take it that this is a "Big 5" model and one of the reasons you can get them cheaper.
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The stock on my Big 5 1894C is pretty low grade. But for the price it is still a very good deal.
 
Rugerlvr, not only is that a very nice looking Tula Hex, it also looks like it has a laminated stock. Lordy, lordy, lordy. Someday I too will have that kind of good fortune...
 
I'm glad there are still places like Big 5 willing to deal with firearms. Local wallymarts only sell ammo here. Anyone remember when Sears & other department stores like them sold firearms? Boy how times have changed.

Picked up a M44 for a c note today at Big 5 :cool:
 
I've bought 5 or 6 Mausers there over the last few years. Mostly Brno & not one over $90.00.
Their commercial gun price, overall, are high but if I'm looking for a milsurp it's the first place I go.
 
I like Big 5. For one thing, they're a sporting goods store that sells firearms. (Unlike Sports "Authority").

Excellent prices on athletic shoes, too.
 
Big 5 can sometimes - if you check their flyers - have good prices on some long guns. But they are pretty far down on my list of "go-to" places to buy a firearm.
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They have a sale of some sort every week (and lasting the whole week). The sale usually covers about 10-20% of a given department's inventory. Almost anything you want there you can have for the sale price within a month, and usually they'll give you the discount, even if it's not on sale, if you ask. New production guns are sometimes not the BEST price, but they are always reasonable if you get the sale price (with very few exceptions, like the M1 carbine). If you don't know how to wait/ask for discount, well, then support our local gun shops. They need to make money too! Everyone wins that way.

Big 5 has lots of problems/negatives, but I want to encourage them to keep selling in California. How many chain stores with 25+ stores do you know that sell firearms in CA? I'd personally like to keep them around.
 
I just like the fact that they sell firearms at their location in the shopping mall. Something very satisfying about walking through the mall carrying a rifle box (with a rifle in it). So much for being politically correct...
 
In my experience, occasionally they discount their ammo like they'd rather just give it away. I'm not sure why
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it is called a "loss leader". they do that in order to draw you into the store, then, tempt you with unadvertised specials. hopping to get you to buy several more items at regular prices.
 
It is all about what you are shopping for there!

If you are interested in a Mosin and look for them on sale there you can get a great deal.

Also based on my limited experience they advertise "loss leaders" in order to get you in the door and hopefully you will buy it as well as the ammo etc etc etc...So what does that mean? It simply means they are in business to make a profit as all retailers are. Shopper beware.

All of this does not mean you can not get a good deal there...you can if they have what you are looking for and it is on sale. But would I shop there rather than Cabela's, Gander Mountain, Sportsman Warehouse? NO! But I would shop there it I was looking for something specific and I knew they carried it...I would wait until it went on sale though!
 
If your just starting out or dont know much about guns. its good to see places like Big 5. i remember when they used to sell reloading components. I hardly go into big 5 for gun stuff anymore. Living in the heart of So Cal we have them everywhere. Not all of them carry gun stuff depends on the city. When they have 22lr on sale i will go by. otherwise i have no need for them. about 6 months ago i needed some 45colt. i was out did not have the time to reload. so i thought i would go in and get a couple of boxes. Ended up buying 1 box. i was so mad. it was buy the box or dont shoot the gun. I ended up spending 45.99 for a box of remington express. i ended up only shooting half the box. The quality of that ammo really sucks. The ammo i make is so much better. However they do have great sales. A few times a year they will blow out all there shoes for as low as 9.00. Name brand stuff to not the fake stuff. So i look at the ads. i just dont buy any gun stuff.
 
big 5 is overpriced for the cheap crap they sell, have nothing good for even a semi-serious outdoors person, and if they do carry what your looking for they are "out of stock and dont know when they will get another shipment". and they dont do rainchecks. i think k-mart has a better selection when it comes to fishing equipment
 
big 5 is overpriced for the cheap crap they sell, have nothing good for even a semi-serious outdoors person,
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So the Marlins and Moisins everyone here posted about are cheap crap?
 
The mosins is there way of getting shooters to the store. Once inside though you find they are very limited on what they have. and the prices on ammo are very high. Now i tell you they do have a very good selection of fishing stuff at pretty good prices. overall though the shooting stuff is pretty high
 
I really don't care if they're using rifles on sale to "lure" me into the store because it worked. I went in, got a great deal on a rifle, bought it and left. Works for me!
 
what kind of rifle. then whats the price on the ammo. Though i have bought guns from big 5 too. the only way to buy them is when they are on sale. as the over the counter price is rather high compared to other places.
 
i found out other places here... gi-joes/joes... have pretty close to the same sale prices on rifles, and they know what their talking bout as well as good customer service. and a helluva better selection of goods overall.
 
what kind of rifle. then whats the price on the ammo.
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Marlin 1894C for a whopping $399. Can't find them on Gunbroker for that. The Big 5 ones have a really basic stock, but that's fine with me.

Hard to even find this gun anywhere, much less anywhere close to that price.

I don't buy ammo there.
 
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