Big Box or local gun store?

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i've bought all my firearms from local shops, when they had a good deal. That said i buy most of my ammo from big box stores because the two closest LGSs sell steel 9mm stuff for 19.99/50 and i can buy WWB for 21/100 from meijers or wallyworld.
 
I always check local first....if local shop has what I want, I get it there....Added benefit is that the local guys are all vets, and I ALWAYS support vets trying to make it in business...

Each one of the local guys I have nearby have sent CCW instruction business my way, and allow me to post business cards on their bulletin boards....mutual back-scratching.....
 
Over 90% of my hunting is with archery gear. since archery gear is so personal I have found it best to buy from a local shop since most of the pimple faced kids the box stores put behind the counter have no idea how to set someone up with gear, or how to steer them towards useful gear.

So I have gotten in the habit of buying all my stuff that I possibly can at a local supplier rather then the interweb or a big box store. However, sometimes they are the only ones who have what I want or need.
 
Hello friends and neighbors // Both ,Either depends who has the best price.

New firearms :
If the price is close I will go to the LGS.

Ammo :
Is Type then Price, once again dog eat dog. Online,BigChain or LGS.

A few small stores have opened near here that mostly sell their own reloads.
Decent price, will tailor make loads ... so far their .38 158gr LSWC loads are smokier than American Eagle but about as accurate.

Havent had them make me any yet but I'll start with some .44s soon and see how they do.

Used Firearms:
I frequent seven GS and Pawn/GS locally, they all know best price gets my money. Usually look everything over twice during the month then the third time try to buy. I also include GB and other sites, including this one in my search for firearms.

Some GS have quicker turn over than others. Take notes, if something sits around for months ask um if they are in the mood to pay bills or hold onto guns. (Soon you may figure out when their bills are due;)....sssh)

Enjoy the search, even though it is only half as fun as getting to shoot them.
 
To me, Sportsman's Warehouse is local. They are a local business, and after their restructuring, I understand that their Utah stores are about the only ones left. I split purchases between them and Impact, which is also local, but has at least one store in Idaho.

I suppose if I had a friend who needed a starter hunting rifle, no tricks on it, I would refer them to Walmart.
 
I was in that impact store once and I wouldn't go back there if they were the last store on earth.

guy behind the counter talking to customer on the the phone "B e care full when you come in, make sure well all know your gun is cleared because we all carry hot here" what the heck are they looking to shoot someone? I could understand telling them to bring the gun in a case or walk in with the bolt open or slide open or something like that, but to add in that we all carry hot here, seems a bit mall commando to me, sounded like the type of guy that was just looking for an excuse to pull his weapon.
 
I've only bought 1 gun from a big box type store,and that was a Marlin 795 back when they had the rebate.The only thing I get from Dicks,Sports Authority,Walmart,etc. is bulk ammo.
Just about everything else is at my LGS.
 
As with anything I purchase I always try to buy local. I go to church with the owner of one of our LGS, and another is a customer of mine. I work for a small business and know how it works. Given the choice I am almost always willing to pay a little more for the better service from a locally owned store.

On the other hand, I know that there are those of you who are not lucky enough to have any good LGS around. I feel sorry for you. We have two that will normally match or beat the prices from GM and soon Bass Pro. One of them has a MUCH larger selection than I've seen at any GM or BP.
 
When I was younger, pretty much everything came from a few local shops. Spent a good bit of time and more than a few $$$ at Hap's, Bucksport and Grundman's in Northern California.

There aren't really any places like those here in MT. There are one or two local shops that I visit occasionally, but they are kind of hit or miss in terms of inventory and pricing. I also visit Scheel's, Big R and Big Bear Sports for some stuff. Don't buy much from Wally World, not really my cup of tea.
 
I stay local as much as possible. They treat me right and give me fair prices. All but 2 of my new gun purchases in the last 2 1/2 yrs. have been from the same store. I'm even buying most of my ammo there, even though wally world is cheaper.
 
I think the first, last, and only gun I've purchased from a "big box" store was from OTASCO in or around 1980.
 
I deal with my local dealer The big stores No way . most help failed the Would you like fries with that order test . Some they even call gunsmiths .
 
Big box store have sales once in a while that may have what someone is looking for. My local general store sells all firearms at 10% over his cost. Better choice of ammo at big box stores with maybe a better deal than local but if wally word has the ammo I need they are cheaper. Soooo I guess I don't need a big box sporting goods store except to look around in.
 
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