Favorite and least favortie gun shops

[dakotasin]

south dakota

haven't seen s.d. listed, which is too bad because i'd like to compare notes!

also, since quite a few of the people reading this will be here in about 3 weeks (pheasant season opener), here's a couple names:

good (in no particular order):
jack first in rapid city. not an overly friendly staff, and not a lot of guns, but lots of shooting and reloading gear, good place to find obscure parts.

gary's gun shop in sioux falls. friendly, knowledgeable staff, a good selection of guns, lots of accessories - they have about everything. prices are very good. indoor shooting range... if you want it, they likely have it in stock (except the ultra-rare sig 229 40 12-round mags ).

sportsman's warehouse in sioux falls. if you want it, they have it (even the ultra-rare sig 229 40 12-round mags). period. very knowledgeable staff, friendly enough, a little lacking in binocular and gps selection, but passable. massive store.

decent (in no particular order):
scheels in sioux falls. don't care for the sales staff, but they do have competitive prices. biggest drawback is only the 2nd floor is gun-stuff.

leader in mitchell. fair amount of guns, true mom-and-pop operation (great folks, btw). they don't have the floor space to display all their guns, so sometimes you'll have to ask, but they likely have the gun you want. powder selection is passable. scope, binoculars, and spotting scope selection is anemic, but at least they carry some (nikon, leupold, swift, sightron, steiner, and burris). component bullet selection is good, loaded ammo selection is better than average. if his gun prices were a little more competitive, this store would stand alone at the top of my list in the 'excellent' category. still, i buy a lot of guns from there, because they are good people, and they do get the prices 'close enough'.

scheels in rapid city. just a very bland store, but they do seem to have good prices and a staff that knows something. also stock uncommon guns.

places to avoid (no particular order):
cabela's in mitchell. staff is passably knowledgeable, but it is damned hard in there to get help w/ something (walked in once w/ cash in hand to buy a springfield, and it took me almost 2 hours to get out of the store - most of that time begging for somebody to come over and let me please give you money... yesterday, walked in w/ cash in hand to buy binoculars and a gps, and after an hour of trying to get somebody to please take money from me, i left and dropped a ton of money at sportsmans warehouse - in and out of sw in 15 minutes). good selection of everything outdoors, but no niche stuff. still... you'll go there anyway, because you want to see what the noise is about - and cabela's does a fantastic job w/ their dioramas, and providing something for non-hunters/outdoors people to entertain themselves w/ while you shop.

everson gunsmithing in mitchell. run from this store. the guy will rob you absolutely blind on gunsmithing, and bill for work he hasn't done. he will also do his level best to rip you off on gun/accessory prices. word has spread on him, and he is really struggling to stay in business - the front half of his store is now a pawn shop. stay away. there is nothing in there that can't be had in better shape for a better price somewhere, anywhere, else.

there y' go... i named names.

 

[21bvet]

two states

I have lived in alaska and wisconsin all my life so here are my thoughts.

alaska:

good: ak shooters supply, alaska tactical, and tudor guns. all three of these shops took exceptional care of their customers. they knew what they were talking about on just about everything and carried alot of what anybody would need. for accessories alaska tactical won hands down, but their prices were sometimes off. for prices ak shooters supply was usually on top. gene dale over at alaska tactical is one of the best smith & wesson pistolsmiths i have had the pleasure of meeting as well. i had him custom up several wheel guns over the years.

bad: wild west guns. they claim some glamorous title as the best in the state and it bewilders me. i took a s&w wheel gun in to them on a short notice fix when i first moved to the area. they were suppose to replace the rear sight and i got it back with a hammer push off. then tried to tell me the gun was junk and i should buy one of their rugers. i left pissed. went to gene, he had the whole action rebuilt in a day and it was good as new. unless it has changed these guys are not trustworthy and their prices were just as bad.

wisconsin:

good: Lauer Customs in Chippewa is the king of tactical. I don't think anyone will dispute it. There are two small shops I deal with for alot of regular needs. Both are in Medford and even with it being an hour drive, worth the distance. One is KRK firearms out on hwy 64 east of town. kevin will do whatever he can to see you smile on the way out the door. The other is main street guns downtown medford. it is what i consider a treasure shop. you can walk in there on any given day and find some gem, probably slightly used, that you always wanted and the price is enough to put a tear in your eye. Thats a treasure shop summed up the best i can. they also do pretty reasonable deals on bulk ammo. another good stop in the area is oemigs in stanley and badger sports in thorp. not huge selections, but good people who will sell it to ya straight. the merchantile in eau claire can also be good, but you may have to sort through layers of junk to find what your looking for.

bad: i stay away from scheels along with every other person in the area. poor service, opinionated management, and hit and miss pricing keeps me away pretty good. go to gander if your on that side of town. at least the people there are good to you, and sometimes the deals are too.

 

[au1776]

Couple more in GA:

Good:

Autrey's Armory, Fayetteville GA- Good selection, nice simple indoor range, pretty good staff. Prices aren't especially good, but they're competitive and sometimes better than average.

Clyde Armory, Athens GA- Again, the prices aren't shockingly low, and neither is the selection. However, it is well-rounded and the staff is the most helpful I've come across. If I knew someone who was buying their first gun and wanted to avoid the annoyingly expert-at-everything salesperson, I'd send them here.

Not as good:

Franklin's, Athens GA- Anyone from GA knows they have a ton of stuff, and I'm sure deals can be had. It is a pretty popular place. However, if you're looking for assistance, it is in short supply here. Prices are hit or miss, and in my experience it is often the latter. There is a lot to be said about having a gun store like this nearby, but popularity dictates that they don't have to earn your business.

 

[politicalgeek]

Vance's in Central OH is one of my favorites, great selection and friendly, knowledgeable staff.

My other favorite, though I have never bought guns there, is Ohio Valley Outdoors in Lancaster,OH. I have a membership to their range. Nice place. Browsing tends to be a bit easier than Vance's, usually not as much volume as Vance's has. This is the store I got my 20 gauge #3 buck from. Had just bought a new to me 20 gauge and wanted some HD ammo. Tried several places, no luck. Stopped at Ohio Valley, they didn't have any but the clerk made 3-4 phone calls to their other stores and had some shipped up.

 

[Ala Dan]

Worst:

You can add Mark's Outdoors in Vestavia Hills, AL to the worst category.
Rude, Ruthless, and Don't Give A Dam 'bout any customer entering their
store not dressed in a suit-'n tie~!

 

[Kind of Blued]

NOBODY here from Colorado?!?!?

I've only been here 7 weeks, and while I've been to about six shops, I only recall a few of their names.

Jensen Arms (Loveland, CO) - AWESOME if you like tacticool stuff and well-made pistols. They don't carry any JUNK and, while they specialize in EBRs and Wilson Combat 1911s, they don't overstock the shelves with stuff out of the working man's price range. They also had crates of Mosins with the top propped back, just out on the floor with a sign that said "Mosin Nagants $70. Take your pick!" or something of the sort. Check them out on gunbroker.com, seller name Jensen_Arms.

Gunsmoke Gunsmithing (Wheat Ridge) - Poor selection, but what they do have is really high dollar stuff. A couple racks of "working man's guns". They seem to hinge their income on teaching classes as well as their gunsmithing, which I have heard horrible things about, unless its a 1911.

There was one on maybe 44th & Lowell or something that had a nice selection. Older guys, pretty much guns and nothing else. Everything from a small wall of Kentucky rifles to one or two 1911 race guns.

Back in Kansas City...

The Bullet Hole (Overland Park) - GREAT RANGE! Knowledgable staff. Good selection for their limited size. Prices are usually high, but they'll be up front with you if they can't afford your price. Most all of their money seems to come from the range.

Olathe Gun Shop (Olathe) - I LOVE THAT PLACE. INCREDIBLY courteous staff. They truly seem to love their job. Usually have a nice variety of used stuff. Decent ammo selection. Totally fair prices.

 

[NWdude83]

I'm just going to review the gun stores I've been to.

BullsEye Shooter Supply - Tacoma, Wa
Good customer service. Usually don't carry what I want in stock. Ok-good prices.

Federal Way Discount Gun - Federal Way, Wa
Ok customer service, a little snooty/picky. Usually carry what I want in stock. Good prices.

Sportsman's Wharehouse - Federal Way, Wa
Good customer service. Some don't really know much. Usually carry what I want in stock. Ok-good prices.

Bear Arms - Kent, Wa
Poor customer service, a-holes. Don't carry anything good. Ok-bad prices. Has been over a year since I've been in there, might be different now.

 

[zulu6]

Worst gun shop ever: Gator Guns - West Palm Beach, FL. They do everything they can possibly do to not sell guns.

My Fave: Lee's Pawn & Gun Shop - Margate, FL. Will get you anything you want and do it at the right price.

Way to go Lee.

 

[Vaarok]

Here's the scoop for CNY:

Best:

Creek Road Guns And Ammo, in Morrisville

Small selection, but a frightening amount of stuff moves through there. Tom's a great guy, there is literally every caliber I have ever heard of in stock (including H&H, BMG, wildcats, and lord knows what else), dies for same, and prices are way cheap. Transfer fees are $15, and god, the spare parts and neat stuff he has squirreled away on the top shelves and in the garage.

K&K Train and Hobby, Utica (right off French Road, under the overpass)

Bill and George have a sorta-static selection, mostly because the really good stuff always moves fast, prices seem to oscilate between high market and dirt cheap (I turned down a like-new SAR-2 with mags today for $350, and have gotten 'surps for half of market), good selection of ammo, and very friendly to deal with. Transfers are high, and they don't pay squat on trade-ins or buying outright. Large selection of handguns.

The bad:

Shootin' Shed, West Winfield

It's twenty minutes from my driveway. I drive past it twice to get to Creek Road and K&K, both almost an hour away from home. Prices are obscene, selection is stagnant, owner is unfriendly, transfer fee is $50 in advance.

Franks' Shooting Supply, Canastota

Owner is notoriously unfriendly, stock is stagnant, prices are fair but high, many customers of the two good shops have had bad experiences and refuse to go there, and I've never disagreed with their appraisals. Also, the shop's at the bottom of a huge-ass five-mile hill that burns gas to climb back up to get to the main road.

Franks Guns, Marcy

Static, almost dead inventory. Cramped, expensive, widely believed to survive solely on sales of ammunition to the State Trooper barracks four mailboxes down the road. Owner has rubbed many customers the wrong way, and is unconcerned about the presence of customers, much less their buying experience. Prices are moderate.

 

[bensdad]

Minnesota, near the Twin Cities

Gander Mt.:
There are a couple. Nobody at either store knows anything about firearms and/or ammunition. They do, however, carefully screen their staff to ensure that no employee who works behind the gun counter will ever make eye contact with a customer, so the fact that they know absolutely nothing has little or no effect on the buying public. Their prices are about right, assuming that you don't care about your money and wish to part with all of it quickly.

Cabela's:
We have a couple of them within an hour of the Twins now. One to the NW, and the other to the South in Owatana. The staff are as knowledgeable as one can expect from a big-box store - it's hit or miss with who offers to help you. Tom B., down at the Owatanna store, is great to work with. Their prices are mixed. Go in knowing ballpark figures so you don't get taken. I've gotten a few awsome deals there.

Ahlman's:
It's in the middle of nowhere, between Cabela's South and the Twin Cities. They have more guns than you can shake a stick at. Very knowledgeable staff, and very helpful/friendly. Prices are high, but they'll talk about it. The place smells musty and mildewy on the way in... don't let it put you off.

B&B Sporting Goods:
This place is not a gunstore. They have hockey stuff, soccer stuff, jerseys, archery, etc. But they have a small selection of arms. They also have two of the friendliest, most knowledgeable, patient, cool, accomodating fellows I've ever done business with. They both know guns backwards and forwards. I learn something every time I go in the place. Prices are fair. They will order anything you need. Don knows archery as well. I try to buy something there whenever I'm in Faribault.

J&S Custom:
This is in Lakeville, right across the freeway from Gander Mt. I've never felt welcome there. Their prices are high. They deal mainly in high-end AR stuff. Frankly, I have no idea how they stay in business.

 

[NWdude83]

Updates: Sportsman's Wharehouse, where do they find these newbs?! Haven't heard of the Sig P250... Oh and even BullsEye who sent guys to Shot Show! Haven't heard about the new polymer striker-fired pistol from Para.

 

[Treo]

Colorado Springs

For favorite I guess I have to pick The Sertoma Sportsmans Expo & Gun Show at the Phil Long Expo Center. I don't buy my guns in gun stores.

If it HAS to be an actual Gunstore. Specialty Sports on Fountain & Murray Got to be the largest gun shop I've ever been in.The staff is fairly knowledgeable & freindly, but they are just a little proud of their merchandise.

TIE FOR WORST

Whistling Pines Gun Club I walked in there once to ask some questions about holsters, when I asked the counter guy about his holster he got all weird and actually squared off like he was going to draw on me.

THE ABSOLUTE WORST

Dragon Mans Paint Ball Park & Shooting Range.

Its Mall Ninja Heaven they hold machine gun shoots every year ( not bad in and of itsself)

as soon as you cross the property line your on video there are signs posted every where stating that killer dogs rome the premisis at night & that anyone caught there after dark will be killed. the actual gunstore looks like a bunker & has a 4X8 plywood sign that says that anyone who carrys a firearm in the store will be assumed to be a robber and shot. I went there ONCE I haven't seen so much camoflage since I ETS'd .

Once you're actually in the store the owner is friendly enough & his price is cost plus 10% he pays for the background check.

I just object on principle to patronizing any business that threatens to kill me twice before I make it in the front door.

 

[entropy]

Lauer Customs in Chippewa is the king of tactical. I don't think anyone will dispute it.

Roger that. The only way I could afford to shop there is to work there, but if I did that, I'd never leave there with money in my pocket!

Someday, when the kids are older, I would like to work there and put the training the Army gave me to good use.

 

[jakemccoy]

Least Favorite:
Guns, Fishing & Other Stuff - Vacaville, CA. They have a "No Ammo" policy upstairs where the guns are. I think that, because of this policy, the safety practices by the employees are absolutely horrible. Everybody is constantly breaking most or all the Safety Rules. Aso, the policy necessarily means they don't want CCW holders up there.

Most Favorite:
I honestly have not found a shop worthy of this title. My overall favorite online shop is Cabela's because of the great customer service.

 

[NWdude83]

Forgot one.

Marksman Puyallup, Wa
Good customer service. Have some of the stuff I want, some of the time. Good-ok prices.

 

[ieszu]

Cross the country

Lived in a bunch of places...so here are some of my views from around the country...

Bullseye - San Rafael, CA: Good place, friendly staff, prices are a bit high but it is the only one in the area, so that is to be expected. Range as well, very nice to have when I go back and educate the liberals back there.

Anthony Arms and Accessories - West Mifflin, PA: Unfriendly, high prices, and their customer service just place sucks. But they do have a nice selection and it is well laid out. Also has a range, not sure what status is, was told they didn't feel like opening it up that day.

John Brown's Armory - Rochester, PA: Friendly, small selection, mostly C&R and Milsurp, handgun selection is cramped, but they do offer layaway, which is nice for students. Transfer fee is $25.

The Firing Line - Pearl River, NY: Rude, tells you what you are going to buy, charges MSRP on everything but ammo, which he doubles his cost on, unless he thinks he can away with more. Used guns are priced at whatever he thinks he can get, saw him try to sell a guy a used 10/22 for $400.... claimed it was a rare model, merely for having 444 somewhere in the serial number. Range has an "initial fee" of $100 plus $20 per person, per day. Surcharge on credit cards, has to order everything and doesn't tell you when in comes in. $80 for a transfer fee, and then charges you the county fee of $10.

 

[Eric F]

Best cabellas in dundee MI just because of the selsection

Worst is a tie Between Hess guns in norfolk va owner is a jerk and the Marks man in Newport news va the whole crew are a bunch of uneducated buffoons that make up everything as they go.

 

[NWdude83]

Damn I must be loosing my mind, I forgot another one!

Cabelas Lacey, Wa
Good customer service. Didn't have anything good, was dissapointed at the size of their selection. Ok-bad prices.

 

[Deanimator]

Good:

Dick's Gun Room - (I think) Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Excellent selection especially of real target rifles and handguns, friendly and usually knowledgeable staff, excellent selection of books and accessories. Not cheap, but far from the most outrageous that I've seen in Ohio.

Pro Arms - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Excellent selection of handguns, semi-auto rifles and tactical shotguns. Good holster and ammunition selection. Sells Dillon accessories. Decent prices, especially on ammunition. Recently moved to a different location on the same block after a fire. Have a range.

The rest of the not bad stores/ranges around Cleveland/Akron are so-so. B&T in Lorain has a decent small range, but a LOUSY selection of guns. Friendly staff makes up for a lot. B&T (same people) in Middleburg Heights has an OK selection, but HIGH prices on some things. They wanted almost $100 more for a 3" Model 64 Smith than CDNN. I guarantee you it wasn't in $100 better shape. Reasonably friendly staff.

Bad:

Can't remember the name - Brunswick Hills, OH - Ok selection, INSANELY rude counter man/"gunsmith". Whenever his name is mentioned people who know him say, "THAT *******???" Previous owners were extremely friendly with decent prices. Has a range. I haven't been there since 1999, and as long as the gunsmith is alive and working there, I will never go.

Stonewall - Near intersection of Rt. 82 and I-77. Reasonably well stocked store with ok prices. Great holster selection. Sometimes allow their offensive friends to hang around loudly running their mouths, driving customers away with racist and sexist "humor". THE most dangerous range I've been on in Ohio. Virtually NO supervision. The last time I shot there I was swept by a guy with a Ruger semi-auto with the slide closed. A few minutes later three guys yelling at each other in Serbo-Croatian wrestled over a loaded Remington 870. I haven't been on the range since. I like to shoot, but I'm not DYING to shoot.

 

[shootinshed]

Rebuttal

From the statements he's made, I don't believe he's ever been in the Shootin' Shed. The transfer fee is $25.00 and they send their FFL to the other dealer in an envelope they provide, address, and stamp for you. If you buy a gun from him he mounts the scope and bore sights it free along with a free range session so you can finish sighting it in. They have about 100 handguns in stock and about 200 long guns and are willing to order any firearm you want if they don't have it. If you want to get started reloading they will let you start by using their equipment and show you how.
Comments about K&K and Franks in Marcy were equally error filled. You probably ought to visit each place and see for yourself.

 

[nwilliams]

Favorites when I lived in Prescott, Arizona.....

Prescott Valley Guns: Prescott, AZ
Great service, amazing prices, I've purchased dozens of guns from these fine folks!

Bill's Trading Post: Prescott, AZ
Bill can find you whatever you want for the best prices, a classic old fashion gun shop that does business the old fashion way! No credit cards accepted here and no cussing while in his shop!

So,So....

J&G Sales: Prescott, AZ
A couple staff members there are great but a number of them are pretty poor when comes to gun knowledge and customer service skills, although they think they know it all. Over the years I bought mostly C&R guns from J&G and a lot of ammo. J&G is a fun place to browse but I did most of my gun buying at other shops in the area (see above).

Least favorites....

High Country Guns & Knives: Prescott, AZ
Highest prices in town and customer service is a bit lacking, in the years I lived in Prescott I think I only ever purchased one or two guns here.

Favorites in Santa Fe, New Mexico....

The Outdoorsman of Santa Fe
The only truly great gun shop in this town, the staff is great, the prices are fair and I've found some truly amazing deals here. They have a great selection and they know how to to treat their customers well.

Least Favorites....

Tina's Range Gear
Pretty much the only other gun store in Santa Fe and its a shame. Featured in the movie No Country For Old Men this gun shop isn't horrible but I find their prices a bit steep at times and their customer service could use some improvement. I've had several very poor experiences dealing with this place and I try to avoid going there unless I want to use the indoor range.

 

[ambulldog]

The best: Coal Creek Armory in Knoxville, TN. Best prices and staff.

 

[JustinL]

Wow, a 4 year old thread!

Since nobody has chimed in about Jacksonville, here goes

1. Shooter's: Best selection in the area & they seem to have the best prices on new handguns, at least in comparison to their competitors. They have also moved into a new and rather spacious store with ample parking.

2. Gun Gallery: More cramped and less selection than Shooter's but easily the most pleasant staff in town. They seem to have better prices when it comes to longarms than does Shooters.

3. Bullseye Gun & Pawn: More expensive than either of the two stores above, but they periodically have a 25% off used gun sale and then there are great deals to be had! The big guy behind the counter is always plesant, the lady there always seems preoccupied.

4. St. Nick's: They are way out of my way and have I have only been there once. Their selection is terrific, but their prices are pretty high. I cannot comment on the staff b/c I just don't know.

5. Wild West Gun & Pawn: Again, out of my way and I do not know as much. They carry a lot of product and have told me "they will not be undersold" but their sticker prices are as high as anybody else in town.

I hope this helps.

 

[Tribal]

In Virginia (in my experience):

Good:
My favorites are Bob's Gun Shop in Norfolk and A&P in Virginia Beach. Bob's has the edge in service (and Bob is an active supporter of RKBA and is the reason there's a gun show that comes to Norfolk); A&P has better prices but the salesmen aren't always completely familiar with their merchandise. I'd recommend either one.

Blue Ridge Arsenal doesn't have a huge selection of guns but they've got a decent range of accessories, their gun prices are good, and the staff are friendly.

Okay:
Sportsman's Warehouse, Dick's, Gander Mtn, and Bass Pro (in various parts of the Commonwealth) are all roughly the same: overpriced (but not usually obscenely so), but with occasional good deals. Dick's has very little selection (and no pistols or exotic rifles); the other two seem to have a good range of general accessories while not having anything exotic.

Not-So-Good:
The Marksman is...well, The Marksman. Some of the staff, especially Janet, are very friendly, but their prices are appalling. Last I saw, they had a used PLR-16 priced at $600 (you can get a new one from Dark Sun for $450 at a gun show). They have a used Springfield Micro 1911 that I covet but it's very overpriced as well. They seem to do most of their business as a range and by providing training; I was happy with the CCW training I got there.

Green Top has a great selection and it's fun to look at their stuff, but I'm never shopping there again. For my very first gun (back when I didn't know a darn thing), one of the salesmen sold me a Taurus Millennium when I'd asked for a Kahr. I exchanged it and bought my USPc there instead (figuring that everyone makes mistakes sometimes). Later times, I was often ignored or talked down to. What did it for me was when I'd bought two guns from them, later thought better of it, and called them to ask if I could return them unfired. I wasn't sure what their response would be; I didn't outright expect them to say "yes" but I also knew that they regularly did so. The guy I spoke to said that it wouldn't be a problem, so I drove on out to Richmond...whereupon the manager told me that of course they'd never do that and that at best he could buy them back for about 2/3 of the sale price. I feel as though they lied to me, and thus have lost my business.

There's a store in Christiansburg whose name I can't remember, but the staff were cranky and yelled at me for asking where the 7.62x39 ammo was (it was lying in little boxes on the ground away from all the other ammo).

Sadly, Potomac Arms is no more.

 

[45Guy]

We don't have any local store's unless I drive at least 30 minutes south.

Favorites:

-Scheel's- Always helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, good selection of long guns, decent selection of handguns, good prices

- Sportsman's Warehouse- EXTREMELY good costumer service, one clerk spent 45 mins showing my gf any handgun she wanted and explaining everything when she was picking her first. Ammo is a bit high though.

- Precision Sports- one the the locals to the south, very helpful, knowledgeable. Remembered me a year after I stopped in for the first time, and hadn't been back.

Worst:
- Gander Mountain- Bad service, horrid prices (wanted $100 more for a SP101 than Scheel's) on guns, ammo & accesories.