Favorite and least favortie gun shops

[Feud]

My personal favorite is:

Bear Mountain Sports, Mesa, AZ

They've always been to the point, courteous, helpful, and professional, with great prices too boot. They've always treated me well, and I'll be a loyal customer until they don't.

 

[Gun Slinger]

The Best Gunshops: (rated on a maximum scale of 4 's )

Fin, Fur and Feathers near Wooster, OH.
Large, diverse selection of handguns and long guns, prices are pretty decent, too. Service is acceptable.

Black Wing Shooting Center just west of Delaware, OH.
Brand new facilty, excellent automated indoor ranges rated for rifle and pistol, prices tend toward the high side (MSRP), bit the staff is friendly and helpful.

Vances in Columbus, OH.
Fairly large handgun and long gun selection, prices are excellent (lowest of the "best" shops) and service is OK. It does tend to get a bit crowded there on the weekends and after 5 p.m. on weekedays, but it is a good place to find good deals at since they do generate alot of volume.

Cabelas in Dundee, MI.
Big store, lots to see. Hey its Cabelas! Ammunition prices tend to be rather high, but it is a nice place to go and look (drool) Firearms prices are not too bad either. Very, very, very crowded on weekends especially during hunting season. Surprise!


The Worst Gunshops: (rated on a maximum scale of four 's)


Gander Mountain in Toledo, OH.
Moderate selection, mediocre service and insane prices! They have used handguns that are in less than "fair" conditon priced signifcantly above the same gun model "NIB" found elsewhere in town. The vast majority of their long guns (rifles/shotguns) have 'rack wear' from from being handled many, many times by careless customers and then being replaced roughly/uncaringly back into the gun racks. These guns are also priced at 'NIB' prices despite an incredible abundance of nicks, scuffs, dings, scratches, scrapes and even(!) missing front sights.

Cleland's Outdoor World just west of Toledo, OH.
Minimal to moderate selection of firearms, prices are much better than Gander Mountain in Toledo, the facility is a bit 'rundown' and the indoor pistol range is antiquated and in need of maintenance as well as adequate supervision. The owner/gunsmith, Gary Cleland, is an incoherent 'hack' gunsmith and has marred several of my guns as well as those of my friends. He is truly an idiots' idiot. Avoid this place like the plague. Staff range from friendly and knowledgeable to sadly misinformed and beyond help. Counter service is mediocre at best.

ADCO Firearms II in Sylvania, OH
Very small shop with a "microscopic" selection and very high prices. Staff attitude on 'good days' is one of indifference and on 'bad days' they simply ignore you. If you are not buying an AR-15 or a 1911, they want nothing to do with you since these are the only firearms that they stock an appreciable quantity of. Used to be a great shop when under prior ownership, but not so much now.

 

[Big45]

Holy Double Thread Resurrection

 

[TurboJeff]

Best shops:

Guns and Ammo - Memphis. Friendly staff, reasonable prices. Huge inventory of firearms, ammo, accessories, etc. One bad thing...They are always overflowing with customers. Sometimes it can take a while before you get a salesman. Well worth the waiting.

Classic Arms - Memphis - Friendly and helpful staff. Pretty nice inventory of firearms for small/medium shop. Reasonable prices. Decent holster selection, but could be much better. Low customer traffic means little or no wait for a salesman.

Rangemaster - Memphis - More of a range/training center. They do have a decent amount of handguns for sale. Where else can you go that has Tom Givens, Col. Jim Shearin, and the rest of a great staff. These guys are willing to spend some time answering any gun or tactical related questions. They have some wonderful classes. Highly recommended.

Bad Shops:

Big Daddy's Pawn - Not the friendliest staff I've run across. I couple of the guys are OK, but some are rude. Although they have a pretty good sized inventory, the prices are too high. Some of the guns I examined had not even been cleaned. Filthy barrels, ramps, chambers, etc. Stay away!

 

[RNB65]

Fav:

DeGoff's Guns, Mechanicsville, VA.

Least Fav:

Gander Mountain
-

 

[Ske1etor]

Favorite shops.

10-8 Tactical - Harrahan, LA. Extremely clean shop. Great staff, very nice inventory and the owner (Morey) will order anything you want pronto. Morey is also extremely knowledgeable and will not pull the "If it's in my inventory, its the best out there" stuff with you. If there is a better product that he just doesn't carry or can't keep in stock and there is a lesser product on the shelf he will let you know. Depending on the crowd in the shop it may take a few minutes before the staff can get to you but it is totally worth the wait. Prices are decent and Morey will install/fit just about any purchased part free of charge. (Sights, any fitted parts such as thumb safeties on 1911's, slings, scopes... etc.)

Houma Auto (Guns)- Houma, LA. Decent inventory of firearms. Fairly extensive inventory of reloading and cleaning supplies. very good inventory of ammo. Nice staff. Also may take a few minutes to get some help but worth the wait. Very knowledgeable about their inventory.

Not so good shops.
Gretna Guns- Gretna, LA. Staff is ok I guess. Inventory is decent and they will order just about anything you want. All staff seem uninterested with their customers. They will also ensure that they cut down your personal choice of handgun by telling you that a Glock is the only firearm worth purchasing. Prices are decent.

Jefferson Gun Outlet- Metarie, LA. Staff can be extremely rude at times. Wait times can be horrendous even when the shop is fairly empty. Dirty shop. It may have changed in the recent past but the last time I went I vowed to stay out of that particular shop.

 

[Seancass]

we really need somebody to go through all these posts and put the state in huge letters so we can just find our own state and see where the favorites places are.

 

[Ske1etor]

we really need somebody to go through all these posts and put the state in huge letters so we can just find our own state and see where the favorites places are.

Great Idea... Actually, I will start compiling them all by state in a word document.

 

[littlegator]

From Valkman:

Masters Shooter's Supply, Las Vegas - Floyd the owner is a great guy and always helpful. Sometimes I go in just to ask a question or to BS - it's that kind of place. Prices aren't the best around but I like it anyway.

+1 - they are my favorite as well. Only problem with them is their location in bad neighborhood. Their store looks pretty ghetto on the outside as well. Otherwise, great staff - Floyd is great. I disagree though about the price - their prices on new guns are very competetive.

Best place for ammo:

Walmart in Centennial shopping center. I don't know the guy's name behind the ammo counter (but will find out next time I go), but he is knowledgeable and friendly. He is an older guy who hunts and shoots too. Really nice guy. Too bad they don't have any guns for sale at the store - you have to get the gun on-line and then order it from the store with the order information from the net.

 

[XDandy]

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Haven't had just a ton of experience since I've only be addicted for a couple years now.

Best I've found: The shooters supply. Definitely not the best selection in town, but nice guys, decent prices, and a decent indoor range.

Worst so far: Elk Castle Shooting Sports. Everytime I've gone in its been hard to even get someone to help me. The selection though is probably one, if not the best in town. Also the range doesn't allow you to shoot reloads, although it is a nice range. I took some there and even though that policy isn't posted as far as I could see the guy working the counter was pretty rude about the fact that I had reloads in my bag, acted like I was trying to sneak them in or something.

I haven't been burned enough yet to say I'll never go back to a place, but I have been around enough to know where I like to go.

 

[Ske1etor]

Well, I have compiled all of the good gunshops but to keep this list "HighRoad", I will not post the worst gunshops in the list.

 

[Ske1etor]

www.TheHighRoad.org
Favorite Gun Shops.

Alabama
Simmons Sporting Goods, Bessemer
Alaska
Arizona
Murphy's, Tucson
Bear Arms, Scottsdale
Pistol Parlour, Mesa
Lone Wolf Trading Company, Glendale
Prescott Valley Guns, Prescott Valley
Bear Mountain Sports, Mesa
Arkansas
John's Guns, Fort Smith
Tackle Box, Fort Smith
Ozark Sportsman, Tontitown
California
The Gunsight, Fullerton
Gold Coast Trading, Fountain Valley
Reed's, San Jose
The California Rifleman, Ventura
Dodge City, Santa Barbara
Martin B Retting, Culver City
Flag Guns, La Habra
Bullseye, San Rafael
Colorado
Jensen Arms, Loveland
Gunsmoke Gunsmithing, Wheat Ridge
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Lee's Pawn & Gun Shop, Margate
Shooter's, Jacksonville
Gun Gallery, Jacksonville
Bullseye Gun & Pawn, Jacksonville
Georgia
Adventure Outdoors, Smyrna
Bull'sEye, Lawrenceville
American Classic Marksman, Norcross
David's Gun Room, Norcross
Hit and Run Guns, Nocross/Lilburn
Guns & Gear, Alpharetta
Valdosta Pawn, Valdosta
Autrey's Armory, Fayetteville
Clyde Armory, Athens
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Collectors Firearms, Simpson's LTD, Galesburg
Indiana
Plainfield Shooting Supplies, Plainfield
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Bud's Gun Shop, Lexington
Louisiana
Jim's firearms, Baton Rouge
10-8 Tactical, Harahan
Houma Auto, Houma
Maine
Maryland
Scott's ,Glen Burnie
Duffy's gun gallery, Baltimore
Walter's Gun Chamber, Baltimore
Continental Arms, Baltimore
Massachusetts
Four Seasons, Worburn
Michigan
Westborn Gun Shop, Taylor
Minnesota
Bill's, Robbinsdale
Frontiersman, St. Louis Park
Outdoorsman, Hopkins
GunStop Reloading Supplies, Minnetonka
Streicher's, Golden Valley
Gander Mountain, Minnetonka
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
Masters Shooter's Supply, Las Vegas
Discount Firearms, Henderson
Machine Gun Kelly's, Las Vegas
Spurlock's Guns, Henderson
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Ramsey Outdoor, Ledgewood
Ramsey Outdoor, Ramsey
Meltzer's Sporting Goods, Garfield
Ray's Sporting Goods, S. Plainfield
Gun Exchange/American Armaments, Butler
Heritage Firearms, Rahway
New Mexico
The Knife Shop, Alamogordo
Covey's, Roswell
Larry's Discount Gun Shop, Roswell
The Outdoorsman of Santa Fe, Santa Fe
New York
American Shooters Supply Inc., Albany
Shooter's Highland, Valatie
Taylor & Vadney Sporting Goods, Schenectady
Creek Road Guns And Ammo, Morrisville
K&K Train and Hobby, Utica
North Carolina
The Bullet Hole, Monroe
Jim's, Fayetteville
North Dakota
Ohio
The Powder Room, Powell
Vance's Shooters Supply, Columbus
New Albany Shooting Range, New Albany
Dick's Gun Room, Cuyahoga Falls
Pro Arms, Cuyahoga Falls
Fin, Fur and Feathers, Wooster
Black Wing Shooting Center, Delaware
Oklahoma
Oregon
Mazama Sporting Goods, Eugene
The Barons Den, Eugene
J&W Arms, Springfield
SM Gunshop, Eugene
Pennsylvania
Archery and Gun Outfitters, Montgomeryville
Tanners, Warwick
Handgunner, Topton
Classic Pistol, Southampton
Quimby`s, Dublin
Defcon 1, Coopersburg
John Brown's Armory, Rochester
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Rook's, Bishopville
Carolina Rod & Gun, Charleston
Trader World, Charleston
Low Country Pawn, Charleston
Shooter's Choice, West Columbia
South Dakota
Jack First, Rapid City
Gary’s Gun Shop, Sioux Falls
Sportsman’s Warehouse, Sioux Falls
Tennessee
Middle Tennessee Guns and Ammo, Symrna
Gun City, Nashville
On Target, Murfreesboro
Usletons, Goodlettsville
Franklin Gun Shop, Franklin
Benton Shooting Supply, Benton
Coal Creek Armory, Knoxville
Guns and Ammo, Memphis
Classic Arms, Memphis
Rangemaster, Memphis
Texas
Champion Firearms, College Station
Foutain Firearms, Houston
Utah
Gallenson's, Salt Lake City, Utah
Impact Guns, Ogden, Utah.
Vermont
Virginia
Bob's Gun Shop, Norfolk
A&P, Virginia Beach
DeGoff's Guns, Mechanicsville
Washington
Kessilrings, Alger
The White Elephant, Spokane
BullsEye Shooter Supply, Tacoma
Federal Way Discount Gun, Federal Way
Sportsman's Wharehouse, Federal Way
Marksman, Puyallup
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Lauer Customs, Chippewa
Wyoming

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Pensacola, FL (and Jacksonville)

JustinL commented on St. Nick's in Jacksonville. I went there once while on a business trip. They have a huge selection of handguns and will negotiate on price. I was with a friend and we bought 4 guns between us and a sack of ammo and got a good deal. They even stayed open late to make the sale.

I live in the Pensacola area and use Gateswood Sports for all my gun buys...mostly Internet orders. The guy there has gone the extra mile to find guns that I couldn't. He doesn't stock much but can find anything for you.

Mike's Outdoor Sports on Hwy 29 is a decent gun store. It has a nice selection of new guns but they are on the pricey side. They wouldn't negotiate even a penny on an Springfield M1A. I bought it anyway for $1600...jeez, not even a penny off...I asked. I don't shop there anymore.

Uber's Lock & Gun in Myrtle Grove is a great store. Friendly and helpful staff (a family operation), decent prices, a lot of milsurps and used guns. They have had an occasional gem that I have bought (Krag in 6.5 Swede, Finn M39, K98 Mauser, Norinco SKS and Hungarian M44)

Trade Wind Pawn & Gun in Gulf Breeze has a great selection (mostly used and milsurp) and decent prices. When I asked the owner if he knew where I could get a Ruger Security-Six he went into the back room and brought out three NIB Ruger's.

WalMart on Hwy 29. Made about 4-5 gun purchases from them and the staff was pretty helpful and two out of three were actually pretty knowledgeable.

Academy Sports in Pensacola has good prices.

Al's Pawn & Rifle Shop in Pace on Hwy 90. Decent selection. Got a nice Colt Mustang there for a steal. Caution: everyone there is a chain smoker. You don't want to stay too long. Bring your own oxygen.

 

[scurtis_34471]

Ocala / Marion County Florida

American Gun - Small, one man shop. Limited selection. Fair prices. Good service.

Ocala Armory - Good selection. Knowledgeable staff. Fair prices. Good service. Gunsmithing services available. $35 FFL transfers.

Bullseye Sports - Small selection. High prices. Decent service. $25 FFL transfers. I do all my transfers there.

Jerry's Pawn & Gun - Huge selection. Horrendously over-priced. I've seen commonly available guns for $50-100 over MSRP. If you dicker, you can sometimes get them down to full retail. I won't shop there.

 

[vmi93]

Some from Western Virginia...

I just moved to Roanoke and am thrilled to have at least four good gunshops in town.

Roanoke Firearms; great selection, good prices, friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Bryansteen's Guns; good selection, good prices, friendly staff.

Trader Jerry's; good selection, great prices, friendly staff.

Sportsman's Warehouse; good selection, tons of reloading stuff, not bad prices, friendly staff, 5% discount for gun club members.

I've lived on and off in Radford and Roanoke and the only bad gunshop I've been to is out of business now.

 

[Fu-man Shoe]

Virginia - Hampton Roads

I think the BEST gunshop in the area is "Tidewater Military Traders", located in Virginia Beach, although they only really deal in military surplus type firearms. They are friendly, have an amazing selection, and they live by thier slogan, which is "It's a museum where you can buy the exhibits."

They also have auctions and swapmeets from time to time which are open to the general public, free of charge.

TMT is seriously a great gunshop.

Some of the other good shops in the area are "The Armory" in Virginia Beach, although they seem less friendly as of late, and "Bob's", in Norfolk...they are pretty expensive, but have a killer reloading section, as well as a good CCW training program.

A&P arms in Virginia Beach is OK, but I have not been a fan of A&P since they sold thier outdoor range to Blackwater USA and closed down the best outdoor range in eastern Virginia.

Avoid "Ron Hess" gun shop at all costs. The owner and sole employee is incredibly rude, the store is a dump, the merchandise is wildly overpriced, and he seems to stay in business solely to drive off customers.

I've met plenty of abrasive people, but Ron Hess takes the prize. After one trip to his store, I think almost anyone would rather gouge out thier eyeballs with a hot poker rather than go back. It's really that bad.

 

[Dstoerm]

Kansas -The Bullet Hole-

The Bullet Hole in Merriam (KC area), KS. Good guys, good guns, good prices and a good range to boot (although they have taken alot of my hard-earned money over the years).

-D

 

[icebones]

my local wal-mart is the worst.

i asked the woman behind the counter for 2 boxes of .45acp
and 1 box of 9mm

i got back
1 box of .38special +p
and 2 boxes of 9mm

plus i absolutley hate the whole, is this .22 ammo for a rifle or handgun?

is its for a rifle ok
but your under 21 so no handgun!!!
are people really that stupid these days?

 

[OzarksMagic]

I will put up a secong for Gunslinger on W. Sunshine. Springfiled, Mo.
Also cherokee Firearms and 417 guns.
Avoid Bass pro shops, and Republic pawn shop.

 

[renaissance]

Gilbert's Small Arms Range - Lorton VA.
(5 minutes outside of the Beltway - Washington DC- on 95)
Come by any Sunday Morning and have a Donut on us.

 

[che_70b]

Favorite

SHEP'S SPORTS WORLD. FLEMINGSBURG KY.

 

[Clipper]

My favorite is Williams Gunsite in Davison, MI...Friendly, knowledgeable staff, big new & used selection, on-site gunsmithing, outdoor rifle & pistol ranges, trap & skeet range...

Least favorite: Guns Galore in Fenton, MI...Decent selection of handguns, nowhere near Williams' selection of long guns, and the surliest staff I've ever dealt with.

Runner-up least favorite: The Gun Barn, in Otisville, MI... Overpriced junk in the used rack, overpriced and limited new stuff and a know-nothing know-it-all staff.

 

[Gun Slinger]

Dang, Ske1etor, I'll be that took some time. Nice job!

 

[jakk280rem]

my fovorite here in salem is mlc exotic class III. its ran by a guy named mick cook. he's on the web at www.buygunshere.com . hes a good guy has a great selection of new and used pistols and rifles is a dillon dealer and will take time to answer my newbee questions. just the otherday i was ogling a pair of auto ordnance 1911's and asked him if they were series 70's or 80's. he picked one up racked the slide, fliped it over and looked up its skirt to see. he said series 80 set the gun back in the case and said too bad. i asked him to show me what it was he was looking at to distinguish and he took the time to show me without ang muttering or head shaking despite the waiting customers. if u come to salem oregon looking for a rifle give oles gun shop a try. they work out of a shop in the back of there house and it looks small on the outside, but inside there are thousands of rifles wall to wall new used and every caliber imaginable. corine is a sweetheart and is more knowlegable about longarms than most of the thr membership. their handgun selection is kinda skimpy but their longarms cant be beat. for atown with a quarter million people these two shops fulfill 90% of my gun and acc. shopping

 

[Floppy_D]

Hampton Roads -
Bob's: +1 on reloading goods. The guys are friendly and competent, their selection is wide, and they have a pistol range upstairs. I like the store.

The Armory: I've bought four guns from them, and I'll probably end up with more, too. Their ammo prices are pretty good. I'll stop in and chat just because Ralph is real friendly, and Kevin is an encyclopedia. Unfortunately, they were very shorthanded up until a month ago, and it was hard to get help. They're in good shape now.

Tidewater Military Traders: THE place to go for milsurp. Good people.

Ron Hess: I went in the other day looking for a Kel-Tec P3AT. He said "What are you planning on shooting, a woman or a dog? Why not carry a slingshot?" If you are looking for a dump where you can find Hi-Point pistols for $279, you came to the right place.