Favorite gun shop closed up today!

troy fairweather

troy fairweather

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2018
Messages
13,819
Location
Up State New York
Just are luck we have quite a few shops pretty close but most suck, finally one opens up and it's the type of shop I like with mostly older used guns. I've got some pretty good deals and he would work with you and he was good to bs with. For many reasons today is the last day he will be open and won't keep his ffl, plus he's moving to his upstate house.

This is.my off season so don't have no money saved up, there were a few guns I've had my eye on. Some were sold but the one I was most interested I was on consignment and he was there today. So I got his number and soon maybe we will make a deal. It really sucks when shops close I feel bad for the guys that have a long drive to the nearest shop since your stuck with them or nothing.

Anyone loose there favorite gun shop lately.
 
I live in the Quad Cities, between Iowa and Illinois, along I-80. We had a nice Gander Mountain Store in Davenport, but it croaked. We have a large Dick's Store in Davenport, but I refuse to do business with them because they are aptly described by their name. We have a good indoor range and shooting club, Davenport guns, but they tend to carry newer firearms. I like the old stuff.

Gander mountain had a great supply of shooting accessories and guns. I really miss them. Luckily, Simpson's Collector Guns is about 60 miles down the road. I like them a lot. Their prices are too high, ( Who's prices aren't?) but they honestly describe the condition of the piece.
 
tark said:
I live in the Quad Cities, between Iowa and Illinois, along I-80. We had a nice Gander Mountain Store in Davenport, but it croaked. We have a large Dick's Store in Davenport, but I refuse to do business with them because they are aptly described by their name. We have a good indoor range and shooting club, Davenport guns, but they tend to carry newer firearms. I like the old stuff.

Gander mountain had a great supply of shooting accessories and guns. I really miss them. Luckily, Simpson's Collector Guns is about 60 miles down the road. I like them a lot. Their prices are too high, ( Who's prices aren't?) but they honestly describe the condition of the piece.
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I actually liked the gander we had, it was a bit pricy but was nice since they had so many new guns you could handle before buying. My buddy was a dicks manager and I got some good deals, haven't bought a thing since there shenanigans.
 
Ks5shooter said:
Sucks I love the brick and mortar shops.What gun are you working a deal on? Love eying up something for a while then it works out.
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Was eyeing a rem 721, think it is a first year 1948 or a 52, can't remember the date code yy or tt one or the other. It's in ok shape needs the stock refinished and the old recoil pad off and the aluminum plate back on, don't think they cut the stock for the pad so that's nice. Just a cheap scope with leupold rings. But I'd like to have a rifle around for cheap factory ammo if for some reason I have to get some 3006 from Wal-Mart for season.

It's sold but There Was a very nice factory fn commercial rifle in 06 and have G&H SIDE mount and nice Lyman peep for $600. The Remington has $425 on it be since its a consignment gun maybe I can get it for $350ish, guy is open to trades.
 
We lost a small LGS after sixty years in business in my small NE town last year. It was sad to see. I frequent another small LGS where a few old timers(like me) hang out and BS. Oldest part of town next to old theater across from the railroad station owned by a Viet Nam vet and a retired detective. Always lots of nice old revolvers behind the glass, rifles, shot guns and semi autos old and new. Last trip there I bought a revolver I thought was priced $50-75 high but I wanted it and knew I was supporting a struggling LGS in a hostile anti gun state. I left happy with my purchase.
 
My favorite LGS closed for good last fall after about 30 years. Owner was a retired sheriffs deputy who started it after his 20 years with law enforcement; he's 73 or 74 and decided it was time. I miss it but luckily another local one opened up last year that's even closer to me. I was surprised that anyone would want to open a gun shop in NY state these days with all the new legal hoops they need to jump through. I would have bought my CVA Scout in 444 Marlin from him but he couldn't locate one from his regular wholesalers. I found one at Midway USA and had it shipped to him and he handled all the transfer. Got scope rings for it through him also and recently got some 22 Magnum ammo for my single 6. I hear that all the LGS's in NY state are hurting and this new shop treats me real good so I'm glad to give him business. I'm hoping the owner makes out well in his new business.
 
22250Rem said:
My favorite LGS closed for good last fall after about 30 years. Owner was a retired sheriffs deputy who started it after his 20 years with law enforcement; he's 73 or 74 and decided it was time. I miss it but luckily another local one opened up last year that's even closer to me. I was surprised that anyone would want to open a gun shop in NY state these days with all the new legal hoops they need to jump through. I would have bought my CVA Scout in 444 Marlin from him but he couldn't locate one from his regular wholesalers. I found one at Midway USA and had it shipped to him and he handled all the transfer. Got scope rings for it through him also and recently got some 22 Magnum ammo for my single 6. I hear that all the LGS's in NY state are hurting and this new shop treats me real good so I'm glad to give him business. I'm hoping the owner makes out well in his new business.
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Last year what we called are ar guy closed up, think he seen what women was going to do with semi autos. Most shops in ny where afraid to sell any ar stuff or evil looking guns, this guy didn't care but stayed within the laws. Could pretty much build a complete ar-15 with what he had.

that shop ironically was one I worked at doing some gun restorations and when I worked there the owner didn't want to order me a few guns, I didn't ask for any discount just what ones I wanted. Ended up going to another old shop and he was right on it, they closed down to. I'm lucky I'm close to pa since more and more shops close, there one left about 8 miles away and next is 20+ miles. I'm 6 miles from pa there's 5 shops in that first town all have there good and bad quirks.
 
Big turnover of small gun shops here in my area (northern Virginia). Seems like another one goes under every 3-4 months. Then another one opens up. Rinse and repeat.

Reasons:
1. The economics don't pan out. Many of these guys are undercapitalized, and it's a low-markup business.
2. The ATF seems more willing to pull licenses for minor infractions.
3. Competition from the likes of Cabela's.
4. Antigun public opinion in the area, leading to local government harassment (zoning issues, etc.).
5. And, the attitudes of the shops themselves often don't help. Some of them seem to go out of their way to antagonize customers.
 
Most shops are to greedy, they will sit on a gun for years to make $100, better to make $25-$50 and have the sell that week. The shop will have quick turnaround and customers will come more often. We all know those shops we go to that always have The same guns. Willing to work with people and treating everyone equal, I had it happen a bunch going to a shop wanting to buy a gun and the shop blows you off thinking he's got no money when I'd have a few grand in my pocket.
 
troy fairweather said:
Was eyeing a rem 721, think it is a first year 1948 or a 52, can't remember the date code yy or tt one or the other. It's in ok shape needs the stock refinished and the old recoil pad off and the aluminum plate back on, don't think they cut the stock for the pad so that's nice. Just a cheap scope with leupold rings. But I'd like to have a rifle around for cheap factory ammo if for some reason I have to get some 3006 from Wal-Mart for season.

It's sold but There Was a very nice factory fn commercial rifle in 06 and have G&H SIDE mount and nice Lyman peep for $600. The Remington has $425 on it be since its a consignment gun maybe I can get it for $350ish, guy is open to trades.
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Nice find!!
 
There was one near me. I loved the shop. Good deals and nice folks. The owner asked if i could help reload for him too. He was planing on selling reman ammo. Before i knew it he sold the shop. New people are not very friendly. When i was there. Quite a few times folks would come in. And he would tell them come to the back room. I think something shady was going on. And he lost his FFL. The new owner claims he don't know why the shop closed.
 
There's still one pretty decent shop about 25 miles from me. It's good sized and prices are very reasonable, but rarely have any of the older stuff I really like. The handful of small shops that usually only had 30-40 guns in stock but almost always had something to tempt me with are all gone. Probably a half dozen of them, all closed in the last 3 years.

Most of those places were run by really down to earth folks. Like going into a favorite bar (which I haven't done in years) they knew what I liked and would often have something sitting on the counter for me by the time I walked up. Drinking might have been cheaper though.
 
Most small players have a disadvantage do to there size. I miss a few LGS'S that have come and gone.
Next time you are in that small store BUY SOMETHING! The can't make it on the little markup of guns alone. So what if a box of ammo costs $3 more. Or that knife is $10 less on Amazon.
If you like the business than be a true patron.
 
Way back in the 20th century there was a large, local, family owned shop that not only retailed guns/ sporting goods but also bought guns before the pawn shops took over that business. The owner would put his purchases out in glass display cases and rifles and shotguns lined 3 walls. When they closed shop there had to be several hundred long guns on the walls and an equal amount of handguns in the displays. What killed the business was buying cheap and pricing them at full retail instead of adding 10-15% to get "cash flow." Joe
 
I became good friends with the husband/wife duo who bought out a LGS nearby after that owner retired. Jerry and Anne would sell all sorts of cool stuff and often had good consignment things, too ( I started my S&W K-frame habit buying a 6” Model 17-2 at their shop.) I even consigned a few guns there, as that little shop always seemed to attract a buyer.

Sadly, one of the rifles used by the idiots in the San Bernardino shooting on Dec 2 was bought legally by the friend of the shooter from their store. This clown turned around and gave that gun (and a second one) illegally to the suspect, who converted them from “Ca legal” and used them to kill the victims. The scrutiny they faced afterwards from both government officials, and faceless Internet comments, led to a bunch of self blame and guilt (Especially Jerry, he totally shut down). So they ultimately sold the store and moved to parts unknown. I haven’t seen nor heard from them in about a decade. :(

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
I became good friends with the husband/wife duo who bought out a LGS nearby after that owner retired. Jerry and Anne would sell all sorts of cool stuff and often had good consignment things, too ( I started my S&W K-frame habit buying a 6” Model 17-2 at their shop.) I even consigned a few guns there, as that little shop always seemed to attract a buyer.

Sadly, one of the rifles used by the idiots in the San Bernardino shooting on Dec 2 was bought legally by the friend of the shooter from their store. This clown turned around and gave that gun (and a second one) illegally to the suspect, who converted them from “Ca legal” and used them to kill the victims. The scrutiny they faced afterwards from both government officials, and faceless Internet comments, led to a bunch of self blame and guilt (Especially Jerry, he totally shut down). So they ultimately sold the store and moved to parts unknown. I haven’t seen nor heard from them in about a decade. :(

Stay safe.
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Very sad
 
We lost an area one recently. They picked a poor location to start with and the "Discount" in the store name meant nothing on guns. Prices weren't outrageous but I never saw a bargain either. They were about the only decent source for reloading supplies in the county and they weren't up to highway robbery with the prices on those for some reason. Traffic was never high there and employee turnover was large but I will miss them for the reloading stuff. Now it's a 200 mile round trip or more to find anything on the shelf. Hazmat on orders will about equal trip expenses and shipping will add more. It's the price I pay to live where the population is low.
 
I'll pay $2 more for a box of ammo if I can find it locally at a small shop.
There was a gander mountain here and they were very proud of their high prices needless to say it went out of business like all the others. I imagine they made their money on the people that are 1st time gun owners and not educated with the product. I find better deals at the pawn shops because they have other revenue to keep them in business in addition to the new guns that they also have in the case.
 
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