Today at BassPro I overheard a conversation the counter guy was having with a customer who asked about a entry level AR-15. Basically he was advised to try online vendors like Palmetto because their cheapest ones are Black Rain for $699. No big deal, But then he was told that the cheaper ones have a 1: 9 barrel twist, and those aren’t accurate. I’m not an expert on rifle barrels, but that sounded like BS to me. I’m starting to think BassPro is just somewhere to go when you need cargo pants.
Gun counter advice
- Thread starter igotta40
- Start date
InTheSwamp
Member
It just depends on who's behind the counter. I have talked to very gun-knowledgeable employees at my store. Yes, there are some clueless ones too.
TacticalJanitor
Member
I agree. LGS counter guys are just people like everyone else.
Last month I was hunting for a clean Gen 4 Glock 19 and found one locally that was painted purple. The young man behind the counter told me (with a straight face) that it, "came directly from Glock that way".
I told him that I'd have to check with my wife before I buy it...then didn't go back. One good fib deserves another.
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,418
Agree at the store formally known as Cabelas.
Riomouse911
Member
I have had great store employees, who knew their stuff and let the customer dictate their purchases.
I have had unknowledgeable store employees, who knew how to work the register but not much more.
And I have had total clowns, who thought they knew it all and opined garbage about everything from the gun brand to caliber to ammo to carry options, etc.
Like relatives, neighbors and bosses; some gun store folks are great, some so-so and some are total tools.
Stay safe.
I have had unknowledgeable store employees, who knew how to work the register but not much more.
And I have had total clowns, who thought they knew it all and opined garbage about everything from the gun brand to caliber to ammo to carry options, etc.
Like relatives, neighbors and bosses; some gun store folks are great, some so-so and some are total tools.
Stay safe.
JB111
Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2022
- Messages
- 274
We have a Dunham's Sports here and the people at the gun counter know as much about guns as a bag of potatoes. One of them is a middle aged woman who is anti gun and will try to steer you toward non lethal self defense options such as bear spray and tasers. Another one is an older guy who claims to have every gun ever made and knows everything there is to know. He tried to sell me a Riley Defense ak, claiming it was the best thing since sliced bread, head and shoulders above any import. I last visited that store about 2 years ago and vowed never to go back after they implemented a policy of not allowing you to touch the gun until after you pay and they have walked it out the front door to the parking lot, then they hand it off to you.
More context is needed, that advice wasn't necessarily bad advice.
Most AR shooters prefer a 1:7 or 1:8 twist barrel because they are more accurate with the ammo most of them prefer to shoot. The 1:9 barrels have fallen from favor, I wouldn't buy one, and as a rule they do tend to be used on cheaper rifles. They do OK with 55 gr and lighter bullets, but not so much with the heavier bullets that most AR shooters prefer.
Most AR shooters prefer a 1:7 or 1:8 twist barrel because they are more accurate with the ammo most of them prefer to shoot. The 1:9 barrels have fallen from favor, I wouldn't buy one, and as a rule they do tend to be used on cheaper rifles. They do OK with 55 gr and lighter bullets, but not so much with the heavier bullets that most AR shooters prefer.
^^^What jmr40 said above ^^^
1-9's are just fine w/ bullets on the 50-69gr range (which is what most people grab off the shelves in bulk these days anyway)
As far as "cheap" goes, however, my no-kidding mucho dinero Colt H-BAR from 20 years ago had a 1-9.... OK w/ that same
50-69gr range ... but wouldn't shoot anything over that 69gr limit w/ anything approaching accuracy
.
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earlthegoat2
Member
For me, gun store workers only need to know what is in stock and how to technically sell a firearm.
That is, they need to know how to ring up a sale, make sure a 4473 is filled out properly, make appropriate checks or copies of ID, etc.
I really don’t need them for anything else. I have my own eyes and knowledge of the product for the rest. I suspect most folks here are in a similar situation.
I guess I am not interested in how they help or mislead others and it depends on my patience that day how I respond if they try to help or mislead me.
If Jerry Miculek is behind the counter and says something I don’t agree with, just because it’s Jerry Miculek is not going to make me agree with it.
That is, they need to know how to ring up a sale, make sure a 4473 is filled out properly, make appropriate checks or copies of ID, etc.
I really don’t need them for anything else. I have my own eyes and knowledge of the product for the rest. I suspect most folks here are in a similar situation.
I guess I am not interested in how they help or mislead others and it depends on my patience that day how I respond if they try to help or mislead me.
If Jerry Miculek is behind the counter and says something I don’t agree with, just because it’s Jerry Miculek is not going to make me agree with it.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
Heard a gun counter employee tell a customer interested in a shotgun"Get the one with porting it will reduce recoil by 50 percent". I just walked away.
On the positive side: Was in my LGS last week, when the manager took a phone call. "No, we don't sell assault rifles."
After hanging up he turned to me to say, "I wouldn't sell to that doofus even if he came in the store. Folks like that are giving us (gun owners) a bad name."
After hanging up he turned to me to say, "I wouldn't sell to that doofus even if he came in the store. Folks like that are giving us (gun owners) a bad name."
My thoughts exactly. I’ve overheard plenty of bad advice at gun counters, but that advice wasn’t among it.
I would absolutely purchase or build a PSA AR-15 versus a $700 Black Rain AR-15. Black Rain is pretty bottom-of-the-barrel (aside from some polymer/imported ATI junk), and $700 will get you a PSA with very good specs (chrome-lined CHF barrel, C158 MPI/HP bolt, etc.).
I would never buy a 1:9 twist AR for the reasons mentioned above. Most 1:9s these days are on budget guns, and quality barrel manufacturers have pretty much abandoned that twist rate for AR barrels. 1:8 or 1:7 gives you so much more flexibility.
N555
Member
If someone gets a 1:9 barrel that shoots all over the place from palmetto it's probably got messed up head spacing.
I bought a 1:9 upper that wouldn't shoot less than 5moa with any ammo. I put a new Delton 1:9 with proper head space and it shot less than 2moa with my worst ammo.
I bought a 1:9 upper that wouldn't shoot less than 5moa with any ammo. I put a new Delton 1:9 with proper head space and it shot less than 2moa with my worst ammo.
dogtown tom
Member
It may not have been a fib.I agree. LGS counter guys are just people like everyone else.
Last month I was hunting for a clean Gen 4 Glock 19 and found one locally that was painted purple. The young man behind the counter told me (with a straight face) that it, "came directly from Glock that way".
I told him that I'd have to check with my wife before I buy it...then didn't go back. One good fib deserves another.
If a retailer orders enough of a certain model, the manufacturer will gladly make them in a special color, finish, sights, etc that aren't catalogued. WalMart did this for decades with Ruger 10/22's. Glock does this as well.
That and the fact that distributors like Lipseys, Davidsons, RSR and TALO routinely offer special colors and finishes on Glocks that aren't catalogued. The counter clerk (like most people) assumes that a new, in box Glock "came directly from Glock that way"......thats why he had a straight face.
Here's the current TALO offerings:https://taloinc.com/collections
Now, I've never seen a purple Glock, but I have seen new in box, purple, raspberry, lilac and Tiffany blue Ruger LCP's, lemon yellow Taurus pistols, white Taurus revolvers with lime green grips. (and every one was a factory new gun, not from a distributor.
CapnMac
Member
Dunno, BPS not bad for spending $1.50 on a $1 fishing lure
Retail is complicated. Ideally your sales staff ought to be experienced enough to help customers, but not so experienced as to have a higher labor rate than the CEO. And the customers are varied, too. The mathematical intersection of multiple Bell Curves will beggar mere human imagination.
CapnMac
Member
Saw yesterday than my LGS is stocking some 24kt gold plated (on the slide) Glocks. An interesting look. Not my cup of tea, especially not at 2x the price.
dogtown tom
Member
Never underestimate the publics desire for the tackiest, gaudiest, ugliest or least useful items.
Not a month goes by that I don't get at least one transfer that makes me wonder "who raised you?"
Ob I dont know, sounds like pretty good advice to me. Cant say as I ever had a 1:9 twist shoot really great. 1:8 maybe. Yeah I think that counter guy was not out of line.
Wow.
On the AR I put together with a cheap 1:9 inch barrel I can get consistent 1moa groups with 25gr of 844 and a SMK 52gr bullet. It's just my standard .223 load, I have not tried working up a load for that rifle.I will add that with generic 55gr. bullets it's closer to 2" at 100 yards. I think that barrel was about 100 dollars ten years ago. It was made by ESS Solutions that sold out to another barrel maker.
TacticalJanitor
Member
Could be.
I don't claim to know all, but a different LGS had a G19 with a purple Cerakoted handle and silver slide (ala the early G43x) and it was obviously brand-new. It was a sharp looking pistol, but I was skeptical and called Smyrna.
Glock told me that they have never released, and will not warranty any frame with Cerakote applied, nor any other painting system. Glock frames are always the color of the polymer...if that makes sense. I know they've made black, FDE, maybe green...but I've never heard of any others.
Of course, just because some guy at Glock told me that, doesn't necessarily make it so.
In any case, the pistol in the anecdote above was purple all over (slide too), worn, and clearly painted. Not too well either.
Edit: I looked at Lipsys, and you may be right. A quick peek turned up some camo-type designs that are applied to the frame as well. One purple frame too. Wonder if Glock will warranty them?
Sorry for the thread hijack.
Howland937
Member
We've all heard dubious claims and sketchy advice from across the retail counter at some point. Costs about the same as the advice you get here but it's not unique to the firearms industry.
The thing I'd take most issue with is an employee suggesting a potential customer go spend their nickels elsewhere. Guy needs demoted back to stocking shelves whether he was right or not.
The thing I'd take most issue with is an employee suggesting a potential customer go spend their nickels elsewhere. Guy needs demoted back to stocking shelves whether he was right or not.
steveus101
Member
It would never cross my mind to go to a Bass Pro Shop when wanting to shop for a gun.
I have a grey G19 and it is factory.
I know generally what I need to know when I go to purchase something long before I ever get to the store.
