Gun shop etiquette , rookie question.

[BTR11584]

This may sound like a silly, rookie question for you gun shop guys, but I want to avoid embarrassment. I have several older firearms I inherited from my father and grandfather that need some work done on them. What is the proper way to bring firearms into a store? Should I leave them in the car, go in and explain what I need, or bring them in a case (unloaded) into the store?

 

[rondog]

Cased and unloaded, with any magazines removed. It's a gun shop, they're used to people bringing guns in! But a little discretion is nice.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

^Yep cased and unloaded. Its no different than taking a wrench back to sears (once its unloaded).

 

[MIgunguy]

Cased and unloaded, with any magazines removed. It's a gun shop, they're used to people bringing guns in! But a little discretion is nice.

what he said, everyone gets a little jumpy (rightfully so) when people bring uncased guns into gun shops and indoor shooting ranges... in some shops that'll get you "drawn down" on (loaded guns pointed at you by employees)

 

[M-Cameron]

in some shops that'll get you "drawn down" on (loaded guns pointed at you by employees)

i think if someone in a gun shop drew a gun on me for bringing in an uncased gun(and carrying it in an obviously non-threatening manner IE: vertical and hand not one the grip)........im pretty sure i would instantly leave and call the police.....

 

[BTR11584]

Thanks. Of course I would bring the weapon in cased and unloaded, just wouldnt want to get drawn on as I pulled it out of the case.

 

[[email protected]]

Most around here have their rules posted on the door... if they don't then i would do as listed above... or, nothing wrong with leaving the guns cased in the car and going in to ask them first.... would also give you the time to evaluate the place if you have not been in before.

 

[mgmorden]

just wouldnt want to get drawn on as I pulled it out of the case.

What I typically do is call an employee over and explain that I have a gun that needs work and indicate that its in the case while I'm taking it out. They already know what's wrong and what type of gun it is before I ever remove it from the case.

Just a word of warning: don't leave the case with them. Depending on how meticulous they are you might never get it back.

As a side topic that's related - often times if you buy used guns from a gun or pawn shop there are no cases provided. I personally don't like walking out into a parking lot with a gun in plain view and sticking it in the car (just me), so at all times I keep an empty handgun rug and rifle case in the trunk of my car. If I happen to purchase something on a whim that doesn't include a case, then I'll bring the case inside so that I can take the purchase back out in it when I'm done with the paperwork.

 

[ultradoc]

cased-unloaded. Explain to the person behind the counter ahead of time what you have and what you need done before you take out the guns [unless he tells you otherwise]. Just be polite. Several years ago I wanted a 'smith to look at my CCW [which was on me] for some work to be done. I asked him if I could unholster it and show him. After he gave me the OK I made sure it was pointed in a safe direction and unloaded it and handed it over to him. Didn't have any problems.

 

[Clipper]

I've taken a few guns to Williams Gunsight for smithing, and I usually set my cased gun on the counter and let them remove it when they're ready...

 

[natman]

Check to make 100% sure it's unloaded. Then check again.
Put it in the case. Take it to the shop in the case. Explain what you want. Let the clerk take it out of the case. Take the case home with you.

Reverse the process after the work is done.

 

[buck460XVR]

i think if someone in a gun shop drew a gun on me for bringing in an uncased gun(and carrying it in an obviously non-threatening manner IE: vertical and hand not one the grip)........im pretty sure i would instantly leave and call the police.....

Same here.

 

[Shovelhead]

+1 on 100% UNLOADED .
My buddy owns a gun shop in West VA.
Says he's been handed several "unloaded" firearms by customers over the years that still had one round in the chamber.

 

[Ringolevio]

Find a local independent gunsmith

blume357@bellsouth:

[...]Nothing wrong with leaving the guns cased in the car and going in to ask them first.... would also give you the time to evaluate the place if you have not been in before.

'Good advice! Furthermore, not every gun shop has a gunsmith on the premises, and not every gun shop has a competent gunsmith on the premises.

Where I live we're fortunate to have a few independent gunsmiths, and that's who I would approach first, especially if you don't already have a relationship with a gun shop.

If you have "older" guns that need work, do a little recon and find out who is qualified to work on 'em, and who wants to work on 'em. This can be accomplished in a few calls or e-mails. Plus, ask friends and family members who does their gunsmithing.

Around here, independent gunsmiths may keep more limited hours than gun shops, and may specialize in some types of guns (or not work on some; e.g., my local gunsmith doesn't work on "Tupperware"-framed guns). But an independent gunsmith probably sees more older (and even antique) guns than a guy who tinkers in the back of a gun shop.

 

[eazyrider]

Good God, get you drawn on! Really? I have carried many firearms into the gun shop uncased. Nobody has even raised an eye. Maybe if I walked in with a rifle on my shoulder at the ready shouting like a madman I could see that. But walking in with it slung or pointed down, never. It amazes me how many people that love and know guns get so nervous around them.

 

[parsimonious_instead]

No one seems to have addressed OP's part about notifying them ahead of time. Sure it's an extra trip to the car to walk in first without the firearm, but what if the shop is too backlogged to handle any more work for a while? Or if there isn't anyone on duty to appraise it if you're selling or trading?

 

[Oxide]

Second the comments about being drawn on by employees. In fact, I'm throwing the "bovine manure" flag.

 

[xfyrfiter]

the LGS that i frequent has a sign on the front door that states" please!! no loaded guns allowed inside " yet all of the guys behind the counter are open carrying in good holsters.

 

[tinygnat219]

Call the shop and ask when a good time would be to bring the fiirearms down for evaluation. Then, bring the guns in cased and obviously unloaded. If the guns have mags, unload them and put them in the case with the firearm.

This will help in several instances: the store is aware that someone is coming down at such and such a time with a bunch of cased firearms. Unloaded cased firearms are nice discrete way of showing the shop that you know what you are doing and the stress level will be down across the board, but the willingness to deal with you has gone up.

Just some thoughts. Good luck on the firearms.

 

[medalguy]

I've carried uncased firearms into shops several times and never drawn so much as a sideways glance. Maybe that's just where we're located.

If you're really that nervous about bringing a firearm into a shop you might want to consider moving.

 

[stumpers]

I always go in first to talk to the guy at the counter to see if he can help - either to fix something or to ask if he is interested in buying/trading the particular gun I have. Until recently in Wisconsin the only way to transport firearms in a vehicle was unloaded and cased, so that is how they go into the store.

 

[Sniderman]

Tinygnat nailed it,
When bringing in "Several" firearms, especially if they're to be worked on, Give the shop a call before coming and they'll be better prepared to give you the service you need.

 

[willypete]

1. Call ahead, or walk in ahead of time to let them know what you intend. Unless you know and are on good terms with the dealer already.

2. Casing the gun? I'll take it or leave it. I've brought "nekkid" guns into stores plenty of times. If some fool pulled a gun on me for that I'd leave immediately, call the cops, and put out the bad word on that shop among friends and club members.

Those of you who are saying case the gun... ever been to a gun show? Yeesh.

I can see casing to prevent damage to the firearm while transporting (especially with other guns potentially clacking around with it), or if the shop owner requests it, but that's about it.

3. Unload, unload, unload, unload, unload, unload, unload.

4., 5., 6. Unload.

 

[hermannr]

The person I deal with wants the bolt open (slide back and locked if a semi-auto pistol) if you are bringing it in to be looked at.

He does not care so much about cased, as a lot of people around here do not own a gun case, just a rifle or pistol that normally never leaves their property.

Very small place, 2 people. you may find it different in a larger shop.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Just a word of warning: don't leave the case with them. Depending on how meticulous they are you might never get it back.

Good advice. No matter how responsible a gunshop is, separating the case from the gun is common, and the owner not getting his case back later on is also common.