Maryland, VA, and PA. Gun Shops - Where and Why?

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Spot77

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Just curious about your favorite (or least favorite) gun shops in the MD, VA, PA, WV, and DE area.


Where are they, and what do you like about them?


Right now I'm partial to Christain Soldier Gun Shop on Harford Rd just a tad north of the Baltimore City line.

Rob Schaffer, the owner runs a first class shop (although small) with great service and fair prices. He took a lot of time with me when I was in the market for my first AR15.....even when his shop was really busy.

There's only 2.5 shops in my area that I dislike, but I'll defer for now and see where this thread goes.

So........
 
Hey dude!!! How's it hangin'??!! :)

I am almost totally PA oriented .. and also pretty much local .... if you take a 30 mile radius as local.

My most usual .... Laurel Sport Inc ... in Bedford. Works for me . I have put a lot of business their way but also ''used'' them like crazy!! More transfers than i can remeber and only $10 a pop. A younger member here had a less than perfect experience there . and really not quite sure why .... cos altho the two brothers are not up on all info ... they are never afraid to admit same or ask. Stock adequate tho not too many handguns but .. order stuff and the deal is well OK. Score - for me ..... 9/10

Then we have .. in Johnstown .. Hornicks Sports .. VERY good stock .. I have had two or three guns from them as well as accessories etc ... the boss shoots at one of my trap/skeet clubs ... does a fair deal and good to get on with. Score for me ...... 8/10

Juniata Trading ... Route 30 not far out of Breezewood .. incredible stock .. prices not the best but ..they do carry some less than usual stuff ... coupla guns from there... staff Ok but does not feel quite ''friendly''. My score, 6/10.

Alagheny Trading outa Duncansville PA .. pretty good stock . old style dealer . got my mak there ... good stock of bullets for reloading. Only one major visit but, would go back. Score so far 7/10.

That's about it ... as i said .. don't do much business further away tho some aquisitions over time thru GunBroker.com ..... all were OK.
 
In Va:

Virginia Arms has the best service and prices of any shop in NoVa, they just don't have the best selection. They'll order anything you want and are happy to handle your transfers for a mere $20.

Loudoun Guns in Leesburg has a great selection, with much of it out where you can fondle it easily. Service is good here as well, but prices tend to be a bit optimistic on new stuff. Used prices are generally good.

Green Top near Richmond has a great reloading section, very good selection of used stuff on two long racks out where you can handle them. New stuff seems to be a bit limited, but with the huge selection of used, I rarely bother looking at the new. Friendly people, but always crowded.

Bryansteens Gun and Archery in Roanoke has a good selection and good prices. If they were in NoVa, where I live, they would probably be my shop of choice.

My least favorite? Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly. No selection, poor prices, staff ranges from indifferent to surly. I stopped going there for nearly 3 years. I decided to try it again after finding out it was under new ownership. Well, the selection got worse, but the staff is a little better. Prices are the same for what little they have in stock.

Chris
 
I cant recommend any "real" shops in Maryland, but Calvert Firearms in North East, MD (he's a kitchen-table dealer, and, yes, thats the town's name) worked with me when I bought an FAL reciever last year. If I had the cash, I'd definitely call him again for my next purchase.

X-Ring Supply outside Newark, Delaware (on the opposite side of Newark from the state line, a quick drive so I thought I'd include it in the list) is the local drool-spot for all my gun buddies when we're together at UDel. There arent many "real" gunstores in North-Eastern MD, so MD residents will go shopping at X-Ring and then have their purchases shipped over to Calvert's to do the Maryland paperwork, if required.

Kharn
 
Bryansteens Gun and Archery in Roanoke has a good selection and good prices. If they were in NoVa, where I live, they would probably be my shop of choice.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I bought my first two guns from them.

ALso of note on the west side of VA is Sportsman's (Sportsmen's maybe?) Specialties in Harrisonburg, VA.

I lived in Lexington when I was up there, which put Bryansteen's an hour south and Sportsman's an hour north.

Each city also now has an indoor range, but I preferred the one in Harrisonburg. It was cleaner and less used. It was not uncommon on a Saturday afternoon for me to be the only shooter on the line.

-Teuf
 
In DE:

X-Ring in Newark and Millers in Newcastle are both good shops. I've been meaning to check out some of the stores in Wilmington and in "lower" Delaware, but I haven't done it yet.
 
Let's see I gotta couple from PA and MD.

Maryland:

Scott's on thelma ave. off of Rt3 is a great shop with great employees. Prices are fair (for maryland) but they don't always have a good selection of stuff to browse. They're good if you wanna order something in but harder on a browser like me.

A&D off of Rt3 has a nice big selection and somewhat decent prices. Only one real guy there that knows anything about guns but he's almost always there. Good place for browsing and finding what you want.

Pennsylvania:

Joe's off of 5th St. in Indiana is a nice little hole in the wall of a gunshop. Good prices and pretty friendly. Usually has a fair number of guns in stock but can order whatever you need.

Grice's in Clearfield has a nice big selection and is usually a stop on the pilgrimage for anyone in south western PA who needs a rifle or shotgun.
 
The only gun shop I've really been to is On Target in Linthicum, MD (I think). They have a 50 foot indoor range that my father and I used to go to all the time (but haven't had as much time for lately). All the people that work there are pretty cool. My dad has bought an S&W 910 and a Benelli SBE from them, both used, for reasonable prices.
Other than that, the only place that sells guns that I frequent is Outdoor World in Hanover (right down the street from On Target). My dad bought my Winchester SX2 and my Ruger M77 from there and all the guys at the gun counter there are pretty cool, but they don't all know what they're talking about. One guy (who claimed to have fired the gun) told me how the Tikka T3 only weighs 2 lbs and cost about $800-$900 :rolleyes: (I was looking at the Whitetail Hunter because they didn't have a T3 in stock and asked about the differences).
 
Another vote for Grice Gun Shop in Clearfield, PA. Big selection of rifles, shotguns, and handguns.

P95Carry mentioned Juniata Trading in Everett. Been there. Bought a gun. Nice folks, nice place.

Locally, I like Pioneer Gun Shop in Altoona, PA. They have good prices and a large selection for a smaller shop. Ditto Campbell's in Hollidaysburg. Real nice folks.
 
Spackler .. been meaning forever to check out Pioneer ..... but also like the sound of Campbells ... would you be so good as to PM me with some more detailed info .. addresses perhaps and i can mapQuest them. I had directions to Pioneer tucked away somewhere but damned if I can find 'em!

Hollidaysburg sounds well worth a look tho too ..... but surprised you ain't been into Duncansville yet!

Best
 
Targetmaster in Chaddsford, PA is big, but they are way overpriced, charge $50 for transferrs, the owner is an *******, most of the staff has bad attitudes. I've been kicked off their gun range due to me brewaking a law they think exists but really doesn't (18yo's and handguns). Seems you can't argue with the "experts". :rolleyes:

French Creek Outfitters in Pheonixville, PA is big, somewhat pricey, but at least the staff is nice. Their insurance policy sucks though. They at least acknoledged that it wasn't against the law for me to shoot there, but their insurance only allows people under 21 to shoot shotguns and rifles without a parent, not handguns. Their insurance also prevents then from teaching anything but NRA courses, so you won't be seeing any defensive courses there.

The Responsible Shooter in Marcus Hook, PA is a smaller shop with reasonable prices, and by far the most interesting owner, david difabio of ammolab.com. The guy knows more about guns and shooting and has more industry connections than you can imagine. He's also got one of those somewhat shadowy pasts in spec ops and various government agencies. THe guy has everyone teach at his facility, including ayoob, hackathorn, etc. Despite being such a cool guy, he is also a firm believer in the mythical federal law that bans 18yo's from owning handguns. I'll see what he thinks about the letter from the Attorney General i got on the matter next time i'm down there.

So, basically, i have no where to shoot.
 
Oh forgot to add Springfield Sporters in Nolo, PA they really don't have a shop anymore (yet). But they were/are a great place to pick up surplus. That and it's only about 7 miles from where I grew up.
 
Indiana, PA: Joe's

As mentioned earlier, it's a nice little hole-in-the-wall gunshop off 5th Street. I've bought a few things there, and the service has always been excellent. Small world, though, I thought I was the only one on this board who had ever been there! Friendly, helpful atttitude; they even called up one of their distributors to check on sights availability for me so I could place an order without delay.

But then, I doubt there's a /THIRD/ person here who's ever been to Indiana, PA. :)
 
"Surly to indifferent" is the best description of the staff at Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly that I have heard . . . but last time I was there the selection seemed to be better. I don't recommend their indoor range though. The atmosphere is deadlier than the ammunition(i.e. poor ventilation, at least when I was there).

In Maryland the Silver Spring Atlantic Guns has a good selection but prices are high.

And the Gilbert Guns in Rockville is a Class III dealer. Their selection varies widely. Sometimes good, sometimes limited. I've gotten some good deals from them though.

If you're near NE Maryland check out the outdoor range at Elk Neck.
 
N. VA shops/ranges

I second the nod to VA Arms in Manasas - easily the best in NoVa in terms of service and prices.

Blue Ridge Arsenal, as stated above, sucks, and the range is a safety hazard (badly managed/controlled).

Gilbert's Guns of the World in Woodbridge has a pretty good selection, but prices are retail, didn't seem too interested in haggling last time I was in.

Shooters Paradise , also in Woodbridge, has a fair selection and a nice, well run range, staff is helpfull, prices seemed a bit high, but I gather there's some room for negotiation. Limited selection of used stuff, but what was there was in good shape.

Galyans in Fair Oaks has an OK selection, will order stuff they don't have in stock. Prices are good (on par or a little better than VA Arms), staff is friendly and generally knowledgeable. Probably more oriented to hunting than CCW/SD. Had some nice cowboy 6-guns. Downside is it's in Fairfax co (3 day wait)

Anadale Small Arms Range is a little 50', 7 lane range in the basement of a Korean restraunt. It's the oldest range in N. VA, inside the beltway. they do rent guns and do CCW classes. Owners/mgmt changed about 18 months ago and they've cleaned it up a lot. Staff is OK, tho a little brusk until you get acquainted. Range rates, ammo is competitive for the area.

NRA Range in Fairfax is a very nice, indoor 50 yarder, and you can shoot most anything short of .50BMG there. Staff is professional and courteous, and they have a great museum in the main bldg for before or after shooting.

Potomac Arms in Alexandria has a good selection, lots of used guns, sorta OK prices (they will negotiate some). Staff ranges from friendly & competant, to aloof, with the odd gunshop commando. They also have a fair amount of militaria on the first floor.

National pawn in Arlingotn has limited selection of new, but lots of used guns, Prices seemed OK, but I'd do my homework before I went shopping for used stuff anywhere. They'll haggle some, I got an all nickle Sig 226with 2 factory hi-caps in what appeared to be unfired condition for $550 there a couple summers ago. Worth a look. (no 3 day wait)

That's all I know fer now. HTH
 
I look around at a lot of shops in my area, I mostly buy from Gun Craft, in Folsom, PA.

The only other place I've been buying from is a place David Markowitz suggested called Surplus City. I forget which town it is in?

I use to go to Donn's Gun shop off of 309, but Its a bit out of the way.
 
Not really a shop, but my favorite dealer in Maryland: Gideon Gun Sales in Bel Air. He's another "kitchen table" dealer and I've lost count of how many transfers he's done for me. A great guy to talk to and fantastic to deal with. I've used him mostly for transfers, but if something's available he can get it for you - bought a couple of new guns that way as well. You can't beat his prices.

Go to his website for his e-mail address... the rest is easy:

http://www.gideongunsales.com/

Tell Vincent that Dale sent ya.
 
SHYDA's - Lebanon, PA

It's a bit out of the way for me--------so I only go when I know I will buy something (Hmmmmmmmmmm...reminds me I need to go soon)

Great long-gun shotgun selection---hell handgun too-------------lots of good look-see feel touch to get familiar across many brands.
VERY fair pricing and , though I don't yet reload, looks like a reloaders heaven from the amount of isles I see full 'o the stuff!!
 
Thought I'd add my $ .02 on gunshops in Northern Virginia. I concur that Virginia Arms, in Manassas, is at the top of the heap as far as service, pricing, etc. Gilberts Small Arms Range, in Lorton, is also a superior establishment. Blue Ridge is OK. Loudon Guns is also OK. I avoid Dawson's,
in Woodbridge. They have the highest prices in the area. There is a new shop in Manassas called Guns and Ammo Warehouse. They are near the airport. Friendly and good selection. They've been open about 4 months.
I still like Clark Brothers in Warrenton, too.

Regards to all,
DRC
 
One of the disadvantages to living with a Federal Firearms dealer is that I don't have many occasions to visit the local gun shops. Most of my guns get purchased off the 'net, but when I go to a dealer I usually make the trek down to Quantico Arms. They're a small shop, but they have a pretty good selection of stuff related to fighting guns; not much in the way of sport or hunting gear. Excellent service, and pretty good prices.

- Chris
 
www.greentophuntfish.com on Route 1 north of Richmond.

mtnbkr - A lot of the guns on the floor racks are new, they're just representative floor samples. Most of the inventory is in the warehouse out back(same with the fishing rods on the other side of the store.) The inventory is accessible on the registers and they can tell you exactly what they have on hand and how many there are of each.

For instance, one day while I was taking my time looking at a Cooper Classic .17HMR from the wall rack behind the counter the salesman punched up the inventory and said there were 3 more just like it in the back if I didn't like the one I was memorizing.

It was more fun in the old days. It was like the clerk in a shoe store saying "Well, let me walk in the back and see what we have" and then disappearing for ten minutes to go root around looking for some obscure model. I guess it's a lot easier now on the guys working there though.

John
 
I like dealing with the Christian Soldier as well. Rob seems to be good guy and does spend time with me. I need to stop in there. Have'nt been in for a while. (Wish the store was larger)
 
After you check out Greentops in Va, hop on down to DeGoffs in Mechanicsville. Not a very large shop, but they sometimes have some very nice surprises in there.
Further south we have Dance's Sporting Goods in Col. Heights, just off I-95.
 
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