One reason I hate going to the gun shop

[Picher]

Before we were married, I bought my girlfriend a Ruger Bearcat, for fun shooting. The grip was too small for me, so I had a hard time shooting it straight, but my wife really took to it and proved to be an excellent shot with that little revolver. She could hit 10 ounce soda cans about every shot at 20 yards or so, so I gave it to her. She kept it in her hairdressing station at the one-person beauty shop in Winslow, ME. There was a barber shop in the other portion of the little building, so lots of guys around and she got scared, especially when it got dark early in the colder months, because she worked late. The little Bearcat proved to be quite calming for her. She never had to pull it out, but opened the cupboard door a few times and had her hand on it a couple of times too.

 

[BushMaster-15]

I like the cowboy with the fast draw rig! He was All-In! story would have been better if he showed up with a Colt 1860 Cap&Ball… would you still have trained him?

YES
I've never read where any pistol was not acceptable for training including getting a CCW permit . Regarding a Palm pistol ,I'd insure the barrel protruded at least 1.2" past a students fingers !. I remember smoking mine as I have large hands !.

A close Friend who owned a LGS way way back ,collected Palm pistols must of had near #200 of them ,also collected Flintlocks had a very nice collection of those as well . He let Me fire and older Chicago Firearms Protector Model Palm in .32 Rim aka 8mm as they were originally French . Heck ammo back then was SCARCE and it was # 50+ years ago .
As one might suspect NO recoil but hot damn BURN your fingers ,from the muzzle powder burning or muzzle flash . A few different barrel lengths and calibers were available . All were RF as far as I was led to believe ?. I'm NO expert on them ,it was just amusing remembering # 40-60 setting in a large punch bowl or candy dish at his house on their coffee table on display

 

[BushMaster-15]

Ok now I understand a little better. That honestly sounds completely reasonable for as far as requirements go. In my state the one and only permit has requirements that sound more similar to the enhanced in yours but not as logical. Here it involves classroom time for X number of hours in which you mainly learn legal stuff followed by range time in which you must demonstrate the ability to put X number of rounds on a target of a certain size at three different distances. I have friends and relatives who have gotten the permit I just never have because we dont have hardly any crime around here so I don't carry most of the time but direction stuff is headed in I'm gonna gety permit soon

Understood ; It's the same basic NRA course more than likely we teach here . 3 Yd. 7 Yd and 10 Yd. . We instructors must place ALL shots inside 4" @ 15 Yd. save for 1 miss is an allowable score . ONLY factory ammo is allowed . Now to be certified Instructor plus additional classes complete with tests and show proficiency along with knowledge of said firearm within that discipline . Pistol ,Rifle ,Shotgun ,Hi Power including AR's CCW ,advanced Personal protection and reloading . It's nickname is an NRA Master Instructor ,as I'm qualified by way of NRA Whittington Center ,NM., as that is where I did MY final qualification in 2019 . So I by qualification and completion can instruct and certify a fellow instructor regarding any of the above disciplines .

Regarding carrying ,that's every individuals decision whether they do or don't but please remember , IT'S NOT ABOUT CRIME BUT PREVENTION . I carry to protect others as well as Myself ,perhaps it's a Ranger thing ?.

I didn't make this up as it's been around for decades but I love the analogy of the saying .

Guns are like parachutes: If you don't have a weapon when you need it, then chances are that you won't ever be in need of one again .

 

[Meeks36]

A local pawn shop I visit has a hole in the counter from a state trooper. Luckily it was low and didn’t hit anyone. They said we are leaving the hole as a reminder. Still visit from time to time decent prices and friendly folks. Good deals on tools as well.

 

[AzShooter1]

I've had a few gun shop salesman point a gun at me or at another customer after taking a gun off the wall without checking to see if it was loaded. One time I saw the salesman take a gun, check it and it had a live round in the chamber.

He said "How did that happen" and called over the other salesman and gave him a lesson on checking guns before and after the customer handles them.

I was a Range Officer at one of the largest ranges in the states. You wouldn't believe how many people would point loaded guns at others. When I'd see it happen I'd nicely ask them to leave for the day. It was the ranges policy.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I've had a few gun shop salesman point a gun at me or at another customer after taking a gun off the wall without checking to see if it was loaded. One time I saw the salesman take a gun, check it and it had a live round in the chamber.

He said "How did that happen" and called over the other salesman and gave him a lesson on checking guns before and after the customer handles them.

I was a Range Officer at one of the largest ranges in the states. You wouldn't believe how many people would point loaded guns at others. When I'd see it happen I'd nicely ask them to leave for the day. It was the ranges policy.

that loaded gun in a gun shop display, scares me!

When I take new shooter out to the range or deer lease shooting, or trap field. My tone completely changes. I’m loud and very serious

 

[DustyGmt]

I was in a gun shop Friday when the guy next to me started arguing with the clerk about how he wasn't subject to state and federal laws and wanted to buy a gun without doing any paperwork.

Ah, must have been one of those with special criminal status. I've been considering acquiring criminal classification to get out from under all these pesky lil laws and regulations....


I hope my sarcasm is obvious and I'm not actually considering becoming a criminal....

 

[Picher]

My favorite gun shop, which sadly for me, moved 3 hours north, would occasionally have to discharge a gun (they had a gunsmith shop in the back). They would first warn everyone in the shop that there was going to be a gunshot in the back so we would not be spooked when it happened. I was there once for that event.

GS I now frequent has rifles in stands on the floor. Anyone can pick one up and play with it. Not a good idea and I think I should tell the owner it would be better to put them behind the counter so they are more controlled as anyone could drop a round in one of those guns and fire it, or some twisted jerk could drop a round in one and then leave it for some unwary customer to find the hard way.

Fortunately, the folks I've met in Maine gun shops are well-mannered with guns. If someone strays, they're quickly straightened-out, but I haven't seen scary actions in gun shops for many years. Whenever I've asked to see a gun in an inaccessible rack, the clerk always opens the action and hands it to me like that. If there's a rifle or shotgun on a floor rack that I want to look at, I always ask before lifting it and the first thing I do is open the action with the gun pointing in a safe direction...(like about anyone reading this).

 

[stonebuster]

I worked at a LGS that had a shooting range. There were bullet marks on the floor just ahead of the shooting bench, along both walls. Holes in the ceiling. There was one wooden divider between the lanes that had a hole through it

I was working behind the counter. Guy comes in from the range with a loaded pistol that had a round jammed in the chamber. He points the pistol directly at my chest while pulling on the slide, finger on the trigger

There is a public range in Kingsbury IN that has a concrete roof. It drops low enough so that rounds cannot go over the berm. Big sign says “anyone hitting the ceiling gets a $50 fine.” Lots of chips out of the ceiling

Intelligence is in short supply but stupidity is endless

Sounds like the public range where I go and why I've got a weekday membership when I usually have the place to myself. The holes in the ceiling, benches and marks on walls are scary.

 

[DMW1116]

Range I frequent most often has signs that flip down over the rifle stations when people go down range. More than one sign has a bullet hole in it. I've not seen much trouble in gun stores or the range, even when someone is denied their purchase for whatever reason. Many times, it's because they can't fill out a 4473.

 

[BushMaster-15]

Reading many of the posts ,simply confirms the #1 Rule of handling any gun ; EVERY GUN IS LOADED , until YOU verify it's NOT .

There can be NO exception to Rule #1 EVER .

 

[Condorcet]

I kidda want to check this shop out! check out all the holes

Don't tell me this is a gunshop in the Atlanta, Georgia area. I won't name the specific suburb, but I was able to buy a pristine Lee-Enfield rifle there for Five dollars - Yes, an entire 5 dollars!

I entered the store about 10 seconds after the store owner had shot a hole in the ceiling. He was sitting behind the counter on a stool holding the rifle with the butt on his thigh, muzzle towards the ceiling. I was wondering why it was snowing on him for a second, then realized it was bits of acoustical ceiling tile floating down.

He (with a very pale face, I noticed) called out in a shaky voice "Do you want to buy a rifle for cheap? It's a good rifle, but it has a hair trigger."

Told him I was window shopping only, didn't have much money on me, just 5 dollars.

He yelled "Sold! I want it out of here!"

Went to the counter, looked it over while he babbled on about how he had just gun-smithed it to "smooth the trigger" and had brought it out to function test before putting it up for sale. "I won't have unsafe gun in my shop," he said.

The smoothing the trigger part told me he'd screwed up the sear. Knowing that GunParts Corp. had replacement 2 dollar sears, I figured why not? Filled out the federal form and handed him the 5 dollars while he told me I must only use it as a wall hanger.

It was one of the Australian war reserve Lee Enfields that were being imported at the time. Absolutely perfect looking. Worked fine after getting a new "un gunsmithed" sear.

 

[Condorcet]

You'd best remain the obedient husband...

During my time as a prison administrator at the State Women's prison, had the time to read through the sentencing reports on all the murderesses.

Result - my dad was right when he told me "Never date a woman with a .357."

 

[aaaaa]

Went to the counter, looked it over while he babbled on about how he had just gun-smithed it to "smooth the trigger" and had brought it out to function test before putting it up for sale. "I won't have unsafe gun in my shop," he said.

Won't have it in his shop, but more than happy to give it away. He must be rather careless to assume such liability. I would think if one sells a gun like that for a giveaway price and the buyer had a ND that causes a lawsuit, a good defense lawyer might try to peg liability on the gun shop. It really sounds like this guy has no qualifications for running a gun shop.

 

[Condorcet]

Won't have it in his shop, but more than happy to give it away. He must be rather careless to assume such liability. I would think if one sells a gun like that for a giveaway price and the buyer had a ND that causes a lawsuit, a good defense lawyer might try to peg liability on the gun shop. It really sounds like this guy has no qualifications for running a gun shop.

In fairness to him, he did clearly tell me over and over again the rifle was unsafe and only sold as a decorative item.

Don't think he'd have offered it for that price if he hadn't just scared himself to death and I happened to arrive on the scene. At first I felt I'd be stealing to buy the rifle at that price. After a few moments of reflection, I realized I'd be saving him and potentially someone else some surprise grief.

 

[aaaaa]

In fairness to him, he did clearly tell me over and over again the rifle was unsafe and only sold as a decorative item.

Don't think he'd have offered it for that price if he hadn't just scared himself to death and I happened to arrive on the scene. At first I felt I'd be stealing to buy the rifle at that price. After a few moments of reflection, I realized I'd be saving him and potentially someone else some surprise grief.

Good for him that he sold/gave it to the right person.

 

[hutch51]

Women are good shots! My wife after 10 years of not shooting (military training) was hitting soda caps from 15 yards!

Shooting range with friend and his wife, they're in the next booth. She tries the Sig P238, does about a 3 or 4 inch group at 7 yards. I stuck my head around and asked "Who did that?" "She Did."
Yeah, women shoot better. She was also an Oklahoma Farm Girl. I think that helped

 

[Appalachiannative]

Don't tell me this is a gunshop in the Atlanta, Georgia area. I won't name the specific suburb, but I was able to buy a pristine Lee-Enfield rifle there for Five dollars - Yes, an entire 5 dollars!

I entered the store about 10 seconds after the store owner had shot a hole in the ceiling. He was sitting behind the counter on a stool holding the rifle with the butt on his thigh, muzzle towards the ceiling. I was wondering why it was snowing on him for a second, then realized it was bits of acoustical ceiling tile floating down.

He (with a very pale face, I noticed) called out in a shaky voice "Do you want to buy a rifle for cheap? It's a good rifle, but it has a hair trigger."

Told him I was window shopping only, didn't have much money on me, just 5 dollars.

He yelled "Sold! I want it out of here!"

Went to the counter, looked it over while he babbled on about how he had just gun-smithed it to "smooth the trigger" and had brought it out to function test before putting it up for sale. "I won't have unsafe gun in my shop," he said.

The smoothing the trigger part told me he'd screwed up the sear. Knowing that GunParts Corp. had replacement 2 dollar sears, I figured why not? Filled out the federal form and handed him the 5 dollars while he told me I must only use it as a wall hanger.

It was one of the Australian war reserve Lee Enfields that were being imported at the time. Absolutely perfect looking. Worked fine after getting a new "un gunsmithed" sear.

Man that sounds exactly like something the crazy ol man at the place around here would be up too but nope this place is in NC. I bet they got at least one of those guys in all 50 states plus Guam and Puerto Rico. Just like there is always that restaurant in town that you don't know how it stays open. That is one incredibly totally awesome super duper sweet deal on that rifle though wish I could get so lucky.

 

[Condorcet]

Man that sounds exactly like something the crazy ol man at the place around here would be up too but nope this place is in NC. I bet they got at least one of those guys in all 50 states plus Guam and Puerto Rico. Just like there is always that restaurant in town that you don't know how it stays open. That is one incredibly totally awesome super duper sweet deal on that rifle though wish I could get so lucky.

Now you've given all of us nightmares, imagining there's a gunshop like that in *all* of our own states!

Wish I hadn't posted anything about my experience when I lived in Atlanta. Now I've got PTSD wondering what would have happened if he'd shot through the front door instead of the ceiling.

Good deals and fortuitous events happen to the young and pure of heart. Sorry, fellow olds - our old age and treachery disqualifies us now from any blessings.

 

[KevininPa]

Cabela's in Hamburg PA has a hole in the roof where a guy was trying Holsters to find one that fit with his loaded gun.

The fact jellyfish have survived millions of years without a brain gives hope to many people.

We have way too many "entitled " immigrants from progressive states coming in and ignoring common sense. There's a sporting goods shop in Blakeslee that used to have the friendliest service back in the day. With folk from more east taking advantage of our lower real estate values and taxes, that area got invaded. Those people in that old shop come across as angry and hostile now.

 

[Mark_Mark]

We have way too many "entitled " immigrants from progressive states coming in and ignoring common sense. There's a sporting goods shop in Blakeslee that used to have the friendliest service back in the day. With folk from more east taking advantage of our lower real estate values and taxes, that area got invaded. Those people in that old shop come across as angry and hostile now.

Gentrification is a real thing, but also remember, we live in a free country and are able to move & live were we want to regardless of the what the local natives think. I feel like people of all walks of life in a gun shop is a good thing, means we are winning!

 

[Appalachiannative]

Now you've given all of us nightmares, imagining there's a gunshop like that in *all* of our own states!

Wish I hadn't posted anything about my experience when I lived in Atlanta. Now I've got PTSD wondering what would have happened if he'd shot through the front door instead of the ceiling.

Good deals and fortuitous events happen to the young and pure of heart. Sorry, fellow olds - our old age and treachery disqualifies us now from any blessings.

I'm sorry if I sounded too harsh most ol timers I know are much safer with firearms than guys my age however like I said I ain't going in that place

 

[Rock185]

I wasn't there fortunately, but LGS owner told me of an incident that had occurred days earlier. Armed posse guy with the local sheriff's dept. was in the shop looking at a pistol. He then whipped out his own pistol, of a different type, to demonstrate why his gun was superior to the shop's offering. This individual fired a round down the length of the counter, though the owner's office, out the back of the shop, through the wall of the apartment to the rear, coming to rest just short of a person there. Glad I was not there for that one....