St. Louis Gun Shops
- Thread starter David Scott
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maroast
Member
Otto Matyska of ottocomp in Afton is who I've been sending my stuff to. Hes a real nice guy who does great work quickly for a reasonable price. It's not a retail store...more of a smoke filled bunker....He builds custom guns too. I recomend him (google his name too, many other satisfied people).
Dr.Mall Ninja
Member
Went to the gunshow, Nassau and Mikes gun's yesterday.
Nassua's salesmen was horrible and didn't want to answer any questions or seem to care if we bought from them
Mike's shop was great and my friend went home with a XD45
Nassua's salesmen was horrible and didn't want to answer any questions or seem to care if we bought from them
Mike's shop was great and my friend went home with a XD45
smykowski
Member
Figure I'll add my experiences, even though I'm new.
On-Target - someone said the attitude is a bit "cliquey" I would agree...seemed to have the attitude of buy something or leave..unless we know you, and their prices seemed to be high. A tad uncomfortable if you ask me.
I've used their indoor range once...didn't seem too bad, range wasn't regulated in the least though. i had 2 morons a few stalls down shooting like they were in a buddy's backyard.
On a good note, you can rent stuff to try out if you're curious about shooting a certain type or brand of firearm. Price was a little steep at $18/hour. If you're out in that direction...go to Jay Henges (5-10 mins away) at Antire Rd and 44...$3/hr, it's a more controlled environment and a nice facility. Even if it is outdoors.
Nassau - sold my S&W 9mm and bought a Taurus .40....aside from the older gentleman who was helping me break wind whilst I was filling out my background form...no complaints.
New Melle - the actual name escapes me...bought an M1 Carbine from there a few years ago....not a terrible place, price was a little higher than expected.
Tim
On-Target - someone said the attitude is a bit "cliquey" I would agree...seemed to have the attitude of buy something or leave..unless we know you, and their prices seemed to be high. A tad uncomfortable if you ask me.
I've used their indoor range once...didn't seem too bad, range wasn't regulated in the least though. i had 2 morons a few stalls down shooting like they were in a buddy's backyard.
On a good note, you can rent stuff to try out if you're curious about shooting a certain type or brand of firearm. Price was a little steep at $18/hour. If you're out in that direction...go to Jay Henges (5-10 mins away) at Antire Rd and 44...$3/hr, it's a more controlled environment and a nice facility. Even if it is outdoors.Nassau - sold my S&W 9mm and bought a Taurus .40....aside from the older gentleman who was helping me break wind whilst I was filling out my background form...no complaints.
New Melle - the actual name escapes me...bought an M1 Carbine from there a few years ago....not a terrible place, price was a little higher than expected.
Tim
I'm glad this thread is here.
Im on the east side in the Republic of Illinois.
Cabellas... an hour away
Belleville ....45 mins or so
Is there really nothing at all south of springfield il ?
Plenty of FFL's listed , but no shops.
Even if I do find something to my liking, its another hour long trek to pick it up after the waiting period ...
Im on the east side in the Republic of Illinois.
Cabellas... an hour away
Belleville ....45 mins or so
Is there really nothing at all south of springfield il ?
Plenty of FFL's listed , but no shops.
Even if I do find something to my liking, its another hour long trek to pick it up after the waiting period ...
Ahh, my mistake. Its an easy on to make sometimes. 8 )
ErikO
Member
http://www.gunauction.com/help/fflnetwork.cfm should help you find an FFL to accept your purchase. Obviously, contact them well in advance of any deals and verify that they are willing to work with you.
Yeah the PDRI has finally lost its grip on me. Took seven years in MO to finally embrace my inner shooter.
Yeah the PDRI has finally lost its grip on me. Took seven years in MO to finally embrace my inner shooter.
writerinmo
Member
I need to find a gunsmith that can install a Mosin barrel, quite frankly I'd like to do it myself but the action tool has been sitting on the workbench for a month and I have yet to finish the machining on it, and no idea when I will have the time to do so.
geerlingguy
Member
Just went with my dad to Ultimate Defense in St. Peters, and it was packed! We got there around 3 p.m. Sunday, and there was very little room in the shop. They have nice printed membership cards, and they have a decent selection of handguns (and a few rifles) for rental ($10/hr). The range is a little expensive at $20/hr, but it's a nice range, very open feel, well ventilated.
The staff seems very professional, and the guys monitoring the range are on their game. They offered some poignant advice to people who were holding guns incorrectly or were simply nervous/first time shooters.
They also had at least one class going on while we were there, meaning we had to wait longer since the pistol range lanes weren't available.
On the whole, I was impressed. While I was up in St. Charles, which is about 45 minutes from where I live (so I don't get there often), I visited Bass Pro Shops, but found their prices to be a bit higher than those at the range. Definitely wouldn't want to buy a handgun there.
I rented the Ruger SR9c, and loved it (I want a carry gun that's also fun/easy to shoot at the range, and doesn't damage my hand like the LCP/equivalent). Hopefully will pick one up soon.
The staff seems very professional, and the guys monitoring the range are on their game. They offered some poignant advice to people who were holding guns incorrectly or were simply nervous/first time shooters.
They also had at least one class going on while we were there, meaning we had to wait longer since the pistol range lanes weren't available.
On the whole, I was impressed. While I was up in St. Charles, which is about 45 minutes from where I live (so I don't get there often), I visited Bass Pro Shops, but found their prices to be a bit higher than those at the range. Definitely wouldn't want to buy a handgun there.
I rented the Ruger SR9c, and loved it (I want a carry gun that's also fun/easy to shoot at the range, and doesn't damage my hand like the LCP/equivalent). Hopefully will pick one up soon.
pearsonm
Member
I'm currently still in Springfield, Bass Pro's hometown. They have decent prices on clothing but not revolvers or ammunition.
geerlingguy
Member
I visited Mid America Arms to purchase my first handgun (SR9c), after having tried it at Ultimate Defense. Their ammo and guns are all pretty reasonably-priced, and I'll definitely head back there in the future (pretty convenient location for me).
I stripped and cleaned the SR9c with some Hoppes #9 and a $20 cleaning kit, then used some RemOil to lube the necessary parts last night, and I took it with a friend to Ultimate Defense today. The range was still pretty crowded around lunchtime, but there was no wait like there was last Sunday!
I really like the feel of this handgun, and can't wait to put a punch out a bunch more targets! I did learn, though, that TulAmmo is cheap for a reason—bright sparks were flying out of the end of my gun with some of the rounds! I'll be sticking to white-box Federal or Winchester FMJ for the range...
I stripped and cleaned the SR9c with some Hoppes #9 and a $20 cleaning kit, then used some RemOil to lube the necessary parts last night, and I took it with a friend to Ultimate Defense today. The range was still pretty crowded around lunchtime, but there was no wait like there was last Sunday!
I really like the feel of this handgun, and can't wait to put a punch out a bunch more targets! I did learn, though, that TulAmmo is cheap for a reason—bright sparks were flying out of the end of my gun with some of the rounds! I'll be sticking to white-box Federal or Winchester FMJ for the range...
geerlingguy
Member
Just wanted to post a link here to a page on my website that I'll be updating as I go to more shops/ranges in St. Louis with my own experiences. I hope to also take some pictures so it can be a good reference for someone coming into the St. Louis area or just getting into shooting (like I am).
http://www.lifeisaprayer.com/2012/gun-shops-and-ranges-st-louis
This thread's been extremely helpful to me as a new shooter, and I'm glad it's never gone away
http://www.lifeisaprayer.com/2012/gun-shops-and-ranges-st-louis
This thread's been extremely helpful to me as a new shooter, and I'm glad it's never gone away
writerinmo
Member
I searched high and low for a Ruger P95 in blue and a Phoenix Arms HP22A in all black, no one had the Phoenix and the only place I found the P95 was Cabela's up in Hazelwood, on sale for $319. Emailed JW at JW Firearms in Barnhart, he replied back that he had both in stock, $319 for the P95, $149 for the Phoenix. The wife and I made a stop in there a few hours later and the two gals working there were knowledgeable and took care of the sale quickly, although one did get the wife to browsing the .38 Special revolvers!
smykowski
Member
I can add a few more shop experiences in the area.
Nick's Gun and Pawn (Washington, MO), had a TON of inventory for a small shop, met Nick the owner, great guy, very willing to help you find what you're looking for if they don't have it. Very good prices. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from there.
Pacific Guns (Pacific, MO), little stand-offish at first, but once they get a feeling for you they're good guys. Met the owner Nick (ironically the same name), great guy to work with, he's willing to negotiate a little on price, told him I found a better deal at the shop in Washington, he dropped his price to match. Would also buy from there again.
Stone Ledge Gun and Pawn (Washington, MO) - had a good amount of inventory, seemed disorganized and dirty, I was in the shop for at least 30 mins, no one ever acknowledged I was even there, so I left.
Denny Dennis (Fenton, MO), good selection, prices seemed a bit high, decent staff though.
Definitely going to the NRA Convention this year!
Nick's Gun and Pawn (Washington, MO), had a TON of inventory for a small shop, met Nick the owner, great guy, very willing to help you find what you're looking for if they don't have it. Very good prices. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from there.
Pacific Guns (Pacific, MO), little stand-offish at first, but once they get a feeling for you they're good guys. Met the owner Nick (ironically the same name), great guy to work with, he's willing to negotiate a little on price, told him I found a better deal at the shop in Washington, he dropped his price to match. Would also buy from there again.
Stone Ledge Gun and Pawn (Washington, MO) - had a good amount of inventory, seemed disorganized and dirty, I was in the shop for at least 30 mins, no one ever acknowledged I was even there, so I left.
Denny Dennis (Fenton, MO), good selection, prices seemed a bit high, decent staff though.
Definitely going to the NRA Convention this year!
The Metro Shooting Supplies in Bridgeton is now open, it has been for a couple of months, but the sign on their door last winter had an anticipated opening date of July or August.
It's on St. Charles Rock Road, about 1/2 - 3/4 mile west of the intersection of St. Charles Rock Road and Lindbergh Blvd, right between the Walgreens and QT Convenience Store.
Very good selection of guns, friendly staff, and an indoor shooting range I'll be trying out this weekend.
It's on St. Charles Rock Road, about 1/2 - 3/4 mile west of the intersection of St. Charles Rock Road and Lindbergh Blvd, right between the Walgreens and QT Convenience Store.
Very good selection of guns, friendly staff, and an indoor shooting range I'll be trying out this weekend.
dyna962007
member
I'm in the Edwardsville IL area and am fortunate enough to have a small town family oriented indoor and outdoor range near me in Highland IL.
Will have to remember the exact name but its something like Highland rifle club. Cheap to shoot and yearly membership of 136 bucks and can shoot anytime. and kids are free under 18.
I used to go to the range from time to time when I was a cop in Illinois for various training and certifications.
I also shoot at times in Belleville Il at the Cop Shop.
There was a guy years ago who used to do all my trigger work and tuning in Florissant named Jimmy VanCoutren. He was an x-armorer for the FBI and did fabulous work but I've lost track of him since then.
Mike
Will have to remember the exact name but its something like Highland rifle club. Cheap to shoot and yearly membership of 136 bucks and can shoot anytime. and kids are free under 18.
I used to go to the range from time to time when I was a cop in Illinois for various training and certifications.
I also shoot at times in Belleville Il at the Cop Shop.
There was a guy years ago who used to do all my trigger work and tuning in Florissant named Jimmy VanCoutren. He was an x-armorer for the FBI and did fabulous work but I've lost track of him since then.
Mike
Navy Diver
Member
Been to the new Metro in Bridgeton a couple times and am not impressed. My first time in I was ignored for 15 minutes while the guy behind the counter was BS'ing with his buddy. Their prices are not real competitive and they nickel and dime you at the range - you can't even bring in your own targets, you have to buy theirs. Even with a range membership, you have to pay (although at a reduced rate) for range time. I'll stick with Ultimate Defense in St Peters!
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