More Houston stores
OK,
1st, Class III Arms is a small place with a sampling of Rock River AR’s. I did not remember seeing over 6 guns in the entire store. They are more of a manufacturer and supplier than a gun retailer. If you want a RR AR with something special they would probably fit the bill.
2nd, Republic Arms is a good store for some specialty items. Art, the owner, is probably the best resource in Houston for suppressors and machine guns. He makes his money as a Class III dealer and a nice guy with a good idea on how to get what you want in those areas. The shop does have some handguns, a few rifles and a good ammo selection. You see him at the bigger local gun shows. He also does transfers, so if you find something on GunBroker, he will receive and process the paperwork for a fee.
3rd, Ammo Dump is a dump. Potato Judge said it correctly, +1 on overpriced and +1 on junky. Bad (or good, depending on how you look at it) news is that he is going out of business in the next week or week after. He seems to have lost his ability to renew his dealer license due to a paperwork issue. I think he made his money selling overpriced ammo to cops and other LE who did not shop around. He used to deal in Class III, but was pricey. Only thing he had in stock two weeks ago was a .380 MAC full auto for about 6K (about $2,500 over current market). Inventory is a mixed bag of assault weapons and police carry type pistols. He does have a pile of parts, and promises that prices will drop to clear out inventory prior to closing. I will check in next week for any deals, not expecting too many.
4th, SOG Armory is a good gun show retailer. I have never been to their store front location. They specialize in the stuff on their website (duh) and carry good quality stuff for the black rifles. I have purchased from them accessories that are currently serving in Iraq with a family member (1Lt, Infantry (Airborne)), and he is not disappointed.
Others worth mentioning:
Sportsman Outlet in Humble. You may find references to this once good store, but it burned down a couple of months ago. I understand that Gary, the owner, did not have proper insurance coverage and lost his butt financially in the tragedy. Unfortunately they probably will not be rebuilding due to the money thing.
East Tex Gun Range on HWY 59 between the loop and the belt is a small range serving the local population. A few handguns and an indoor range, nothing real exciting.
There is a surplus store an exit or two from there (the one with the airplane on the roof and the jeep stuck to a pole out front) that has guns, mostly low dollar stuff and magazines. A lot of AK type gear and parts. Plus they have true military surplus. Not a bad place to stop and walk through, plus it doubles as a pawn shop.
Pasadena has the Pasadena Gun Range off HWY 225. Not as good as it was 20 years ago, but deals in lower priced stuff. Serves the market it is in, with a place to shoot and may still rent machine guns.
Don’t forget about Bass Pro Shops in Katy, there is a new one opening at the intersection of 288 and Beltway 8 in a few months.
American Shooting Center out on Westheimer past HWY 6 has a good selection of long guns. They are proud of them, but a good selection of higher quality shotguns.
There is a range out in Conroe that is supposed to have a good selection of stuff in their store, but I haven’t ventured out there in years. Maybe someone else can tell us about them.
Bailey’s is out off Almeda Road south of the Beltway. Good rifle and pistol range (I forget if they still have scattergun ranges) and a good shop with it. Mostly hunting type of stuff in there, gets real busy before deer season opens. Don’t remember too many assault rifles or their accessories.
If you want to look at the upper end of hunting rifles and shotguns, check out Briley’s on Lumpkin, at 610 and the Beltway (town and country area). They have a gun shop to go with their gunsmithing business. They also have a small assortment of target pistols, for the action shooter type. Friendly folks in there who are proud of their work and products (read “expensive”).
Clear Creek Gun Range on FM 1266 in Friendswood. Not impressed, but may be worth a look if you are traveling south. At least it is close to the freeway. Small selection, high prices and had a hard time finding it open.
Now if you are in Seabrook, you might want to stop at Marburgers on the east side of 146. They are about the only hunting store in the area (except Wal-Mart) and serve both gun guys and fishermen. Don’t expect to find a deal in there; almost everything is new in the box stuff.
There is also Top Gun off Beverly Hills in the Galleria area. New owners don’t seem as….. how to say this politically correct………..ummmm……minority unfriendly as the past ones. I never experienced anything, but a buddy of mine, who is of Asian heritage, did. Nice indoor range, with a good selection of pistols and a few rifles and home defense type guns. I qualified for my first CHL there, and haven’t been back to shoot (too far to drive), but have visited to look around. One of the better civilian orientated places for gun leather and holsters.
Not open yet, but the gun departments at the two Orvis stores are scheduled to open this month. You can expect to find a concentration on medium end Beretta shotguns, Orvis labeled Beretta shotguns, and maybe a rifle or two. Custom gun fitting will be available if you want something special. The shops in the Orvis stores will be independently operated by Beretta employees. (Funny story, the Beretta sales manager I met told me that they will be carrying a Sako in .400 Win. Mag. WOW, I hope so, considering that I can’t find anything on the internet about a .400 Win Mag, and Winchester doesn’t have anything about it on their web site. I really hope he in not as full of S#$T as I think he is, and they will really have one.) It is reported that they will not have any handguns or ammo available for purchase. The smaller store is on Westheimer, west of the Galleria, and the larger store is out in the Woodlands, near the mall.
Well that is all I remember now, if I come up with another place or two I will let you know.
Thanks so much
