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Question of the Day: What’s Your Local Gun Store Like?

Robert Farago - comments No comments

My local gun store [LGS ] is Sportsman’s Finest. The Farago-friendly firearms emporium caters to a high-end clientele. It’s not the place to go looking for a bargain or bulk ammo. The staff knows its guns. They can talk you through an excellent selection of new handguns, shotguns and rifles. Bonus! You don’t have to listen to a bunch of OWFG’s decrying Obama and condescending to the fairer sex. What’s your LGS like? Name names and don’t hold back.

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Robert Farago

Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). He started the site to explore the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns.

0 thoughts on “Question of the Day: What’s Your Local Gun Store Like?”

  1. I just shop at cabelas, I do have to listen to a lot of anti Obama and condescending talk towards women. The selection on firearms is pretty good

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  2. My LGS is Tracy Rifle and Pistol. Small shop. They also do SSE, so for California this is a win. They can get just about anything, but deal mainly deal in pistols and defensive rifles. Friendly staff, and they all live in Tracy so they are our neighbors too. Prices are market, no major discounts, but they do their best. Also they are moving to a new location with an indoor pistol range which is great!

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    • Also, they are Calguns supporters!

      I would go to them more often but the stupid 10 day wait really puts a damper on it. Though word through the grapevine is that a legal challenge is going ahead soon….

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  3. Gene and Chris – Snowsville General Store, Snowsville-East Braintree-Braintree (depending on who you ask) VT. Smal town COUNTRY STORE, good selection of firearms, good selection of hunting gear, archery, black powder, munchies, good conversation, wool clothing, sometimes good deals, and just plain good folks. Always reminds me of the little Mom & Pop trading post places in the small towns in Northern New Mexico/Southern Colorado Rockies. Complete with old fashioned (I mean OLD fashioned) pot bellied wood stove to warm you while chewing the fat with gene over the price of Ammo or the status of the Deer herd in this cold, cold year.

    Alternate is Mid-State Sports in Randolph VT…where the owner watches you like you’re 13 and a known shoplifter and doesn’t have all that much unless you need tack for a horse. Or Parro’s Gunshop in Waterbury just off I89 where the selection is awesome and the prices are…. high.

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  4. Bill’s gun shop and range. Robbinsdale, MN.
    They got me hooked, after I attended their mini shot show, manufacturers reps loaned out guns for everyone to try. In fact their next one is first weekend in April.
    Though now that The average American has mentioned Arnzen Arms, I’ll have to check them out.

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    • Thanks for the heads up on the show. I like Bill’s too. Arnzen is just a lot closer to where I live. Although I haven’t had the chance to compare prices between the two stores, Arnzen is kinda boutique-y as far as size.

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    • My family is from Dundee, trip out. I visited once with my Oma and Opa (Grandmother and grandfather for those of you who don’t have German families) one when I was quite young and recall the place mostly being a ghost town.

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      • It is now a lovely, vibrant small town with a great main street and many nice shops. Gat is on the outskirts.

        downtown Dundee also has an old-fashioned walk-up Dairy Queen!

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        • That’s awesome! My family owned a diner or a deli or something downtown. As of ~10 years ago it was owned by someone else but still had the same name. Really cool to know that the town is alive. My Opa used to tell me about his dad taking him to the top of the smokestack at the factory (button factory?) he worked at to drop/bend/smash pennies. I think that may have been in Elgin though. Been a long time.

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  5. I love All Shooters Tactical in Woodbridge, VA. The staff is knowledgeable and loves to teach and help. They’ll hand you anything on the shelves with no pressure to buy. They have a great selection of accessories and such. Best of all – they do layaway! I have some great guns because of them that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

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  6. Federal Way Discount Guns in Federal Way, Wash. Well stocked,they know what they’re doing and can inform you on the various guns as well as the pitfalls of other weapons. They can order you what your looking for as well as having a quick turn around time. What I do appreciate is if they don’t know something they’ll tell you upfront instead of laying a bulls**t story on you.

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  7. Gunnies in Orem, UT. Great place. Great people. Prices very competitive.

    Get Some in Orem has a great range, but it’s a little pricy. Ammo prices were around fair last time I was there, though. Not sure on gun prices.

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  8. Ammo Bros in Cerritos, CA. Lots of cool black tactical stuff, but the staff is either condescending or disinterested. Know what you want when you go in and plan on spending more time there than you should, they live by the take-a-number routine even when the store is empty, so if you don’t have a number in hand it’s as if you’re invisible. Field Time Sports and Guns in Huntington Beach has FAR better service but smaller selection. Turner’s is hit or miss.

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  9. I guess I’m lucky here, we’ve got everything from Cabela’s and Bass pro “big box” stores to small “mom and pop” shops as well as everything in-between….. and ALOT of them. If you’re willing to make a few calls you can find pretty much whatever you need or want around here. Finding specific items in stock can cost you a pretty penny because the stores with the largest inventory usually deal with higher overhead in the nicer end of town.

    Cabelas or Bass Pro – Big box – good selection of “standard” stuff

    Knob Creek – Nationally famous gun range/store – Piles of stuff on hand, lots of militaria

    Keistlers/Orion or Shooters supply – Large selection of guns/in stock items – Higher prices but carry higher end and hard to find items, They get what the small shops can’t because of their size.

    Wal-Mart(yes wal-mart) – some around here have basic guns including AR’s(15-20), most have ammo – decent prices when in stock – limited selection – no high end anything.

    Tilfords, Biffs, Raining Acorns, Cabin fever, several hardware stores have gun counters, Hi-tec…… All of these(and more) fall into the “mom and pops” range for me. Most of them have good deals on used guns or older Milsurp stuff but selection varies by the time of year, economy, panic buying or any other number of reasons. They sometimes have trouble keeping anything popular on the shelves and most of them don’t have huge budgets. Most of the small places are also appreciative of your business and seem genuinely happy to help any way they can.

    My region is very gun friendly and with few exceptions most employees are respectful, polite and helpful.

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  10. Oh thank you for your sweet comment. The fmusrooe was sparked by the work Summer for a challenge and I just had to made ice cream, and then I just had to make the girls with it. I love how styrofoam looks when I use it for ice cream! Now you are making me really want to start Project Life. Did you get her kit? I am worried about the expense. I think that is why I have not started. My question, is how did you start out and end up with a book deal? It is so amazing! I just love being published, and I think I am going to submit a lot of art this year, but not sure where I am going really. Just finding my own style and such! I cannot wait for your project life post. It would be fun to find others that are doing it and then doing a link party to share once a week or something!!! oh one more question, and sorry I am all over here, but are your doing PL for your current year? Are you caught up? I am thinking of starting off where I left off with scrapbooks, however, it is not current and I worry it wouldn’t be as effective. I think the point is to work on it current and have all your thoughts and fun extras…

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  11. Have a couple I frequent. Bought my first gun recently at Four Seasons in Woburn, MA. Pick up ammo sometimes at Collectors Gallery in Stoneham, MA. Four Seasons has pretty good deals on used guns from time to time.

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  12. BLYTHES in Griffith,Indiana. Wonderful shop. They do layaway, deal on prices, work with you. Did NOT price gouge last year. Also Cabelas in Hammond, Indiana is ok. I generally have no use for Illinois shops where I live. BTW I have no problem ranting about Obama

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  13. When I lived in CT the shops I used were horrible. They acted as though they didnt want their customers there. Staff would routinely make up their own answers to questions and become hostile when questioned. Angry Fudds who hated anyone who wasnt them. The Newington Gun Exchange wasnt bad. Wouldnt have found them if it werent for being treated so poorly by Hoffmans. There was another in the southeast corner of the state (Stamford or Norwalk maybe), I forget its name, where the owner was actually swearing at people and telling them to get out his store. I couldnt believe it. I used his web contact form to place a hold on a rifle. When I showed up with the confirmation to get the rifle he shouted at me “it’s gone, you should have put a hold on it!” I showed the confirmation and thought he was going to punch me. Field and Stream in Middlefield was terribly hostile. One up on the Post Road past Orange where I swear the owners were skinheads. I think it’s closed now.

    In NH the experience has been hit or miss. Of the three I have used one was unremarkable, the other as hostile as my experiences in CT (found out the owner moved here from MA) and the third a long-time family owned shop has been absolutely a dream come true. It’s run by a woman, the staff is extremely friendly to the point of remembering peoples names and interests, if they dont know something they admit to it rather than just make shit up, they are very female friendly. It was actually the woman who runs that shop who got my lady to take up shooting.

    I don’t know why this sector of retail attracts so many assholes and douchebags but in my time on this planet the good shop with the good staff seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

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  14. Shooters Outpost in Hooksett NH. Greeat staff, prices, etc. Bas Pro just opened up in the same town and Outpost blows them away (no pun intended)

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    • I fully agree with this, Shooters is an amazing store with a huge inventory between the Hooksett and their sister store, Manchester Firing Line Range. Riley’s up the street has better ammo prices, but their service is hit or miss and the store in general just feels like a cramped garage.

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  15. Everything is at least an hours drive away. And that’s with no traffic.
    So, brownells, midway, pat’s, wideners, etc…
    Big gun shows every other month, and a big network of like minded people.

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  16. The small gun stores? Pretty nice.

    Bass Pro? They adopted this inane policy of not allowing anyone to handle a handgun without already having MD’s Hangun Qualification License (HQL).

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    • I can see both sides of that policy. At times I wish they would do that around here but I’d rather see them just B**chslap the morons who muzzle sweep everyone else in the store.

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      • Has nothing to do with that. The morons trying out shotguns still muzzle everyone nearby.

        Bass Pro’s legal folks decided to follow the strictest interpretation of SB0281 and not allow anyone to even touch a handgun without the license (read: $50 MD tax).

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  17. Virginia Pistol is a great local gun shop located in Linden, VA. It’s the type of place you pop into as much for conversation as for shopping. Mike keeps the shop running well while Jim is an excellent trainer I believe in the PDN style.

    They have a pretty decent selection of guns new and consignment (I think). They try to keep ammo in stock and reasonably priced though, well, with a digging there are cheaper prices out there. Still, reasonable enough that I’ll buy local when I need it.There’s also an on-premise gunsmith that’s taken care of a few oddball issues I’ve brought to him.

    I’ve seen Mike work with prospective owners adult-to-adult. He’s told me one of the most difficult problems he has is when the boyfriend has already picked out the 44 magnum for his girlfriend’s first gun. 🙂

    At least 50% of the emphasis at VA Pistol is training. I’ve taken the concealed carry and one of the combat concepts courses so far. Both were well worth the time.

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  18. Rich Rubin K&R Gun distributors, Yonkers, NY. Former Yonkers cop with ZERO cop attitude – very friendly guy to everyone whether they wear, wore or lack an LEO badge. Excellent prices on guns and ammo – never gouged during the worst of the ammo crises.

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  19. My LGS is Norton Sporting Goods. Really nice staff, seems like a hole-in-the-wall when you pull up. Rest assured that is not the case. The store is very well stocked and has anything you could want, and if they don’t have it, they will find it for you. Great customer service, they feel like family.

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  20. I have no regular gun shop hang out yet. I feel kind of cheated. The shops I’ve checked into so far have proven to be either too clique, too overtly political or just plain shifty. The bulk of my transactions have been either private or online. Am I freak?

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    • No, you aren’t a freak. I deal with a similar issue. Most of the LGS’s in my area are also Pawn shops. The employees don’t know anything about guns and the prices are absolutely ridiculous; they are preying on the uninformed buyers. I saw a Gen3 Glock 17 with stock sights and only two magazines for $650 in one of these places. No thank you. One of the local guys is really nice, but his prices just aren’t competitive. He knows that he can’t move enough volume to get his wholesale cost down, so he focuses a lot on just doing transfers for folks. $20 and he is really nice to deal with and only a 10 minute drive for me. There is another store in the area that has pretty good inventory and the prices are competitive with those online. Only problem is that it is almost an hour drive for me. The gas and sales tax usually make it cheaper to buy online and pay the $20 transfer fee.

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  21. YOJ Andover hunt and fish. 100/10. They will give the best prices even possible. They got me a 500$ shotgun for 350 and let me trade in a shotgun barrel for a different one. They are an awesome store. Also RTSP. The best indoor range in New Jersey. It doesn’t beat Andover hunt and fish prices but it has fair prices, a professional staff, a digital shoot house, a regular shoot house, a great selection of guns and good classes. 100/10. These are easily the best places in NJ.

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    • I second Andover Hunt & Fish…

      Bought my first gun from them when it was just YOJ Sports (and they didn’t carry any firearm inventory), but ever since Garrett bought the shop he has improved their on-hand selection dramatically. Great amount of fishing and archery items as well.

      So far I only have one gun that I didn’t buy from them…

      http://www.andoverhuntandfish.com

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    • I stopped in Andover Hunt and Fish yesterday for the first time! I havent been in since it was yoj which was about 3 years ago! I was also supprised to see how much guns and ammo they have! I picked up a 2 boxes of 9mm for a decent price too! Nice little store and they said they are expanding the kid said which would be great! Great little shop over all and was happy i stopped in

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  22. Have the Outdoor Sportsman in Wake Forest, NC and Hunter’s Haven in Rolesville, NC. Both are newer shops so their selection is lacking due to them (I’m assuming) trying to keep a lower overhead. Both shops have very friendly staff that doesn’t get “high and mighty” and they’re very respectful of my fiance.

    Was just in Outdoor Sportsman over the weekend looking for ammo and a conceal piece for my fiance and the gentleman (don’t remember his name, shame on me) working with me was not only super helpful with my purchase but hopped right on with his distributors trying to find me the heater. Showed me what his cost was and we discussed what the final sale price would be, was willing to lose a sale to tell me I’d get a better deal elsewhere. Gratz to him, he’ll end up getting the sale just based on his forthrightness.

    A few of the other local LGS’ are pretty bad. Loaded with tactitard or OFWG staff who automagically assume you’re a mouth-breather because they’re old enough to be your sire or you “don’t look the part.” No money for asshats like that…

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  23. Carolina Rod & Gun: Definitely a more traditional sportsman’s gun shop. Fairly decent selection of hunting rifles and shotguns, not much in the way of more tactical or 3 gun oriented stuff. Pretty good selection of quality pistols though, but I’ve never seen bulk ammo or much selection of by the box stuff.

    ATP Gun Shop & Range: Much larger selection of pretty much everything, but still geared towards the more traditional sportsman. Pretty good supply of ammo and reloading supplies, but again I can’t recall seeing any bulk ammo. They are a Class 3 dealer; when I finally have a situation that permits it I’ll likely get my first can from them. Their prices always seem a tad high to me, but not too bad.

    There are other shops in the area I need to check out, but those are the two I’m familiar with. They’re OK, but they make me miss New Frontier Armory.

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  24. Lanco Tactical in Elizabethtown, PA. I had delivery/transfer of a VEPR 12 through them and was very impressed by their customer service, so now when I want to go brick and mortar, I go there.

    The staff I’ve encountered are knowledgeable and friendly. I mentioned I hadn’t really dealt with the AK platform before, and even though they were only getting my money for the transfer fee that day I was shown how to field strip the weapon and basic functionality. They didn’t have to take that time – and I’ve been plenty of places that wouldn’t. I’ve ordered a few parts there, and I’ll probably order my next couple of range toys there. Highly recommended.

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  25. Ain’t no local gun store here. All closed up. I drive 30 miles to New Castle, De for Millers, which is rather good. There were four or five when I moved to Delaware county, Pa twenty five years ago. Really depressing. And no, I won’t be going in to Philadelphia for my firearms need. It may be only eight miles, but, really, it’s WAAAY further than that.

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    • Have you tried Targetmaster in Chadds Ford? I’ve used their indoor range for pistol practice for the last twelve years, and they did a good ventilation upgrade three years ago. Outdoors for rifles I go to a place just past Valley Forge. I’m in LM, Montco.

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  26. SafeSide Tactical in Vinton, VA is my choice. I am willing to drive the 40 minutes right past Trader Jerry’s II in Salem and Gander Mountain in Roanoke. They have a large selection of rifles, a good selection of hand guns, and a case with suppressors and a preban Colt AR with a happy switch on display! I bought a Glock 41 and a 10/22 from them two weeks ago and had two employees help me! The gunsmith only works on a limited schedule but his milling of Glock slides and general Cerakote work speaks volumes for itself! I also shop Bryansteen’s in Roanoke as it is a classy spot for used guns from all periods and some new. They also have a large safe and archery department. For a big box store I have really enjoyed our local Sportsman’s Warehouse for my reloading supplies. I try to shop the other two for the rest of my needs. All three stores are very different in purpose but all three have one thing in common: consistent, polite customer service.
    Visit SafeSide at:
    http://www.roanokegunsandammo.com/
    And Bryansteen’s at:
    http://bryansteens.com/
    Keep small business alive! Support those who don’t change their standards with the market!

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  27. i hear now and then what Carter’s Country used to be like back in the day, and it makes me sorry to see it now. the staff at the one on shaver is surly and condescending. id rather give my business to a real, honest to God gun store than to walmart, but i hate rude behavior in a man. i wont tolerate it.

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  28. I have many LGS’s that I frequent. Shooter’s World in Avondale seems to be the one my wife likes the best. Most of the Cabelas counter guys give her the “hey there little lady, do you know which end the bullet comes out of” spiel. That doesn’t really sit well with me, especially since she’s probably the only person in the place that will continue to observe the 4 rules even when she’s at the gun counter. I’ve had mixed experiences at Scottsdale Gun Club (my dad is a member). They always got the ‘in demand’ merchandise in stock, but at a premium I’m generally not willing to pay. I’ve had the best luck with ‘in stock’ merchandise and reasonable prices at Pistol Parlor in Mesa. I’ve never really stayed in there long enough to hear the political talk, so I can’t speak to that aspect. I’ve been to many others around the valley, but those are the ones I have gone to the most.

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  29. The Gun House, Saint Joseph, MI

    It is a small (by most other I have seen) shop, well stocked and if if you have a special they will have it for you quickly, and notify you as soon as it is available.

    Discovered them when I needed a FFL to receive a firearm I ordered online. Transfer prices are reasonable and shop has an excellent selection of weapons on hand.

    I have seen them also treat the women as equals, help them select (fit) weapons that they can control or are more comfortable with.

    I cannot say enough good things about this shop, the owners, or the competitive prices.

    The Gun House is the kind of place ALL gun shops should be modeled after.

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  30. Gun Master: Plano, Texas: Good Selection, but same good ole’ boy, old man, condescending demeanor. Walked in for a Glock 26, and the old guy behind the counter would have none of it. Every reasonable, educated question I had went back to how he didn’t like Glock and the best bet was an upsell to a Sig. He wasn’t the only one either. the Whole store was staffed with people like my salesmen. That cost them 550$. I won’t go back.

    Mister Guns: Plano, Texas: Complete opposite of Gun Master. Young Staff. Cool Owner. Great selection of new and used. Owner personally emails any customer asking stock questions, sell or trade questions ect. I’ve sold one gun, and traded 1 shield for a glock 19. Way better experience.

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  31. The LGS never seem to have what I am looking for in stock. I will just stick with Cabelas and miss out on the bargains. Little chance for me to be left out of a thousand dollar order like I was when a LGS went bankrupt also.

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  32. Agree with the notion that a rifle-length gas system (softer recoil) was the point of an 18″ barrel. Seeing 3G guns come out with 18″ barrels but carbine gas systems made me laugh.

    A heavy fluted barrel adds resistance to POI change as the barrel heats up. -The compensator should be matched to a particular barrel weight. -Stag isn’t serious? (Stag) CMT made Noveske’s lowers for years, and the later switch wasn’t about quality problems. -Agree with the NiB BCG. I don’t know why they bother making non-NiB BCGs.

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  33. If you live in a place where you do not have the right to defend yourself, you should move. Anybody in office should be voted out, next election. If I lived in a place that more than 50% of the population did not belive in the right to bare arms and self protection I would again move.

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  34. Depends on what I am looking for. Universal Pawn in Brandon has a nice selection of new and used weapons. they over priced. Ultimate Arms in Lakeland fl is good choice. for my AR needs Core15 in Ocala Fl……

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  35. In NE Ohio, I usually shop at Fin Feather & Fur. The staff at each of their 3 locations is consistently abundant, friendly, and helpful. Prices for guns are reasonable the majority of the time; when guns go on sale, they’re usually cheaper than wholesale. Ammo is plentiful; they almost always have at least some .22LR on the shelves. I can’t really comment on their selection of accessories, as I usually buy that stuff on Amazon. I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve walked into that place and NOT left with a new gun.

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  36. Nicest range would be Close Quarters Tactics in Shelby Twp MI, but prices are a bit on the high side. No condescending attitude from employees, some of them are women all open carrying. When I lived on the West side of the state I liked Silver Bullet in Grand Rapids. Great prices, good selection. Occasional crappy service, but the good experiences out weighed the bad and I bought a majority of my current handguns there.

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  37. Murfreesboro Tn – I recently shopped around and bought a Glock 26. Murfreesboro Outdoors had a brand new Gen 3 for $589.99. Down the road a ways is The Outpost Armory still had Gen 3 26s for over $600. Went to Mid Tenn’s Pawn and Loan and paid $509.99 for a new Gen 3 Glock 26.

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  38. Slim pickin’s for Indianapolis. Sad for such a gun-friendly state.

    1) Don’s Guns – It’s OK, kind of in-da’ hood. They actually had a fatal DGU about two years ago. The clerk took a round but last I heard, he’s doing OK.

    2) Gander.

    3) Indy 1500 Gun/Knife Show (4X per year).

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  39. “If fear, doubt and hesitation has been bred into you, then being armed is probably not going to help you at all.”

    Newbie here, I’m just shy of 2 years into 2ndA-RKBA thinking. Am I to understand that being indoctrinated into “fear, doubt, hesitation” (by living most of my 62 years in the south SF bay area), that I am better off by NOT being armed? I should let any attack come my way with NO response?

    Can anyone explain this to me? Help me out, please.

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    • Note the inclusion of the words “if” and “probably.”

      If you have come to the decision that being armed with a concealed weapon for self defense is a good and proper thing and you are willing to take the time to learn when and how to use it you may overcome your initial handicap. Maybe. It is definitely something you should be aware of and thinking about both while you are training and whenever you are carrying. Doubting your own ability to react properly and in a timely manner is very likely to get you killed. Hesitation is you enemy since once you have revealed your weapon you are the Bad Guy’s primary focus.

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    • You have already decided to go forward with owning and learning to correctly, and hopefully safely, use a firearm. Every time you pick it up you have to decide, again, that you ARE ready to use it. Its not a one time, admission covers all the rides, sort of thing. That is why so many trainers push the “muscle memory”, when it happens there is not any time for moral debates. Silent or otherwise.

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  40. FOB Kalagush, Nurgaram District, Nuristan Province. Everybody knows what they’re talking about, and though selection is quite limited (especially clothing and ammo) everything is basically free. Full auto-friendly range is right outside the gate. Occasionally targets shoot back (wildly) using FMJ, steel-cased ammo, so evidently that’s also approved for the range. One year minimum memberships (with renewal encouraged) available, though I hear those may be going away soon. Impending sense of danger keeps conversations focused.

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  41. My LGS is Northeast Trading in Attleboro, MA, and what Northeast Trading likes is money. Period. So I do my actual purchasing at Four Seasons Firearms in Woburn. It’s a long drive, but the prices, service and people are worth it.

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  42. Trop Gun Shop, Elizabethtown, PA
    This shop has been around for years and was there was nothing remarkable about it. It was the sort of place where if they didn’t know you, you had to really be persistent to get some service. New owner took over recently, really expanded the place, brought in new inventory and changed the feel from “Fudd” to “Tactical”. Then last year they moved across town, into a larger facility, and opened an indoor range and lounge. It is a much better experience there these days, but I think they have gotten a bit full of themselves of late. They’ve opened an online store which is apparently where they currently sell their .22lr at jacked up prices. Very rarely is it on the shelves.

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  43. I think I agree with most people here that it perhaps wasn’t murder but it was irresponsible. They were in control of that situation and they escalated inappropriately which “forced” them to shoot.

    Police accept a certain amount of risk by being police. Same as firefighters or any other career where there is serious potential for danger. You’re suppose to be in these professions to help people, even if they’re crazy. Obviously a line is drawn when there is an immediate threat but the police created the immediacy here.

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  44. Not too many gun stores here in Jersey, but I’d like to mention one name that NJ gun owners should avoid like the plague: Bullet Hole in Belleville, NJ, just off Rt. 21. Hands down the WORST customer service, not just in the industry, but in the retail world. I think the only reason they remain in business is because for the longest time that was the only store with a range in the area. It was either that or drive over 1 hour to the next closest range. Except for a friendly range officer or two, their behind-the-counter customer service is unbelievably, painfully bad, so save yourself a headache and do not go there, for anything.

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  45. I’m lucky to have six (!) different shops within ten minutes of my doorstep here in the Greater Dayton area of Ohio.

    The “best” is Vandalia Range & Armory by the Dayton Airport. Excellent indoor range, staff is generally friendly, range officers are kind old fellas. Prices aren’t the best, but selection is excellent.

    We also have a Gander Mountain in the area- their selection is similarly good, but their prices are worse (usually right at MSRP) and the gun counter is understaffed.

    The other shops in this area are a mixed bag of things like selection, prices, and staffing. I’ve noticed that the staff at smaller shops tend to be less professional and like be chatty about unrelated things (primarily politics, the standard complaints about the Political Left). Getting along with customers isn’t a bad thing, though. I’m inclined to think that the larger shops simply have more restrictive “chatting” policies to not put off potential buyers from “alternative” political viewpoints. I’m sure everyone reading understands how local gun shops are often a bastion of conservatism.

    Take Olde English in Tipp City- nine out of ten of the staff are FUDDs, but their selection is good and prices are respectable. Vandalia Tactical has a good selection and average staff but prices are higher. 3G Tactical is a small shop that doesn’t keep much for guns in stock, but has plenty of accessories and will do smithing jobs. Staff is friendly, helpful, and experienced, but also falls into political discussions often.

    Outside that ten-minute radius, in Fairborn OH is a small one-man shop called NFA Arms. The proprietor, Max, holds down a day job at Wright-Patt AFB so he doesn’t need to make much profit on his gun shop. His pricing is very hard to beat. But, his hours are evening-only. Very friendly fellow, I recommend him to everyone I meet. He’s also very well versed in NFA items, and I remember one evening where we sat down and he walked me through the SBR process.

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  46. Larry’s Pistol & Pawn in Huntsville, AL. It was an old establishment when I moved there in 1990. Boasts a million dollar inventory. Has ammo throughout the shortages, although for a while there was a “3 box all of different calibers” limit. Always had .22 and didn’t gouge. Larry is a staunch supporter of 2A issues. He’s a board member of Charco Arms, and distributor for S&W, Ruger, and ATK ammunition. Prices are excellent ,as is the staff. Class 3 items can be had there too. He has an indoor pistol range, “The Ammo Dump” in back. Since about 3 months before Obama was elected, it’s been a standing room only place. Folks come from many miles around for the deals or to gape at the selection. Larry’s motto, “Where there’s a gunshow every day!”

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  47. 2 local stores in my area. One wants full MSRP on all guns, the other gouged through the shortage and recommended a 44 mag for a new shooter. I travel over an hour to do transfers from a home based FFL I did business with at a gun show. I don’t buy new anymore so I sometimes plan a reconn of 50 – 150 miles to stalk a number of stores as well as gun shows. I did find the Thruway Market Sporting store in Walden, NY to be straight up on one of my reconn missions.

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  48. Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantily VA. Indoor range, generally friendly staff. Lot’s of woman shoot there and there is no detectable bias against them. Very culturally diverse staff. They have a good selection of handguns but not a lot of rifles or shotguns. They will order for you.

    My other favorite place to shoot and buy is Clark Brothers on Route 29 near Warrenton. It is a good old boys “huntin and shootin” place with a nominally “free” 100 yard range but you have to buy your ammo and targets there so range time isn’t really free. You can use your own ammo if they don’t have it n stock. An outstanding selection of new and used firearms although not the best prices. It is a Virginia institution that is always worth a visit.

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  49. My preferred one is Nagel’s here in San Antonio, Texas. They have a pretty big selection and can have some pretty decent pricing too sometimes. Sometimes the pricing is horrendous ($3,000 for a SCAR-L/16? No.) sometimes it is pretty decent though ($400 for an XD9, NIB) especially when it comes to used guns, which they have in droves. Staff is friendly too.

    The other big notable one is Dury’s, which is a much nicer looking shop but I have never bought anything from them and what I have seen has been pretty overpriced in general. Then there’s A Place To Shoot, which has a sparse selection but good prices (buddy picked up a Ruger SR1911 Commander for $670 IIRC before tax). I’ve been to just about all the others around town but they all seem pretty overpriced from what I recall.

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  50. My local shop is Frank’s Gun Shop on Rt.30 in Gloversville NY. They’re always busy,have a very good selection and fair prices. Just outside of the Adirondack State Park, they’re also an excellent source for Fishing gear and live bait. They get all my business.

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  51. Headline predictions:
    U.S. Navy Misses The Boat on preventing gun violence.

    I’m actually very excited to see how The Watts Gang puts a clever spin on this event.

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  52. From another report with a different version.

    “A sailor standing watch on the destroyer Mahan shot and killed a civilian who had gained access to the pier late Monday night, after the man shot a member of the naval security force on the pier, according to a military official familiar with the incident reports.

    The male civilian gained access to Naval Station Norfolk with proper credentials while driving a tractor-trailer onto base Monday and then gained access to Pier 1, which has a watch stander who checks IDs, the source said.

    The struggle began just after 11 p.m. when the quarterdeck watch noticed the man behaving erratically. He was confronted by watch standers and a struggle ensued. The man stripped the gun from the petty officer of the watch and shot the chief of the guard who was rushing to the scene.

    The man was subsequently shot and killed by the roving watch stander on Mahan, according to the source, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly amid an ongoing investigation.”

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  53. I’ve been going to the Shoot Straight in Apopka FL for 2 years. They have a great selection of guns with negotiable prices, a good attitude with shooters of all experience and the range has a/c.

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  54. Cedar Valley Outfitters used to be awesome when Ernie was running it. Now the people who work there are giving bad advice and generally not very helpful. Ernie Still runs it but he is never in the shop because he is busy with teaching CCW classes and what not.

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  55. Congratulations CliffH. And yes I have had several articles published by TTAG.

    If you are serious about wanting to learn more about ASUSA, you can easily contact me since I do not hide my identity.

    As it is you are just spouting nonsense about them and the content of their training classes for civilians.

    Reply
    • Ok I did some checking up on you, reading your articles and such.

      I get it, ASUSA was your first training class, thus you think they are great. I know that I still have a special place in my heart for Gunsite (my first formal shooting instruction), even though I realize how far behind the times some of their techniques are.

      But they aren’t the end all be all in training. There are other people with different ideas. Some work well for civilian carry, some don’t. And that is just on the “tactical” side, once you get into pure shooting there are at least a dozen schools that I wouldn’t hesitate to send someone to go learn shooting from.

      But you certainly don’t have the credentials to state your opinion with such binding authority. Heck I have a much longer and extensive shooting resume, and I wouldn’t even remotely consider my opinion about an instructor to be that binding.

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  56. Nothing wrong with RF’s look. We need more “regular joe” lookin’ types with guns these days than “operators”, rednecks, or biker wanabee’s. It flies in the face of the myth that they try to create for us. Oh and Robert…..I think you left your Geek Squad badge at my office the other day. Feel free to come back and pick it up anytime.

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  57. Last summer I gave a homeless guy a ride back to Reno. He was riding trains all the way from Florida and wanted to get off in Reno but wound up in CA.
    After he told me that he had been in jail previously for assault, I knew he was OK. Huh? You had to be there.
    So I went to my ATM and got $300.00 and told him I’d drive him back to Reno to the Greyhound station and he could get wasted, eat, or get to where he was going (his grandfather’s place in Montana).
    I wondered if he would try to kill me on the way, but I trust God and myself. He was one of the most informed and thoughtful people I have met in many years.
    These murderers could have offered the same to their brother. RIP-BRO.

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  58. Now a gun shop that I will drive an hour to visit. Lanco Tactical. Guys are nice, know their stuff, and leave you alone until you need them. Good prices and a nice selection.

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  59. OMFG if my gunshop looked like that I would still buy guns and be broke! I’d take the G3, MG42, and oh maybe an MP5 and MK23 to round it out!

    I live in CT so were left pretty much with bolt guns, shot guns and a few tacticool .22’s. So lame, which is why I’m not adding to my collection anymore.

    I was thinking about getting into high end bolt guns and get a TRG42 but since I live in a state with no ranges over 200 yards…it would be pointless. That’s like buying a Ferrari and never getting it out of first gear.

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  60. I have a few that I return to. I like a local tac supply store, Primary Arms, who’s great with mags, parts, cases, slings, etc. One guy owns it and he answers the company emails personally. Somehow, he also manages to have really competitive prices on name-brand goods. Doesn’t carry Wilson Combat, but that’s more about them than him.

    For guns themselves, I grew up with Academy and still buy there today, even though the founding family sold it off to a private equity group in 2011. Firearms Dept. Mgr. of my favorite location looks like Santa Claus, which always kinda makes me smile whenever I’m buying a new gun.

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  61. It’s been brought up before, but people talk about training this and training that. I just wish people would maybe try doing a pull up or a push up and maybe try and not be a tacti-cool fat ass and then pick up a a gun.

    Heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure are going to kill most of the guys I see “training” at the range and at shooting courses long before a bullet does… Rant complete.

    Yeager is a loud mouth, but bad press is still press, and we ALL know him, and the idea is to make money, right? Sounds like he is doing alright for himself even though I find standing on line 10 yards away and doing a mag dump on cardboard pretty asinine, but it’s your money and ammo, so go for it.

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  62. The way some of you all are going on about a dog is ridiculous. The family’s story doesn’t mean jacksquat when they let their dog go off and wander around without any supervision.

    It isn’t the neighbors responsibility to call animal control (just like it isn’t your responsibility as a gun owner not to defend yourself and your property and only wait for police). If he had posted on facebook before about the dog there is no way we don’t know that he didn’t talk to the owners about the dog. Unfortunately for the owners they learned a hard lesson about what happens when their dog is left to wonder and they don’t have him fenced in or on a pole.

    I bet they learn their lesson next time.
    There is nothing irresponsible about this gun owner, irresponsible dog owner should be the title.

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  63. I have owned three or four Ruger 22s including a Mark 1 standard and a Mark II Target. Last year I wanted a pistol for use with a can and found a Ruger Mark III 22/45 on line that had top and bottom rails with target sights and a threaded barrel. As it came it shot quite well but I really didn’t like the one piece composite lower with permanent embossed grips, With a TBAC suppressor, it coughed Federal bulk high velocity reliably — and without a sonic crack. Still and this is my complaint on much of Ruger’s line, the trigger really sucked, And because it was that one piece composite lower, custom trigger kits from folks at Volquartsen could not be used to fix the problem. Thankfully Volquartsen just started selling a 22/45 lower with all the right stuff, My 22/45 is extremely quiet and is more accurate than me, With a red laser on the lower rail, it is very handy in low or no light for critters. Of course, the Volquartsen lower cost as much as a new pistol so color me fixated. I just wanted to get this one shooting the way it should.

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  64. That’s exactly the kind of man (the man with the microphone) I’ve made a point to NOT tell “Go f—- yourself.” Notice how the senator stood there and looked for a second like he’d realized what he’d just done. But I’m sure his security was armed with semi-autos, so I guess it’s all good.

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  65. We need a lot more of this. These kids will grow up not only having a healthy respect for guns, but they will be voting for the folks that will give them access to these guns.

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  66. They act like this has never happened before. I think my school back in the 70s still had rifle club. That wasn’t really that long ago, in the big scheme of things.

    My girls had been in Pony Club from the time they were both about 7 years old. Their favorite Rally was Tetrathlon: Swim, Jump (on horseback), Shoot and Run

    Rally was about 30-40 mostly girls. They set up the shooting range out in the back field. The kids practiced as teams for weeks before the competition. I don’t recall anyone getting their underwear bunched up over it.

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    • My middle school owned a whole rack of bolt action target .22’s back in the mid 1990’s. Those of us who belonged to the rifle club shot them at the range (under the school gym) one study hall period a week.

      But maybe now, after so much anti-gun media hysteria for the last fifteen years or so, it is a big deal.

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  67. Yeah, read somewhere- maybe it was a youtube vid, where the author said most people trying one of these fancy disarms is going to end up with a hole in their forehead- as the time to pull trigger is about 1/3rd the time to close and grab gun.

    Me, I’m saying-
    “here’s my wallet, here’s my phone, here’s my car keys, take it, you’re the boss”

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  68. I’ve been slinging lead using one of these for a little over a year, and it is by far my favorite gun to shoot. For my hands, it’s the best feeling & fitting pistol I’ve yet come across. It’s quite accurate, and approximately 1500 rounds has done a real favor to the SA trigger…installing CGW’s Ultra-Lite/SD package did a similar favor for the DA pull. The only further alteration I’m planning to make is the addition of a set of night sights.
    I will say this, though: the detail strip is a pain in the duff. Don’t do it unless you’re confident in your reconstructive capabilities. I don’t know how I escaped the ensuing springocalypse.

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  69. Mark,First off thanks for your poascdt, listen to it all the time. I am so glad that the NRA finally allowed the NRA news program to be poascdt. I cant wait for the new site, I looked around and I dont see any preview links to it, do you happen to have the URL or to the Podcast rss?ThanksVinceNRA-Life Member, RSOMember ARPC, TopGun, IDPA (RO), USPSA, GSSFCertified Instructor, Armorer, Engineer,& Professional

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  70. If you guys are complaining about Remington’s QA you should see the junk we have to pay a premium for down under. It’s a long running joke that you buy a Remington 700 for the after market bits. If you want a rifle to shoot out-of-the-box, you buy a Savage.

    The good stuff end up in the government contracts. The acceptable stuff is for mainland commercial sale. The QA rejects are exported.

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  71. The main problem with suicide is that people who shouldn’t be killing themselves (teenagers, clinically depressed folks, etc.) usually find a way regardless of whether it’s with a gun or not…

    …while the people that SHOULD be committing suicide for the harm they do to society (child molesters, rapists, 3rd world dictators, various members of Congress, etc) never do it. Too bad.

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  72. Personal opinions aside. The review is not correct concerning the field stripping process. You do not pull back the slide then push down the tabs and then pull the trigger. You were out of order. The process is extremely safe. You must actually read the manual or have a knowledgeable person demonstrate. Like every firearm. You release the mag. You pull back the slide to clear any possible chambered round. You point the gun in a safe direction and pull the trigger. You then slightly pull back the slide a fraction then press the tabs and move the slide forward and off. It is extremely safe. Following the process properly ensures your safety and to others.

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  73. One word: Yikes.

    While I appreciate the spirit of the gentleman supporting our 2A rights (nice rifle), the Confed mask just ruined it for me. Not good PR for our cause.

    I would think TTAG would know better… there’s a reason my grandfather moved the whole family from Mississippi to California back in the 50’s. Despite the fact he had honorably served in the Army during WW2 and fought for his country, his neighbors still couldn’t see past his skin color and treated our entire family with threats and contempt. That’s the enduring legacy of “The South” to people like myself, despite what meanings you might attach to the flag.

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  74. I also had good experiences with Charles Wells in Bennington, VT, Bob’s Guns/Lethal Weapons Training in McKean, PA, and Alder Run Gun Shop/VT Tactical in Franklin, VT.

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  75. Yeager the Coward was tested downrange, failed miserably and good men died. He had no business going to Iraq in the first place, but wanted to try and get some cred to boost his joke of a training school, and in the end, it cost real men their lives.

    Anyone who willingly associates themselves with ole Buck Yeager should immediately be ignored outright.

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  76. Exploding salt licks? Where can I get one!!!

    Seriously though, I have no problem banning drones for hunting game that has a limit. For hogs, go hog wild.

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  77. Psychologists are the alchemists of neurobehavioral science and he wants them to make determinations of who can and cannot own guns?

    Oi…..

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  78. Bribery and corruption? All members of Congress are guilty of bribery and corruption.

    What is insider trading for you and me is perfectly legal for Congress.

    Reply

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