Gun Shops

whittling · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 3:05 am Post subject: Gun Shops

I just wondering ;what the best gun shop in your area ? I've got 2 favorites : Nicks Sports Shop and Bron's Classic Firearms .NicK's is a great store on ammo and almost anything . the guy that runs it is really nice and has great prices. bron's has great mil-surp and he is a guy that is unbeatable when it comes to giving away free stuff .

FALPhil · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 6:12 am Post subject: Re: Gun Shops

There used to be a shop in my area called Ed's Gun & Tackle which is now Nick's Gun & Tackle. Whe it was Ed's, it was insufferable. Prices were MSRP+ and the staff was a bunch of blowhards. It has gotten better now that Nick has taken over.

A real favorite of mine is Pannell's. While not large, they have a a wide range in selection from High-end Dakota rifles down to $99 Mosins. Generally, they have some interesting milsurp pieces on the used rifle rack. Their handgun selection tends to run towards autos, though.

The largest in my area, in terms of business and selection is Adventure Outdoors. Right now, they are counter suing Bloomberg for his egregious "straw man" entrapment scheme. Since they were named by Bloomberg, I think their business has doubled because of people going by there to support them.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

I like Ellwood Epps and Gobles Gun and Tackle, although far for the 2nd one, they are both A+ to deal with.

Dimitri

Gil Martin · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: Gun Shops

We are blessed with a number of really fine gun shops in the area and I have visited a lot of them. The very, very best is Seneca Arms run by fine fellow and competitve shooter. His inventory is half military surplus and half sporting arms. In total, he probably has 500 guns on display at any one time. He will deal and discount and he is my friend. All the best...
Gil

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Gun Shops

Do any of these shops have websites? (I'm too lazy to search for them)

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

www.ellwoodepps.com

www.gobles.ca

Dimitri

gelandangan · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: Gun Shops

Ray Jansa from JansaArms ( www.jansa.com.au ) has been a friend of mine for years.
Great guy.. Always have time to talk to you, pity that the current climate on gun sports made his business decline badly for these past years.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Well Gelan, thats the first time I've ever seen 5/8" dies.

Dimitri

Handloader · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: Gun Shops

The Valley of the Sun has lots of gunstores ranging from high end corporate (Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabellas, Bass Pro) to single owner small shops. There are enough that buyers can usually find one that is most comfortable for them and their needs/wants. Like their customers, stores has their own unique personality.

The store where I work is the oldest in continuous operation in the Valley with 27 years in the same location. All functions are manual -- there are no computers or electronics. We give the best trade-in or purchase margins to customers and we have a no BS guarantee on all products. Typically, on a day to day basis, our prices are the most reasonable and about 90%+ of our business is repeat. All of our staff has in depth experience in all phases of the shooting sports and we often hold free clinics to assist customers in various aspects of the sport, from hunting to reloading to competition.

Nearby is another shop where the attitude is very much in contrast to ours, but, they also have a clientle that prefers to spend their money there. We are often amazed at the way in which customers are mistreated there, but, stores, like their customers have different personalities that attract each other. It's good to have choices.

Vince · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject: Re: Gun Shops

gelandangan wrote:

Ray Jansa from JansaArms ( www.jansa.com.au ) has been a friend of mine for years.
Great guy.. Always have time to talk to you, pity that the current climate on gun sports made his business decline badly for these past years.

Gotta agree with ya Gelan...Jansa's has always been good value.

In Sydney I have always used Horsley Park Gun Shop...from the days when the "old fella" had it. Now he's gone to the big hunting pastures in the sky I deal with his son, who is every bit as good. (Sorry Gelan, I know you aren't real fussed with them mate).

Horsley Park Gun Shop

Here in Brisbane I use two different gun stores...Queensland Gun Exchange and Rebel Gunworks. Both are excellent value and good people to deal with. There are a couple of others that I visit from time to time, but not as a serious customer.

Queensland Gun Exchange

Cheers, Vince

Handloader · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: Gun Shops

Another matter: the gunstores I like best are those that are privately held in which there is a high degree of enthusiasm and participation in the shooting sports. Profit, in that scenario, is what enables the business to continue and support the owner(s). OTOH, many stores priortize profit and incorporate any methodology to increase margins often at the expense of customer needs.

twofifty · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject: Re: Gun Shops

When I ordered some Protektor leather sandbags, the telephone sales clerk and I chatted about groundhog shooting in PA.

This guy was obviously a keen hunter. He gave me excellent advice on whether to get the short bunny or long rabbit ears (got the long ones).

Nice when the folks who work this industry are passionate about the sport.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: Gun Shops

I've probably bought most of my guns over the years from Ed's Gun Shop in Vass, NC. Hard to beat his prices and selection.