A thread about big non-chain store gun stores.

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Prof Young

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Driving through Tennessee today I stopped at Franklin Gun Store in Franklin TN. Advertised as having 6000 guns . . . I'm sure they do. Plus a very nice selection of gear, reload stuff, and all things shooting related. Bought a scope and some powder. Wonderful place. Which I was closer.

Also, I used to frequent MidWest Gun Exchange in Mishawaka IN. Lived there six years and bought a gun a year. Got a great sales price on a Henry 22 lever gun and a S&W AR15. Nice selection of used guns at both these stores. MidWest doesn't carry reloading stuff, but has just about everything else.

What non-chain BIG gun shops have you "discovered?"

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
There's a place in my area here called Hunter's Headquarters. They have everything you normally find in big box stores, and a lot of things you can't. They even have a couple registered Destructive Devices (Cobray Street Sweepers) for sale. I was happy to find they had 7.62X39mm selection beyond FMJ for hunting and home defense.
 
Biggest store near me has been here since the 50's or maybe earlier. Some 10 or so years ago, they opened another location and then yet another last fall. Even still, I think it qualifies for what you are referring to. Central Ohio, Vance Outdoors. Two things I like about them... they sometimes grt large lots of LE or other armed org trade-ins, and they also get a lot of used guns simply due to the large customer base.

In North Central & recently expanding to NE Ohio is Fin Feather Fur Outfitters. I like the Ashland store the best. Friendly folks always. There is also a terrific latge store in a tiny town called Shelby, and that would be Sportsman's Den. Both of these places are "must visit" if you are going through the middle of Ohio.

North of Cincy off I-71 is Woodbury Outfitters. I guess I go there just to get popcorn... their used handgun selection is nonexistent, but my buddy has gotten a good buy on a new gun. I don't shop new guns... but the popcorn is good.

In Michigan, I love to visit the store & range that's been around since the Earth cooled, that's Williams, north of Flint, same folks who have been making rifle & shotgun sights since WWII.

In Mitchell, SD is a fine store called Leaders. I visit them once a year.

Bud's, the famous internet dealer in KY has a store, I've been there once but it was like 7+ years ago. I wanna guess that it has grown in size since.
 
My favorite is Jay's Sporting Goods in Michigan, they have stores in Clare and Gaylord. They cater to hunters, fishermen and all outdoors-men. A good selection of firearms and reloading supplies, I always stop in when I'm in the area.
 
I was in Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna GA today. They bought a huge old grocery store and converted it to a gunshop. It is bigger than a lot of Walmarts. There is a glass display with handguns with long guns on the floor and an elevated shelf 4 deep around 3 of the 4 sides. The middle is stocked with shelves of supplies of ammo, boots and other supplies. They have a grill to eat lunch, a gunsmith shop in the back and an indoor firing range.

They had several pallets of CCI Mini-mags in 100 round boxes and about the same number of Norma 22LR target loads on the floor today.

They claim 15,000 firearms in stock

https://www.adventureoutdoors.us/
 
Barrow's Automotive and Gun in Butler, GA.

I throw back to the old days when the hardware store also sold guns; but, these guys (family owned and operated) have kept pace with the times.

Plenty of guns from Kahr up to high end ARs, Beretta O/Us, and Kimber rifles.

All types of ammo, magazines, parts, and hunting equipment.

Suppressors, too.
 
Around where I live, the big nonchain stores come in two flavors.

1. Pompous, posturing good 'ol boy tacticool commandos and great white hunters.

2. Competent, polite and helpful stores.

So - in San Antonio, I like Dury's and Austin - GT Distributors. There may be other good stores but I like these two.
 
Skip's Sport Shop in Bristol, NH is very nice.

Nice inventory.

Clerks happy to let you hold guns that are in the display cases.

Lot's of reloading supplies.


+1 for KTP (Kittery Trading Post). Largest selection in Northern New England (and possibly all of New England)

However, if you don't go on off peak hours, the shooting sports department can be very busy.
 
Last week on my way to NC, I stopped at Bud's Guns in Sevierville, Tennessee just to see what it was like. All the bolt action long guns and shotguns are in racks on the display floor so one can pick them up and handle them. The pistols and modern sporting rifles are behind the counters so assistance is required to handle them. They had lots of ammo, but were out of some of the popular pistol calibers, no .22LR either. They have a very nice indoor range too.

Smoky Mountain Knife Works is on the other side of the parking lot and they carry guns, ammo and gear now. Their prices were similar to Bud's, but spent most of my time there looking at knives.

A bonus was a Coleman factory outlet on the same strip as Bud's. Didn't realize that Coleman had so much outdoor apparel and so many new camping items. They had very nice discount prices and clearance prices were amazingly cheap.
 
Midwestern Shooter's Supply in Lomira Wisconsin has a wide variety of guns, shooting and hinting supplies. They also have an indoor range and rent guns so you can try before you buy.
 
Here is north central Pennsyltucky, I'm lucky to have a number of gun shops. The largest is Grice's in Clearfield, PA, and I've been going there for years-starting with my now deceased father, when they first opened in a gas station, more than 50 years ago. They moved into a much larger retail store and finally, into their very, very large present spot.

Through the years, service has ranged from great to not so good. Presently, IMO, they're at the top of their game and have been for a number of years. Have a huge retail selection and also do a large wholesale business. In fact, I'll be passing nearby there today and may pop in!

There are a number of other shops in the area, such as Bob's Army Navy, also in Clearfield, also with far more guns than are on display, and has consistently been an enjoyable place to deal.

Two guns are on my radar: a CZ 455 .22 with a Mannlicher stock and a S & W MP AR-15 style .22. Will one follow me home today? Probably not, as the missus just got a new cast iron frying pan, that she's been itching to try out on me.
 
The only really Big gun store seen is in northern KY, about 30 miles southeast of the town which is across from Evansville IN.

Whittaker's Guns. There is nothing like it and it has tons of reloading supplies.
 
In Akron Ohio area.
Dick's Gun Room.
The store is attached to the house. At one time may have been the garage?
But either way, very surprising. Much bigger on the inside then the outside.
Almost as much a museum as a store.
Knowledgeable staff, very helpful, and they will work with you.
Traded a rifle with reloading supplies straight up for a handgun. Very satisfied with the deal.

In North Canton, Kames. Bought many a gun there.

There is a Fin, Feather, and Fur branch here, nice store, but I prefer to go to the original in Ashland.
 
Between Richmond and Ashland, Va., visible off I-95, is Greentop Sporting Good. Just north of the I-95/I-295 mixing bowl. (Also known to readers of my posts as "Ali-Babba's House O' Guns." A private joke.)

Located in a former Gander Mountain store, Greentop has been around in that same area since 1947. Good stock of all types of firearms from Parker Shotguns to Heritage Rough Rider revolvers. Fishing, both salt and fresh water. Archery with a range, camping, apparel, firearm accessories, reloading, knives, and hunting gear like decoys and such. Probably some other stuff I've overlooked too.

Large knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff. It's about the only place I look for anything outdoor related. My wife and I stop there every couple of days just to visit and see if there is anything I can't live without. There usually is.

http://www.greentophuntfish.com/
 
Hick's in Pinckneyville, IL. Small, but packed with new and used firearms.
And the Hick's boys like to deal.
 
Mackey's Landing Firearms in Jamesville, NC advertises itself as "The World's Largest Gunshop". I don't know about that, but they do have a lot of stuff.
 
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