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Drm50

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I have been involved in gun dealing most of my life. I had a shop, worked in
shops and deal or trade on almost daily basis. Also involved heavily in fishing.
I guess I'm pretty well known in my neck of woods. Hardly a week goes by that
I don't get a call from some excited guy that he "found" a model x whatever. It's
usually overpriced. When they get their breath back I ask them where they are
at. It's one of the big box sporting goods stores. This is when I tell them if it's
there it's not lost. I can't get through their thick heads to look in the small local
shops where they can make a reasonable deal, both on their trade ins and new
purchases. Those big outfits have big stores, lots of employees, and other expenses that require top prices on good stuff or bulk sales on cheap stuff!
 
Yeah,
It's not likely to find anything special at the king sized sporting goods store.
Mostly just the low end, mass produced models.
And certainly not much in the way of interesting, knowledgeable conversation.
It's just more sensible and satisfying dealing with folks who know their stuff, even if the prices are higher.
 
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Not always so in my experience which goes back over 60 years.

Be specific as to who you mean by "big box" stores?

I have found interesting guns in big stores and also on line which is also new.
 
Agree with Savage,

I've often found 'diamonds' at the larger stores (especially when the proprietor/manager
is solely responsible for price setting) during the Holidays when the volume of sales and foot traffic/trades is high.

He is just too busy keeping things going to scrutinize every gun that comes in
and the employees, many of whom are part-time, could care less about a gun being under-priced (if they even recognize it).

JT
 
On balance,lets assume the LGS mom and pop store is some higher.

It was a bit uncomfortable at first,but I explained to my LGS that I really WANTED to give my business to him.I was happy to pay SOME more to give him the business.And before I just made assumptions and bought at a big box,I wanted to give him first chance at my money.
I might give him $50 on a $500 deal.But,maybe I just can't afford to go $100.
At least he gets the chance to shrug,say,"Thats a lot better than I can do" and he does not hold it against me.Sometimes..I can think of optics,he kicks tail on the big box.

The reason I do it:My LGS is a Smith,too.A big box store does not have headspace gages and chambering reamers and cigar boxes of parts.

I really value my LGS so,for $4 on a box of shells extra or $539 vs $499 I prefer he stay in business,and I'm proud to help.It comes back.

Something that is just a little weird to me...It seems so many people are so hung up on "the deal they got"...like,if you paid an extra $30 for a gun you like and want,and its in your hand,you were fine going home with it.Then your brother in law says "Monkey Words has 'em on sale cheaper"
All the sudden that gun is no fun,your status drops,you hang your head in shame and ask the Doc about ED pills.

I do not get it.Its weird.
 
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It's not likely to find anything special at the king sized sporting goods store.
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I will disagree a bit. Three of the best purchases I ever made were made at Bass Pro's fine gun room. About five years ago it was a S&W .38-.44 Heavy Duty from 1937 for $270 and a S&W model 520 (only 3, 000 made) for $360. This past August it was a S&W model 19 from 1979 in the box for $295 OTD after discounts and my rewards points.
 
HiBC I tend to agree

I have a post up about Cheaper than Dirt right now. Check it out.

Remember the days when sporting goods were at Sears, etc.? Before the days of Dick's, Academy et al?
 
Those big outfits have big stores, lots of employees, and other expenses that require top prices on good stuff
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They also get bulk discounts when purchasing. I've gotten good deals in big and small shops. On new stuff it is almost always cheaper to buy from the big dealers. On used stuff you can never tell. A lot of it comes down to the individual pricing the used stuff.

There is a very small gun shop here. The owner simply doesn't like to fool with trades and used guns and tells customers that up front. If you want to trade something in he will give the lowest price in town, but he prices them low to move them out. He doesn't always have any used guns, but when he does they are at bargain prices.

Just like all of us, all dealers have their favorites, and certain brands they don't like. They price them accordingly. One dealer may have used Winchesters priced $100 less than the guy across town who has the same Remingtons priced $100 less than the 1st guy. Having and using that knowledge has helped me get favorable trades in the past.

Some of the best deals I've ever gotten on used guns were bought here.

http://www.adventureoutdoors.us/

The store is huge, they claim 15,000 guns in stock.
 
Some of my favorite guns were found in big stores.

Of late I found a custom 300 Win. Mag. on a pre-64 M70 action with well figured wood.

1000133u.jpg
 
I get my guns and supply from all over. Cabellas has the primers the least expensive and Berrys Bullets. Plasctic Boxes..... Cabellas or Bimart. Power I get from my LGS as he is finding it and brass from him to if I need to augment what I get from a seller here.

I hadnt seen a Star anyplace since the best LGS in town closed five years ago untill I saw one in Cabellas a week ago. Price was $300 and I got two $20 coupons.
 
I really used to like going into Cabela's "Gun Library" to look around, and although their prices weren't great, they sometimes had things I wanted in condition I wanted where I could actually inspect them.

Over the Holidays I had the chance to peruse various their gun library on three occasions at different stores. I saw Glocks and ARs. I have heard that older guns have really dried up the last few years, but I was disappointed.

Gander is the only other big box store that has used guns. Their prices are pretty bad, but I still check.

Anything new I get from Buds and transfer through a local FFL who always smiles when I hand him $10 for making a phone call.
 
I've found good deals at both. I've also run into insufferable snobs on the other side of the counter more at the mom & pop's than at the bigger outfits. Deals are where you find them.
 
It depends on what you are looking for. Rifle to hunt with? Good deals can be found at big box stores. High-end revolver or semi-auto handgun - no good deals to be found at big box stores. Special O/U shotgun - forget the big box stores.
 
In my area, the "big box stores" don't handle used guns. And generally my situation doesn't allow for a 4 or 5hr round trip just to go and see what they have at a "big box store", that does handle used guns.

I'm an old guy now, I have a number of good guns, and those that I'm interested in these days are like me, old, and no longer made. ;)

You don't find those on the rack at WalMart, or even Sportsman's warehouse...
 
When I refer to "big box stores" I'm referring to Gander Mtn, Dick's Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shop and similar stores that have large gun departments.
 
Originally posted by SHR970:

I've found good deals at both. I've also run into insufferable snobs on the other side of the counter more at the mom & pop's than at the bigger outfits. Deals are where you find them.
Click to expand...

^^^this. My LGS where I have been on a first name basis for 30 years is the exception.
 
I don't think I've ever seen a gun for sale at the Gander store that couldn't be found at the same price or less at a locally-owned store. What's more surprising is that I have seen many used guns at the Gander store that were very near the new price at the local stores. It didn't keep my favorite, locally-owned store from going out of business. I guess Gander attracted more customers with its stuffed bear, brightly-lit facility, log columns, and matching vests.:rolleyes:
 
johnwilliamson062

It is kind of sad but 20 plus years ago we had three or four real Gun Shops in Indiana . One was about 20 miles from my home it was run by a man and his wife (good people) for over 40 years . In that shop was close to 800 or more guns both new and used . If you were a frequent customer you could take a used gun down to the basement to try out and they also had a one trap range out back for shotguns . Also had box,s of gun parts and old leather at great prices . I bought a new Browning Broadway trap in 68 for $650.00 and thought that was a lot of money .

I think back to 1970 and I was making $14.00 bucks an hour and a round of trap was two bucks for 25 targets and a bag of shot was $3.25 if you bought 10 or more .
 
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