Gun shops in and around the Twin Cities

[ex-LT]

Follow the link.

I think the list in your link needs a little updating. Sportsman's Warehouse is no longer doing business in Minnesota. Also, IIRC Aitkin Outdoor Sports went TU about a year ago.

[Paul]

If anyone is in the Isanti area, don't forget to stop by SHR sales. It's a little place in a strip mall, it doens't have the biggest selection, and it doesn't have the absolute lowest rock bottom prices I've ever seen, but it's a good atmosphere, and the owner/only employee is a nice guy that is respectful and easy to talk to.

+1

The owner is a great guy, and the prices are fair. Like Strad said, not the lowest prices on earth, but not out of line by any stretch.

[Squib Joe]

I like Boone's Fine Guns in Isle, MN

Nice store, friendly staff, and far enough away that they aren't direct competition

[Paul]

I like Boone's Fine Guns in Isle, MN

Nice store, friendly staff, and far enough away that they aren't direct competition

Isn't that the new "nice" place that opened a few months back?

[Magnum Mikie]

I like dealing with larry at Gunstop in Mtka, but if you ever wander around the western suburbs, Gunstop "West" (now called The Gun Shop) is also a fun place to shop. It's a little small, but Butch and Tom are friendly and once-in-a-while you'll find what you're looking for at a fair price. They are located out in St. Boni.

http://www.gunsanddogs.com/tgs/index.html

Another is Cabin Fever in Victoria.

http://www.cabinfeversportinggoods.com/

And a little further west is Little Crow gun shop in Hutchinson. I've bought 2 handguns from them so far this year.

http://www.littlecrowsports.com/

[ijosef]

if you have an law enforcement/military/security ID i go to Streichers-few selections, best price glocks starts @395, M&P 450, lots of tactical gears, go check them out the 13th and 14th of August and you can buy a handgun w/o one of those id mentioned above once a year(Glockdays), striechers.com

I did not know this. So, using my state Corrections Officer ID would get me a better deal on a Glock? Hmm...

My first love is guitars and basses, and I've been buying and selling for over a decade. I'm used to getting deals and know what to look for. I'll routinely seek out deals and buy thinks at 60% off MSRP. Now that I've gotten into guns, I've realized that most firearms sell much closer to MSRP than guitars do. Heck, getting 30% off list seems like a ton.

So, if you walk into a store with a printout of an online shop for the gun you want, will any of them match? I've found that to work in *some* music shops. I was wondering if gun stores will do the same or if they'll tell you to take a flying leap.

[Squib Joe]

I like Boone's Fine Guns in Isle, MN

Nice store, friendly staff, and far enough away that they aren't direct competition

Isn't that the new "nice" place that opened a few months back?

So clean I could eat off the ammo counter

[Drizzle]

Joe's-decent selection, runs to hunting weapons, handguns are a little high, but their used stuff is often priced low, and they seem to have a new used gun or two every time I stop in. Counter guys are very friendly, too.

Frontiersman-was a little clubby at first, but the guys remember you if you keep coming back, and will take your name and call you if you're looking for something in particular (they had my number for almost a year before the minty Chiefs Special I was looking for came in and I got the call). Nice selection of used longs as well.

Gunstop has the best selection of any independent store (and has a couple of big box places beat). Again, a little clubby at first, but repeated browsing as well as some buying breaks the ice. I've bought a few here.

DK Mags-new storefront, old internet company, they have plans for expansion (so I was told by one of the owners). Hopefully as their space gets larger their prices come down-they were high on both new guns and ammo. Didn't see much used.

Metro Pawn-friendly (or just watching me closely), a few used handguns, a couple of spinners of shotguns and rifles, decently priced but a little banged up. Wouldn't buy new there, you can get a better deal on a Glock or SIG at-

Streichers-lots of stuff besides guns, friendly staff even if you aren't LE-I haven't seen anything used, but I should ask next time I'm in there.

Bill's North-good range, friendly staff, bought a few used and new here with a really good price on a used 3 inch round butt Model 10 Smith that made up for overpaying on my AK. Good for browsing.

Bill's South-same stock as far as i could see. The smith here did a great job on my old CZ24-took about an hour, got it running, barely charged me. He'll get more business from me.

Gander in Forest Lake-high priced new longs and handguns, a few used rifles and shotguns, counter staff seems patient, but I've never asked them to see anything. Decent ammo selection, at least before the gold rush...

Cabelas-not a lot of handguns I wanted, not much used, lot of ammo out to grab, rather than behind the counter-antique gun room great for drooling, too rich to buy in there.

If you like used like I do, do the circuit every couple of weeks or so and leave your name where they'll take it if you're looking for something specific.

[Pat]

+1 to Boone's Fine Guns. If your up at Mille Lacs, stop by. They're in Isle, on the south east side of the lake.

[FirearmFan]

+1 to Boone's Fine Guns. If your up at Mille Lacs, stop by. They're in Isle, on the south east side of the lake.

I was actually just up in Isle/Wahkon this past weekend with some friends. I wanted to find Boone's and check it out but out of the group there was only one other gun person with me and after a few hours none of us were in any shape to drive anyways.

[David]

Now that I've gotten into guns, I've realized that most firearms sell much closer to MSRP than guitars do.

You got that right! I don't remember the last time I paid more than 60% of MSRP for a guitar. I'm more into vintage stuff, though, and that market is quite a bit different.

[Stradawhovious]

Now that I've gotten into guns, I've realized that most firearms sell much closer to MSRP than guitars do.

You got that right! I don't remember the last time I paid more than 60% of MSRP for a guitar. I'm more into vintage stuff, though, and that market is quite a bit different.

Most shops I know start the dickering at 30% off MSRP on guitars. To give you a trade secret, many wholesalers and producers will sell their wares to the retailers at a "50-10&5" discount, which basically means that if a guitar has a MSRP of $1,000 the store bought it for $427.50.

[David]

*Taking notes*

[Rogelk]

The last few years I've only done business with Cabela's. They will price match just about anyone and have had the firearms in stock that I've been interested at the time. So, I look for the best price and present it to them and they have generally obliged me. About 4 yrs ago they priced matched Joe's on a TC encore, Joe's at the time had the lowest price I could find. 3yrs ago, same thing with a CDL with Reeds. This year, a CZ-P-01, Joe's again. I have done business with Joe's, The Frontiersman, Sportsmans Warehouse (sorry they're gone) and GM (back when they were good) never had a negative experience with any of them. Cabela's has great customer service and it's in my neighborhood altho' they've cut back on staff and it's feeling a little K-Martish as of late.

Forgot to say I've bought a handgun at Scheels in St.Cloud and I like them too. To be truthful, unless I have a terrible experince I like all these stores. I'm just happy to have them around...because, I think there will be a time they'll be very scarce, probably replaced by king size nintendo/x-box stores.

[tacticalninja32]

if you have an law enforcement/military/security ID i go to Streichers-few selections, best price glocks starts @395, M&P 450, lots of tactical gears, go check them out the 13th and 14th of August and you can buy a handgun w/o one of those id mentioned above once a year(Glockdays), striechers.com

I did not know this. So, using my state Corrections Officer ID would get me a better deal on a Glock? Hmm...

My first love is guitars and basses, and I've been buying and selling for over a decade. I'm used to getting deals and know what to look for. I'll routinely seek out deals and buy thinks at 60% off MSRP. Now that I've gotten into guns, I've realized that most firearms sell much closer to MSRP than guitars do. Heck, getting 30% off list seems like a ton.

So, if you walk into a store with a printout of an online shop for the gun you want, will any of them match? I've found that to work in *some* music shops. I was wondering if gun stores will do the same or if they'll tell you to take a flying leap.

I believes so because even EMT can buy guns there