Really. Not a rant about how there aren't any "Reasonable Gun Store Prices."

I dropped by a local gun store at lunch today and saw the following rifles/prices avaialble:

- Sako 270 AV (excellent condition) - $600
- Howa 1500 7mm Rem Mag (excellent condition) - $249
- Ruger M77 RS (tang safety and sights) 7mm Rem Mag (looked new) - $329
- M96 or M38 Stads (I'm unclear on the difference) - $200.
- Also a couple of 98 Mausers, including a 1909 Argentine Mauser, but I forget the prices. Didn't strike me as high, though.

There were other rifles, but these just struck me, given that we often discuss overpriced stuff in gunstores. These prices looked pretty fair to me, and if I were interested in a 7mm Mag, a couple of these would have followed me home.

So, patience, and I'll just keep looking back there frequently. Sometimes the best deals are where it's hard to find parking...

Jaywalker

Jaywalker - Nice post.

I often find my best deals in gun stores. Locally, we have a store ("Roseburg Gun Shop") that runs a sale twice a year, on the same days as each of our two biggest local gun shows. They don't go to the show, just hold a sale.

Del Applegarth, one of the co-proprietors, is a knowledgeable rifle guy, and a real hobbyist (more so than just a businessman). He is always willing to try to deal, and I have bought a pretty fair number of rifles from him over the years that he sold at half or just a bit more of the going rates. And, I don't buy ANY junk, just nice guns, for cash. It cuts both ways, too. If I tell him I am looking for a so-and-so in a particular price range and condition, and he finds one for me, I buy it. No excuses or leaving him stuck with the gun.

Those prices are all extremely fair, especially the sako.

I'm with Dr. Lou, a SAKO AV for $600? If only
In Fairbanks, you could add about $200 to those prices you listed and not be too far off.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Jaywalker - Nice post.

I often find my best deals in gun stores. Locally, we have a store ("Roseburg Gun Shop") that runs a sale twice a year, on the same days as each of our two biggest local gun shows. They don't go to the show, just hold a sale.

Del Applegarth, one of the co-proprietors, is a knowledgeable rifle guy, and a real hobbyist (more so than just a businessman). He is always willing to try to deal, and I have bought a pretty fair number of rifles from him over the years that he sold at half or just a bit more of the going rates. And, I don't buy ANY junk, just nice guns, for cash. It cuts both ways, too. If I tell him I am looking for a so-and-so in a particular price range and condition, and he finds one for me, I buy it. No excuses or leaving him stuck with the gun.

AC:

Yeah I make trips up to Roseburg just to shop there.... I have really gotten some great deals on rifles that have been traded in.. or from local wives bringing in their deceased husbands rifles that they have been waiting to get rid of for years....

Bought several CZs for $100.00 and all good shooters... a 1917 Enfield for $110.00, a fantastic shooter......

They are the way A Gun Shop should be ran.. unfortunately their prices on bullets and powder is not the bargain it use to be.. but I am sure they are just passing on increased costs.. and they are not getting the deals they use to get on those items... they use to compete with Midway on bullet prices....

cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Jaywalker - Nice post.

I often find my best deals in gun stores. Locally, we have a store ("Roseburg Gun Shop") that runs a sale twice a year, on the same days as each of our two biggest local gun shows. They don't go to the show, just hold a sale....



[QUOTE]Originally posted by seafire/B17G:....
unfortunately their prices on bullets and powder is not the bargain it use to be.. but I am sure they are just passing on increased costs.. and they are not getting the deals they use to get on those items... they use to compete with Midway on bullet prices....
cheers
seafire

Hi, Seafire -

I think the difference between bullet/component prices and gun prices mainly reflects the differences in the two owners. Del Applegarth is a real gun hobbyist and a knowledgeable, reasonable, guy when it comes to gun dealing. He, as you likely remember, used to own Cascade Tackle, by himself, just around the corner from their current building.

Jerry Applegarth, on the other hand, likes to think of himself as more of a wheeler-dealer, I suspect. He used to own Cascade Ammunition by himself. It was run somewhat erratically by comparison to Del's business (or so it seemed to me), reportedly had some problems with the IRS and cash flow, etc.

Anyway, when their dad passed on, the brothers sold the land that Cascade Tackle and their dad's house sat on, to Karen's Coffee Cup for use as a parking lot. Then Cascade Tackle had to move, and the next thing ya know, Roseburg Gun Shop came into being one door down from where Cascade Ammo had previously been.

So, bottom line is, Jerry runs the ammo/components part of the business, and Del runs the gun part. The ammo/components are occasionally unreasonably high priced in my opinion, and the guns are very reasonable.

Sometimes, though, when they have ammo/components that have not been moving, and a little cash flow is better than none, they still have pretty good sales on a few components. I bought about 40 or so boxes of Barnes-X bullets there earlier this year for $15 per box, in calibers clear up through .45, including .411 and .423.

Jaywalker,
We've never met, but trust me on this. Go back there tomorrow and buy that Sako. You will never regret that rifle at that price.
Regards
lawndart

They were good prices, I think.

I didn't buy the Sako because I have a 270, already, and no real need for another. Also, buying it would interfere with my search for a .308 or 30-06 for a potential trip to Africa for plains game.

I need to check back there more often, though, even if it's inconvenient. (They have this little thing called a "telephone," even if driving is out.) I called this morning to see what else they had - nothing I needed - and learned, BTW, that the Sako sold yesterday.

I suspect more will show up after hunting season.

Jaywalker

quote:

Sometimes, though, when they have ammo/components that have not been moving, and a little cash flow is better than none, they still have pretty good sales on a few components. I bought about 40 or so boxes of Barnes-X bullets there earlier this year for $15 per box, in calibers clear up through .45, including .411 and .423.

Yeah, as far as bullet prices.. I did buy some bullets that they were selling cheap last spring I think it was....250 bullet packs of Nosler 22 caliber, 40 grain Ballistic Tips... $10.00 a box!

I bought 7 of the 8 boxes they had left on the table...That was my best deal... that is when they had a ton of Barnes X bullets for $15.00 a box.....

I can't remember which guy in Del and which one is Jerry..... All I know is I like dealing with the heavier set one, that is kinda balding.... heck of a nice guy....

Still it is a great store....

cheers
seafire

I believe the 38 has a shorter brl. and turned down bolt handle.

It is the time of year to buy rifles. prices should be pretty good the next few months.

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
[
I can't remember which guy in Del and which one is Jerry..... All I know is I like dealing with the heavier set one, that is kinda balding.... heck of a nice guy....

Still it is a great store....

cheers
seafire

You are dealing with Jerry. He IS a nice guy, just not quite as savvy a businessman as Del, it "appears". (Who knows what the truth actually is?) Del is the tall, skinny, very slightly older one. You might wanna visit with Del sometime in the next week or two. He is taking his wife to Hawaii for their 40th (I think) wedding anniversary, and has been selling some of his personal guns at extra good prices recently.

Bon chance...