In my first visit to a gun shop in Chicago to buy 8mm Mauser ammunition for my rifle, I went to a family store in Des Plaines and enjoyed a completely different experience compared to the chain stores - Gander Mountain and Scheels where I used to shop in Appleton. The staff were incredibly helpful and more than happy to answer questions, they also showed me a number of rifles all of which were particularly well priced (especially a near mint Browning Safari model in 30-06) and I look forward to taking business to them far more than I do to the chain stores that I had to deal with earlier. Earlier, I had contacted a shop at Lincolnwood, less than half a mile from my place, but they deal only in handguns for the local police department - that said, though I didn't buy anything from them, they were incredibly polite and helpful. Another family owned shop compared
to a mega chain - the worst experience that I had was with Wal Mart (though Gander Mountain and Scheels were much better though not as good as the little shops in Chicago) and I won't buy anything from them, not just guns or ammunition.

I wonder if any of the other members have similar experiences/preferences?

Good hunting, everyone!

mehulkamdar,

I think this is true, most times, with all family owned businesses no matter what they sell or provide in the way of services.

Though you might save a few pennies shopping at the mega-chains, customer service is generally lacking.

That said, I most often don't mind paying more to get what I want when I know the customer service will be excellent. It's worth the cost to have someone there who'll take care of you!

Both have their appeal to me. For talking specific with someone who has knowledge and willingness to share it I find the family store to be the way to go. However, I do like the wide variety of firearms to browse atGander Mountain, plus I can pick 'em off the shelf to examine.

Mehulkamdar, there is a large family owned shop in Plainfield...MegaSports. Sort of mixes the best of both. It has roughly the assortment of a Gander Mountain with the helpful staff of a small shop.

Borealis Bob,

Thanks for the tip about Mega Sports. I sent them an e-mail asking for their newsletter and shall try and visit them shortly. I agree on the wider selection that Gander Mountain offers though the biggest selection of guns that I have seen in one shop has been at Scheels in Appleton. That said, Scheels' prices were considerably higher item for item compared to the Maxon store that I visited yesterday.

Best wishes and good hunting, everyone!

mehulkamdar,
On a visit last summer to your area for my mothers birthday, I visited a gun shop in Waukegan. A custom gunmaker friend works in the shop and it was a rare treat. I wish I could remember the name, but I will try to find it for you. It was rather poorly lit but the selection of guns and shotguns was exceptional. I got the impression talking to the folks there that they could speak guns very intelligently.

btw, what does your web name mean? Curious.

I just did a yellow pages search and found it.

MIKE SCHRANK'S SMOKE'N GUN

2010 Washington St
The smoke part was from the cigar sales.

Customstox,

Thanks for the tip. I now have one more shop to visit.

If you recommend a shop, it must indeed be exceptional indeed!

Best wishes and good hunting!

I have seen advantages to both. I buy my cheap ammo that I don't want to load for at Wally World, but buy all of my firearms from local dealers. It is nice to be able to tell the owner when an employee is a dick and have it listened to. I know all of the local shop owners on a first name basis and do business as often as I can with them.

I go to Cabelas to see what I want and then buy from the locals. Cabelas is way to proud of their stuff.

once in a great while I have to go to wally world or the like - feel like I have to take a shower every time.

Mehulkamdar:

I second Smoke n" Gun. The gunsmith there, Dave Norin, is probably the best in the Chicago area. He finished a custom Mauser .458 for me last year and has worked on many of my shooting and hunting partners firearms. The downside is that he is very busy. He is an active member of the ACGG.

There will be the CADA (Collectors Arms Dealers Association) show December 10-11 at the DuPage Expo Center in St. Charles. Ususually has high end firearms from around the country as well as local dealers.

I have mixed feelings about Mega Sports. Prices are just OK and the service can be hit or miss. This is from personal experience. They do not have a gunsmith.

Also, there is GAT guns in Dundee and JR's Shooting sports in Aurora. For the chains, there is a Gander Mountain in Geneva and a Bass Pro Shop in Gurnee.

Good Luck.

RCG

Larry S and Butchloc,

I found that Gander Mountain and Fleet Farm in Wisconsin sometimes gave better prices than Wal Mart especially as far as 22 lr ammunition was concerned. Frankly, there is nothing available at Wal Mart that I cannot get at an equal or lower price if I look carefully and with the help of my naturally stingy Indian blood.

RCG,

Thanks for the information. I am definitely not in the ACGG League from a financial standpoint but I guess one can always go and look at beautiful things and dream.

Would you please let me know if you know about any link to the CADA show? I would like very much to go there.

I have been to the Gurnee Bass Pro shop as well as to Gander Mountain - I drop in there because my wife likes shopping at the Woodman's Grocery Store nearby but I have not found anything very interesting whenever I went there. The Dundee and Aurora shops give me two more places to visit in the future.

Thanks, everyone and good hunting!

Yes, the CADA shows are full of temptations: some beautiful firearms can be found there.

As far as prices go, the places mentioned above are fairly disparate. MegaSports is very competitive ( undersells Gander Mountain some times); J & R is a nice shop, but they are about 8% higher than anywhere else around. The owner is a bit of a p***k as well. GAT guns is with the rest of the crowd on prices, and they have folks behind the counters that know their stuff.

mehulkamdar,
You no doubt have figured out how unobservant I can be at times. All I had to do was look at the bottom of your posts to see that your screen name was your name. Okay, am slapping myself awake here. You will enjoy Smoke n Gun and say hi to Dave for me. He does incredible color case work. Wonderful guy to talk to also. He is the Editor of the Gunmaker, the quarterly magazine of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild and does a great job putting the magazine out.

I certainly don't live in Chicago or anywhere near a major city and I NEVER go to Wal-Mart!

All the little Mom & Pop places are owned by my struggling neighbors. Besides, if we didn't patronize the M&P's there'd be no jobs left around here but restocking the shelves at
Mao-Mart!

Scroom!

Redial

Mehul Kamdar:

I don't know of a link to CADA but you can find the show schedule in a copy of the "Gun List". Look in the back of the magazine under Gun & Knife Show Schedules.

It will be at the DuPage Expo Center in St. Charles. 4050 E. Main St. Across from Pheasant Run, another well known convention and hotel.

There is a contact phone number of 815-259-5445 for information. Also, you can write them at CADA P.O. Box 427, Thomson, IL 61285.

RCG

Occasionally I like to buy a gun off the classifieds, from this forum or several others I go to.

Mom and Pop do firearms transfers. Big chains dont.

Sure the ammo might be cheaper at the big chain, but they dont sell reloading components and they dont do FFL transfers. So while I am at the mom and pop stores doing FFL transfers and buying powder, I usually just get all my stuff there.