I'm in the market for a new handgun, and so far all of the shops I've been to have had pitiful selections. I went to Sharpshooter in Torrance, and they had literally 14 guns in the display case, and the place in Long Beach I visited had an OK selection, but you had to take a number just to talk to someone behind the counter.

Who has a good selection, especially used? I'm willing to travel up to 100 miles or so from Long Beach. I'm especially looking for older stuff from the 50's through the 80's, but even a place with a wide selection of brand new guns would be great.

The great state of CA found the microstamp technology to be both proven and implementable, and now requires all new semi-auto pistols to have a microstamp feature.

Now we all realize the microstamp technology is both unproven and junk science, so this is why you see a limited selection of pistols.

All new pistols require a microstamp feature, and other pistols are dropping off the list.

Try Turners, they probably have every pistol currently available, or ask the gun store.

The Stockade in Westminster or Fowlers in Orange (sister stores) usually have the most diverse inventory. Prices are usually msrp or higher so you are paying for their selection.

What about used? Where do you guys go? Pawn shops? Gunbroker?

I'm leaning towards a vintage Colt 1911 or a classic S&W.

Has anyone recently been to Martin B. Retting in Culver City?  They used to have quite a collection of new and used firearms for sale - long guns and hand guns.

I've bought a number of firearms from Retting.  Prices are fair.  Most of the staff seems knowledgeable.  They have a huge selection of new and used firearms (my favorite).  The only downside is that it can get busy and you may have to wait your turn.

Stopped by there today, and that place is exactly what I've been looking for. I'll save $40 on the 1911 I'm looking at if I buy it from Turner's in Signal Hill, but they had a pretty good selection of the C&R stuff I'm really into at Retting, so I'll definitely be picking up a SMLE and a few other odds and ends there in the future.

Sort of ugh.  If you are saving at Turner's, that doesn't usually suggest "reasonable."  Although I did get my CZ 97 on sale at a bit better price than other places.  OTOH, it sounds like a good spot for a trip some weekend when I have either time or money to spend.  Not usually both at the same time, though.