Posted: 3/18/2006 10:32:22 AM EDT
| for the first time ever I have noticed that even the "old standby" shops in anchorage that use ot have a good selection and good customer service have been taking a dive ... I wonder if ATF is making there lives hell or what .. went to 3 shops yesterday and got snappy awnsers from all of them ... maybe I am just over analyizing |
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They are all going down hill, tudor pawn and gun is going out of business. Have a very poor selection and overated prices. AK shooters Supply on Boniface has a good supply of stuff buy really HIGH prices. You would have to talk them down on anything they have. Sportsman Warehouse doesnt keep the good ammo in stock. Other gun shops have used guns at new prices, no ammo, and if they do its real high. Basically, order what you want over the internet, pay the 25 dollar transfer fee, buy ammo at deals when you can find it, usually at sportsman warehouse. All other accessories off the internet. |
| i try to support teh local guys , and generally do , but I mean it just seems like you ask a question at some of the places and they act like they are going out of the way to respond ... case in point I'm in a shop . saw the new walther 22 carbine thing .. I think cool nice gun for wife and kid , I ask about it and the response i get was " I dont know anything about it ....I dont care about the cheap plastic guns " .... |
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Alaska Shooter's supply was THE place to go back in the day, and I used to spend alot of money with them, but I can't stand them now, and after walking in there multiple times to BUY A GUN WITH CASH IN HAND and being ignored by them old fat fux there, I quit going. IF you want to hit up a decent shop and you are in the area, Gator Guns in Kenai is about the best, followed closely by Impact Area on k-beach road. Sportsman's warehouse has the best ammo prices on bulk stuff that i have seen so for. Gator has some bulk xm193 and q3131a running around for about $125 for a half case(500rds), which isn't bad considering it is $93 a half case and on backorder from Wholesale hunter. |
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Quoted: Alaska Shooter's supply was THE place to go back in the day, and I used to spend alot of money with them, but I can't stand them now, and after walking in there multiple times to BUY A GUN WITH CASH IN HAND and being ignored by them old fat fux there, I quit going. I thought it was just me. Be nice if someone would open up a shop for all of us evil black rifle freaks. We live in a state with the most relaxed laws in the nation and I can't find a shop that won't try to !@#$ me out of every last penny when I want to get ammo, parts, or firearms. Talk about frustrating. |
Gun Dealers in Alaska have never had to compete, and they have had it real good inspite of their arrogance and hooray for me and fuck you attitude. The major chains hit them hard first, K Mart (now gone) next Walmart and now Sportsmans Warehouse. As more of the local shops close up most of these guys will go to work selling used cars, good riddance. I buy a few guns at the Impact Area and they do my transfers and thats about it.
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I like Gator guns because of the ammo selection and gun selection, tons of handguns. Lots of specialty stuff and his gunsmithing is top notch, if a bit slow. |
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It's definitely a nice little shop, and I'll agree with the customer service part. The guy who runs the place is one of the few in town who doesn't treat me like I'm just wasting his time while I'm in there. Cool fella. Plus he listens to Savage, how cool is that. |
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Quoted: Alaska Shooter's supply was THE place to go back in the day, and I used to spend alot of money with them, but I can't stand them now, and after walking in there multiple times to BUY A GUN WITH CASH IN HAND and being ignored by them old fat fux there, I quit going. Ditto. I can't even stand going in there anymore. I used to enjoy talking to the old guy who ran it, but man, where did he get his counter help? If they knew how much money I spent there in past years, they would roll out the red carpet and pour me a cup of coffee. Or maybe just be arrogant pricks and ignore me as I go back out the front door. There are only two places I enjoy going anymore. The pawn shop on Lucille in Wasilla where I can discuss gun projects with Bill and other customers, and with a couple guys (the Swiss rifle guy and the C&R guy) in that big gunshop on Tudor Road. |
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last time I was in great alaska guns the guys in there were complete idiots? I didn't see more than a couple c and r guns. they treated me like I was ten years old. I will have to go back for another shot I suppose. I won't deal with the fat guy. I just won't. As for ak shooters. I have to disagree with you again. Most of there ammo seems to be a good prices for me anyway. I can buy my 50 in bulk there. they give me a 10% with military id. the guys are generally really helpfull because they know I am normally in to buy ammo or rifles and still take the time to shoot the shit with them. (as far as red carpet and coffee...well they have coffee). something to look into is ak tactical is having a big bulk buy of black hills and I think other brands as well. I would suggest calling em or stopping in and asking whats up. sounds like the deals should be good if you wanna buy in some bulk. |
the big guy is Yog , he's a hella of a guy once you get to know him ... but then again it could be because he is a fellow polelock . I went int AKTactical , top notch guys had what i wanted , got what i wanted great price ( it was an AR15 bolt / carrier ) ... that Ammo King place ... I refuse to do buisness with anyplace that charges 3% for using my debit card , if you cant factor the costs of visa/debit /mastercard into buisness maybe you shouldnt be in buisness ... I know there is a cost but how cheap can you get , and people wonder why sportsmans whorehouse is booming . 
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Northern Security was pretty cool last time I was in there. I was pretty happy with their ammo prices. I think AK shooters prefers dealing with military folks. They lost a customer of 10 years or so when they started treating me like I did not exist. On a side note, I went to High school with the daughter of the owner of Great Northern Guns. She was HAWT. I still have a bubblegum wrapper from a piece of Bazooka Joe that she brought back from Israel. The whole thing is written in Hebrew I think. |
| AAFES on base actually has a decent selection, and can order stuff. Prices are usually better than walmart or shooters, customer service is o.k., depending on who is working the counter. I got a bushmaster modular carbine with the folding sights, flat top, fluted barrel and telescoping stock for 1400, and felt pretty good about it. They usually have the bushmaster 30 rd mags for $19, and the HK's for around $50. Parts can be hard to get, but gun sales tend to beat everyone in town. I ordered a tactical rig for my 220 a while back at northern security?, and 8 months later they called to say it was finally in, and to come and pick it up. I blew them off, I had given up on the order after leaving 2 messages at 90 days that were not returned. Chimos in the valley is a complete rip-off, and the guys are kind of asses. The FFL/pawn shop in Palmer will quote you a different price on stuff everytime you talk to him, and when you get there, it'll be a whole other price again. Mostly, I just order stuff off the internet, or purchase it when in the lower 48. I've bought 2 guns at sportsmans warehouse, but it wasn't a screaming deal...and the guys don't seem to know much about their products. The BX (AAFES) guys aren't real knowledgable, but once they figure out that you aren't just a poor airmen, and are serious when you ask to handle a weapon...they get friendlier. I can only imagine how many of the young troops go in there with no money and act stupid around the firearms. You guys talked about starting a black gun shop...I've toyed with the idea of getting something started....I'd be willing to apply for the FFL if I had a partner to go into business with...or My only concern would be to not lose money...so I wouldn't be able to keep stuff in stock (other than a few trinkets like cotter pins, a bolt or two, etc.), but if there are enough people interested, I'd purchase firearms for what it costs me to keep the licenses up. I don't know if 10% over cost would be enough to break even though. How about putting together a shoot this summer? I'm headed back to "sand land" for a few months real soon, but I won't be gone all summer. Shoot me an e-mail if you guys decide to put a shoot together. Has anyone here shot IDPA? I used to shoot at the local matches when I was stationed in NC, I enjoyed it a lot. HAven't found much of a following up here... I'd like to get into 3 gun matches...that is some good, practical skills. Finding a safe place to practice up here is the hardest part. |
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It is somewhat more difficult these days to get an FFL if you are not actually operating a shop. You might want to check into the requirements. Could be compounded if you live on base (military regs and federal regs may make it very difficult). My Dad has an FFL (has had one for many years) and each time he renews there are more and more hoops to jump through. |
practice as in 3 gun comps? Don't know what to tell you. maybe jims creak but if I remember correctly its supposedly illegal to shoot out there...there are people shooting every time I go out(leos included) I found the PX staff to be very close to retarded. They don't pay you any attention when you want something then get all pissy later when you tell them you got something why didn't you buy through us. One possiblity is to cross over to the green side of base and get to the sports fire range. go through range control and get a safty card. If you are there alone you could probably talk the ole retired sgm to let you do some three gun style stuff. |
No, I like the fat guy too. He seems to have customer service skills, greets you, asks if you're looking for anything or if he can help you. Such treatment is not a given in the gun retail biz. He was the salesman on a pistol I bought, he was fun to deal with. Yeah, GNG has almost nothing in the way of C&R. They had a K31 for $500, though  Alaska Shooters Supply/Ammo King is the place for that kind of stuff. |
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I've found that no matter how far out you go, there really isn't a safe place to move around during live fire practice. I don't live on base, and have checked into the FFL process, a business license is required, along with a place of business. The place of business can be your home, but you have to have approval from the borough to operate a firearms dealership. They basically check to see if the place of your business is compatable with the business around you. This is mostly aimed at keeping bars from going in next to schools, I would think. I've done some preliminary checking and running of numbers, and as near as I can tell, I'd have to make $100 a sale to break even, unless I sell more than 20 guns a year, then it could be less. Its hard to know if friends will commit, and you really can't count on other business without taking the real plunge, and starting a shop/store. I don't reaally care to get into the firearms business, its a hobby & passion for me. I'm a full time student & military member. I was simply testing the waters to see if you guys were organized enough to be interested in starting something as a group. I'm always for fighting the lack of customer service present in Alaska...it pisses me off on a regular basis. I'll pay more for an item through shipping to get around the lack of customer service. Especially after I heard about the local business that stopped Sportsman's warehouse from being located in Wasilla. That really pissed me off. I don't like traveling to Anchorage unless I have to, and going all the way down to diamond is costly and nerve racking. |
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I go to the Ammo Can on dimond behind Village Inn. Lou the owner is a really good guy. He will take care of you. He had a guy working there that really didn't belong in a gun shop. He's gone, and now he's got a few different guy's that's helping him out. I go on the weekend's and deal with Lou for the most part. As far as Alaska Shooter's Supply goes, I have been a customer of Jack's since '95 when he was selling out of his garage, and that ain't no shit... But when he moved off of Boniface I quit going over there, Rick and Jon started to ignore me like ya'll said. The last time I went I wanted to buy some (supporting local) 30 round mags. I asked Jon (who used to give me a good deal) if he could come down on the price on a mass purchase. He told me they were the same price if I bought 1 or 100... I explained that I was able to get them from Bravo Company for less the $10 shipped and he never blinked.... He wanted $20 or $22 a piece for 30 round mags... Great Northern Guns has rubbed me the wrong way a few times, I see a few people have mentioned Yagi or whatever his name is. He's the reason I won't spend a dime there. I guess if I was part of the $30,000 shotgun crowd he'd be a hell of a guy to know. But I'm more of a Weatherby Vanguard type of guy and he obviously doesn't like my type. I have gone in there and asked if they carried LPK's for AR's before and he said, " Let me ask you something,Sir... Why is it all you guys are buying lower reciever's and building rifles?" I tried to explain it was because I like to do it, I can pick and choose what I want on the rifle. I can do it under the wifes radar. I don't have to drop $1100 on a rifle and then change everything I don't want on it.... etc, etc He just snorted and walked away... This is not the only thing that he's done either.... But ya'll get the point! Great Guns is O.K., a little high priced but they have had a firing pin on a Saturday for a couple of dollars when I needed it. If they had guns to sell I would probably give them more business! But again I don't need an Ed Brown custom .460 Wizz Bang Humdinger with a Ziess for $4332.89 I'll get by with my Vangaurd.... Speaking of firing pins on Saturday, Wild West Guns used to be across the street from Great Guns and the day Jim West tried to sell me a Colt firing pin for $28 was the last day I set foot in his shop. He sells guns on the internet and cater's to clients who apparently have a lot of money. So much so that he doesn't require anything in the form of a sell from my lowly bottum feeding ass. Jim West if you are reading this I wish you the best of luck in your new found fame on the Net! I have been the Alaska Tactical once, I was impressed that they had a RRA winter trigger guard on the shelf. For a dollar more than I can get it on the Web. I also appreciated the fact that they had an Olympic Arms AR hanging on the wall with a decent price. That gave me the impression that they aren't hung up on "names"... They seemed very professional, and worthy of me going back in to feel them out... And don't get me started on the Pawn shops... LOL BTW, support your local shops, if you buy everything from Sportsman's Whorehouse, it won't be long before all the little shops are gone. And then where would you find those great deals on used guns? - Clint {Rant over} |
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I guess we all have similar experiences here in Anchorage. I don't like going to Jack's since they moved. They aren't as friendly as they used to be but they do have decent prices on some ammo. Their .30 Carbine ammo is an example. RAL used to be great for ammo and Rod sold guns with very little markup. I have been going to the Ammo Can and agree that Lou is a good guy. I just bought some of the Guat. battle packs but they are spendy at $75 each or $300 per case. I get sick to my stomach when I see all these guys buying ammo off of the net and getting such great prices. Envious I guess. Great Northern will occasionally have a decent milsurp on consignment but not often. I think they are kind of snobbish too. Anybody got any good .303? have Randy |