Local shops cater to the gun enthusiast, who also peruses the used gun rack (often the ONLY reason to stop in). Wal-Mart caters to the guy who wants to spend $300 on the best rifle in the whole world, with a Hubble scope and the cheapest green box ammo he can find.
I'm no fan of Wal-Fart, but when these "local shops" where I live don't have basic items, like component primers or reloading manuals with their reloading gear -- and the local Wal-Fart
does -- there's something wrong. And then the "local shop's" attitude is "take it or leave it," then F*CK THEM.
Most of my gun buying is going to be via my local FFL and the internet; here, Gunbroker, Gunsamerica, etc. Most of my reloading buying is going to be Powder Valley, Graf's, and what have you. If I NEED something right now, I'd just as soon give Wal-Fart a shot as opposed to some of these DICKHEAD shops in Oklahoma City.
Walmart usually has a great selection of reloading components. Maybe you could make us a list, seeing it's the first of the month and all.
Is that
your local FFL or your
local gunshops FFL?
Damn, I guess Wally does your GB transfers too??
I don't know why I'm explaining myself to a stupid [bleep]*cker like you, but I guess I will.
When I state "my local FFL," I'm referring to a friend of mine who lives here locally and also possesses a federal firearms license.
Let me give you a few examples that spring to mind immediately of Wal-Fart's competition:
I was in Oklahoma City's "Outdoor America Store/Fred Baker Firearms" buying some Vihtavouri N110 not long after it became available in the U.S. Because OAS/FBF has such a high regard for its customers, they kept all components behind the counter out of the public's reach. I asked the nearest counter [bleep] for a canister of N110. The guy handed it to me and began to tell me how [bleep] Vihtavouri powder was, how misleading their loading data was that it was overly optimistic, and so on and so forth. So I asked, "You've used it quite a bit?" To which he replied, "Oh no, I've never used it, that's just what I heard."
Yep, great example of how "knowledgeable" the "local shop's" counter help was.
Same store, about a year or two later, I asked about getting a Ruger No. 1 in .257 Roberts. It was a currently cataloged item at the time and the store had half-a-dozen or so No. 1s in 1H and 1S configuration. I was told in response to my request -- for which I had cash money to spend -- "NOPE. WHAT YOU SEE IS IT. THAT'S ALL WE CARRY." I asked, "Can't you order one?" To which I received a simple "NOPE." (I located one in Gun List and had my local FFL -- that's a friend of mine who lives here locally and holds a valid federal firearms license, you understand -- receive it for me.)
Yeah, real f*cking accommodating to the customer.
I was trying to buy some small rifle primers in April of 2003. Southwest Shooter's Supply was closed, but Outdoor America Store/Fred Baker Firearms was open. The only primers they had were Federal 215M and an assortment of 209 shotgun primers. The counter [bleep] actually asked me "Why won't any of these work for you?"
Yep, very knowledgeable
AND accommodating.
On the return trip home I stopped in the old Wal-Fart at 33rd and Broadway in Edmond to buy some motor oil for my pickup and lo and behold, there at the sporting goods counter just a few aisles over from the motor oil is a large display of CCI and Winchester primers, about a dozen or so 1-lb. canisters of various IMR, Winchester, and Alliant powders, along with a small assortment of bullets and a small selection of RCBS tools, a few bags of shot, and couple of MEC reloaders.
Yeah, Wal-Fart sure sucked that day, didn't they?
Dumbass.
