Where should I buy

southjk · December 10, 2012, 10:58 AM

I had about a 12 year break from shooting and back then it was just my S&W 686. I'm ready to buy a semi-auto and am about 85% sure I want a S&W Shield 9mm. The problem is that no one has this gun. Should I buy it without ever holding it? Should I order it online or at a LGS of which there are not many around. I went to Bass Pro yesterday and it was a madhouse. I walked out before anyone could help me. I'm pretty confident that if I don't like it for whatever reason and my wife and/or daughter don't like it then I could sell it without loosing to much money. I'm ready to buy just don't know where.

southjk · December 10, 2012, 01:22 PM

...and if I do buy online what are some reputable sellers for buying new guns?

TunnelRat · December 10, 2012, 01:28 PM

My two favorite online retailers are:

jetguns.com

and

grabagun.com

Both are good. Last time I went to jetguns.com they were having some issues with the online inventory so grabagun might be the best bet.

JimDandy · December 10, 2012, 05:26 PM

I've heard Buds Guns isn't bad.

gatordave · December 10, 2012, 10:13 PM

You can almost always buy any gun cheaper on line, but if you can, buy from a local gun shop (not the big box sports stores). You may find the prices sometimes are close when everything is totaled up.

The other reason is local follow up support. If you have a problem with an online purchase....good luck.

If you purchase online you will still need a shop (FFL) to send it to anyways. Maybe this will be the same shop you can purchase from and continue doing business for a long time.

Good luck

Davkul · December 10, 2012, 11:30 PM

Also keep in mind you're paying for the gun, shipping and an additional 25 or so for an FFL transfer.

blackamos · December 11, 2012, 04:45 PM

just used the genie at www.galleryofguns.com to buy my last gun. Get your best price and buy local. The best of both worlds.

Coltman 77 · December 11, 2012, 05:56 PM

I'd wait until one hits your local gunshop and you can really examine it - how it fits your hand, balance, ergonomics, etc.

Good luck.

December 10, 2012, 10:58 AM	#1
southjk Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2012 Location: Memphis Posts: 186	Where should I buy I had about a 12 year break from shooting and back then it was just my S&W 686. I'm ready to buy a semi-auto and am about 85% sure I want a S&W Shield 9mm. The problem is that no one has this gun. Should I buy it without ever holding it? Should I order it online or at a LGS of which there are not many around. I went to Bass Pro yesterday and it was a madhouse. I walked out before anyone could help me. I'm pretty confident that if I don't like it for whatever reason and my wife and/or daughter don't like it then I could sell it without loosing to much money. I'm ready to buy just don't know where.

December 10, 2012, 01:28 PM	#3
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 2,402	My two favorite online retailers are: jetguns.com and grabagun.com Both are good. Last time I went to jetguns.com they were having some issues with the online inventory so grabagun might be the best bet. __________________ Guns don't kill people. Apes with guns kill people! - Robin Williams

December 11, 2012, 04:45 PM	#7
blackamos Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 475	just used the genie at www.galleryofguns.com to buy my last gun. Get your best price and buy local. The best of both worlds. __________________ Know of that you speak, Amos

December 11, 2012, 05:56 PM	#8
Coltman 77 Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2009 Location: NC Posts: 1,224	I'd wait until one hits your local gunshop and you can really examine it - how it fits your hand, balance, ergonomics, etc. Good luck. __________________ "A man can be destroyed but not defeated". Ernest Hemingway Protect our 2nd Amendment Rights -- Join the NRA

December 10, 2012, 01:22 PM	#2
southjk Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2012 Location: Memphis Posts: 186	...and if I do buy online what are some reputable sellers for buying new guns?

December 10, 2012, 05:26 PM	#4
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 1,497	I've heard Buds Guns isn't bad.

December 10, 2012, 10:13 PM	#5
gatordave Junior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 9	You can almost always buy any gun cheaper on line, but if you can, buy from a local gun shop (not the big box sports stores). You may find the prices sometimes are close when everything is totaled up. The other reason is local follow up support. If you have a problem with an online purchase....good luck. If you purchase online you will still need a shop (FFL) to send it to anyways. Maybe this will be the same shop you can purchase from and continue doing business for a long time. Good luck

December 10, 2012, 11:30 PM	#6
Davkul Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Location: Strongsville, Ohio Posts: 20	Also keep in mind you're paying for the gun, shipping and an additional 25 or so for an FFL transfer.