gun store tomfoolery

[Striker5]

Today I went into a local gun store that I'd heard did custom work/gunsmithing. I have a sick 3.5" 1991A1 that drops the hammer to half cock after you squeeze the trigger w/ the safety on. I walk in and ask the desk guy about my problem. He muses over my pistol and says "A Colt huh? And a Series 80. I can tell you right now that the internals are junk and will have to come out." "How much are we talking about here", I inquired. "About $200, ball park". "Hmmm", I said.
"What I'm trying to do is get an M4. I gotta sell a couple guns and people aren't really interested in a gun that has this problem."
"What kind of M4?"
"A Bravo Company upper and a Lewis Machine Tool lower."
The guy laughs and says, "If you want an LMT you will be waiting years. Every single lower they make is on backorder for years. There's a great sucking sound in the black rifle market. There's another assault weapons ban in Congress right now. You better get what you can. I carry sixteen types of lowers from sixteen different manufacturers. I'm sure I can get you a deal in trade."
"Well I kind of got my mind up. I want a company that magnetic particle inspects its stuff. That's my preference. That means BCM, LMT and Colt, as far as I know."
He looked at me like I had spit up on his counter.
"If you get a Colt you will not be happy. Their QC is crap. They're not shooters plain and simple. If you have to have one, I can get you one for $1200".
He finally offered to fix my pistol for $100. I told him I'd think about it and get back to him.

Not intended to be a snotty post, just thought you guys might think it was interesting.

[Dport]

That's why I limit the number of gun shops where I ask questions to a very select few.

[rubberneck]

He muses over my pistol and says "A Colt huh? And a Series 80. I can tell you right now that the internals are junk and will have to come out."

This should have been your first clue to walk away. Colt internals are very good as far as production 1911's go, and unless you have a defective part (unlikely) you are throwing good money after bad by removing them in favor of after market parts.

I would take your business to someone who knows what he is talking about.

[baffle Stack]

Yeah those gun store guys know it all, or so they like to think.

[Shihan]

LMT is backordered 2months but not 2years what a schuck trying to sell his own stuff that way.

[Jay Cunningham]

Most gun store employees in my experience don't know much about serious use guns or their actual use.

[R Moran]

Thats why the only thing I say or ask in agun store is " How much?"

I don't even ask if they can get anything anymore, as that ussually ends up the same way, and to much money.

Bob

[Harv]

I don't ask anyone in a gun store ANYTHING...... I look.. maybe purchase and then leave....
My 4 yr old daughter knows more about AR's then most who work in a gun store......

[dewatters]

Today I went into a local gun store that I'd heard did custom work/gunsmithing. I have a sick 3.5" 1991A1 that drops the hammer to half cock after you squeeze the trigger w/ the safety on.

FWIW: The easiest fix will be to have a new thumb safety properly fitted.

[Robb Jensen]

FWIW: The easiest fix will be to have a new thumb safety properly fitted.

That's what it sounded like to me too.

Back to the gunstore:
Personally I dismiss anything that sounds like bullshit that I hear in a gunstore (I work in one), and believe me there's a lot of it. I hate dumbass's trying to sell you everything in the world. Or employees giving out misinformation/disinformation, I've corrected co-workers when I hear it. If you don't know ask someone who does know or go find out, don't make something up. I will not try to sale anything I do not believe in nor something I know is a POS (we don't have commissioned sales people and I dislike commissioned sales too).

If it were up to me in our store I'd drop 3-4 of the gun brands that we currently stock and stock a few others. People will buy crap anyway, even if you recommend against it and then bitch when it has to go back to the manufacturer. I just don't 'get it' I guess. The old saying about the fool and his money is very true.



I haven't always worked in a gunstore and never really wanted to as I actually hate sales. I got into a major car accident working for 'Big Brown' in early 2004. This later required cervical fusion in my neck from C5 thru C7 w/replacement bone from my own hip and a titanium plate w/9 screws. Later in physical therapy and 'work hardening' it was discovered that I would no longer be able to handle the serious heavy lifting without further nerve damage so I settled w/Big Brown and found something I liked doing that didn't require lifting 70+lbs much of the day. So I went to work in a gunstore for a few months, left the 1st one and then applied at the one I'm at now. This one is great.