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Thread: Is it hard to find local gunsmiths that know anything about ARs?

  1. #31
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    Quote Originally Posted by rojocorsa View Post
    I knew they were hunting-ish oriented, but I wasn't sure if you were implying if they had some kind of "agenda."
    Oh no Just when the government decides to regulate industries (AIA, ASME, SAE) they tend to pick a trade organization/union. The NSSF would be a logical contender.

  2. #32
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    I've encountered the exact same thing here in central FL. Even large gunshops...they have never heard of LMT, BCM, Noveske, etc. You mention KAC and they tell you that "you can't get one of those." Same answer if you ask about suppressors. :/

    Just look at what they sell. If they don't sell quality stuff....just walk out.

    Can't tell you how many times I've taken my AR into these shops (because they have an indoor range) to shoot and gotten those strange looks when they ask me what brand my upper is. Keep your distance, brother.

  3. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by Find ManBearPig! View Post
    Your in CA? Me too. The store is local for me, and is just one place solely dedicated to selling black rifles to the people of our communist republic.

    Here is a link. Nice guys, but uninformed: http://www.parallaxtactical.com/store/

    It's a shame they can't sell a good product. There signature upper uses YHM and RRA components, and a RRA bolt. When I handled it, I asked about the bad staking. They didn't seem concerned. The sad thing is I just ordered a complete DD upper for a little more. While I don't get a charging handle or a bolt, I do get a rifle upper that I can depend on, and is built with premium components.

    On the other hand, I have a local FFL a few miles from my house that specializes in making guns legal for CA. Last time I was there, they had a FS2000! They also have a good selection of parts from quality makers. However, after talking to the staff, as well as seeing Condor gear there, I knew the store was a lost cause... What a shame. Someone needs to open a Ranier Arms, G&R, Valkyrie Tactical, or some other store that refuses to sell junk near my house.

    Oh well. One can hope.
    Valkyrie Arms (not Tactical) of Milpitas, where I got my little bolt gun pretty much sells nothing but "evil black rifles." They are in the San Jose area. These guys have an 07 FFL; they also sell off-roster handguns legally such as Gen4 GLOCKs and XDms. Great store, they're not even a year old, but now they always seem to be busy.

    To be fair, last time I was there it was strictly business for getting my bolt gun, so I did not look at their ARs. I also had not been on this site prior to that, so I wouldn't have known the difference between LMT and RRA, for example.

    As for the store that wouldn't sell me a long gun. They suck. Not only do they not run the ventilation frequently at their indoor range, I've experienced FTFs/FTEs with several different handguns (including a Nighthawk Custom and 686 revolver). That tells me they don't maintain their guns properly.

    Living in the PRK and being a shooter isn't the easiest thing, but there are states that are worse off than we are.


    Quote Originally Posted by ZRH View Post
    Oh no Just when the government decides to regulate industries (AIA, ASME, SAE) they tend to pick a trade organization/union. The NSSF would be a logical contender.
    Gotcha.

  4. #34
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    I've always found that gun smiths are far from, often times the very last, people I want to take advice from on firearms.
    I know at least 3 personally, and I can say without a doubt I have a far better understanding of ARs and what goes into a good one than they do. On the other hand, they all crush me on the numbers and tech knowledge, not to mention overall experience.
    I find that gun smiths are a lot like mechanics. They can certainly do more to fix a car than I can and generally know a lot more, but they often times have no idea what they're talking about or doing beyond the basic services they perform.

  5. #35
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    I guess I am lucky as I have a local smith that knows both ARs and 1911s. He does quite a bit of AR work for police departments and is up on training and current AR trends, too. The fact that he is only a couple of miles from me is a big plus, also.

    Bill Tidler Jr.
    **************

    ...We have long maintained that the only accessories that a 1911 needs are a trigger you can manage, sights that you can see, and a dehorning job. That still goes.
    ~Jeff Cooper

  6. #36
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pax View Post
    My hometowns about a half hour from Virginia Arms... So when I'm home, it's never hard to get top-notch help.
    Yep, I will drive almost a hour each way to have Robb work on my stuff.
    USMC MSGT Ret. 1371

    SEMPER PARATUS Certified AR-15 Armorer


    "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." -Alexander Hamilton

  7. #37
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    I have run into this kind of BS many times. I usually will ask one or two questions of any gunstore employee or gunsmith that I already know the answer to. If they can answer them, or admit willingly that they don't know then I may deal with them. If they lie or try to BS me I walk away. However, in my local area there are only two places to buy guns and one gunsmith. The gunsmith told me it would take him a week to swap out a FSB for a low profile gas block.

    The one gun store is a chain sporting goods place that peddles a decent line of handguns, but their rifles are limited to hunting rifles and DPMS. The other store is a gun store/pawn shop and the guy has a mixed bag of DPMS, Armalite, and Bushmaster. He also peddles a variety of highly over priced AK's. A few years ago I took a close look at an AK he was selling and the chamber of the rifle was rusted. Needless to say the only thing I use him for is to handle FFL transfers when I order guns from other dealers with a better selection.

    It seems like in NE the gun stores focus solely on hunters. What little they carry in the realm of tactical guns and gear is usually bottom of the barrel crap or airsoft rebrands like UTG and Tac-star. You can't even buy a decent concealed carry holster anywhere locally. You can buy almost any pistol on the market today, but nothing to carry it in.

  8. #38
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    I would venture to say that the best AR smiths in the country are represented here on M4C. Gun Gallery, G&R, Centurion, Valkyrie, Ranier, Virginia Arms, etc. It sucks to have ship parts, but I gladly do it just so that I know the work is done right. There's no way I would trust my rifles to a local bubba 'smith. Its a shame that every gun store in America sells AR's and 99% of them don't know what they don't know.

    Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

  9. #39
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    I live close to Rainier Arms as well and that isn't a typical gunstore by any means. In fact, I'm not sure how much local business they do. Joe Gunowner isn't walking in and dropping two grand on a Noveske and another grand on an ACOG. They used to be a warehouse bay with a tiny walk-in office in a building behind their current location, and did most of their business online.

    Their walk-in store is awesome though! I'm very fortunate to live to such an establishment.
    “The practical success of an idea, irrespective of its inherent merit, is dependent on the attitude of the contemporaries." Nikola Tesla

  10. #40
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    Yes it is hard. Frankly there are very few real Gunsmiths.
    Most people that claim to be one are people with about my skill level. They can build an AR from parts, mount a scope, and do a few other minor things. But when it comes to real work they are clueless.

    I am very lucky to have a real gunsmith in my area. Not to sound to Corney but he doesn't just make firearms. He also makes some real works of art.

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