Bay Area handgun availability

[boopiejones]

[Snoopy47]

If you had a diverse safe of pistols I would start there for hands on, and then shop the internet for things that are roster approved.

I personally would try and avoid stepping in a retail store at this time.

[P5Ret]

Well stocked shop in the Bay Area? I haven't found a well stocked shop with handguns anywhere, at least not what we used to consider well stocked. Including several in Nevada both Reno and Vegas.

What I have seen, high end 1911s Nighthawk and such. Revolvers mostly single action and Charter, occasional Smith, haven't seen a Ruger that wasn't single action in a couple months.

[Mr. Blue]

She’s a little late to the party. As a consumer, you won’t have the luxuries of “good deals” or availability. I often suggest every new shooter to at least hold a half dozen guns and shoot as many if possible. Get a feel for the right caliber and right gun for her. However, right now, her best bet is to just get one. From what I can tell, the east bay is as low in stock as any other place in CA.

Get a Glock 19, Springfield XD, Smith and Wesson SDVE9, Ruger LCR(x), Lady Smith, Sig P238, SW Shield, G26.... she just needs to get on this yesterday really.

To save some hassle, she could buy a gun off of sportsmans warehouse website. And go in to start the DROS. I have seen some of the guns I listed from time to time. They typically update their stock on thursdays. But since covid, there hasn’t been a typical of anything really. Good luck. I have an HKP2000sk I’d be willing to gouge you on, but there are probably better options for less.

[boopiejones]

Thanks everyone. Lack of stock is sort of what I figured. I may try to head down the GFOS this week and see exactly how bad stock is, before dragging her down there.

Might be best to start with a range trip, bringing a wide variety of handguns so she can get a better idea of what she wants. Then we can see if we can find it in stock somewhere.

[martinr]

Canyon Sports in Martinez has good inventory along with high prices. Horrible sales people. Schizophrenic actually, nice one minute and nasty the next. But they have the goods.

[dozer wright]

I would start by calling and asking if they are even doing any walk in sales or Ppt.

O.p. I was refused Ppt by a number of stores on your list and had to make a appt 2 weeks out in Fremont at Ug imports. I'd start making phone calls if the stores dont even bother to answer the phone I would cross them off the list immediately. We are in a weird time with Ffls theres little to no inventory yet they wont do A Ppt. Yes I know theres little to no profit in a Ppt.

[Aircraftman]

I tried to find someone to do a PPT a few weeks ago. After calling at least 6 shops, only got one, Bay Area Gun Vault in Mt. View who is doing them these days. Haven’t been there in years but the guy on the phone was nice but warned it could take a couple hours wait. I gave up and passed on the sale

On another note what has happened to City Arms? Got a rude obnoxious guy on the phone who seemed happy to turn me down. The guy selling me the gun refused to set foot in their store due to previous negative experiences. Years ago I had good luck with them, but I won’t be doing any business with them now.

[OCEquestrian]

Let me start with a couple confessions. I haven’t bought a gun in about a year and haven’t even set foot in a gun store since covid.

I have a friend that wants to purchase her first handgun,
(Yeah!!!) and she wants me to help her out. I would also consider doing a PPT of one of my own handguns, but I wanted to take her to a well stocked shop in the Bay Area to check things out first. Does anyone know what local shops have decent availability right now, and are they gouging on pricing? Ideally we’d stay in the East bay - GFOS Dublin, Doms or J&R in livermore, city arms pleasant hill or elite in Castro valley. Open to other suggestions as well.

Also, what are the current rules and fees? She will need a firearms safety card, which I recall is about $25. And obviously the DROS, which I believe was increased to around $40? And another $10 if we end up doing a PPT? I’m going off memory from last year, so I’d this all still correct? Anything else I’m missing? Appreciate the help!!!

Has she been voting democrat? Let them remain unarmed and untrained!

[climber32]

Don't you think you'd be better off taking her someplace you could rent a few different types and let her try them?

Taking her to a store and having her see a few things is worthwhile. But who has any stock right now? Are there ranges in your area that rent guns? Or do you have a few handguns of different types that she can try?

In my experience, putting a few different types of guns in a new shooter's hand on the range and letting them shoot a few rounds is always the best way to do that. Even for someone who has never handled firearms in their life, it is rare that someone doesn't latch onto one type of handgun or another that they like.

[Saigon1965]

Best of luck OP in your search -


Have you called Rob Blank?

[BB1776]

I haven’t seen a well-stocked store in many, many months. Perhaps now that the Reps are expected to hold the senate demand for guns will ease up and we will see guns in stock again soon.

[dk94044]

take ammo availability into consideration

[naz]

[boopiejones]