Restart the FFL thread?

[jessegpresley]

*****

[Black Majik]

I'll start.

For shops in OC there is:

Turners Outdoorsman. www.turners.com . They have decent prices on sale items, and are located all over Southern California. Sometimes there are knowledgeable people around, other times you get some dimwits, but all in all a decent store.

The Gunsight: Located in Fullerton, this is my favorite shop. Pretty much one of the few mom and pop shop left in Orange County. Best prices I've found, and best consignment pistol selection around here. George is a great guy, and a 1911 (specifically COLT) fanatic. Pretty good gunsmith

Flag Guns: Decent people, small shop. Located in La Habra. Sell FAB 10's, used to have some .50 BMG's for sale. Not much to look around at.

Cliff's Gunsmithing. Located in Santa Ana area. Rude people. Not very helpful. Only place in OC that sells Jennings and Ravens Priced pretty high though I did get a fair price on a 686-4. In the end, the transactione experience does not qualify me to give them any more business.

Grant Boys: Newport/Costa Mesa. Another hunting fishing store like Turners. People are nice but the prices are up there.

Fowler/Stockade: Best selection in OC, HIGHEST prices. Some of the people running that store are just plain mean. I've gotten stares, looks and some aren't very helpful. There are a few in there that will give me the time of day and are actually helpful, but for the most part the people aren't all that nice. Good selection for reloading supplies.

Ade's Gunshop: Ade's a GREAT guy. Located in Orange down the street from Fowlers. Spoke to him once, and he's a genuinely caring guy. Decent selection, decent prices. If you wanna order something I'd go to him or George at The Gunsight. Ade is now my new favorite person!

Army/Navy Surplus store in Orange Circle. High prices, not much selection, but fun to browse thru for all the military surplus gear.

ARMS USA. Nothing of a selection. Located in Anaheim. Used to be big on .50 BMG rifles, but now I have no clue what they sell anymore. Must have membership to buy from them. Kinda odd store policy.

EVAN's SHOOTERSWORLD. What a d***head. I'm not even gonna get into him, it'd take too much to type. But save your time, dont give him business. He doesn't deserve it.

On Target. Decent prices and selection. Located in Laguna Niguel. Best indoor range in my opinion.

[semper fi]

you might wanna try gunrunners in duarte i just found out about them a couple days ago and i would definently recomend them.they have a good selection on firearms somewhat decent prices and tons of accesories(tactical vest,duty gear,off duty etc) and they are good guys to deal with,also unlike many other gunshops this guy knows what hes talking about
626 358 7711

[TonyNorCal]

Good list above...

Black Magik pretty much has so cal covered...

Really there are two issues here....

1.) Who are the good FFL transfer dealers...
Keep in mind there are two basic transfers...

a. Is a person to person transfer. This means that both the buyer and seller are physically present at the FFL dealer/shop. State law only allows a dealer to charge $35 total (DROS included) for such a transfer, so you can do it at any FFL. The only caveat is some FFLs may not want to (although they are required to provide this service by law) and may tell you to come back later. So it's best to call beforehand before you and the seller head over.

b. Is a situation in which the seller is not physically present. The gun is being sent. If the gun is arriving by mail the FFL dealer can charge you whatever they want. And trust me, the price VARIES. So shop around. Be sure to specify the gun is being sent as I have heard people (a daler) use 'person to person' to refer to both even though it really only refers to a.


2.) Which stores have good prices/selection for inventory on hand.
------------
When I lived in So Cal I visited...

1.) Fowlers Gun Room and The Stockade...both owned by the same...good selection, prices are a joke.

2.) Tuan's Corp (Rowland Hts), unfortunately it's gone, was my favorite store...medium selection...good selection of used items...excellent customer service and that means a lot to me...medium pricing.

3.) Turners...as said above...selection, prices good (for Kali), staff can be dimwits and/or borderline rude, and can also be helpful.

4.) Martin B Rettings...good selection, fair amount of military surplus stuff...worth just going to browse around...service can be hit or miss...they can get pretty busy...I've had good and bad experiences there.

5.) Armory of Orange...I think this has closed...but if you liked military surplus this was a great place...princes a bit higher than online...but the guy that owned it was very helpful and would talk/provide info answer questions...did headspace checks on my guns, etc.

------------

Northern Cal

1.) Montana Hawk - prices seem a bit high to me, but there aren't many gun stores in the area and I am spoiled by buying online, I've had a few bad phone experiences with them, but in the store they seem better, some of their employees are good, some aren't. Ther have an indoor range and aren't range nazis, so it's enjoyable to shoot there.

2.) Helms House of Guns - I know some people like this place and they seem to have a decent selection. I've been there twice and would rate the service as uninspired. Not downright rude, but not as helpful as I'd expect.

3.) I called some store in Petaluma...BST Guns or something...and inquired about a Ruger PC-9...the clown on the other send first didn't know what it was then quoted me MSRP as their selling price. Maybe if I called back and got someone else it would get more realistic...but incidents like that leave a bad taste in my mouth.

---------------

FFL transfers (not person to person, but having it sent)....

Didn't do any in so cal.

NorCal...

1.) If you are near Guerneville Ron Reed will do transfers for $35 (yes that's right, for a gun that is sent, not person to person). The $35 includes DROS. For multiple long guns he charges an additional $10 per gun. This is a screaming deal.

2.) Two Rock Trading Company (Neal) in Petaluma was charging 55 (DROS included) but last time I was there he told me he was raising prices (I believe to $65, but don't hold me to it), but keeping them at 55 for those of us who had already done business with him .

Both of the above work out of their homes. Both of the above two have also been helpful and accommodating for two transfers that other dealers may have shied away from....my FAB 10 and an IMBEL fixed mag FAL...both are also good, decent guys.

If you research FFL transfer prices (and when you call be sure to specify you're talking about a gun which is being sent as some people will use person to person interchangeably, when it really means a case in which both parties are present) you'll find that generally shops are much higher than 'kitchen table' blokes. This makes some sense as a shop has much higher overhead and would clearly prefer you purchase their guns. However, some shops quote FFL prices that so outrageous they have the potential to turn you off to that shop altogether. I've been quoted 100++ for transfers and that's just silly. If shops like that were smarter they'd be reasonable...I would understand a shop saying 75 bucks, DROS included...so they make 50 bucks for doing some paperwork..so they make some money, the customer doesn't feel completed violated, and then that customer will probably come back and buy other things from you. Turning someone off by quoting outrageous prices doesn't help you get a loyal customer.

Another thing to ask is whether the FFL transferrer with collect tax. Ask upfront as this obviously affects the cost. Some do, some don't. More often that not shops do. Kitchen tables guys tend not to (although some do). I had one (which I haven't used yet) tell me he collects tax, but it's up to me to tell him what I bought it for and go ahead and lowball it as long as it sounds somewhat plausible.

Good places to look for FFL transfer dealers are...

GunsAmerica
GunBroker

I'd call all the ones near enough that I'd be willing to go to (remember it's two trips).

When you call....be sure.....
1.) They know it's being sent and not a person to person.
2.) Be sure the fee they quote you includes DROS.
3.) Ask if the collect tax.
4.) Ask if they'll accept a firearm from a private party (I haven't encountered this as an issue yet, but I've heard some FFLs only want to receive from another FFL and if someone is sending to you this can be an issue as it will increase their costs - and thus probably yours - if they have to use an FFL).

[stealthmode]

+1 for ADE's gunshop. its a small little shop but he can get you almost anything at competitive prices and he is a really nice guy.

[semper fi]

tonynorcal, it just happens to be that the guys from tuans opened up thier own store and thats that gunrunners place ,its the same stuff and twice as much

[TonyNorCal]

tonynorcal, it just happens to be that the guys from tuans opened up thier own store and thats that gunrunners place ,its the same stuff and twice as much

No Kidding? Which guys are there? Is the ex-Marine (can't think of his name at the moment)...nice guy, sometimes had his kid in the store...there?

[PanzerAce]

Here is what I want to know, How many Gunrunners are there?

[maxicon]

PPTs in NorCal - my experiences

Good:
Kerleys in Cupertino
Reed's in San Jose
Targetmasters West in Fremont

These 3 are all good folks, with no added charges and no BS. Sometimes people complain when they've been having a bad day, but generally, no problems.

Bad:
Sportsmen's Supply in Campbell - Extra charge for the handgun safety demo, extra "storage charge" if you pick up after the 10th day. Not shy about telling you they just don't want to do them.

Gun Exchange in San Jose - last time I asked (some time ago), they had an extra "storage fee" for the 10 day wait. I've never transferred there, so it may have changed - check for yourself to be sure.

Reed's Range - they don't do PPTs.


I haven't had any guns transferred from out of state, but I try to keep notes on who charges what. This is recent info:

Reed's - $150 plus $30 transfer fee.

Kerley's - Transfer from another FFL - $150 + DROS (new), $120 + DROS (used)
Shipping to another FFL - $90


max

[MinorDMaverick]

There is an 01 FFL by the name of Mark Harper, who does business out of his house in Lakewood. He charges $55 for accepting a firearm by mail (and $10 for each after that) and gives 10% off if you are in the CRPA or NRA. That is the best deal that I have found for accepting a firearm by mail. Flag guns wanted to charge me $100! Sheesh!

[BigMac]

Target Masters West is in Milpitas.

Holy Cow 150 bucks for a transfer!

[Corky43]

Ade's is the best. I have bought and sold through just about everyone in the O.C. area but Ade's get my PPT and non-collector gun business from now on.

[TonyM]

Holy Cow 150 bucks for a transfer!

That almost exactly what I was thinking.

[CriticalError]

Ade's is the best. I have bought and sold through just about everyone in the O.C. area but Ade's get my PPT and non-collector gun business from now on.

+1 for Ade's
Best guy in OC to do PPT and Ordering of new Guns by far.

[semper fi]

yeah tonynorcal it is the ex marine (paul) from tauns and the other guy