Good San Jose Gun Shop?

[Carbuncle]

Hey all, I'm looking to buy my first firearm, problem is I have no clue what shops around here are reputable. I've checked yelp, but I think I'd trust your guy's opinions more.
Can you guys recommend a good, newbie friendly shop in the San Jose/South Bay area that handles HSC tests and every other legal hoop I'm gonna have to jump through to get a handgun.
Thanks for any help you guys can offer, and sorry if this is the wrong forum for this type of question, it just seemed like the most appropriate for me.

[Barbarossa]

Hello and Welcome.

What kind of shooting do you plan on doing?

As with anything CAVEAT EMPTOR!

Do your research, and feel free to ask anything here.

[Carbuncle]

Just target/home defense, first one I'm interested in is either the Rossi R97206FC or a S&W SD40. But I'd also like to get an Uberti 1858 new army conversion after that.

[dfens]

Most of the shops in the san jose area are reputable the thing is the price will be different from one shop to another. If I were you I would steer clear of the SW sigma save a few more bucks and get a glock if that is the type of semi auto you like.

Only trouble I've run into is if they don't have what you want in stock depending how hard it is to get one it's like pulling teeth and bashing your head against the wall. But both guns you want aren't that hard to track down vs what I'm trying to get.

A few places to try out Reeds in door range, Target Masters, Bay Area Gun Vault, Gun Exchange, US firearm Co, the list goes on and on.

Only place I would avoid is Kerleys and Sportsman Supply just from previous personal experience.

So depending on where in San Jose you live and if you want drive around buy from the one who has the best deal and or who treats you the best and feel deserves your money. If you ignore me or treat me coldly then I'll gladly spend my hard earned money else where.

[Wallabing]

If you want a good price on a handgun, drive all the way to Manteca to Bass pro.

Heck I used to do that.

[Michael735]

Could always try:

http://www.galleryofguns.com/

and have it delivered to the shop you want. Compare prices right on the sight. I've used them before and can vouch.

[Carbuncle]

Only place I would avoid is Kerleys and Sportsman Supply just from previous personal experience.

Thanks for the heads up about Sportsmen's as it's the nearest shop to me and would have been the first place I would have checked out.

[jedininja]

You are gonna spend more on gas amd time going to Manteca twice than any savings you will get. If you do go Glock, check out mparms.com. Small part time dealer, but great guy and some of the best prices in San Jose, especially on Glocks. H doesn't have a huge selection of things to try out though.

Have you gone to the range to rent a bunch of different guns to see what you like?

[den888]

For prices, TargetMasters in Milpitas. Reed's in Santa Clara is good also, but prices are a little better at TargetMasters.

In Fremont, I have heard good things about UGI Imports, but have not tried them yet.
(They carry little stock, but you can order what you like from them.)

http://www.ugimports.com/shop/

[WnP]

I did a PPt at Bay Area Gun Vault in Mountain View. They had a good selection and they're pretty well stocked.

[thbat]

TargetMasters in milpitas usually has a good pricing selection and good selection. They also do the HSC test. However, service is not very good. People working there are less than friendly. If you do decide to get a gun from there, be prepared to spend at least 1hr to do the initial paperwork and maybe another hour when you pick it up after 11 days wait period.
Reeds in santa clara has a decent selection but prices are higher than TargetMasters. IMHO, their service is better too.
If you are looking for single shot exempt / off roster, I will recommend Valkyrie Arms in santa clara. Good service, decent price. However, i dont think they do HSC test.
My recommendation, visit a few shops. If you dont like their attitude/service, dont buy and walk out.

[Gaspasser100]

Bought a rifle @ mount pleasant arms. He also has some hadguns @ reasonable prices. Valkyrie arms has some pistols too

[decepticon6551]

Most of the shops in the san jose area are reputable the thing is the price will be different from one shop to another. If I were you I would steer clear of the SW sigma save a few more bucks and get a glock if that is the type of semi auto you like.

Only trouble I've run into is if they don't have what you want in stock depending how hard it is to get one it's like pulling teeth and bashing your head against the wall. But both guns you want aren't that hard to track down vs what I'm trying to get.

A few places to try out Reeds in door range, Target Masters, Bay Area Gun Vault, Gun Exchange, US firearm Co, the list goes on and on.

Only place I would avoid is Kerleys and Sportsman Supply just from previous personal experience.

So depending on where in San Jose you live and if you want drive around buy from the one who has the best deal and or who treats you the best and feel deserves your money. If you ignore me or treat me coldly then I'll gladly spend my hard earned money else where.

Agree 100%

And if you go to target masters, go on a weekday afternoon, it's far less busy. They have a great selection & decent prices.

[ckyrulez]

Only place I would avoid is Kerleys and Sportsman Supply just from previous personal experience.

Thanks for the heads up about Sportsmen's as it's the nearest shop to me and would have been the first place I would have checked out.

I disagree. I've bought two handguns from Sportsmen's Supply in the past couple years and have been to the shop numerous times to look around. I've always had a good experience there. The only complaint I have is that the shop is fairly small. If you go in on a weekend, it's hard to move around in there.

You might also want to check out Reed's in Santa Clara and Eddy's Shooting Sports in Mountain View. Bought firearms from each place and always had a good experience.

All three places offer good customer service and they are always willing to help out & answer your questions.

[dfens]

Sportsman Supply has a ok selection and yeah it's small but they aren't perfect no shop is perfect in every way at least for me some have come close but I don't think it's possible.

As for Sportsman Supply they charge last time I checked 35 bucks for DROS not 25, what they do to stay legal is it's a dealer fee which they can charge but they make it sound like that is the standard legal fee which it is not. Plus their sign is small and way high on the wall not even someone with 20/20 vision can see it. So they trick people out of another 10 dollars and without advertising it's a dealer not state fee, they are one of the only places in town doing so.

Another time I saw a guy working their trying out a few holsters with the guns from the display case. Those guns aren't only display models they are sold to the public so I want to pay full price on a gun that has some holster wear that yahoo employee did that didn't come from the factory or customers.

Most of the guys that work their are nice and helpful but their prices are ok, and since I haven't been their in a long time I don't know if they do CA compliant rifles I know when I asked they didn't even want to bother.

Since they aren't the only place in town I know their are better shops to go to, as for Kerleys they have nothing in stock, their prices are the worst, and if you look young they treat you like dirt and that you aren't going to buy anything.

I've had good and bad experiences at just about every shop but I can understand that doesn't speak for how they operate all the time, as long as I get a good price or what I'm looking for I can over look it.