Where to shop in Bay Area?

[ehwhoknows]

Hi everyone,

I hope I'm posting this in the proper section but if not feel free to move it. I just recently passed my HSC test and wanted to purchase my very first firearm. Was thinking either a glock or USP would be nice. My question is, where is a good shop to purchase from? I've been to TargetMasters in Milpitas and I've heard about HighBridge Arms in SF. Are there any other places which have good prices? Any preferred stores by members? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Whitney.

[Blue]

Irvington Arms in Fremont. I'd go to Target Masters and rent a few guns and find out which one you like, and then start shopping around for it. Just remember that you've gotta wait 10 days after you pay for it so if you're going to be waiting anyways, wait for a good deal.

[56Chevy]

I've bought a few guns from City Arms in Pacifica. Them and Irvington Arms are the best shops I've dealt with.

[lerroy1119]

I'd suggest stopping by HighBridge Arms first, and if you don't like what you see City Arms is only about a 15 min drive from HighBridge. Between the two I personally like HighBridge Arms better.

[rivviepop]

Since you said Milpitas, are you in the south/east Bay? As mentioned Irvington Arms in Fremont is the place to go, they'll help you pick out your first firearm and are friendly members of this website.

If you're in another part of the Bay Area, let us know which part - High Bridge and City Arms, for instance, are a heck of a drive from Milpitas - there are many closer than that to Milpitas who are fine, stocking dealers.

[ehwhoknows]

Thanks for all the quick responses everyone. I'm actually in San Francisco but I wouldn't mind driving a little further for better prices and service.

[rivviepop]

Thanks for all the quick responses everyone. I'm actually in San Francisco but I wouldn't mind driving a little further for better prices and service.

High Bridge is open tomorrow (Sunday) 12-5, they're closed Fri/Sat now so there's an easy one for you on a day noone else is open.

Next available Tuesday-Saturday 11-6 (aka "normal gun shop hours"), Jump on the 101 -> 380 -> El Camino Real (south) and go to San Bruno and visit Tabor's Shooters Supply, Frank Tabor has a nice large shop and a very nice selection of handguns in your category - and they're just a pleasurable couple to talk to as well. I really like going here, these folks are my favorite local shop - Mrs. Tabor is just as friendly as they come, and you get to pet a big dog too.

Get back on 380 west and go over to 280 and down to Pacifica and visit City Arms - they have a lot of Glock in stock and are another nice shop. I think they have more Glock than most other shops around and Dimitry knows his stuff.

Go back over to 280 then south to 92, go east on 92 and get off at El Camino Real again and go south a few blocks to visit Krausewerk Collectibles in San Mateo. They primarily have things not in your category but I saw a USP Expert on the shelf there once - but you want to visit this shop anyways to look at all the old WWII things they have. These are some old-school dudes with years of knowledge and I just love the flavor. If you're pressed for time save this for another day.

Either get back on 101 south or stay on El Camino Real and visit Imbert and Smithers in San Carlos - honestly I've only been here once or twice and the shop is always super busy (it's more like a sportmans supply place - think fishing & tackle as well as guns) but they're nice and sometimes you can find a deal here. If you're pressed for time you can maybe save these guys for another day as well.

Now take any bridge east and get thee to Irvington Arms in Fremont as everyone recommends, these are great guys and another good shop that'll help you out. Just search Calguns for all the good will about Irvington Arms.

Now go north on 680 up to Walnut Creek and make the required stop at Contra Costa Collectibles, this shop is like Krausewerks - one of the more unique shops full of really cool things that you just don't want to miss. They have shelves full of everything here smashed into one shop, I always run into Calgunners here.

By now your day should be over, just take the 24 west back to SF and get some dinner.

(this can all be done on a motorcycle from 12-5, can't speak about being stuck in a four-wheel cage though)

[M. Sage]

Thanks for all the quick responses everyone. I'm actually in San Francisco but I wouldn't mind driving a little further for better prices and service.

I like City Arms (then again, I can walk to City Arms), and was pretty happy shooting at Bullseye.

You can try different guns at Bullseye, though, and if you buy a handgun from them, they let you shoot it during the 10 day wait.

[code33]

You mention Glock or HK. Have you fired any of them or others?

Perhaps going to the range with friends to try out different models prior to purchasing if you are new to shooting.

Make City Arms one of your stops.

[Soldier415]

We'd love to see you at Bullseye. We have all the models of glocks for rent, as well as the HK USP.

If you want to come in, you can shoot them all and find the one that feels right for you. If you buy the gun that day, we waive all your lane fees and gun rental fee ad all you pay for is the ammo you shot.

Shoot me a PM and we will set up a time to chat

Dan

[rivviepop]

BTW: I botched that, go down 280 -> Pacifica to City Arms *first* then swing up to 280 -> 380 -> El Camino Real to Tabor's. That's a more efficient driving route.

[M. Sage]

If anybody's going to City Arms, PM me ahead of time. There's a great Thai place across Hwy 1 from there.

[rivviepop]

We'd love to see you at Bullseye. We have all the models of glocks for rent, as well as the HK USP.

You guys need a bunch more shops up North so I can have a cool "10 shop route" for the North Bay as well. I just wish there wasn't so much bridge & water between us, me on the very south side of SF and all.

[ehwhoknows]

Wow, big thanks to rivviepop for the huge tour suggestion! I'll definitely be looking into a couple of these places. I usually frequent Target Masters cause a friend prefers it but it sounds like Bullseye sounds like a good place to check out as well. Thanks again for all the help everyone, I never knew there were still so many gun places around!

[Xerxes]

A bit of a drive but...

http://www.gunsfishing.com/

One of the best for oogling an aahhing....

Nice selection

A few good prices as they had M-44/91 Mosins for $89 everyday price, some Springfields for $1300 and one used for $1100, and 300rds/7.62X54R surplus for $60, and some little cute 22LR kid toy bolt rifles for $89 in a bucket on the counter (came in every color of stock imaginable) for what I saw about 6 months ago.

That was it in decent prices though. Else everything else was way expensive/full list retail.


I especially hated the way they hung the pistols off of 1/4" threaded bolts through the barrels (though they were dipped in epoxy of some kind but not all bolts were fully coated).

If ya just want to look what is out there, especially ammunition since it is out on the floor with every caliber known to mankind, or just want convenience and willing to pay full list retail then I recommend them. They also have shooting lanes available.

I was tempted to support them more than just the 300rds of 7.62 that I bought just because they were attempting to do a good job at supporting the firearms community, just that there prices were god awful high on everything I wanted and I knew I could get cheaper elsewhere by allot.