When thinking of purchasing a new firearm, do you look around and then typically purchase it from a local gun store or online? Is your decision based on who has your firearm cheaper or supporting the local economy?
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Local gun store. Unless, it is a gun he can’t get, then I gladly pay him the 25-35 dollar transfer fee. I do what I can to keep my gun dealer in business.
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I look online but I always end up buying local, partly to support the local economy, partly so I can handle the actual gun I buy. Besides that, I have yet to see an internet offering that beat the local price, once you add in shipping, insurance, and transfer fees. At best they come out equal within a dollar or two. Usually they end up costing more.
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Always local. Need to keep the boys in business so they will be there for us in the future. They can always order whatever you want, and at least around here the local boys can match the big retailers or online prices pretty well.
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I buy online quite a bit. My LGSs, being in a small market, are usually right at MSRP. I have one that’s about 45 minutes away that has good deals, but he doesn’t keep a lot of stock. I usually handle the merchandise at Bass Pro or Cabelas and order from one of my online favs.
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I shop online, but if I can order it through my local FFL, or if he has it, I get it through them. If they don’t, like when I’m buying used out of state, I have it shipped to them.
If I’m buying private sale in MO, I don’t need to, but they get my business for most of my firearms purchases, one way or the other.
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I typically will buy from the local gun shop. Mainly because I can touch, feel, hold, see, etc. I’m also a person who at times has the patience of a 2 year old. Waiting for something I’ve ordered to come in is too long of a wait and painful for me 
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There are 2 locals I try to go to first. I press a little for their best price. I will try to buy from them, but, if the online price is hundreds less neither my heart nor wallet will let me do it.
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I PURCHASED MY FIRST GLOCK AT A PARTICULAR LOCAL SHOP BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD IN STOCK. I PAID TOP PRICE AND I DISCOVERED THAT THIS SHOP WILL NOT GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR MILITARY A DISCOUNT. IT PUT A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH. FROM THAT POINT ON, ALL MY PURCHASES HAVE BEEN ONLINE. I HAVE GOTTEN SOME GREAT PRICES WITH NO TAX THAT EVEN INCLUDED FREE SHIPPING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND A FRIENDLY LOCAL SHOP WHERE I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO PAY THE TRANSFER FEES.
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Sadly, not all gun stores are on our side. There was one in town here that advertised “Top Guns for Bottom Dollars”, but in reality priced almost everything at or near MSRP. On top of that, when I did go in, they weren’t particularly friendly. It’s no wonder they went out of business, I’m just surprised at how long it took.
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In my state (CA) online sales of long guns is now verboten so purchases have to be from a local bricks & mortar.
There may still be an exception for black powder repros----I don’t know for certain.
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We shop online to compare prices on the gun we are interested in then check the local gun shop and our local range. Purchased my .380 EZ from our range shop because they had it in stock. My Henry American Beauty came from our local gun shop because he could get it for about $250 below MSRP. We try to shop as much as we can locally.
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My FFL lives down the street and charges me 10% over cost. If he can’t get something I will have it shipped to him.
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I do both. Have an awesome local gun shop who has great prices and good transfer fees. I buy a lot from them, but I buy online sometimes as well.
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that’s pretty much me too… if my FFL can get it, I want them to have the money. If not, they get paid for the transfer.
A friend of our son is an FFL and would definitely go through him if the gun we wanted wasn’t available locally. My husband and our son took the Concealed Carry course he teaches.
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A mix for me. If my LGS has the gun then I do the math and see how their price stacks up to the online price + transfer fees. Most of the time they are close and get the sale, but I am willing to buy online to keep them honest. Online is not always the best price, a slow moving gun at the LGS or late Sunday at the gunshow can make for some nice deals.
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Thank you for your service, @Errol.
Remember, a lot of these places are small businesses and need to make money as well.
Did you know Glock has a Blue Label program for military and LEOs? (Glock takes the price hit instead of the small business.)
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I am always torn on this issue. My last purchase was a Gen 5 19 with Ameriglo and it was a 2nd iteration of Gen 5. I don’t like that grip notch on the earlier 5’s. I found one online for 110 dollars less than locally available, AND there was NO Tax! 25 bucks for the transfer. That’s nearly 200 dollars less and it was at my FFL in two days. Great experience.
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@EDC_always I’m with you on this as well. I like to spend my dollars locally but sometimes it’s hard to pass up on good online deals. When I bought my Sig, I found it online for over 100 dollars less than my local gun store.
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