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Austin gun store recommendation? #5864612 08/05/15 06:53 PM
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Dien Offline OP
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Any good gun stores in Austin to check out? Driving down there tomorrow.

Looking at bolt actions with chassis systems, 1911/2011s?

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5864629 08/05/15 07:06 PM
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McBride's. Parking is a pain and some of the old farts behind the gun counter are your typical grumpy PITA gun clerks, but it's a fairly decent store. 'Been around a long time.


...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5864659 08/05/15 07:23 PM
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Just to McBride's - from my personal opinion (your experience may vary). It is the most expensive and least welcoming store in the town. I always feel bad when I visit them because how they treat me plus it is so apparent that the only goal is to make me spend more money.

Example: I wanted to buy ammo for AR-15 - not mine and I got note from the owner to get .223R. I explain the situation to the seller and he realized that I'm newbie in AR so he started to push me to buy 5.56 NATO, explaining how this AR-15 is for sure chambered for this caliber and how I should not get the .223. When I kept insisting on .223 he almost made fun of me but on the end he get me some pack. When I looked on the price I realized that they have promo on .223 and it was significantly cheaper. So he just tried to f*ck me over and make me spend more money. (yes I know and did know even then that most AR-15 are ok with both calibers and that 5.56 would have better ballistic but for what I wanted to do 223 would do just fine).

Very similar experience when I was looking for my first shot gun. Just trying to sold me the most ridiculous [censored] when they realized I'm new into it...

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5865417 08/06/15 02:51 AM
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I am very familiar with McBrides and stop in while I'm in the area. There is a sense of "grumpy and elite" behind the counter. With that being said they have a large selection of firearms. I prefer not to deal with this shop.

My favorite gun store is Sportsman's Finest in Bee Caves just east of Austin. Great customer service and a wide range of firearms in the better to best category.


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Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5865560 08/06/15 04:45 AM
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I live in Austin and McBride's is well know and rightly so for EXTREMELY high prices and poor customer service.

In one case as a friend of mine took a brand new S&W pistol back to them after firing 50rnds and contacting S&W because of the endless malfunctions.

S&W said "take it back to the store and they will send it to us no charge under warranty".....McBride's tried to charge him for returning it and S&W told him to NOT PAY THEM.

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5865579 08/06/15 05:37 AM
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I like Jeff at McBride's he is a good dude and very helpful.

The other sales guys are kind of old and grumpy. They do generally carry a good selection of high quality guns. I have never experienced the high pressure sales job. It is a little stiff in the store...

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5865848 08/06/15 02:12 PM
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Sportsmans in Beecave, its west of Austin off 71

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5865909 08/06/15 02:44 PM
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The guys at McBride's are arrogant and mostly rude (I would use other words if not on the forum). They act like its a pain to show guns or answer questions, if you aren't one of their regulars you will not be treated as you should. As stated above they are also expensive.

Go to sportsman's or try Academy off William Cannon, its one of the larger stores with a large selection. Even cabela's in Buda is cheaper and friendlier

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5865929 08/06/15 02:53 PM
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From what the more frequent visitors to McBride's have said, it sounds like Nagel's down here (San Antonio). However, it is darn few gun stores I've been in that don't have the "we don't have to be courteous 'cause we're in the most macho business there is" attitude. Guys that have any customer skills whatsoever usually move on to something they can make a lot more money at.


...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5866003 08/06/15 03:34 PM
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Funny, I've been shopping at McBrides for a long time, like close to 20 years, and I've never experienced what others are spouting off here. They can be very busy at times and might not always have the time to chew the fat with tire kickers, but I've never found them to be discourteous or rude. More often I've been in there and the guys were more then happy to show me guns I was interested in and them make good suggestions based on what I asked for. For example, I was in there one time and looked at a Winchester M70 they had on the used rack. I put it back and went on browsing for a few minutes and the guy came back and got me to show me a nice Pre-64 they had just taken on trade. Not a high pressure sales ploy, he thought I might be interested in it. I don't find them to be overly expensive either. I've been shopping for a Winchester Extreme Weather in 300 WSM for a while. They haven't been easy to find lately in that caliber. McBride's had on on the rack for a price that was competitive with what I'd have paid if I ordered it online (if I could find one) and paid shipping and FFL transfer, etc, still well below MSRP.

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5866339 08/06/15 06:54 PM
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Sounds like the mcbride dudes need to hang out with the gunmaster dudes in Plano. Good stores with old crotchety people behind the counter

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Triplesnake] #5867017 08/07/15 12:46 AM
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Originally Posted By: Triplesnake
Funny, I've been shopping at McBrides for a long time, like close to 20 years, and I've never experienced what others are spouting off here. They can be very busy at times and might not always have the time to chew the fat with tire kickers, but I've never found them to be discourteous or rude. More often I've been in there and the guys were more then happy to show me guns I was interested in and them make good suggestions based on what I asked for. For example, I was in there one time and looked at a Winchester M70 they had on the used rack. I put it back and went on browsing for a few minutes and the guy came back and got me to show me a nice Pre-64 they had just taken on trade. Not a high pressure sales ploy, he thought I might be interested in it. I don't find them to be overly expensive either. I've been shopping for a Winchester Extreme Weather in 300 WSM for a while. They haven't been easy to find lately in that caliber. McBride's had on on the rack for a price that was competitive with what I'd have paid if I ordered it online (if I could find one) and paid shipping and FFL transfer, etc, still well below MSRP.


This has been my experience as well, been shopping there since I was a kid and have nothing but positive things to say. I've never once felt or seen what others are saying but I'm not calling them liars either. I've also heard every single complaint listed above about cabelas, academy, and every other gun store at one time or another as well. I will say this, they have been in business a long time and usually have a ton of people in the store so they can't be that big of turds to every customer or that place wouldn't be packed as soon as they open.

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5867268 08/07/15 03:23 AM
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McBrides is always busy. I bought a handgun there a few years ago, people were helpful but not chatty. I've heard good and bad about them. I live close enough to Cabelas to go there.


"I was called by the Yorkers a outlaw, and later by the english a rebel" Ethan Allen
Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5867368 08/07/15 04:44 AM
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Mcbrides is good for lots of reasons.... Guns on one side silver and gold on the other side, and pretty much everything else in the middle!
Have bought there at great prices and maybe not at great prices, but have never encountered poor service....somewhat of a pain to get to and park but worth it in my not so humble opinion!

Live close enough to reds in oak hill and like it as well....can't beat the indoor range....have encountered some cranky service there but nothing that's deterred me form going back.....both places above have always beat cabelas prices at least for what I was looking for at the time, for what it's worth

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Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5867391 08/07/15 05:53 AM
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Gt distributors just be sure your ready to buy the used gun counter prices will open any wallet. I mean than in a good way they are so cheap on used guns it isn't funny.

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Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: HuntFish512] #5868136 08/07/15 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted By: HuntFish512
Gt distributors just be sure your ready to buy the used gun counter prices will open any wallet. I mean than in a good way they are so cheap on used guns it isn't funny.


This is so true. I have to stay out of that place, even though it is right between my house and my office I could go there every day and get in trouble.

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5868794 08/08/15 03:08 AM
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I've been going to McBride's for almost 25 years, since I was barely a teenager, and even worked there a time or two in college. I've always had friendly, professional service, even when I was a 13-15 year old wanting to look at, hold, and ask questions about the newest things in the cabinet. Much later, when I worked there the first time, I found the prices were slightly higher than the cheapest I could find other places, but never more than 10% above cost; even in today's redistribution of wealth phenomena, 10% profit margin on firearms shouldn't be considered excessive. What I did get for my 1-4% more than I might pay at Academy or elsewhere, was knowledgeable answers and support after the sale in the few cases it was needed. I can't tell you how many Remingtons I bought in the '90s to early 2000s that hadn't ever been serviced for the 1983 safety recall that expired around 1989, but McBride's gunsmiths fixed all of mine for the cost of an inexpensive part. A buddy bought a new 1911 that had problems when he shot it, they fixed it for free and tuned it a good bit better than was probably necessary. I won't suggest that anyone who feels they had a bad experience at McBride's is mistaken. I will say that as a tire kicker, a customer, and a short-time employee, I saw plenty of stupid questions, but only the ones asked by those with attitude might receive it back. Now if you aren't used to old men, you might take gruff as rude and there is a lot of gruff around there! McBride's is a unique place in Austin, even more so for the past couple decades as a target of the City of Austin. McBride's will keep my business when I pass through town; I've never had a good experience at a firearms counter in a Cabela's anywhere.

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5869196 08/08/15 04:23 PM
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TEX-GUNS on Manchaca just north of Stassney on west side of the street, small, but friendly, & excellent customer service.


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Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5869282 08/08/15 06:14 PM
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McBrides is what I consider a real gun store. If it shoots there is a good chance they have it somewhere in the building. There are very few of those types of stores still around.
The big boxes only carry the top sellers in a few calibers or gauges and have no selection really.
If you want a 700 .270 win synthetic stock go to a big box.
If you want a 30-378 WBY or a 6.5 or a 28 ga go to McBrides.

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5872984 08/11/15 05:51 AM
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Tex Guns would be my choice first. Lived in the area all my life and have bought countless guns and only one from Mcbrides. I went to school with his grand daughter and have a good friend from High School that works there but cant seem to spend any time or money there.


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Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5872985 08/11/15 05:51 AM
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Guns Plus in Georgetown Texas is not bad also


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Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: TexasVine] #5873018 08/11/15 10:39 AM
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Originally Posted By: TexasVine

My favorite gun store is Sportsman's Finest in Bee Caves just east of Austin. Great customer service and a wide range of firearms in the better to best category.


That's a nice shop. I've bought one rifle from them because I wanted the rifle sooner than I could get it if I ordered it online, and they worked with me on the price.


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Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5873342 08/11/15 02:45 PM
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Sportsmans finest is a great gun shop/fly shop. Was there this past Saturday, got on the list to be called when they get the Ruger precision in

Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5873380 08/11/15 03:08 PM
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I have lived here since 90..
My response would be "what are you looking for ?"

Your answer will greatly effect mine.

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Re: Austin gun store recommendation? [Re: Dien] #5879755 08/15/15 03:53 PM
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Funny, I went into mcbrides yesterday to have them look at an 1100 that I snapped a part out of. The gunsmith stopped what he was doing and fixed it for me on the spot. Couldn't have been nicer.

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