Best retailer to purchase a handgun?

Or should I just try to find a local place and see if I can find a good deal?

If it will help point me in the direction of a particular retailer, I'm looking at buying either a Springfield XD or XDm.

if you know what you're looking for, you might try a pawn shop, or check around for a local gun shop with good prices and helpful staff. a lot of the time the sales people at gun shops can be a bit short or rude if you don't know exactly what you want as soon as you walk through the door.

gunbroker.com is a good place to check for prices. I know a couple good local dealers that offer great prices.

SGN has a "find a dealer" feature. You look in the mag for what you want, call the dealer, they buy it for you for a reasonable transfer fee. Also, www.cheaperthandirt.com has been advertising firearms now along the same lines, your local dealer handles the paperwork. http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SearchResults.aspx?catid=2046&site=All+Products&num=10&q=xd

I dunno how their prices fit with retail, but they generall have fair prices on their accessories.

And don't forget JG Sales: http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/springfield-armory/springfield-xd/cPath/16_374_491

They are a big advertiser in SGN. Same deal, you find a local dealer and they order it for you or it's shipped to them or something. The usual charge for handling the paperwork seems to be about $20.

Bachman Pawn and Guns in Dallas has a very good selection of new guns and unbeatable prices. But the old guys working there are less than pleasant. If you know what you want and dont need to ask questions they are the best place to go. But if you want to ask questions and need actual customer service then you should go somewhere else. That being said I buy most of my non-work guns from them because of their prices.

Just find a local dealer. Gunbroker is okay sometimes, but since there's no fees for posting an ad, some people just throw up stuff with ridiculous prices hoping someone will pay it.

Find a Springfield forum and ask what a good price is in your area.

z31maniac wrote: Or should I just try to find a local place and see if I can find a good deal? If it will help point me in the direction of a particular retailer, I'm looking at buying either a Springfield XD or XDm.

Ask someone you trust who shoots a lot to tell you the name of a local shop that is reputable.....you may not get the cheapest price, but you'll be money ahead in the long run.

Don't forget Wal Mart. Not all stores sell shooting iron, but if you've got one locally who does, ask. You might laugh, but they move a LOT of guns and get good prices.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php

Here is a secondary question. Even though buying a nice pistol, I have no intention of selling it, but if I were to sell it:

Do the different finishes like "Dark Earth" or "Olive Drab" end up with a lower resale than the black or two tone black/stainless steel end up being less valuable used?

You'll shoot your eye out.

stroker wrote: Don't forget Wal Mart. Not all stores sell shooting iron, but if you've got one locally who does, ask. You might laugh, but they move a LOT of guns and get good prices.

I dunno. When I bought my 10-22 at a Wal-Mart over on the nice side of town, they got all creeped out on me and I got the feeling that they had never sold the first gun. Being escorted out of the store by an employee after the purchase was a novel touch as well.

I don't think Walmart sells pistols, just long guns.

z31maniac wrote: Here is a secondary question. Even though buying a nice pistol, I have no intention of selling it, but if I were to sell it: Do the different finishes like "Dark Earth" or "Olive Drab" end up with a lower resale than the black or two tone black/stainless steel end up being less valuable used?

1988RedT2 wrote:

stroker wrote: Don't forget Wal Mart. Not all stores sell shooting iron, but if you've got one locally who does, ask. You might laugh, but they move a LOT of guns and get good prices.

I dunno. When I bought my 10-22 at a Wal-Mart over on the nice side of town, they got all creeped out on me and I got the feeling that they had never sold the first gun. Being escorted out of the store by an employee after the purchase was a novel touch as well.

That's their SOP. I was in Academy Sports when a guy was buying a handgun. The salesman was going through some odd pick up procedure. I think he had to pick it up at the register and they would walk him out the door there.