Last week (or so) I got myself an AR15. I really like it. I got it from Dan at Gun Connection, which is just about an hour and a half away from me. Im very very happy with it, and now I am beginning to accessorize. I need a more local place to get my stuff, and didn’t really know where to go so I decided to do some shopping around to see what places I liked and where I should try and go to when I need stuff. Because I dont post much, and I dont know anyone on here in real life, I figured I could go in as a fresh new customer to each store and see what I liked. I went into each store and bought stuff that totaled around 100 dollars. Some places I basically threw my money away, while I did find a store or two that I liked. I don’t want a cookie for showing how much money I spent, but I do want to make a valid point that I came in and inquired about a few items. I should have been a decent target with what I was looking for (hmm not a REAL target but atleast a customer they could have made a buck off of) it wasn’t like I just walked in and asked for something small. Here are my experiences with each store. These are just my opinions...
About 2 weeks ago, I made the hour and a half trip to Gun Connection to purchase an AR15 that I really wanted. Dan was having his Extended Memorial Day sale, and the price for the AR I wanted was really nice so I decided to scoop one up. I am very happy I did. When I first walked in, I was greeted kindly by the staff, and then got in line that there was. From all the hoopla I have heard on this forum, I would have thought Gun Connection would have been bigger than it actually was. Either way, I was very happy with the service I received. The paperwork was filled out quickly, with the help of a man (sorry forgot his name). After the process of the paperwork, I was showed how to clean the gun and also they recommended a few cleaning supplies that I would need. After all of this (this is my first AR and my first gun), it was very nice that they took the time out to go over everything. I was quite impressed how they sold about 4 or 5 guns while I was in the store. The only thing I forgot to buy was some of Dick’s nuts! I would give Gun Connection an A overall. On a side note, I think I met a few people from MDShooters while at the store, but I did not introduce myself saying I was one. I believe this was Thursday the 10th, so if you were in there around 4 or 5 I was in there, and if you are reading this please let me know if you were! There was a guy in the Navy MDS shirt that I talked to, so I definitely know that guy was a member on here.
So my search for a good local gun store continued to Engage Armament in Kensington. Their store was nicely laid out, and I was greeted right as I walked into the store, but from then on I was kind of neglected. The store people seemed to be there to socialize amongst themselves, they really didn’t seem to care about the people lurking in the store. I didn’t feel really comfortable being in there. The prices were not as ridiculous as I was expecting, but they were a little high. I don’t mind paying a few extra bucks for stuff that you see cheaply on line because I would like to find a nice local place and this place was acceptable. I didn’t really look at the prices on guns, because I was not there to buy one. Either way, id give this place a C overall.
Next, I took a ride out to The Gun Rack in Burtonsville. Their store was a decent size, but it was very dark and they did not greet me at all. I had to start the conversation with the guy behind the counter. I asked for what I was looking for, he said they were over in the corner (and pointed) and then said we probably don’t have any. I then went over and found 3 or 4 of what I was looking for. I then asked if this would fit on my AR and he said yes. Sadly, they don’t really fit. I had to do some modifying and overall, I have felt like I have wasted my money. I would give this store a D+, relying on how close it is to me its only positive thing. Their prices were decent on a few things that I looked at, so that is something else that was positive about the store.
Atlantic Arms was another place I visited. It is a little further than the rest, but I was greeted kindly. I told them I was just looking around, which I was, and a few other times when I was looking at the things they carried they asked if I would like to hold/see something out of the glass cases. Their prices on a few things were really nice, but at the same time the prices on some other things were a little higher than at the other stores I visited. I would give this place a B-. They excelled at customer service, were ok on prices, and it was a nice and big store where they could carry quite a bit of guns, more than any of the other stores had on the showroom floor.
Lastly, I visited 2A Sales in Jessup. It was the farthest of them all, but it was the best close store to me in my opinion. I was greeted kindly when I walked in. There were 4 other people in the store when I got there, so I just started looking around. The owner (id assume, don’t know his name) was very kind to me and to the other customers. While he was selling a 522 to another customer a guy named Joe walked in and helped me. I was interested in pmags, but they didn’t have any. I was also interested in getting a stock, and a rail. I didn’t end up getting the rail because I changed my mind while I was there, but I did get a stock, another magazine that Joe recommended to me (which was helpful) and I also got a Magpul MOE grip. I was very happy with the service, as well as I got what I wanted. I would give this place a A- just because it didn’t have a few other things I was interested in looking at. I also forgot my MDShooters Magnet. Im really really mad about that actually. Oh well, seeing as 2 A will have my business im sure it wont be long until they see me again…so I can pick up some other goodies and my magnet!
Again, these are just my opinions. maybe I hit a store on an 'off day' but im glad I know where I would like to spend my money now!
Also, sorry for the long-ish post. I had alot to say!
About 2 weeks ago, I made the hour and a half trip to Gun Connection to purchase an AR15 that I really wanted. Dan was having his Extended Memorial Day sale, and the price for the AR I wanted was really nice so I decided to scoop one up. I am very happy I did. When I first walked in, I was greeted kindly by the staff, and then got in line that there was. From all the hoopla I have heard on this forum, I would have thought Gun Connection would have been bigger than it actually was. Either way, I was very happy with the service I received. The paperwork was filled out quickly, with the help of a man (sorry forgot his name). After the process of the paperwork, I was showed how to clean the gun and also they recommended a few cleaning supplies that I would need. After all of this (this is my first AR and my first gun), it was very nice that they took the time out to go over everything. I was quite impressed how they sold about 4 or 5 guns while I was in the store. The only thing I forgot to buy was some of Dick’s nuts! I would give Gun Connection an A overall. On a side note, I think I met a few people from MDShooters while at the store, but I did not introduce myself saying I was one. I believe this was Thursday the 10th, so if you were in there around 4 or 5 I was in there, and if you are reading this please let me know if you were! There was a guy in the Navy MDS shirt that I talked to, so I definitely know that guy was a member on here.
So my search for a good local gun store continued to Engage Armament in Kensington. Their store was nicely laid out, and I was greeted right as I walked into the store, but from then on I was kind of neglected. The store people seemed to be there to socialize amongst themselves, they really didn’t seem to care about the people lurking in the store. I didn’t feel really comfortable being in there. The prices were not as ridiculous as I was expecting, but they were a little high. I don’t mind paying a few extra bucks for stuff that you see cheaply on line because I would like to find a nice local place and this place was acceptable. I didn’t really look at the prices on guns, because I was not there to buy one. Either way, id give this place a C overall.
Next, I took a ride out to The Gun Rack in Burtonsville. Their store was a decent size, but it was very dark and they did not greet me at all. I had to start the conversation with the guy behind the counter. I asked for what I was looking for, he said they were over in the corner (and pointed) and then said we probably don’t have any. I then went over and found 3 or 4 of what I was looking for. I then asked if this would fit on my AR and he said yes. Sadly, they don’t really fit. I had to do some modifying and overall, I have felt like I have wasted my money. I would give this store a D+, relying on how close it is to me its only positive thing. Their prices were decent on a few things that I looked at, so that is something else that was positive about the store.
Atlantic Arms was another place I visited. It is a little further than the rest, but I was greeted kindly. I told them I was just looking around, which I was, and a few other times when I was looking at the things they carried they asked if I would like to hold/see something out of the glass cases. Their prices on a few things were really nice, but at the same time the prices on some other things were a little higher than at the other stores I visited. I would give this place a B-. They excelled at customer service, were ok on prices, and it was a nice and big store where they could carry quite a bit of guns, more than any of the other stores had on the showroom floor.
Lastly, I visited 2A Sales in Jessup. It was the farthest of them all, but it was the best close store to me in my opinion. I was greeted kindly when I walked in. There were 4 other people in the store when I got there, so I just started looking around. The owner (id assume, don’t know his name) was very kind to me and to the other customers. While he was selling a 522 to another customer a guy named Joe walked in and helped me. I was interested in pmags, but they didn’t have any. I was also interested in getting a stock, and a rail. I didn’t end up getting the rail because I changed my mind while I was there, but I did get a stock, another magazine that Joe recommended to me (which was helpful) and I also got a Magpul MOE grip. I was very happy with the service, as well as I got what I wanted. I would give this place a A- just because it didn’t have a few other things I was interested in looking at. I also forgot my MDShooters Magnet. Im really really mad about that actually. Oh well, seeing as 2 A will have my business im sure it wont be long until they see me again…so I can pick up some other goodies and my magnet!
Again, these are just my opinions. maybe I hit a store on an 'off day' but im glad I know where I would like to spend my money now!
Also, sorry for the long-ish post. I had alot to say!
I have a new place to hang out and spend my money CASH or CREDIT/DEBIT 2A Sales ROCK!!! thanks to mark and Joe! 
i havent even thought about Gun Rack.....till now ERRR!
