It doesn't really matter where you buy your gun. If you know what you are looking for, and have done a little research, you will probably know more about your gun of choice than the salesperson. Just go to a few stores and compare the prices of the guns you're considering. Joes is a fine place, so are any of the Gander Mountains or Galyans in the cities. You will probably find that the customer service is about the same at all of these places, and the price will be similar as well, so don't get to concerned about where you buy your gun. It's the same gun no matter where you purchase it.