Wal-Mart Guns???
 

Do you guys think there is a difference in the guns sold at Wal-Mart than the guns sold somewhere else? Do you think walmart guns are of cheaper quality? I dont believe they are, I believe they are the same. However I was told by someone (One of my old mans friends) that walmart guns are cheaper made and/or blemished in some way.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

I would rather support my local gun shop owner who has been selling guns for years and knows the ins and outs of guns than go to walmart and by a gun from someone who used to push a broom around the store and doesn't know anything about guns, ammo, or hunting in general.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

quality wise....no. same manufacturer but i am with betheman on this one.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

I think the quality is the same but because they are a big corporation they can afford to drop their prices every now and then. Your local gun shops more than likely sell their guns at cost and because they don't have the same volume they can't afford to drop their prices. The way I see buying hunting equipment is that I will buy it wherever I can get the best price. Sometimes I buy stuff off of the internet, sometimes Walmart and sometimes the local gunshop.

As far as quality goes there is really no difference. Remington or Mossberg sell their guns to Walmart the same as they do to your local gun shop.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

same quality. a gun manufacturer is not going to stamp their name on a firearm and send it out knowing it is inferior to any of their other firearms. Wal-Mart sells cheaper because they buy in bulk from gun manufacturers and get better deals...which they pass onto the consumer. i buy from Wal-Mart and gun shops, i look at it this way...if the gun shops wanted more business from blue collar workers, then they need to stop price gouging on everything they sell. i know their over head is a little more due to them not buying in bulk but when they mark up some items as much as 50% to 60%, that is rediculous. i bought a scope from a local gun shop last year that i found on the internet (brand new from another retailer) for half the price i paid for it. this kinda pisses me off because i work hard for what little money i make.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

It's the same guns. The info you get from the person selling will not be the same, but as far as the guns, they are. Wal-mart is cheaper than most gun shops, but also don't carry near the selection. If you want a particular gun and they sell it at Wal-mart, buy it there. If not, buy it whey they do sell it. I have never heard of a gun shop not giving advice or helping out someone who already has a gun, just because they did not buy it from them. I would say buy the gun at whereever you get the best price. If you need info or want someone who knows what they are doing to scope it or bore sight it or whatever, take it to someone who has knowledge and experience and someone you trust.

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I would prefer the knowledge and customer service of the local gun shop

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Ive lost count of the amount of times Ive gone into walmart asking about a gun or ammo, in fact anything hunting related and have gotten "i don't know" as the answer. and god help them if they had the initiative to find out for you.

and no, there is nothing wrong with walmarts guns. its just that they buy so many in bulk that they get them for a cheaper price allowing them to undercut everyone else. they still come with any warranty that the manufacturer offers.

so apart from the crappy product knowledge they have to offer, they do have a good low budget range of firearms. and i have never had a problem with my walmart special Mossberg shotgun.

but if you want a great gun go to your local gun shop. get to know the guy, and you know you will always be looked after. your business means more to him than it ever will to walmart.

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The guns are the same quality but come on spend a couple more bucks and support a gun shop owner. Plus they know more about the guns. I have heard that the ammunition at walmart is hot loads and its lower quality!!!

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Why would Remington go to the trouble of making different (and inferior!)150 grain core-locts just to sell at Wal-Mart? I have bought a couple of guns at Wal-Mart. I don't need the salesman's advice there. I do my homework before I decide to buy. I bought my .270 from a gun dealer. I got him to match the Wal-Mart price on the riflethen I bought a scope from him and paid him to mount it. There's nothing wrong with being a smart consumer.

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couldn't agree more. I was out yesterday buying a box of 7mm-08 rounds for this upcoming gun season. I stopped by a dealer who was charging $37 for a box of Winchester 140gr. The same box at walmart was $22. Tell me what the difference is? There really isn't a difference other than the dealer over pricing. If it was a few dollars more, no biggie but the diff is nearly 60%.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

I can see both ends of the arguement. These days, with people losing their jobs left and right...I don't see why someone would pay a higher price for exactly the same item. Cut corners and save money where you can. Just my opinion....

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

I pay for what I want, the place selling it is irrelevant.If Wal-Mart has it for a better price I go there, but they obviously don't sell every kind of gun I want. If the 111 Gunshop just off the interstate has the pistol I want for a fair price they get my business, especially since Wal-Mart can't or won't sell handguns. I refuse to pay more just because of who happens to be selling it, that's just plain dumb.

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Im with most on I like to support local gun shops, if you do that they go way out of their way to help you with whatever you need.
-Jake

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im all for helping the local shops. however, the statement that local gun shops have the best advice is ridiculous. look at that guy who just said he was told the .270 is the worst whitetail gun because it doesn't knock down deer and u lose them.

walmart would not sell you a gun from Remington that is half quality or anything. its all the same if they sell it. they may not know what the hell they are selling, but atleast its a bit cheaper.

if only walmart sold cars/women.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

i'd say help the little guy

my father in law ownes and operates the local shop here in town called arms reach located in mountain home, arkansas. if ya'll are ever in my neck of the woods look him up!

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I'm fortunate enough to live near a couple Bass Pro Shops.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

Hit the nail on the head!!

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

This kind of question comes up a few times every year.
Find a buddy that has the model that you want, buy another one from Wal-Mart (or the gun shop if he purchased his at Wal-Mart) and take them apart to see if there are differences.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

If he's the one on Hwy 5 south of town, I bought a .17hmr from him a few years back.

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I would go and support the local gun shop. All the guns I've seen at Wally-World were made of plastic [:'(]

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

anyone who buys a gun should do their research before buying it anyway. So since you've done the research, buy wherever is cheapest.

Anyone who asks a walmart employee questions about guns/hunting is fooling themselves if they think they'll get a correct answer.

Like someone said above, research which gun is best for you, buy where cheapest, if you have questions later, take it to the local gun shop and ask. They won't turn you away just because you didn't buy your gun from them!

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I'm fortunate to have a buddy with his FFL. He makes enough off other guys to pay his yearly FFL fees so I get good deals. So I guess I am supporting the local guy. I don't have a gunshop/smith in my area anyway.

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I don't know why everyone is saying that the guns and ammo at walmart are of "less quality" or "inferior." An Remington 700 CDL is a Remington 700 CDL, whether it is sold at Wal-mart or your local gun shop owner. :eek:

I will say however, that the people who work at walmart don't know too much about the outdoors... [X(]

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Walmart has purchasing power. Believe it or not, the mark up on guns is zilch.. Its hard to pass up a deal, but most of what they sell is not high quality. They go bang, and a lot of companies have geared their production to satisfy that crowd. Thats how we got Remington 710 package deals. Its good to support your local guy as best you can. He took a big risk being in business for himself, most cases he's selling guns because it is his hobby too. Times are hard. I just had the same Walmart delima with truck tires. Could have saved $80 at Wally, but went to a local guy instead. Walmart never did me any favors anyway and at least he remembers who I am.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

I hate Wal-Mart I do not think they are very ethical in there business practice.

I hate the Local Dealer they treat new people to the sport with no respect at all.

Cabela's seems to have it right. They try to help out even the most Dense of customers but there prices can be a little on the high side.

I like to hunt. Money is Tight. I would find the best deal with someone who is going to treat you right & look out for your pocket book. But I would never support Wal-Mart. You might not find the same great Low Price that Wal-Mart provides but you can look beyond the local dealer & find prices closer to your budget.

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Now that is one dealer I wont mess with. There is one around here that acts like an a$$. Most overpriced stuff in town. Im sure he has his buddies that buy regularly, but how much will one guy spend? You have to give it to Wally though, they have incredible marketing. They have figured out how to strike consumers where and when and get them spending. Notice the new renovated stores? Go down the hunting isles and you'll see a lot of amateur supplies. That is their market. They aren't trying to appeal to people who are really experienced. If you are looking for an average gun, average scope, and average ammo, that is the place to go. Nothing wrong with that either, you'll probably get a good deal. Just not my thing.

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Compairing apples to apples the guns at walmart are the same. Walmart buys in bulk so they can get a great deal. Think of how many thousands of guns they buy each year. They are the single biggest seller of guns in the country. So they get a great deal and pass some of it on. Because, lets face it, if you come in for a gun you'll buy other stuff.

Now if you bought the exact same model from you local gun dealer he'd have to charge more. But the gun is exactly the same. And they carry alot of better models too. But they buy 2-3 of one model while walmart buys 20,000 of the same model, etc.

I like supporting my local shops, But if Walmart stopped selling guns....It would put a big hurtin on the gun industry. You don't wanna see that either.

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thats him!

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X2! I thought it was kind of ironic that someone with access to the internet would ask a Wal-Mart employee for advice on anything!

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u really think cabela's/gander/bass pro are ethically sound? they raise prices on crap just because people like you pay for it.

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Absolutely no difference. I've got many guns from Wal-Mart. No difference at all.

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I think you hit the nail on the head on what happened to the gun industry. So lets say some anti-hunting fella takes over for Wal-Mart.....guess where the gun industry goes.

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i shoot one and havent had any problems

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Oh yeah and they are already stopping selling guns in some Walmarts around here. Just wait I see the price of ammo going up ALLOT soon. Similar effect.

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Bad glad your wally worlds still sell guns, no wallys around here, even still sell muzzleloaders anymore.

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Everything sold at Walmart is made in China including the guns. That is just the way it is. The guns are inferior clones.

LOL

Seriously. Same guns. Gun manufacturers don't produce different quality guns dependent upon their sales destination.

But we ALL need to stay away from ANY shopping at Walmart for the simpole fact that even though you may save a few bucks, the majority of their products are of foriegn origin. Support out country - not others.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

Bought a youth model rifle/shotgun combo for my son 3 weeks ago at Dick's Sporting Goods that just opened near here. Price was great, did my homework, and knew about a rebate involved with it. Apparently no one there, including all the firearms sales staff, manager (who oversees said sales and staff) knew about it though. After a half hour runaround and enough time for them to print out the rebate online....something I could've done at home, we were good to go. I knew I was in for a tough time when the kid that was the head of the dept. looked to be about 22 or so years old. Then to top it off I threw around some gun make and model questions along with ammunition selection topics and this guy didn't know if he was foot or horseback.

Another of the reasons while I'm glad I have a gunsmith/FFL guy on my cell phone directory.

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It always amazes me that a multi-million dollar company will let its reputation sit on an idiot making $6.50 an hour.

RE: Wal-Mart Guns???
 

Think No I dont think they are ethically sound but if you compare one to the other Wal-mart is trying to put the competition completely out of business. Cabelas builds there stores regional. Wal-Mart puts there stores across the street from competitors in order to put them out of business. That is not ethical. In Michigan they have agresivley placed a store across the street from our regional store Meijer. This is a privately owned business who has no way to compete with wal-marts buying power.

Also Cabelas has people who know what they are talking about & dont treat customers who have a lack of knowledge about certain equipment. Like new people to the sport of deer hunting.

I dont like Cableas Nor do I spend much money there but the argument can still be made. I would rather buy my shotgun there for a little more money & be informed on the use & options for that gun then go to my local dealer who insults me because I dont know a lot about certain aspects of how a gun works.