Whats the stupidest thing you've heard at gun store/range?

[firefighterjohn]

Not one stupid thing but something I hear over and over from guys behind the counter: When someone asks to see a specific model of gun they are looking for and the sales guy says something like: "Well to be honest, that gun is unreliable/outdated/cheap/junk and THIS is the one you should buy." Or they say: "My buddy has a friend that knows a guy that had a cousin who was a LEO/Operator/Seal and he said this is the best one ever!"

That really burns me. Really? Instead of showing the customer the gun he wants to see, he completely directs him to something else. Just show him the gun he came in to see and then answer questions to learn more about the customer's needs and use. That's what a helpful sales guy SHOULD do. Sure, some customers are newbies but many have already DONE their research and want to see the gun firsthand. Listen to the customer...then help and advise! Is that so damn hard?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

4 years behind the counter at Galyan's, I heard a bunch of dumb stuff.

I think I have a top 50 or so.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Not one stupid thing but something I hear over and over from guys behind the counter: When someone asks to see a specific model of gun they are looking for and the sales guy says something like: "Well to be honest, that gun is unreliable/outdated/cheap/junk and THIS is the one you should buy." Or they say: "My buddy has a friend that knows a guy that had a cousin who was a LEO/Operator/Seal and he said this is the best one ever!"

That really burns me. Really? Instead of showing the customer the gun he wants to see, he completely directs him to something else. Just show him the gun he came in to see and then answer questions to learn more about the customer's needs and use. That's what a helpful sales guy SHOULD do. Sure, some customers are newbies but many have already DONE their research and want to see the gun firsthand. Listen to the customer...then help and advise! Is that so damn hard?

Very proud that I never did that, and never witnessed it at Galyan's.

 

[Trevelayan]

I overheard one of the gun salesmen in my local ruralking trying to sell a .22 short revolver to an old woman for self defense by saying "Its what the mob uses to execute people so it should be fine for you"....

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I overheard one of the gun salesmen in my local ruralking trying to sell a .22 short revolver to an old woman for self defense by saying "Its what the mob uses to execute people so it should be fine for you"....

...the .22 short isn't even a reliable suicide gun.

 

[WebSnyper]

Not one stupid thing but something I hear over and over from guys behind the counter: When someone asks to see a specific model of gun they are looking for and the sales guy says something like: "Well to be honest, that gun is unreliable/outdated/cheap/junk and THIS is the one you should buy." Or they say: "My buddy has a friend that knows a guy that had a cousin who was a LEO/Operator/Seal and he said this is the best one ever!"

That really burns me. Really? Instead of showing the customer the gun he wants to see, he completely directs him to something else. Just show him the gun he came in to see and then answer questions to learn more about the customer's needs and use. That's what a helpful sales guy SHOULD do. Sure, some customers are newbies but many have already DONE their research and want to see the gun firsthand. Listen to the customer...then help and advise! Is that so damn hard?

Agreed, not too many years ago, I went along with someone to a gun store that was located close to our work and not a normal LGS I would frequent. The person who was looking had some specific concerns, features he wanted in a gun that would be different than I would select, but were important to them, so did some research and had a few items that I thought based on those requirements that would meet the needs of the person who was looking and also be good, functional firearms.

Went in to the store to see those items if they had them, and the counter person never bothered to ask why, any requirements, or needs, etc just began to inform the person why those were bad choices (even though they were in the case of the gun store) and why only the wonder gun that counter person carried was best.

 

[Leadeye]

That one is confusing. S&W developed the 38 special, but it’s based on 38 Colt Long.

Close, but the diameter of the bullet in the 38 LC is much larger than 38 special and 38 S&W even though the cartridge case diameter is much closer. The result of heeled bullets.

That's coming from an old windy geezer.

 

[NHT3]

Latest comedic thing I heard, guy asked for a 24 round Glock mag. Response was I don't have one but I have a 32 round mag, you can put 24 in that.

I don't have any idea where to start. Anyone that has worked in a range has been stunned by the inept actions witnessed and advice that is passed around. IF there are 2 people on a lane there's a 90% chance it's blind leading the blind training. They believe they have been trained because uncle Festus knows his and that's who trained them. I still have pics I didn't post in the thread about it... If you are interested....
https://www.indianagunowners.com/th...aining-or-the-lack-of-it.450408/#post-7440905

 

[Leo]

I worked the counter and range at Applied Ballistics for a couple years. Hear lots of crazy stuff, and saw lots of poor firearm handling.

Anytime someone says what ever is their favorite is by far the best there is for something, just write it off.

Several people talked about "that's what they use at Camp Perry for the Nationals". I competed at the Nationals for 9 years, Service rifle Class, Match Rifle Class, PALMA and Long Range, State team and all. 95% of the time they were wrong.

If a guy was in the service, they mostly said they were Delta company, Green berets, or some other Special forces. Some went to great lengths telling me about all the details of the secret unit they were in. ( I guess secret forces are full of blabber mouths) Amazingly, many of them could not shoot very well, that always made me wonder. I had a guy that said he didn't do anything special in the service, he just drove a water truck. I liked him immediately, and he shot really well.

I figure it is a lot like fishing, where most of the 24 + inch Bass only cover 12 inches on a tape measure, and after you clean 30 fish there are only about 11 fish heads left in the bucket. Everyone gets to play legend sometimes.

 

[Leo]

The scariest experience was when I was at Bullseye in Kokomo. Two women walked in CARRYING Glocks IN THEIR HANDS! When confronted the loud one flashed her FEMA badge and said she had the power to shut down the range for official purposes. They wanted to shoot and got full sized silhouettes.

I offered instruction and the quiet one said ok, but the loud one said she didn't. I had been shooting bullseye and my gear was still on the range. My B-2 was not a perfect target but they were all scoring black.

I got the quiet one on target and she was holding about 14 inch group at 21 ft. The loud and threatening one shot a light off the ceiling and accused me of doing it, from 5 bays over. I showed her my target and assured her I did not miss by 5 lanes. She could not hold black on the silhouette target but said that was good enough. They walked to the car with the pistols in their hands.

Crazy should not be working for the Government, and sure should not be issued a firearm.

 

[two70]

...the .22 short isn't even a reliable suicide gun.

Yet it puts down 600 + lb. steer just fine.

 

[Bugzilla]

Does it count if he didn't say anything I heard, but blew a hole in his trunk floor trying to put his 'unloaded' Rem 700 in its case

Doesn’t count. This needs to go in the stupid things you SAW at a gun store/range!

 

[GIJEW]

Once upon a time, I was shooting at the west side don's guns. There were a couple security guards a couple lanes over. One had a MALF with his Browning Hi-power and BEFORE clearing it, looked DOWN the barrel to "diagnose" it!

 

[Leo]

Again in Kokomo, when Bullseye still had fishing stuff in the front of the showroom, a kid scared us all, and could have been killed. It was bitter cold and almost closing time. I tall guy with a long coat walked in with a ski mask on, just sort of stood there. Three guys that shot in the League were already in the store. That made 5 guys that were ready to fire. Without a word the stupid guy took the ski mask off and explained he wanted something for ice fishing. Not a bright guy. With the tension and the quality of pistol shooters, if the wind had knocked a box off the shelf, he would have never gone fishing again.

 

[Leo]

I'll bet every gun shop employee in every city can relate to how many times a young twenty something girl walks in and tries to buy a pistol or some ammo that they know nothing about. Sometimes she is with a man that looks and acts shady, sometimes he waits in the car. You know that she is not buying for herself. Whatever she wants, I just tell her we are out of it or that we cannot sell it because it has been recalled by the factory, and we don't get more good ones for about 3 weeks.

I never get why these girls are willing to screw their lives up with these thug types.

 

[Brian's Surplus]

Again in Kokomo, when Bullseye still had fishing stuff in the front of the showroom, a kid scared us all, and could have been killed. It was bitter cold and almost closing time. I tall guy with a long coat walked in with a ski mask on. Three guys that shot in the League were already in the store. That made 5 guys that were ready to fire. Without a word the stupid guy took the ski mask off and explained he wanted something for ice fishing. Not a bright guy. With the tension and the quality of pistol shooters, if the wind had knocked a box off the shelf, he would have never gone fishing again.

So, what happens now when lots of people wear masks all the time?

 

[Leo]

So, what happens now when lots of people wear masks all the time?

LOL that is a good question, we did not have that concern back then.

In today's life, it is a strange feeling to bring a money bag into the bank for a deposit with a concealed pistol and wearing a mask.

 

[Brian's Surplus]

I had a guy at a gun show once ask if I had a "clip" for a Smith and Wesson. I asked what model it was and he said it was "a model Glock". I asked him how many rounds fit in the "clip", he says 13. I then showed him the various magazines that would fit in a Glock 23, since I deduced that must be what he had.
In his defense, his "model Glock" clearly says "40 S&W" on the side of the barrel. These things can be confusing to many people.

A friend of mine once had a guy ask "how many bullets come out of the barrel at one time?"

I frequently get questions like: "do you have a magazine for a .22?". Umm, yeah. What brand and model? "You mean they aren't all the same???"

I heard lots of stupid things over the years. We once talked about making a book containing all the stupid questions we've heard. Unfortunately, I've forgotten more of them than I remember.

 

[Simon6101]

Where is all the ammo?

 

[Simorah]

I'll bet every gun shop employee in every city can relate to how many times a young twenty something girl walks in and tries to buy a pistol or some ammo that they know nothing about. Sometimes she is with a man that looks and acts shady, sometimes he waits in the car. You know that she is not buying for herself. Whatever she wants, I just tell her we are out of it or that we cannot sell it because it has been recalled by the factory, and we don't get more good ones for about 3 weeks.

I never get why these girls are willing to screw their lives up with these thug types.

Good on you. Hopefully some of them will wise up before they do get in trouble.