Heading for Wilmington, NC next week and looking for gun store recommendations. Interested in handguns, particularly 1911's. Thanks

I thought you needed to be a resident of NC and have a NC Pistol Purchase Permit in order to buy a handgun in NC from a Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealer. At least that is what I got out of one of my relatives.

Jelly is right, but you can have the gun transferred to your local FFL in VA and follow their rules, if you find a bargain.

The pistol purchase permit requirement also applies to individual sales regarding handguns in NC.

I believe if I see a gun I like and my wife isn't with me, I can purchase the gun and have it shipped to my FFL in Virginia, where I will do the paperwork and pick up the gun. Now back to the original question, anyone familiar with gun shops in Wilmington, NC ?

Jim's Pawn and Guns always had the widest selection.

BullZeye was also good.


Backwater Guns too.

Tiller and Lanier Guns was a hole in the wall where you might find a surprise.

Every interaction I had with Shooter's Choice was pretty negative. Among other things, they embarrassed me here by waiting a week to ship a gun I was selling to a member.

About 40 minutes south of Wilmington is Ant Hill range. They have matches open to the public every Sunday, if you'll be around for that long.

Thank you. That is helpful.

Shooters Choice has had some poor customer service in the past but I am under the impression that the ownership has changed recently. Anyway, it's off Gordon Road just before Market Street intersection if traveling toward Military Cutoff, the business is located line of sight behind the Speedway gas station.

Update....known as Best Shot Gun Range.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Best Shot Gun Range held its grand opening last weekend after taking over Shooters Choice.
Though the popular indoor shooting range in Wilmington has changed ownership, the new business owner plans to honor previous customer memberships.
Shooter’s Choice was an indoor gun range, store, and place to take shooting classes. It closed down unexpectedly in November and many customers were left wondering what happened. William Wright of Shipman & Wright, LLP, an attorney representing the business owner, said Shooter’s Choice closed down because of “staffing issues” and delays during the business sale.
A close family member of the new buyer was hospitalized and died during the process of closing the sale, said Wright. The owner did not notify customers through a Facebook post or an email, because he was not expecting the shutdown to last as long as it has.
Wright says lead violations issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Administrations cost the business $900, but the problems have been remedied. The attorney called them “non-serious OSHA violations.”
“All of those have been addressed," said Wright. "Now they are in full compliance.”

Also, there is an individual (home based) FFL that has a Facebook page listed as Triple T Guns that list some good prices or specials and can basically acquire most firearms in short order, at good prices. Believe he is somehow connected to a brick and mortar gun shop in Jacksonville which is about an hour drive north of Wilmington.

Couple more places;

DB Guns and Ammo
5310 Carolina Beach Road.

Pro Gun, LLC
4557 Technology Drive
Ste 5

Thanks for all the input. In two days, I have made it to Jims Gun and Pawn, Bullzeye and Backwater. While all were friendly and welcoming, my favorite was Backwater. They had the widest selection of accessories and the best display of guns. The handguns in particular were lying flat in well lit cases. With so many damn black plastic guns on the market today, it's hard as hell to know what you are looking at in a dimly lit case and all the guns sitting vertically or on a 45 degree angle. You also have to look hard to know if you are looking at a Wilson Combat or a Rock Island Arms. Bought two boxes of ammo at Backwater cause my mama taught me it's not polite to go in a gunstore and not buy anything. Thanks again to all for the advice.