Hi SIGforumites. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have a road trip between South Carolina and central Florida coming up and am looking for recommendations on any local gun shops along the way that are worth a brief detour from the big interstates like 26, 95 or 75.

If there is one that is known for leverguns, that is even better.

Thanks in advance.

If I am not mistaken Top Gun Supply is in St Augustine fl.
I have never been to their store however I have ordered from them in the past and they are members here.

Certainly check out TGS, a supporter of the forum.

I know of a small shop in Stuart just off 95 that does lever-action builds. I can post if you are interested.

AAA Pawn and Gun is a unique place.

Last summer when I was visiting my parents, my dad took me to Shooters World near the Villages.

It was a great trip and I was able to get "hands on" a couple of pistols I was interested in for CCW.

I know there is one in Orlando and Tampa but I am not sure if they are all laid out the same.


From their Orlando website:
Shooters World Orlando is the largest indoor gun range in Florida. Brand-new 74,000 square foot shooting range and retail store is open to the public.

Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, GA on your way through Atlanta.

If you haven’t been, stop at one of the Palmetto State Armory stores.

Shoot Straight and Florida Gun Exchange.

Buffalo Bill’s Shooting Emporium for Cowboy Shooters and a lot more… good, down-home folks.

I have spent far too much money there over 30+ years!

quote:

Buffalo Bill’s Shooting Emporium for Cowboy Shooters

This would/could be a very very bad place for me and the other half

Off and on the last few years we have been wanting to get into Cowboy Shooting but finances have been a major hurdle.

This also goes for my father since he has an affinity for Henry lever actions.

Another vote for Florida Gun Exchange.

Florida Gun Exchange, Ormond Beach Location off 95

Shoot Straight Apopka FL Store, There is one in Casselberry FL too Central FL

Shooters World, Orlando or Villages Locations
Villages Location is off FL Turnpike/I75

Gun Gallery in Jacksonville is excellent with a great indoor range and Class 3 goodies too.

https://gungalleryjax.com/

Also as mentioned Top Gun Supply on SR16 in St Augustine.

If you're on I-75 around Gainesville (Florida), Harry Beckwith's is worth checking out: https://hbguns.com/

Mas Ayoob's story about the famous (at least locally) shootout at the shop is here: http://www.afn.org/~guns/ayoob.html It begins with his statement that "Harry Beckwith's Guns in Alachua County, Florida, is probably my favorite gunshop," which is something coming from Ayoob.

I went down there a few times in college and chatted with the man himself, who was exactly as you'd expect him to be.

If you care to take a drive down I-75 to Naples, Fla. you will find Cole's Fine guns located there. While I doubt you'll find any lever guns there you will find some absolutely stunning shotguns there. I would suggest you look into a Beretta DT11, price starts at a reasonable 9,900 bucks or so and tops out around 21,000 dollars for a fully hand engraved version with drop dead gorgeous wood.

BTW, he'll also be perfectly happy to sell you a nice base level Browning or Beretta at a much lower cost.

Note, the DT11 is one of the most highly regarded Competition guns and they do sell at the prices noted. Unfortunately for me I just had to spend my DT11 fund on a new heating and cooling system for the house.

This is certainly an unusual first post. After almost a dozen years since registration. You can’t purchase anything out of state, but I suppose it could be purchased then transferred to home FFL.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
This is certainly an unusual first post. After almost a dozen years since registration. You can’t purchase anything out of state, but I suppose it could be purchased then transferred to home FFL.

Had a buddy that did just that, flew in for an event, took him to a dealer and he bought a gun he couldn't find locally and had it shipped home.

quote:

Originally posted by DaveL:


Mas Ayoob's story about the famous (at least locally) shootout at the shop is here: http://www.afn.org/~guns/ayoob.html It begins with his statement that "Harry Beckwith's Guns in Alachua County, Florida, is probably my favorite gunshop," which is something coming from Ayoob.

That's quite a story, thanks for the post.

Micanopy is where they recovered my stolen (from campus a month earlier) motorcycle in the early seventies.

From the article:

The Ayoob Files
American Handgunner
September/October 1995

"Every case I've seen of a shooting with a lawfully owned Class III weapon has gone to a Grand Jury. Some of those grand juries have indicted.

However, every time it was provably self-defense, the subsequent Petit jury has also acquitted the shooter. Still, such trials are extremely expensive for the defendant.

(Interestingly, Florida is one of only two states, the other being Washington state, where an accused citizen found "not guilty" at trial can be reimbursed legal fees and costs by the local government.)

A good general rule for avoiding trial in a justifiable shooting would be, "Semi-auto yes, full-auto no."

I wonder if that advice might apply to other NFA weapons as well: Semi-auto yes, SBR's and suppressed , no.?

Man, SIGforum did not disappoint with all of these suggestions. I knew I was in the right place. Much appreciated.

My schedule was tight so I could only make two stops. I had hoped to get to Florida Gun Exchange but Shooters World in Tampa was like nothing we have in North Carolina. Like nothing. I had not seen that kind of selection other than at gun shows back in the day or Greensboro's Davidson's Warehouse events in the early 1980s. I really liked Shooters World's circular handgun displays that allowed customers to handle dozens of pistols without assistance.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

As for lever guns, they are pretty scarce right now, at least on retail racks. Maybe it is supply chain / logistics hurdles to do with Miroku in Japan or maybe increased demand because of Paramount Network's series getting everyone excited about the new and old west.

Peace,
Vince