The Internet certainly has changed how people shop; however, is buying a firearm online the only choice? According to recent survey polls online and NRA sources, when it comes to buying a firearm, most people prefer the gun shop experience over online shopping. People, in general, enjoy the fact the person behind the counter is knowledgeable and probably owns a gun. However, buying a firearm online can also have some advantages. For example, if you’re looking for a vintage firearm or a specialized weapon, you might have better luck finding one online. Additionally, there are some great deals and discounts that you can find online. On the other hand, going to a gun store can also offer a lot of these same benefits to consumers. The difference sometimes can be like flipping a coin. There’s always going to be the gun enthusiast who likes shopping online and those who prefer the gun store experience. There are a lot of advantages to buying from a gun shop, and here are the five reasons.

Reason #1: Local Economic Impacts

When you buy local, you help to support your local community business owners who do their fair share of supporting community members like yourself with free training seminars and sponsorship programs for the youth. As an illustration, some gun shop Harrisburg, PA sponsors are known for supplying local youth football teams with uniforms and safety equipment. Buying local puts money back into your own community and enables good-hearted business owners to make these sponsorship programs possible.

Reason #2: Customer Service

The level of customer service at a gun shop is second to none in most cases. There are some online sites that have a toll-free phone number and have someone you can talk to. They’re very knowledgeable and go to great lengths to find you the right gun. The salespeople at a gun shop are also there to help you find the right gun and answer all your questions. It’s nice to be able to see how a 9mm magazine is loaded with ammunition and inserted into the firearm before you buy it.

Reason #3:

The Correct Ammunition When you buy from a gunsmith, you have the added benefit of being educated on the correct ammunition to use for your firearm such as: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Semi-Jacketed (SJ) Semi-Wad Cutter (SWC) Wad Cutter (WC) Lead Round Nose (LRN) Special (RCBD) Depending on what you plan to use your gun for, there are different types of ammunition available that will fit your firearm. The salesman can explain all these various kinds of ammunition and make you feel confident in your choice.

Reason #4:

Accessories Most gun stores or armories will have a vast selection of accessories that you can purchase with your gun. From holsters to locks, apparel, gun sleeves, ammunition, tree stands, animal calls, scents, hunting knives, survival gear, tents, and so much more. So, how do you find a gun store in your area? It’s quite simple, just Google “gun store near me” or “armory near me” and the results will be displayed for you. The biggest advantage of buying your accessories form a gun store, you can walk away knowing you bought the right accessories for your gun, and if something doesn’t work or fit? You can simply exchange it that day.

Reason #5:

Access to Shooting Ranges Most gun stores will have either an indoor or outdoor shooting range, and if they don’t there’s a good chance they’re affiliated with one close by. You can buy memberships to the shooting range that offers a safe place to fire your weapon and improve your shooting skills. Some gun stores even offer discounted memberships if you bought your weapon from them. Having a shooting range to practice with is an asset, especially if you live within city limits where it’s illegal to fire a gun. Final Thoughts As you can see, there are a lot of advantages to buying from a local gun store and professional online gun retailer. The experience and knowledge you gain from a gun store is something you don’t get from some online dealers, but depending on the online business, they too can also have an outstanding customer service department with qualified representatives that can answer all your questions. In the end, it’s the personal interaction and level of service that makes gun stores the preferred choice for most people.