Boo, disappointed

[41magsnub]

Went to whatever the name of the Canadian company that bought SW stores today and walk by the ammo counter.  I got all excited for a second, there were lots and lots of boxes on the tables where they stash the centerfire plinking ammo!  Then I get close and they moved some of the 2 billion cases of estate trap and skeet loads they have to those tables.  Those bastards!

[mtnbkr]

I'm going to miss Sportsmans Warehouse in Roanoke. They opened about a year ago (maybe a bit longer) and closed it in May.  :(

Chris

[AmbulanceDriver]

Haven't had a chance to go by the former SW here in Portland (Now outdoor outfitters)...

We'll see what is out there.  Maybe this weekend.

[Jamisjockey]

I wasn't aware that SW was going tango-uniform....

[41magsnub]

I wasn't aware that SW was going tango-uniform....

Done and over with, many stores were closed.  The remainder were sold to a Canadian company.

[Jamisjockey]

My experience with them was in Utah.  For guns and stuff they were a good shop, had a decent supply of fly fishing gear and local knoweledge.  Camping gear etc was cheaper elsewhere.

[mtnbkr]

The only one I ever visited was in SW Va.  At the time, it was the best selection of reloading gear in the region.  SW and Gander Mtn opened at the same time.  The wrong one closed. :(

Chris

[Jamisjockey]

Yeah not a Gander Mountain fan at all.  And after going into Green Top for the first time.....even Bass Pro is a joke....

[mtnbkr]

Yup, Green Top is almost like a Cabelas and Bass Pro distilled down to their essence and poured into a too-small building. :D

Chris

[Jamisjockey]

Yup, Green Top is almost like a Cabelas and Bass Pro distilled down to their essence and poured into a too-small building. :D

Chris

With grumpy old salesguys that really know what they are talking about and won't hesitate to share helpful knowledge.

[AJ Dual]

Or SW in the southwest burbs of Milwaukee was the best gunstore going as well, save for a small selection of EBR's, and not handling C&R/milsurps.

But on handguns, ammo, accessories, cleaning, reloading they were great. It too was only about two years old or so...

 

[erictank]

With grumpy old salesguys that really know what they are talking about and won't hesitate to share helpful knowledge.

Green Top rocks.  If I ever get to where I can start buying guns again (not likely for a long time, as the wife and I close on our new-to-us house on July 8th), I'm driving down there.  They've done right by me every time I bought from them.

[Bob F.]

What's a Green Top? Any in the Roanoke, VA area??

[mtnbkr]

Green Tops is a family owned hunting and fishing store near Richmond.  It isn't a chain.

Bob, are you in Roanoke?  I went to HS there, as did my wife.  We get down there about every other month.

Chris

[Jamisjockey]

What Chris said.  If you find yourself needing to go to Richmond, or headed to Kings Dominion, you must make time for a trip into Green Top.
I needed some heavy tackle spinning rods for the boat.  Wanted something specific, a dual drag "bait runner" style reel.  Bass Pro only had two types in that size.  Their tackle is pretty generic, too.  Not much walleye fishing around here, but you can find a complete section of walleye crap in there.  Headed 5 miles down the road to Green Top and nearly fainted.  Not only did they have a selection of reels that embarrassed BPS, but their tackle, fishing, and boating stuff is insane.  Big spools of braided line in multiple sizes and about $10 less than BPS (Bought 1500 yards of 40lb powerpro).  All kinds of stuff, stacked to the rafters.  Wandered into the hunting section.  Oh. My.  The used gun rack is a double tier rack, two sides, probably 40' long.  Big new gun counter.  Well staffed, there were 3 or 4 people just in the hunting section.  Had my kids with me, I didn't have time to browse.