Shooters Shop will have the best selection, but they'll be the most expensive. Fletchers prices used to be reasonable, but I don't know what they're like since Sean took over from his dad.
Badger's prices will likely be good, but do you want to shop there?
You might also want to call Cabelas in Richfield (262-628-5700). They seem to have decent prices. Not great, but decent.
Yep, what Dick said. Shooters must have a special deal where they get all the same guns, but made with Platinum parts.
They're literally on the street where I live in West Allis, but I'm almost never there. (Although if you like to dicker, you can TRY to say, "Look, I know the big online retailers sell that for $XXX.xx, but shipping and my FFL's fees are going to cost me an extra $50. Would you take $XXX.xx + $50 on it?" and sometimes they'll bite.)
Fletcher is more likely to have competitive prices when you factor in shipping and FFL fees for stuff bought online already on the tag. I don't know what their stock is like, they got robbed about a month or two ago...
Badger, for many/most of the same reasons Dick did when he also lived here in WI/Milwaukee, I avoid them now on general principles. And they're playing the 'FFL Shuffle' right now, where the current owner is giving his FFL up, and some other shell Co. or LLC is coming in to take over on Jan 2nd. I don't know what that means for their stock.
You might also want to check out the new Gander Mountian "Gun World" just north of Milwaukee in Germantown. Everyone says it's impressive, just to go see it, even if you don't buy anything.
However, my gut tells me that Dunham's sports might be your best bet. Dinky little gun-counter crammed in the back full of a few common Mossbergs, Remington's, and two dozen overpriced Curio & Relic milsurps from Century International Arms, no handguns... and staff that has to page a manager who barely knows what to do for a PAINFUL 4473/NICS experience...
However, they have the Bushmaster "Optics Ready" carbine on sale most every week for $799 from Deer Season through Christmas.
http://www.dunhamssports.com/weekly-circular/?id=11 (flip to page 5)
You won't do better than $750 online on that AR, and after shipping and FFL transfer, it would be maybe $780 going the online route, so that's about as good as it gets unless you go to something even cheaper, and less trustworthy, like an Olympic Arms "plinker", or wait patiently for CMMG parts-bin rifle etc.
or a sale on their cosmetic blemish stuff that's still 100% reliable.
Unfortunately, the Milwaukee Metro isn't a really great "gun shopping town". Your best opportunites are actually the big-box stores many places have, and a small selection of gun shops.
I'll check out those places. What about shooters shop and/or fletcher?
Also, since I (VA resident) can buy out of state,
And my dad, (WI resident) can do the same,
Can I buy one for myself and leave it in WI so I have something to shoot when I'm home?
Or would that count as a de facto FTF to my dad, and if so, is that legal?
(if considered a de facto FTF, and we are residents of different states, but are both allowed to purchase long guns out of state in our respective states, is any additional paperwork needed?)
Ideally, I would like to surprise him with the gift, even if I have to retain possession and do a transfer at a later date (even if that requires additional paperwork).
Has anyone done this and have advice to keep things legal? I want to absolutely avoid any potential infractions, including any potential of it being considered a straw purchase (which I don't believe it is, as he is legally capable of purchasing firearms in WI, as I've been there with him before at stores when he has, with full paperwork)
In WI, long-guns are cash and carry after a call to the NICS line.
It's not a straw purchase if it's a gift. However even the good gun stores will often give you guff or refuse to do that kind of thing. They're all so scared and paranoid about it these days.
IIRC, you can only buy long-guns if you live in an adjoining state/
As others said FTF is completely legal and unregulated in WI, but you must both be WI residents.
You could buy it, have it sent to an FFL here, and have your dad pick it up and fill out the 4473. I have a kitchen table guy I use and he's only $25 for long-guns, and $25 plus $10 for the WI handgun background check fee, with a two-day wait. He's extremely friendly, clean-cut etc. Is a real-estate agent on the side, and even has is SOT and deals in NFA stuff too. If you just want to get an AR from someplace like Cheaper Than Dirt, and have it sent to him, then drive your dad over there without telling him why as the "surprise" that could be fun.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ffldealers/FFLDealerDetails.aspx?sid=42875He's on file with most all of the big online places. If you give him a call, and tell him what you're trying to do, he'd understand and should be perfectly happy to help.
