Moving to Austin

[tommyg]

For the past couple of months my boss has been
talking about moving me to Austin from Arlington.
Well he went thru with it and I'm
moving in a couple of weeks. Like it or not.

I know the owners of Mc Brides but that is about all

Does anybody have any gun related info on Austin that will be useful????

[straybrit]

So far the best shop I've found is Heritage (intersection of Anderson Mill and 183). Reasonable with trade-ins and don't bull you like some of the 'better known' outlets. Yeah - I've got a British accent - but telling me that I need a 9mm because "that's the best size and that's why everyone has one" and following that up with "it's got more stopping power than a slow 45" and then expecting me to buy anything from you because I'm foreign and therefore ignorant isn't a working sales strategy

Austin Rifle Club has probably the best ranges in the area (IMO) if the location in Manor works for you. If you shoot more than once a month it works out cheaper than using the pay-per-use places.

Your mileage probably will vary.

Derek

[Wienerdogtroy]

Austin proper or the Burbs?
Also check out Eagle Peak and Best of the West (thats North). Both Best of West and Austin Rifle clubs have competitions.

As importantly check out Monument Cafe in Georgetown, Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Alamo Drafthouse, and Chuys. all excellent healthfood.

[nyj]

There's a whole lot of everything here in Austin.

[tommyg]

University area

[A-R]

University area

you're a long way from any of the local shooting ranges. probably equal distance between the two locations of Red's - and closer to Austin Rifle Club than Best of the West.

I'm not a huge fan of McBrides - they do have best inventory/selection in town but their prices are usually high and customer service is very hit or miss (often a miss). I prefer GT Distributors for most things, and Austin Gun Liquidators (Round Rock/Pflugerville area). Heritage is OK too - nice guys.

near UT - north of it - give the Hyde Park Bar & Grill a try - great "comfort" food

[RPB]

Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls

Most good news features are filmed at Reds when Sure Shots women's group or Rick Perry is there ... I've never been there.
Burnet has staged Western Town shootouts on weekends when the Steam train comes to town, Farmers Market every Saturday etc.

35 years ago I wanted to live IN Austin, now I'd prefer Round Rock/Pflugerville/Georgetown/Cedar Park/Liberty Hill/Leander... a nice new Park n ride light rail commuter train runs from Leander into Austin to save gas/traffic and an Outdoor range/gun shops nearby (Property values to increase in these areas IMHO, if resale later is a concern)

I'm no longer an active Real Estate Broker-I'm retired from everything.

If you want cheap electricity, Burnet is good, inside city limits ... Burnet owns its own electricity from the Dam Hydroelectric thingy, cheaper rates than Pedernales Electric. Burnet water is also aplenty as it uses both Inks Lake water AND water wells so when surrounding communities run dry, they just switch sources.

[kjolly]

2nd the vote for Austin Rifle Club. Most economical place to shoot ($100/yr with a $100 initation) though I also like Eagle Peak ($10.00 for all day) for their safety inforcement. You are not shooting at Eagle Peak unless a range officer has been in your face a few times.
I live in North Austin and the distances to the ranges gives you some meditation time.
Really think you will like Austin and don't forget how close you are to the Lakes (also member of Austin Yacht Club).

[CEOofEVIL]

I can second Austin Gun Liquidators if you're ever in the Round Rock area. I've been in there multiple times and like it. They don't have a large selection by any means, but they do have good prices on the ammo and accessories they sell. I had Truglo TFO sites installed there a week or so back and the owner did it in less than five minutes! Free installation with the sights of course. He can seem a bit surly (as in, not overly enthusiastic) on occasion. Everyone else that works there is very nice though, plus they have a really beautiful "shop dog" that just cruises around, which is cool if you're a dog person .

I would avoid Advanced Armorments, also located in Round Rock. Almost no selection of anything (aside from a mix of overprices magazines) and the guy behind the counter didn't seem enthused for anyone to be in his shop at all.

As far as ranges, I haven't had a chance to go to any official ranges since being here (2 months), only private land way out in the boonies. I've been to Red's in Pflugerville to look around a few times, and was not impressed with the range at all. I also came from a town that had an an absolutely exceptional indoor range, so that probably has a bit to do with it. It seems expensive to shoot there, though It may be okay for those "I really need to send a few rounds down range but don't have the time to drive out of town" situations. As far a shop, they have a nice selection of a little of everything and prices can be marked up more than other places, but not so bad that I wouldn't buy there. IE: They have a Streamlight TLR-1 for ~ $112, which I feel is reasonable as it would come out to the more or less the same price after shipping from an online store. Attitudes aren't the greatest there. Each time I've been in there the employee's attitudes vary from "I AM seal team six" to "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there waiting to spend a hundred bucks in my store while I was chatting it up with my co-workers". Meh. It is what it is.

I'm rrreaallllyyyyyy hoping to get out to Best of the West one of these weekends. It sounds like a mecca for my needs.

Welcome to Austin!

[gigag04]

I'm jealous...I love Austin.

GT's will sell to anyone legal IIRC.

[C247]

Just learned of a couple new places to check out thanks to this thread.
"The Gun Store" in Cedar Park has an okay selection and their prices are also average. Some employees are pretty uninterested in talking to you, but it depends on how determined to buy you seem. Interesting selections and they specialize in SBR/suppressor/MG stuff.
Red's Indoor Range is alright also with a decent showroom and helpful staff.
Eagle Peak is a fine range, but sometimes the range officers can be just a touch over zealous. I like being safe, but I don't like feeling like I'm in basic training all over again when I squeeze off a two shots without pausing for a full two seconds in between.

But $10/day is still a great deal.

[eureka40]

And don't forget, GT's is having a sale soon!!!

Check it out.

http://www.gtdist.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[srothstein]

GT's will sell to anyone legal IIRC.

They are a mixed bag on that now. They will sell to anyone for most of the stuff in the store. But they also have several brands of firearms that they can only sell to first responders. This is based on their contracts as law enforcement distributors.

So, Glocks, Springfields, Kahr, FNH, and Rugers are first responder only, with different definitions of first responder. Of course, this is only the new guns, used guns are for anyone. Here is their policy: http://www.gtdist.com/WeaponsPolicy.aspx#LESALES" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note the transfer fees at the bottom. I find them reasonable.

[Slowplay]

GT's will sell to anyone legal IIRC.

They are a mixed bag on that now. They will sell to anyone for most of the stuff in the store. But they also have several brands of firearms that they can only sell to first responders. This is based on their contracts as law enforcement distributors.

So, Glocks, Springfields, Kahr, FNH, and Rugers are first responder only, with different definitions of first responder. Of course, this is only the new guns, used guns are for anyone. Here is their policy: http://www.gtdist.com/WeaponsPolicy.aspx#LESALES" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note the transfer fees at the bottom. I find them reasonable.

....and you can see on their site they will sell new Glocks to certain "civilians" (GSSF member w/ purchase coupon).

[yogihat]

I have a friend that is just a regular civilian like me. He bought a used Glock 22 (APD trade ins) at GT's a couple weeks ago. They will sell used ones to anyone (at a smoking price by the way). But new ones are for LEO and Military only. Just letting everyone know because I thought I couldn't by one there either.