Which are your go-to gunsmiths/retail stores?

[shortshot]

Blue fox glade, ladds guns. Sportsman Exeter. 30,40 and 50 miles away on same route.

 

[JabaliHunter]

If I need riflesmithing, it goes up to Callum at PRS. He has a good retail shop now too I'm told.
If I need reloading supplies, Hannam's or GT Shooting (always has powder and primers) are first ports of call.
Good shops depend on the people and what you're looking for, but good guys include Philip at FA Anderson in East Grinstead, Robert at Crockart's in Blarigowrie, and Kate Flemming in Blairgowrie.

 

[Spartan Jim]

Im currently using Edinburgh rifles for a number of projects. excellent service, down-to-earth advice and no nonsense.

Are you looking for something in particular, or on the lookout for decent shops to become distributors of your carbon goodies?

We have been using RUAG for UK and European distribution after they came to us, and to be honest it has been somewhere between indifferent absolutely rubbish. After all the initial talk they have done little to promote the product, did nothing at the shows, and have actively refused to supply some smaller retailers (If you could be bothered to go through the hassle of setting up a RUAG account in the first place).

The final straw was a small retailer in Spain who wanted to buy our stuff for his store and they refused to supply him because "They know what the market is and we will pick our retailers".

SO anyway as a result we are bringing it back in house from January 1st but consequently need to pick up after RUAG UK and we are aiming to provide a huge uplift in customer service to our trade partners. BUT... we want to keep it in the good gunshops that share the same customer ethos as our little company, ie. Look after our customers at all costs, under promise and over deliver.

 

[Mr B]

Im currently using Edinburgh rifles for a number of projects. excellent service, down-to-earth advice and no nonsense.

Are you looking for something in particular, or on the lookout for decent shops to become distributors of your carbon goodies?

For clarity and before everyone thinks I’m a biff for asking if Jim is looking for dealers, it wasn’t initially stated in his post. It was added after I asked the question!

 

[Spartan Jim]

So, you weren't looking for a good place to buy stuff, more a mailing list of clients to sell stuff to.

Not at all... see my earlier post. We retail all over the UK but only through RUAG currently. I would rather set up direct with good gunsmiths that you guys like, use and respect rather than just anybody who is in retail. Surely that has to be a good thing...?

 

[Spartan Jim]

I've collated all the suggestions from everyone and put them in a 2 page PDF document if that's any help? I'll try and generate one sorted by county for you all..

View attachment Recommended Gunshops UK.pdf

 

[Scapegoat]

Northallerton Shooting & Countrywear at Thirsk has been a go-to for quite a while now. Plenty of stock, caters for a lot of local 'keepers and estates, as well as serious game and recreational shooters. Fabulous range of shotguns and rifles, and particularly broad range of ammo available. The customer service is second to none....go in with your wishlist and budget and walk out with a rifle at a good price, with scope mod and other accessories fitted while you wait, ready to load and zero. The manager and the guy in charge of rifle sales have an encyclopaedic knowledge of rifle shooting, whether that's vermin, stalking, target or tactical/long range stuff. They'll bend over backwards for you and want to make you a customer for life. They tend not to stock anything they wouldn't use or wear themselves. Similarly the shotgun sales, the owner/proprietor is very experienced, and will make sure you don't end up with anything that doesn't suit.

 

[Spartan Jim]

And here's one sorted by name and county... Hope someone finds it useful!

View attachment Recommended Retailers.pdf

 

[Alantoo]

Dauntsey Guns, R and B Sporting in Ross on Wye, HPS at Newent.

None on your list from either Herefordshire or Gloucestershire? You have only included Dauntsey from my suggestions...are you only including those with multiple recommendations?

As quality gunsmiths go I would put Steve Bowers forward to add to the Gloucestershire contingent.

Alan

p.s. I know we can all have unfortunate/out of character experiences, but Ladd's guns were pretty off hand about wasting a day of my time driving over to the shooting show to pick up a shotgun they listed and promised to take there with them. When I got here they just shrugged their shoulders and said it isn't here. But taking them at their word I did subsequently email and ask them to send it to my RFD when they got back from the show...they did not deign to reply to my e-mail. not impressed.

 

[Spartan Jim]

Oops sorry. Probably an oversight. I’ll edit it tomorrow and add them in

(Edit: There you go.. changed and updated in the last post)

 

[Alantoo]

Oops sorry. Probably an oversight. I’ll edit it tomorrow and add them in

No apologies necessary but I would hate my favoured suppliers to miss out on a contact from you.

HPS are based in Newent but also have a presence at Bisley.

Alan

 

[JTO]

I have heard several people speak well of Brian Gibbs. He's somewhere in Dorset, but I don't think he is a retailer.

 

[colin jalland]

Mike Norris and Ivythorn Sporting both great dealers

 

[Erik Hamburger]

For online orders I've used Bushwear, Swillingtons, Uttings, Sportsman & Gun, and Opticswearhouse retailers and have received great service from all.
USA based gunshops that ship international (those products they are allowed to export) are also very good and often quicker to deliver than UK online retailers, and even after Duty and P&P still cheaper, buy a large margin in many cases. ​

Some of my local gunshops (Gloucestershire) have all been less impressive, in particular when you are trying to buy a particular brand of factory loaded amo or try to get a quote for an optic, they are not interested, may note your email address to get back to you but than don't, and rather sell tweedy clothes for smart game shoots than shooting kit.

 

[Mr B]

What about Best Deer Call? They're a really good bunch. Nothing's ever too much hassle for them and they seem to be at all the shows promoting their kit.

 

[Camelfarm]

I have been to Ivythorn Sporting quite a bit over the past few years and always had sound advice and great service - Steve Beatty likes to talk but what he says is considered and knowledgeable. Crucially, when he doesn't know the answer to something he doesn't try and bluff it

I'm not a great fan of Avalon Guns just down the road from Ivythorn as the owner, when I went in a few years ago was fairly rude to me simply for not knowing everything about rifles. When he took me out the back to find some 16 bore cartridges I was horrified to see his ammunition lock-up was unattended and left unlocked in an accessible yard at the rear - reported it. However that was years ago and things may have changed.

As for online I have recently had a bad/good experience with Bushwear - I ordered a scope cover and it has taken over 4 weeks to arrive, however they have discounted me the delivery cost and kept me informed at every stage - they were let down by a supplier so not their fault and the way they have handled it has been admirable - recommended.

 

[Hunt-Inter]

Greenfields Salisbury
Braces Bristol
Swillingtons
Uttings
Rigby’s

Spent a lot with Braces and always fast 5* service