What should I get in the US

[Dazb1967]

Next time I go to the States - gonna plan a day of my holiday in a Bass Pro.

They have stuff that you can’t even imagine you will need.

Myself and the wife had our Honeymoon in Vegas and spent most of my time in the bass pro shop there, Much to my wife's disgust, were still together so she got over it quick enough

 

[Tazz]

Off to the US on Friday for a week and will be going to a bass pro shop.
Just wondered if there is anything I should be looking to pick up in the US that is difficult to get here or much cheaper there? Obviously needs to be none licensed as flying it back to uk. I have ordered a marsupial gear bino back to be delivered in the states. Just wondered if there was anything that sprung to mind that I should look out for.

Cheers

A passport

 

[Feugh]

Buck 110

Available in Walmart too for about 35 dollars.
If knives are your thing I would look at the price of Benchmade in one of the “super steels” like cpm3v.

 

[old 30-06]

I went to the Bass Pro Shop in Las Vagas at the end of last year. Amazing place, with so much to look at. Its not the first time I have been, and things are not as cheap as they used to be. Nothing for 222. You could consider buying brass and bullet heads, clothing and accessories. As Koenig says, stay away from cheep Chinese crap

 

[Morkai]

Just get whatever you need, no point buying stuff for the sake of it.

It's not a bargain if you dont need it.

 

[Klenchblaize]

This would be at the top of my list if time travel were possible!

The NEW .44 Auto Mag: Return of the King

There are many iconic handguns in the collective consciousness of gun enthusiasts. There are fewer, but still several iconic handguns in global culture. These latter icons tend to be associated with a larger-than-life appearance on the silver screen. But even amongst the most iconic and...

www.gunsamerica.com

K

 

[udderlyoffroad]

I lived in the US for a year and was frequently in the local Bass Pro. A couple of observations:

1. Shooting/hunting in the US is an Everyman sport and generally ‘stuff’ is cheaper.

2. A lot of their stuff is cheap Chinese cr@p that really isn’t up to much.

3. US optics are in the main not up to European standards - with the exception of Vortex.

4. Clothing is almost all Hunter camo.

5. Slings/cleaning kits and other ancillary items are great value compared with the UK.

6. Try and stick to known brands like Vortex or Quake Claw etc - see point 2.

Enjoy your trip and don’t be tempted to bring back anything ‘controlled’ the US authorities will have you in a supermax whilst it all gets sorted out quicker than you can blink.

Above is good advice. Ultimately, especially with respect to point no 5, all you'll be able to really get yourself is a few bits and pieces of paraphernalia. It might not strike you as particularly cheap either, exchange rates being what they are.

My last trip to the states was pre-pandemic, but I did spend a couple of hours wondering around the Cabela's in Phoenix. It is absolutely huge. Bought myself a few bits n pieces, but nothing spectacular. A clay cartidge belt-style holder, chineseium but at $6 + tax has been perfectly serviceable. Actually the $7 plastic ammo tin with a gasket has been good too.

What I wanted buy was one of the 5-odd Waffenfabrik Bern rifles they had, similar to the type my Swiss Great-Grandfather had during his WW1-era service....Sadly not an option

Just get whatever you need, no point buying stuff for the sake of it.

It's not a bargain if you dont need it.

Oh go away, captain sensible

Actually the one thing I do end up buying in the states is...tools. In most decent size conurbations in the states is a branch of the chain 'Harbor Freight' , sort of like Machine Mart is here, only value for money, and with actual choice. I get myself a few bits and pieces that I would otherwise not be able to afford or justify back in the UK, mechanic's tools mainly. Their thin welding gloves are good value, for instance. Again, it's not high quality stuff, but serviceable for DIY use. Just watch the weight of your check-in bag!

 

[jthyttin]

Just about only firearms related category that is not under export restrictions is reloading GEAR.

Do your homework, or roll the dice whether you get home or Guantanamo...

 

[paul o']

If there is a boot sale go to it! I'v found a nice few optics over the years for nothing ! also dies etc, auto scales ask around see what your pals need . if you buy a nice scope remove the packaging and paperwork send it home as a replacment warranty item with bubble wrap packing .

 

[RescueMe0007]

Deer hoist (block & tackle and gambrel). $49.99 rated for 1,000lbs makes gralloching and skinning a gift, more than enough for the largest red. They do a larger hoist for Elk and Moose but you'll not need one.

 

[BenBhoy]

Next time I go to the States - gonna plan a day of my holiday in a Bass Pro.

They have stuff that you can’t even imagine you will need.

I went to a bass pro when I was on my honeymoon!

 

[paul o']

Next time I go to the States - gonna plan a day of my holiday in a Bass Pro.

They have stuff that you can’t even imagine you will need.

We had a deal she got to go to the gold store across the road I spent a day or two at bass pro the one I used to go to even had a bow range at the back lol and by night i'd spend a few hrs at the range or a day at KC clay club ! must go back again .

 

[paul o']

I went to a bass pro when I was on my honeymoon!

So did I 1986 and went every year until 2012. under armour gear was for nothing back then so was Redhead gear.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

So did I 1986 and went every year until 2012. under armour gear was for nothing back then so was Redhead gear.

Redhead in the BassPro in Kansas City it was the companies own brand I must have emptied the special offer/returns at the back of the shop. I also did a pilgrimage to the original Cabelas store in Nebraska once.

 

[NullMac]

With the British pound doing so poorly against the dollar I reckon the bargain people often talk about in old days are not as evident.

I think that is probably right, however if Trumpy gets in and goes to war on trade then the $ will go up (again) and we will be even more screwed. There's a forex play for you...

 

[jordash]

What City and State are you visiting?

Boston, Mass so not proper hunting country, but going to visit Bass Pro Store in Foxbrough

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Boston, Mass so not proper hunting country, but going to visit Bass Pro Store in Foxbrough

Go up on the main highway to the Maine border and visit the Kittery store. I did that and have many good memories of it.

Kittery Trading Post Retail Store​

301 U.S. Route One, PO Box 904, Kittery, ME 03904

 

[UpNorthMI]

Boston, Mass so not proper hunting country, but going to visit Bass Pro Store in Foxbrough

Yes not the best place but you can ship to your hotel, lots of good online shopping:

Kuiu
Midwayusa
natchesz
scheels

Remember to add that 6.25% sales taxes to prices you see for your real cost.

Have a good trip.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

Basically anything you don't need a license to buy in the UK is going to be OK to buy over here and take home with you except for:

stuff you can't take on the plane anyway (primers, powder etc)

Optical items with "military" features like milrads on the reticle.

Technically bullets and brass are fine but probably not worth the potential misunderstandings and given the way prices are, probably won't save enough money to be worth it anyway.

Stuff I would focus on:

Reloading tools,
guncare/gunsmithing tools,
non-regulated gun parts,
3rd party items like Boyds stocks, Skinner Sights
Chamber Reamers (if your gunsmith needs a particular one)
Scope Mounts
Scopes (especially Leupold - just make sure you double check the latest restrictions on "military" scope features)

Not sure I would bother too much about clothing, my experience is that unless you go ultra-top end here, most of the clothing is poorly made and not very durable.

It's funny someone mentioned Harbor Freight, they actually have a few shooting and hunting related products. It's kind of like Lidl/Aldi but for tools and hardware. My knockoff Pelican Case came from there and it is perfectly serviceable for transatlantic gun transport.

 

[RecoilRanger]

Those new Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronographs look tasty and are not readily available in the UK yet.