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View Full Version : Plan ahead! Build the gun younwant the first time.



FireMoth
04-25-2016, 11:45
Hey all, just a quick PSA.
Summer time is odd in the gun industry, where with competition schedules, and people out shooting in general, some times things slow down... but not always.
This becomes a problem because, we are plenty busy, but our suppliers and manufactures are changing tooling, starting new projects, or just down stocking till fall.
What this means to us is, parts come in, as well as complete guns, on a somewhat erratic schedule. Between minimum orders, and extended lead times from the manufacturers, we can have 90% of a build, and be waiting on those one or two components.
Everybody wants to have their new toy right now, but there are only so many legos to go around at once. We always get more, but the last guy in the door may be waiting till next week.

My purpose isnt tonget you to bum rush our doors in the morning, but rather to encourage you to check your gear.

If you have a class, a match, a camping trip, or anything else coming up, dont wait till the last minute to find out your favorite blaster is down, or out of ammo, or an accessory broke.
Give yourself time to make sure it all works, go to the range with your guns st least once before the match or class, and make sure youre ready to go.

Mike does a wizard job of keeping us stocked up (thats what hes actually doing in the back all day), but we cant order what the suppliers dont have. And even when they do, shipping times are effected by weather, staffing, and all other number of things.
Weve been bitten by "overnight shipping" enough times not to trust that either. Sure, they refund the shipping costs, but that doesnt get you your stuff.

So, take the time to lay out your gear. Dry test it, check it, live fire it, clean it. Have more batteries, mags, and ammo than you need.
And if its a new build, plan it out with enough time to gind the parts you really want, and get it test fired before a class or match. In fact, i wouldnt use a gun i built this summer in a match this summer. Not as a primary, anyway.

We will do everything we can to get you the builds, guns, or accessories you want, but we are the tiny shop at the end of the chain, and when we tug on it as hard as we can, it still doesnt do much.

So, give yourself, us, and all the other friendly area shops time.
Because the best Veruca Salt impersonation in the world wont have that rifle ready for yhe big match in a week.

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Great-Kazoo
04-25-2016, 18:38
Good Advice. Having been in the MC business i know like you, EVERYONE wants it yesterday. Hopefully people will give some thought to their build, current or future remember this when it comes time to order.

brutal
04-25-2016, 20:09
tl;dr

What I saw was don't turn into a purple a$$hole if yer shit aint ready because you waited too long and didn't check it.


[ETA] Forgot to add some emoji so yo know I was funnin with ya and the dig, if any, is on the unprepared, self included. BTDT.

[panic] [Coffee]

FireMoth
04-26-2016, 23:29
Dealing with the occassional conniption fit is the reality of retail, no matter what the good or service.
So, my intent was more so to the shooters, who appreciate the work we do because they actually do use it, to take the time so your next match or hunting trip isnt hinged on the luck of the draw of our or any other local shop having something in stock.
Ive seen people burn $10.00 in gas looking for a $5.00 part, just because they forgot to do a gear shakedown 3 weeks ago, and the match is this weekend.

Its also prudent to leave a contingency. If you shoot a certain type of match, having a basic but servicable back up can save a weekend. You could do a shake down a month a head of time, and have a bolt stop crack on thursday before a saturday match.
Keeping a minimum stock of parts without having to trade off or make builds out of your extras is a start, but a spare gun appropriate to your game is easier.
Maybe you prefer running a slick limited gun in uspsa, but a stock Glock and holster means at least you can run production and SHOOT that weekend instead of being at home online bitching about how unreliable STI tool steel parts are ;-)

Now, this gets tough for 3-gun, because it can mean 6 guns, but most of you have more than that anyway. How many ARs or pistols do you have that DONT have a purpose, that could be traded in for another couple game guns?
Maybe the exchange is 2:1 to have meaningful game setups, but isnt that better than another safe queen that you "just like to have"?

This can extend to holsters/belts/gear, optics, anything new, or changed. And most importantly, AMMO.

A lot of us handload, and those loads can both save money and give a performance edge, but if your head was just not in it that week before the match, and you have high primers, or uneven seating, whatever, a case of blazer held in reserve can save a weekend.

It doesnt have to be the end of the world, zombie apocalypse, or even hillary as president. Why not prep for "How do i still have fun this weekend if some of my toys break?"

I think its a more realistic, and rewarding goal.

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