Being new to the Muskegon, Michigan area, one day I decided to visit all of the retail gun shops because of my target shooting hobby interests. With my almost 50 years' of military, police, civilian, and factory armorer's experience with all types of firearms, I will say that I have never before felt so unwelcome at any gun shop!
When I entered this small shop, there were three (3) other customers inside. I was well groomed and dressed in clean "business casual" clothing, so I believe that my appearance was not offensive in any way, yet neither the owner nor his wife acknowledged my presence or greeted me in any fashion.
After waiting patiently for both the owner and his wife to complete their business with previous patrons, I had to gently call my presence to their attention and introduce myself while asking to please see two (2) new handguns that were on display (one each revolver & semi-auto pistol).
It so happened that the owner's wife served me with cool enthusiasm, and the first gun I asked to see was a new model, high quality, striker-fired semi-auto pistol (9mm Sig P320). She took the gun directly from the display case and handed it to me without making sure that the gun was unloaded and safe!
Of course I was a surprised, and began to safety check the gun myself. When I gently released the magazine and began to move the slide to safety check the gun, the owner's wife told me that their store policy was such that nobody perform such actions with a NIB gun to prevent a new gun from "...being scratched...". When I next asked to try the trigger pull and reset of this striker-fired pistol, I was again told not to dry-fire the gun because doing so would scratch the gun!
NOTE: I don't know about you, but as a both military and police armorer, I personally have no clue as to how such a striker-fired pistol would have its factory finish "scratched" by a dry-fire pull of the trigger.
Since it was apparent that I wasn't going to get anywhere with evaluating the semi-auto pistol, I gripped it in my hand for a few moments, handed it back to the owner's wife, and asked to please see a new model, high- quality, double-action only (DAO) revolver (.357 Kimber K6).
Again, she took the gun directly from the display case and handed it to me without making sure that the gun was unloaded and safe! By this time I anticipated that I would have to safety check the gun, but when I began to open the cylinder the owner's wife again told me that their store policy was that nobody perform this action with a NIB revolver to prevent a new gun from "...being scratched...". I did ask if I could please try the DAO trigger pull, but again I was told that doing so would leave a drag line on the gun's cylinder and that this action was not to be performed. Consequently, after a few moments to feel the heft and pointability of the revolver, I handed the gun back to the sales person, and left the store.
For a smaller retail gun shop, this store has somewhat of a good selection of new and used sporting and self-defense handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Marked prices were reasonable, and a very good variety of accessory items were in stock.
In summary, while Gary's Guns offers a sufficient variety of guns, ammo, and other shooting supplies, I personally do not plan to again visit this shop due primarily to the lack of courtesy exhibited by both the owner and his wife. read more