Revolvers at Cabela's

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whichwatch

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Dec 18, 2012
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678
Just came back to the office from a quick trip (if there is such a thing) to Cabela's, picked up a couple of fly tying items. Walked to the gun case where I saw a 4" Redhawk in .44 magnum, nice gun but it's just shy of $1,000. I bought the Super Redhawk Toklat a few weeks ago and need to sell it before I buy anything else. They also had a new S&W 4" 586 that I've always wanted since I got the 6" version, may seriously consider a trade on that one, need to give it some thought. It's priced at $749. Most of the S&W revolvers I find there are the J-Frame models and a few of the .45/.410 revolvers, rarely anything in K-frames or larger. I don't understand the appeal of .45/.410 revolvers, but to each his own. Many guys behind the counter don't understand the appeal either they tell me, but they do sell like crazy.
 

Varminterror

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Feb 25, 2014
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I'd certainly never buy a firearm at Cabelas without THOROUGHLY researching every alternative avenue. As you're seeing, their firearms mark-up is ridiculous. Local shops here (prices online) have Ruger Redhawk 44mag for $753 and the 4" 586 for $721. Cabelas always seems to be $30-50 more than a good local shop price, and often $100+ on "specialty" items like a Citori or the Redhawk, etc. They have Ruger SRH Alaskans there - 44mag versions for $950, street price at local shops is $830. 454 version is $999 at cabelas, local shop is $830...

They make the sales because most of their buyers consider Cabelas to be a "gun shop" and don't know any better. Walmart has better prices than specialty boutiques, surely Cabelas has better prices than a smaller shop, right? On some stuff, sure. On firearms, not a chance...
 

375supermag

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Jan 1, 2013
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553
I agree...
Never understood the appeal of .45/.410 revolvers.
I think they are a solution in search of a problem, to quote Col. Cooper.
Besides the length of cylinder to frame size is aesthetically unappealing, IMHO.
 
Joined
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Alaska, Idaho USA
Listen to Varminterror, there is a LOT of difference in gun prices. Cabelas comes in deliberately with high prices so they don't start a price war. They do have a huge inventory of guns, larger than most, I suspect that's why they have such high prices to pay for the interest on all the guns. Sportsmans Warehouse is a lot more competitively priced when it comes to guns. BUT they don't have the same inventory. You have to keep your eyes open to get what you want.
 

Pocketfisherman

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Jun 8, 2011
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87
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Central TX
While their new prices are high normally, on sale they are competitive. But...the real deals are in the used gun case where I have found some great deals. Plus, they will bargain on used guns (at least in Austin they do) and I have gotten some great deals on 3rd gen SW auto pistols there including a 10mm which turned out to be one of the FBI issued guns. Almost every time I go I see at least one of the big bore Super Redhawks in the used counter, at one time they had six of them. I think this store get's guns from the hog hunts Ruger sponsors for the press in the TX area. A couple months ago they had a brace of Ruger American 357 bolt guns used.
 

rammerjammer

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Jan 22, 2010
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The only reasons to buy a gun at Cabelas is because it is on sale and has entered into the realm of normal prices. Or you don't want to wait for some new or hard to find item and don't mind paying the premium.

I've seen used Hi Points priced at $200, and 2 Ruger SR models, one stainless with 4 mags, one blued with only 1 mag and both were priced exactly the same. WTF?
 

wizzard

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Dec 30, 2011
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Louisiana
I always stop there. New guns are high, but it's easier to throw down a credit card than having to come up with all the cash at a LGS. But I don't normally buy new there, I look for deals in the used area and have been happy with that. Among my finds have been a REDHAWK in .357 and a SBHH Bisley grip in .45LC. Neither priced high. I did pass up a .454 Alaskan for around $500 (still kicking myself).
 

Srb08

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Apr 14, 2013
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Mid Mo
At the St. Louis Cabela's, the used gun prices are ridiculous. I don't know how they manage to sell anything. New gun prices are pretty close to MSRP.
Other than sale items, I don't buy anything there.
 

Joseywales

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Dec 8, 2004
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Location
PA
I've thought this through and came up with the casino theory. Any finance manager will tell you, there is no such thing as playing with the house's money. Once you win the chips, the money is yours, not the house's.

I think buyers use their Cabela points to make sense of the prices. $200 in Cabalas points, means $200 off. But that's the buyer's $200, he/she just doesn't realize that. I admit, I've bought ammo that way, but usually it's on sale or reasonably priced. I've seen Cabela's drop gun library prices by $150 in a single reduction. They know they're high, but I'm guessing guns aren't a large part of their profit either.
 

HAWKEYE#28

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FROM THE NEAR NORTH WOODS: FOR ME, THE VALUE FOR CABELAS' AND GANDER MOUNTAIN BOTH ARE IN THE ZERO COLUMN. ONE SIMPLY PAYS WAAAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THEIR OFFERINGS, 99% OF THE TIME, AND I SUGGEST IT IS FOR ALL THE "STUFF" THEY HANG ON THEIR WALLS...........JUST SAYIN' 8)
 

eveled

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Apr 3, 2012
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I don't get the .410 revolver thing either. I do however have two eight shot N frames that I think are awesome. Something makes me want a .45acp revolver too, but every time I come close to buying one I can't see enough of an advantage over a .357. I can't see how Cabelas or Bass pro can keep their gun depts. open at the prices they charge.
 

brushunter

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Aug 26, 2012
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Western Pa.
Srb08 said:
At the St. Louis Cabela's, the used gun prices are ridiculous. I don't know how they manage to sell anything. New gun prices are pretty close to MSRP.
Other than sale items, I don't buy anything there.

Thats my opinion also. I stop at the Cabelas in Hamburg Pa. and Wheeling , W.V. if Im in the area. Never have I seen a GOOD deal on firearms. Their sale prices are every day norm for the gunshops in my area. ( west/central Pa. ) And even the reloading stuff ....been buying most online.

regards , brushunter
 

Bud0505

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Mar 1, 2012
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Florida
I've never been to a Cabela's. None near me. Are their prices firm or are they willing to dicker a little?
 

Joseywales

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Dec 8, 2004
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Location
PA
Like I wrote, they've dropped $150 on some of their guns in one reduction. They reach for the sky on some of their used guns. Any item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If they sell 1 our 10 at an inflated price, I guess it's worth it to them. Waiting to sell the gun does slow down their return on investment, time is money, but I don't think they put that much thought into it. They probably look simply at what they paid vs what they sold it for.

I think every gun is negotiable, so why not ask? If you can show them a cheaper price in a Dick's ad or online, they might honor that as well, plus you get to use your points.
 

G2

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May 8, 2006
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UT/AZ
I have only bought one gun at Cabelas,
I did ask for any discount they could offer,
they knocked off 10% :roll:
Then used my credit card...
:shock: :shock: :shock:
P1010017-1.jpg

Came wth the manual too, no box. :wink:
P1010020-1.jpg
 

shakyshoot

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Jan 16, 2014
Messages
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Almost anything I buy at Cabela's I get with gift cards purchased in the secondary market. You can currently get cards for 11.25% below face at cardcash.com. That's a significant difference on guns and ammo. If you can catch a sale price and a coupon along with a gift card, you can get some good deals. The only gun I've bought there was my 22/45 Mk III, an that came to well below $300 with the gift card discount. Of course that's a common gun. Just today I bought brass FMJ .45 ACP ammo for an effective cost of right around $13 a box.
 

stantheman86

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Jun 4, 2010
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1,103
Support your local small gun shops, and keep the money in your own local economy.....Id rather put the money in my neighbors pocket and have a gun shop owner that actually knows me, rather than support some multi billion dollar faceless conglomerate who hires revolving door $8 an hour employees who don't give a crap that I'm a good customer.

I have a gun shop maybe 1/8 of a mile down the street, I'd rather pay an extra $1 or two a box and support someone in my own community. He always has .38 in stock, if I need a few boxes for a range trip I just go there.

I also have another local shop I use for transfers. I've probably spent $1,000's there, bought some guns there too. I know the entire family that owns it, I see them out in town all the time.

Why people buy a gun at a big box store when their local
shop can get it is beyond me sometimes.....
 

whichwatch

Blackhawk
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Dec 18, 2012
Messages
678
stantheman86 said:
Support your local small gun shops, and keep the money in your own local economy.....Id rather put the money in my neighbors pocket and have a gun shop owner that actually knows me, rather than support some multi billion dollar faceless conglomerate who hires revolving door $8 an hour employees who don't give a crap that I'm a good customer.

I have a gun shop maybe 1/8 of a mile down the street, I'd rather pay an extra $1 or two a box and support someone in my own community. He always has .38 in stock, if I need a few boxes for a range trip I just go there.

I also have another local shop I use for transfers. I've probably spent $1,000's there, bought some guns there too. I know the entire family that owns it, I see them out in town all the time.

Why people buy a gun at a big box store when their local
shop can get it is beyond me sometimes.....

I don't disagree with you any at all. Small, locally owned gun shops are getting fewer and farther between, they can't compete with the big box stores that have everything under one roof and some choose not to stay open due to the regulations regarding guns. A lot of times the local guys just don't have in stock what you are looking for, I find this especially true when it come to ammo, it's mostly the generic target and light hunting stuff. The service at the big stores pretty much sucks, not all, but most of the guys behind the counter don't know much about guns and sometimes it's the guy from fly fishing filling in so someone in the gun dept. can go to lunch. Other than getting what you want from behind the counter it's mostly self service in the big box stores. To me it's a double edged sword, the big stores put the mom and pop stores out of business, yet they employ a lot of local people, 3 or 4 out of a job and hundreds get a job.
 

bigbore45colt

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Apr 9, 2005
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Phoenix, AZ
Srb08 said:
At the St. Louis Cabela's, the used gun prices are ridiculous. I don't know how they manage to
sell anything. New gun prices are pretty close to MSRP.
Other than sale items, I don't buy anything there.

While, in general, I agree that Cabela's used gun prices are typically way too high, it pays to shop and look around. The problem with their Gun Libraries is that they are usually staffed with non-gun professionals. Sure, there are a few there that really know guns, but the average employee there doesn't know a rare gun from a common gun.

Two days before your post, on my way to the Tulsa show, I stopped at the St Louis Cabelas and came across a first year S&W K22 Outdoorsman for about 1/3 of its value. The gun is within 300 digits of the first gun ever shipped in July, 1931. Quite a scarce find. I snapped it up in a heart beat and gladly paid their asking price (which they reduced as soon as I asked to see the gun).

As a matter of fact, I stopped at three Cabela's on my way to Tulsa: Wheeling, WV, Columbus, OH, and St Louis, and bought at least one good gun, at a very good price, at each of them. Now, that being said, this is the exception and not the norm, for sure. In general, I find their prices to be completely unreasonable, but my point is that it pays to look around when you can, you just never know.

Just my $0.02

BB45C
 
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