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Has anyone bought a gun from Academy recently?

If not, the next time you are in there ask them to look at an AR15 provided the store in your area even sells them.

Seems as though they have instituted a new policy not to sell any "scary black tactical weapons" to anyone under 21, regardless if it's a long gun or not. This "scary tactical weapon" category is applied to shotguns with a pistol grip as well.

I sent an email to their corporate offices stating my displeasure with this new policy and that I would no longer support them as long as they has stupid rules like this in place. Doubt it will do any good but if enough people protested it might make them think a little anyway.

Last week while shopping at academy I asked to see a handgun and they made me give them my drivers license before they would hand me the gun. I am 35 years old. They held on to my DL until I gave the gun back.

They also have a policy of no returns on firearms for any reason. If you have a actual problem you have to go to the manufacturer. Buyers remorse, too bad, it's yours.

nedmoore wrote:Last week while shopping at academy I asked to see a handgun and they made me give them my drivers license before they would hand me the gun. I am 35 years old. They held on to my DL until I gave the gun back.

That's not an ID policy, that's an anti-"grab it and sprint out the door" policy.

Shop at Cabelas instead. I just recently learned that they'll take guns back if you're not satisfied with it.

I've had to hand over my TDL for quite a while now. They also won't remove the trigger locks when one is inspecting. I've told them that this policy will limit my purchases to ammo and accessories. I would never purchase a firearm unless I already knew how it would feel, including how the trigger felt.

They are always very gracious and knowlegable but store policy is store policy. The guys I deal with are always top drawer.

Mike from Texas wrote:Seems as though they have instituted a new policy not to sell any "scary black tactical weapons" to anyone under 21,

Please refresh my memory because I've been past 21 much longer than it took me to get there but I thought that one couldn't purchase a firearm unless they were over 21.

Is this not the case or does it only apply to handguns?

TDDude wrote:

Mike from Texas wrote:Seems as though they have instituted a new policy not to sell any "scary black tactical weapons" to anyone under 21,

Please refresh my memory because I've been past 21 much longer than it took me to get there but I thought that one couldn't purchase a firearm unless they were over 21.

Is this not the case or does it only apply to handguns?

Longarms may be purchased at age 18.

Handguns......21.

Unfortunately, and unless Academy is your only convienient option to do this...

I am just glad they sell tents, sleeping bags, fishing tackle and other sporty stuff...

There are much better places to make purchases of firearms out there than this...

That a real shame --Although I have always held a low opinion of Academy's Gun Dept. (atleast the one around my neck o the woods) For 1, the people they put behind the counter have little or no knowledge of guns or ammo. 2, anytime you ask to see a weapon they act like you would just go away. I guess you cannot expect too much for $7/hr. Despite all this, they typically have cheap Monarch rifle/pistol practice ammo you cannot find at Wally World. I too will write a email to Corporate, even if it does find it's way into the recycle bin. +1 on buying from Cabela's--top notch folks.

Stay Salty out there.

When DH took my .22 rifle to our local Academy, the young-un behind the counter couldn't figure out which scope would fit with which brackets or how to attach them. Needless to say, I didn't get my Valentine's Day present on time. However, the friendly guys at The Arms Room on FM 518, West of I-45 and South of Houston, in League City, were really eager to please. In no time, I had a great scope, and the helpful salesman even attached it and sighted it in for us.

When we bought the Kel-Tec P3AT, they were willing to take it back for full price, because it hurt my hands and wrists to shoot it. They are just that way. These folks really do go the extra mile to give outstanding service.

These folks are knowledgeable and eager to share what they know. It is not the cheapest place in town, nor is it the most expensive. We did, however, feel like we got our money's worth each time we have bought there.

Bill, if you're reading this ... that'll be 20% off your next really great .45 Kimber you get in!!

Ranger+P+ wrote:That a real shame --Although I have always held a low opinion of Academy's Gun Dept. (atleast the one around my neck o the woods) For 1, the people they put behind the counter have little or no knowledge of guns or ammo. 2, anytime you ask to see a weapon they act like you would just go away. I guess you cannot expect too much for $7/hr. Despite all this, they typically have cheap Monarch rifle/pistol practice ammo you cannot find at Wally World. I too will write a email to Corporate, even if it does find it's way into the recycle bin. +1 on buying from Cabela's--top notch folks.

Stay Salty out there.

They make a little more than $7 per hour but yes, one will find more knowledgeable people at a specialty store no matter what the specialty is. When was the last time a real plumber was found at a Home Depot? That's just the way it is. Money can be saved at the big stores but the saver better know what he needs before he gets there because that's just the way it has become.

Mike from Texas wrote:This "scary tactical weapon" category is applied to shotguns with a pistol grip as well.

"Shotguns" that only have a rear pistol grip but don't have a shoulder stock don't meet the legal definition of a shotgun in federal law. Federal law says that you must be 21 to purchase a firearm from an FFL unless the firearm is a rifle or a shotgun. So because said firearm doesn't meet the legal definition of a shotgun (no matter whether everyone who looks at the gun would call it a shotgun or not), an FFL can't sell it to someone under 21. From what I've read, the BATFE has gotten tough on FFLs with this lately.

Now if you're talking about shotguns with a shoulder stock and a rear pistol grip, then yes, there is no law preventing them from selling such a gun to anyone 18 or over.

As long as the shotgun is 26 inches long OAL, and has an 18 inch barrel, it is a legal shotgun, no mater if it has a stock or not. The Mossburg 'cruiser' shotguns with just a pistol grip are quite legal shotguns (and I personnaly detest them.)

The up side is if I find a chrome Mossie 'marine' 12 guage with just a pistol grip maybe I can buy it cheep cause I do have a spare stock!

No, it's a legal title I firearm, but it wouldn't meet the definition of a "shotgun" as per federal law because without a shoulder stock it's not "intended to be fired from the shoulder."

18 USC 921(a)(5): The term "shotgun" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of an explosive to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger.

And if it's not a shotgun or rifle as defined in 18 USC 921, then an FFL may not transfer the firearm to someone under 21.

18 USC 922(b): It shall be unlawful for any licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to sell or deliver— (1) any firearm or ammunition to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than eighteen years of age, and, if the firearm, or ammunition is other than a shotgun or rifle, or ammunition for a shotgun or rifle, to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than twenty-one years of age.