First off thanks to the creators of this forum. It is chock full of interesting information for anyone interested in obtaining guns in Canada. I've perused it many times between the time I completed my courses to my recently arrived PAL. I'm sure the advice here has benefitted numerous store clerks who narrowly escaped my barrage of infantile questions.
As you may know, we of Winnipeg have only two Big Box stores , Cabella's and Wholesale Sports. My experience with them on a personal level was overall good, but from a perspective of a customer it's been pretty much a complete failure.
Entry level guns of the .22 calibre perhaps due the proximity of Xmas seems to be limited to jacked up versions with heavy or SS barrels, swat type fixtures or gaudy camo patterns seemingly designed for the Indonesian jungle. (or wherever else sweet and sour sauce comes from). Incidentally while the catalog is rife with .22s under $150, almost none can be had for less than $300 today (Savage 64G excepted).
For some reason despite all logic I have become intrigued with the .17HM2 nearly extinct chambering. Over the last few week I've discovered that Savage Arms in Peterborough On. (Canada) does catalog and surprisingly stock them!
It should be no problem to order a gun made in Canada at a Canadian Gun store?
Wholesale sports: We can't order the gun because it's not in the Catalog, "but if you can get someone at head office to approve a purchase order it might be possible". I since discovered this phrase means your bothering me, it's my lunch time, and I want you to accept this fools errand and bugger off expeditiously. There is no way for a customer to initiate this process (If you did you are a gifted bugger indeed).
Cabellas. No we can't order that but we have just one left on clearance; it's not the one you want , it has a heavy barrel and no sights. Ok great, can I look at it?, sure.
RCMP says my PAL is enroute, may I place a hold, put a down payment, or purchase the gun outright until my PAL arrives. No surprise but negative to all requests. Salesman states this gun has been here for a year (red flag) and no one even looks at it. He went on to say he owns a HM2 and he'd buy it himself if he didn't already have one. (He may have had space for another because the item sold the next day). Another sympathetic salesperson suggested I call head office and ask if I could order another. Well by now I suppose you've guessed how that went.
My experience with the big box stores has led me to the opinion that ownership doesn't give a damn about the customer, they exist to move products of their own choice and nothing else through the store. Most clerks are stuck in the middle between the frustrated customer and have become totally disinterested in pursuing any foolish inquiry by sending you off with a 1-800 number. In all fairness to them, they did answer all my questions with the patience of job, something I couldn't have done. I’ve always found it easier to work for a company that tries to help it's customers obtain service rather that exist for the sake of it.
Of course I will no doubt turn out to be a hypocrite and return to these stores over and over again to obtain things they think I need. (at 4% off).
While big box stores have reputedly driven off all the small sporting goods stores in Winnipeg, one mostly maligned gun store with good prices existed in a small industrial strip mall. I managed to visit once with the amenable owner who offered the good advice that I should invest in a register letter rather than expresspost for my PAL application. From my narrow perspective it’s too bad his store was busted by the fun police and he currently doesn’t handle registered weapons. From what I learned on this forum I’d have gladly payed cash for what I could cart out of the store immediately. (thx gunutz).
There is a sporting goods store in Portage la Prairie, I’d like to check out. Once again the clerk seemed helpful and even phoned me back long distance. If I remember correctly they cannot order from Savage Arms but are reliant on a local supplier for their guns. I plan to contact them soon to reverify that. Good news on reverification I can add my request to the February order.
There seems to be a plethora of internet sellers many of whom seem to be reputable dealers. Thorough scanning of webpages verifies that .17HM2 rifles are not stocked by any of them (with good reason perhaps). Maybe as an example of the calibers popularity (or notoriety) weapons are noticeably absent from scores of used weapons lists as well.
Which brings me to this rather simple question, Does anyone know a dealer that will order me a .17HM2 rifle direct from the factory in Peterborough? Answered
Merry Christmas
Regards
A Simpleton
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Originally Posted by MossbergBlaster
