Gander Mountain

[Flash]

Today i found a youth carbine at the local store and the manager insisted that it be registered as a handgun. I proceeded to tell him that it is a rifle but again, he insisted that this has been their policy all along. I can't believe how many uneducated sales personnel are employed at gun sales counters. He tried to tell me it was a law since it could be converted to a handgun. I became so disgusted that i walked out. I really believe that Gander got the last dollar of mine.

[Grumulkin]

No big loss.  I have little doubt you can get one somewhere else cheaper anyway.


Interestingly, I bought two different bare receivers and they were registered as handguns.

[Keith L]

Since they can be assembled as a handgun that is how every frame I bought from a store was sold, with wating period and all.  You may get the same treatment from every place you try.  And I agree: Gander Mountain has never had the lowest prices on any gun with a couple of exceptions.  I did get a heck of a buy on a Winchester 9422 from them.

[Flash]

I've bought many carbine over the years and never did i have to register them as a handgun.. The youth model, under those conditions is a contradiction of terms since in many states, a shooter must be 21 to own a handgun.

[Ladobe]

I never dealt with that on any of the Contenders I bought as complete carbines, but that was way back when TC sold them as such with 21" and 16.5" barrels.   Later frames I bought were the same as the firstones I had bought, always as handguns.    Never worried about it, still wouldn't, nobody you run into knows how they were first bought, nor cares as long as they are configured to appear legally when you are shooting/hunting with them or displaying them in public.  No flags are being waved that some piddly law is being broken.
 
When I moved here where handguns are registered, all of the additional frames bought were as handgun frames which covered the bases if some LE ever did have a gripe.   Never had one that did.  Sold the ex carbine frames I switched long and short barrels on freely same as all my other frames until sold.   I sold them as bare handgun frames through FFL's, effectively ending any doubt for the new owners.

[Flash]

Ladobe back when i bought my last carbine, it was from a dealer closing shop. I filled out the old yellow sheet, paid the money and left. I've even bought  them while on vacation in other states and walked out with the gun. Like you, i was addicted to Contenders and sought them out everywhere i went but never did i encounter this nonsense.

[OldSchoolRanger]

The problem lies with Gander Mountain hiring people who have no clue about their merchandise (guns), and try to BS their way thru the sale.

I'm just a little surprised that GM would hire someone like that in PA, considering how many people are well versed in guns there.  Now if it was in NYC, I could understand.

I have to chuckle when I think back to the last time I went into a GM store, and the "gun pro" there proceeded to tell me that you could use a AR (223) magazine for 308 ammo, he said: "all you have to do is load the (308) round in it at an angle."     I'm still laughing about that one.

Regarding your predicament, I would have had him get the box the carbine came in and have him read what it said on the box.  Look! It says "Rifle" NOT "Pistol" (handgun).

[Flash]

The manager wouldn't let the gun leave the store without the handgun form bring filled out. Its pretty bad when the managers are told to do such things from the corporate level.