Good Online Source to Buy An HK Handgun?

[Sean K.]

I'm looking for a HK USP Compact Tactical .45. I have a few local sources but would like to price shop and see if it would be beneficial to buy online instead.

Also, where can I get mags and a thread protector for this pistol? My local sources for the pistol only have 2 mags and now protector.

Thanks in advance,
Sean

[Mark71]

http://cdnninvestments.com/index.html

www.policeguns.com

www.SCPfirearms.com

[bigash636]

try cdnn for the gun

http://www.autoburst.net/USP45.html or

www.advance-armament.com for the thread protector

[ARKAY.357]

One of the frequently mentioned and most respected online companies is CDNN. They no longer show gun sales on their website however.

If you do a search here you will find a link for their catalogue that is offered as a PDF file. They can also be reached at (800)-588-9500.

I have purchased a few guns from them and the service, price and overall experience has been excellent. Many other members here will vouch for them.

Having said that, others here will have other recommendations that will all be good as well.

Good hunting!

ARKAY

[bzdog]

I tried contacting policeguns.com both by email and by phone and I never got a response. It was a bummer because I paid more locally and they couldn't get it with the night sights.

So how exactly does this work? Do they have contacts in other areas that they can ship to, or do you have to find someone?

What are the charges (in addition to the firearm itself)?

Thanks,

-john

[Sean K.]

I tried contacting policeguns.com both by email and by phone and I never got a response. It was a bummer because I paid more locally and they couldn't get it with the night sights.

So how exactly does this work? Do they have contacts in other areas that they can ship to, or do you have to find someone?

What are the charges (in addition to the firearm itself)?

Thanks,

-john
There's usually just shipping to your FFL dealer and then you pay a "transfer fee" (around $35 here in AZ). No sales tax if you're not in the same state.

HTH,
Sean

Oh and thanks for the responses. I'll check into the recommendations tomorrow.

[ripley16]

I've purchased HK pistols from both CDNN and Clyde Armory. Both transactions were quick and simple, done over the phone, both accept faxed FFL letters and both accept credit cards, although Clyde charges a 3% fee. Shipping was fast, with both guns in my hands in a few days.

CDNN has some really good prices on a few guns. Clyde's draw was that they sold the LEO set-up on some of the HKs that included night sights and a third magazine. Not all guns come this way.

[Zeo]

I just bought a USP40f from policeguns for $689 plus $27 shipping and 3% fee for using a credit card. It's a little bit more expensive than CDNN ($644 + $13 shipping), but the ones that Clyde sold all come with night sights and 3 hi-cap mags. So I figured it's a better deal. The shipping was fast (same day).

[ironchef]

Just be aware, while CDNN does have great prices, they will not ship certain firearms to specified states. Just their internal policy.

[bigghk702]

i have used rrarms.com quite a bit for everything from guns to cleaning kit to ammo. they're good people good prices no problems at all

[Iceman505]

just curious, has anyone dealt with the-armory, gun wise? Saw some ok prices for a usp tactical a while back there.

[bzdog]

So does this mean you have to find an FFL yourself? If so, how do you go about this? It would seem that local gun shops would rather sell you a gun than handle a transfer?

-john

[ironchef]

John,

You'll have to shop around and see who is a licensed FFL and willing to do the transfer. I would pull out your local yellow pages and call around. If at all possible, try to stop in and chat with the shop person who handles all the FFL's so you can make sure of who you are dealing with.

Besides gunshops, some pawn shops or pawn brokers are FFL's. The ATF's website lets you check on the FFL once you get their FFL number to make sure who you are dealing with is on the up and up. Good luck!

[AviatorDave]

So does this mean you have to find an FFL yourself? If so, how do you go about this? It would seem that local gun shops would rather sell you a gun than handle a transfer?

-john

Check here on bunbroker:

http://www.gunbroker.com/User/DealerNetwork.asp

You can enter your zip code and it gives you a list of local FFLs. I found one about 10 minutes from me that will accept transfers from individuals, most stores and pawn shops will not. And yes, most shops would rather sell you one. The ones around me charge $30-$40 for transfers from other dealers, the local one I use charges $20, with a $5 discount for NRA members and an additional $5 for a CHL license. So $10 per transfer, what a deal...

[ARKAY.357]

So does this mean you have to find an FFL yourself? If so, how do you go about this? It would seem that local gun shops would rather sell you a gun than handle a transfer?

-john


If you have a Gander Mountain store in your area, they will be happy to do a transfer for you for $35.00. I've used them a couple times and they provided excellent service.

HTH;

ARKAY

[bigghk702]

just curious, has anyone dealt with the-armory, gun wise? Saw some ok prices for a usp tactical a while back there.

i have dealt them only for ammo, but i have nothing but good things to say. thay were contacting me thru email almost every day until my order was delivered.

[bigash636]

try www.budsgunshop.com

they have a list of the FFLs they have on file

[Goose5]

I have bought three guns over the internet. First from Ordnance Outsellers and two from SCP Firearms. Steve is the best. Buy with complete and total confidence from either vendor.

[Sean K.]

Just wanted to say a BIG "Thank You" to all of you that responded. After shopping around, I found a great deal at CDNN.

Should have the new pistol in a few days. Thanks again for all the help. I saved a little over $100 over buying local and I got 3 mags instead of just 2.

Thanks,
Sean

[Shakey]

Go with CDNN. Good folks to work with and their prices are very competitive. I've purchased several handguns from them without any issues.

[MaverickHK]

Forget online, support your local gunstore!!! :79:

[bzdog]

Forget online, support your local gunstore!!! :79:

You know, I would (and actually did in this case), but it is frustrating that they cannot get the packages desired (the LE package with night sights) and they are much more expensive.

So now I am paying $850 for the P2000SK instead of the $720 policeguns.com advertised, and now I still have to pay for the night sights which was included in the policeguns.com package.

Sigh.

-john

[AviatorDave]

Forget online, support your local gunstore!!! :79:

I'm all for supporting the local guy, but not when the same exact thing I can get for $730 including shipping online costs $950 including tax from the local gunstore. $220 is enough of a difference that I can wait 48 hours for it to be shipped and get here.

[MaverickHK]

What gun are you speaking of Aviator? I want to see how my prices stack up hehe. I'm the assistant manager of a gun store so my opinion may be a bit biased. However, the problem for me with companies like CDNN is that as far as I know, they are technically a wholesaler. If I as a gunshop go to order product for my store from them, I pay almost the same thing that they are letting individuals buy them for directly.

The markup in my shop on average is generally 10-15% which, if I sell three or four guns a day, basically pays my employees' wages. Maybe I pay my guys too much but it is my experience that people want a more knowledgeable and friendly staff which costs more than just hiring a body to hand out guns and fill out paperwork. Wholesale companies don't have these problems. They have people sitting in front of computers and at warehouses filling orders, half of which I would bet have never even shot a firearm in their lives.

It is almost as annoying as when I have people bring their guns in for me to work on (I'm also a Glock armorer and do other small gunsmithing) and it was purchased online or somewhere else. If you can save $100+ dollars, well I can't blame you for going a different route, I can whine ;) but I can't blame you. However, if you only saved $20 or paid the same thing that you would have in the store but just couldn't bring yourself to get up and contact your local gunstore to see if they could get you the firearm you wanted, then there is a problem. I'll pay an extra $20-$50 any day if I can get friendly face to face service and know I have somewhere to ask questions and bring my gun problems to. [/end late night rant]

disclaimer: None of the previous statements were aimed at AviatorDave or bzdog or any previous posters. This is just a general rant from a gunstore assistant manager who is tired of hearing the words "profit margin" from his owner :)

[Bigred82]

I have ordered twice from CDNN. Keith is a great guy to work with. I have also ordered from Steve at SCP Firearms - his service and knowledge is outstanding.

I would love to support my local guns stores, but when I can save $100+ I'll do it. I can understand why online dealers might not like it, but that is the nature of the market. And unfortunately, most gun store clerks around here know less about the guns they are selling than I can find out in 20 minutes of internet searches. That and I have a great FFL dealer who only charges me $10 for the transfer. :)

Thankfully, we online savvy buyers are not a large segment of the gun buying population. Our local gunstores are always busy with non-savvy buyers, so I honestly don't feel too bad about making the best decision for my bank account.

[AviatorDave]

What gun are you speaking of Aviator? I want to see how my prices stack up hehe. I'm the assistant manager of a gun store so my opinion may be a bit biased. However, the problem for me with companies like CDNN is that as far as I know, they are technically a wholesaler. If I as a gunshop go to order product for my store from them, I pay almost the same thing that they are letting individuals buy them for directly.

The markup in my shop on average is generally 10-15% which, if I sell three or four guns a day, basically pays my employees' wages. Maybe I pay my guys too much but it is my experience that people want a more knowledgeable and friendly staff which costs more than just hiring a body to hand out guns and fill out paperwork. Wholesale companies don't have these problems. They have people sitting in front of computers and at warehouses filling orders, half of which I would bet have never even shot a firearm in their lives.

It is almost as annoying as when I have people bring their guns in for me to work on (I'm also a Glock armorer and do other small gunsmithing) and it was purchased online or somewhere else. If you can save $100+ dollars, well I can't blame you for going a different route, I can whine ;) but I can't blame you. However, if you only saved $20 or paid the same thing that you would have in the store but just couldn't bring yourself to get up and contact your local gunstore to see if they could get you the firearm you wanted, then there is a problem. I'll pay an extra $20-$50 any day if I can get friendly face to face service and know I have somewhere to ask questions and bring my gun problems to. [/end late night rant]

disclaimer: None of the previous statements were aimed at AviatorDave or bzdog or any previous posters. This is just a general rant from a gunstore assistant manager who is tired of hearing the words "profit margin" from his owner :)

No worries, I promise I won't take it personally, I hope you won't either. It's just business. I can see how CDNN can cause problems for you, but they are great for people like me, who know exactly what they want, don't want to haggle over price, and know how to shop around and save huge dollars. Maybe a face to face with a knowledgeable sales staff is more helpful to other people, but not to me. I don't really "shop" for things. By that I mean I know exactly what I want before I even go in the store. I check their prices, then go home and get it online. But as for CDNN in particular, I probably won't ever buy any guns from them, because were both in Texas, so I'd have to pay 8.25% sales tax. I'll always look for a similarly priced item at an out of state vendor.

If it was only an extra $20, that would be worth it to get it locally. The wait is a little shorter, I can actually look at what I'm buying before I get it, and if there's a problem, it's a lot easier to resolve in person. But there are two huge disadvantages for the local shop - first is sales tax. On a $900 item, that's almost $75 right there. The lack of shipping does offset that somewhat, so that leaves them at a $50 disadvantage. The next problem is that they want to charge retail. An internet store may have only one or two employees, and much lower overhead to cover.

A few specific recent cases - I looked at 3 guns recently in local stores - one of the P7 refurbs, a P7M8, and an HK93. The P7 grade b they wanted $800, or $875 with tax. There were multiples of the same thing for $600 on gunbroker, etc. P7M8 - a different dealer was asking $1495 for it, or $1600 with tax. I bought one for $1395 on gunbroker. Lastly - an HK93. They wanted $2400 for it which would have been $2600 with tax. It was clean, but did have claw marks, and wasn't new or like new. It was well taken care of, but used. I bought one from Sturmgewehr for $2050. That's $1,000 difference on just 3 guns.

I'm sure it's tough to compete with the big online resellers, but the local shops around me don't even come close.

[AviatorDave]

What gun are you speaking of Aviator? I want to see how my prices stack up hehe.

The one I was specifically referring to was a USP40 from some online dealer I googled. If you want to get the business of savvy internet buyers like myself, you'll have to come way under list. Compare your prices to other online dealers, and you'll have to beat them to make up for the additional taxes, but less shipping costs. Honestly, with the tax situation, I don't know if it's possible for local gun shop to sell enough guns at those prices and still pay the bills - it would seem they would have to rely on customers that don't know where to get the best prices, or have money burning a hole in their pocket.

[MaverickHK]

Ok, I feel better about yours Av. I'm actually closer to what you paid. I sell USP40s for $749.99, I have grade B P7s for $649.99-699.99 depending on the condition and the last P7M8 I had, I think I sold it for around $1450 (can't remember exactly).

[bzdog]

If you can save $100+ dollars, well I can't blame you for going a different route, I can whine ;) but I can't blame you. However, if you only saved $20 or paid the same thing that you would have in the store but just couldn't bring yourself to get up and contact your local gunstore to see if they could get you the firearm you wanted, then there is a problem. I'll pay an extra $20-$50 any day if I can get friendly face to face service and know I have somewhere to ask questions and bring my gun problems to.

I agree with you. Actually, I'd probably be willing to pay up to $100 more to get it locally. But in my case the difference in value was a lot more than that and additional hassle because I couldn't get it with the night sights. :-(

-john

[Giancarlo]

My $0.02 on buying 'online'.

I chose to order a gun from CDNN, extra mag (used) & thread protector. According to the salesman I spoke to - the Tac included the soft case and everything was in stock.

Fast forward: I pick up the gun from my FFL...no soft case...no thread protector...extra 10rd mag....and I was charged $20 more than I was originally quoted.

Did I ever get a call from CDNN to say "Well, we don't have any tacs left with the soft case and we're out of thread protectors...oh...we can't find the used mags either...What would you like to do?" Of course not - that would make sense. So they decided to send me whatever they saw fit (and charge me whatever they saw fit) instead of what I ordered.

There's 3 things you get in retail:
1. Product
2. Price
3. Service

You can have 1...possibly 2...but it is impossible to get all 3.

Since I value Product/Service more than overall price - I will from now on only purchase from a local Mom 'n Pop store. The service I received after CDNN screwed my order up is appalling. They wouldn't credit my account $20, they wouldn't ship me a thread protector when they came in, they said I could return the gun...but there would be a 15% ($149.55) restocking fee...so to pacify me; they sent me a case that doesn't fit my gun. Great! That's the way to treat a 1st timer shopper that hands over $1k! Send him what he didn't order, overcharge him, and to make him happy, send him something he can't use! Way to go CDNN!!!

Moral of the story; I got what I paid for...crap service. From now on I will happily wait another paycheck to make a gun purchase instead of of trying to save a buck and buy online.

BTW: Anyone want a HK embroidered soft-case made by Blackhawk (.45 Tac & bigger will not fit) in desert tan & a new HK 10rd .45 full-size mag? I get pissed off just looking at them.

[Sean K.]

Like I said....I would've paid $1070 with tax for my HK USP CT .45 with 2 mags locally. I gave my local dealer a chance to at least get close (and by close I would've paid $25-50 more to get it locally).....guess what? He didn't even bother to ask what prices I was quoted. He just said no, and also said he wouldn't do a transfer on any weapon he sold at his shop. Since he sold the CT, he wouldn't do my transfer.

I overpaid for my first HK USPc 40 from him ($830 with 3 mags), not to mention I've bought numerous accessories for my ARs....but needless to say after this latest communication, I won't be buying anything else from him.

From CDNN with shipping, transfer fee and 3 mags....I paid $962.

IMO, long live the internet. Why pay retail when you can pay wholesale? For the "supposed" better service? So far, all of my internet transactions have been painless and at much lower prices than local shops could give me.

Sorry, I just don't see the point.

Sean

[Sean K.]

My $0.02 on buying 'online'.

I chose to order a gun from CDNN, extra mag (used) & thread protector. According to the salesman I spoke to - the Tac included the soft case and everything was in stock.

Fast forward: I pick up the gun from my FFL...no soft case...no thread protector...extra 10rd mag....and I was charged $20 more than I was originally quoted.

Did I ever get a call from CDNN to say "Well, we don't have any tacs left with the soft case and we're out of thread protectors...oh...we can't find the used mags either...What would you like to do?" Of course not - that would make sense. So they decided to send me whatever they saw fit (and charge me whatever they saw fit) instead of what I ordered.

There's 3 things you get in retail:
1. Product
2. Price
3. Service

You can have 1...possibly 2...but it is impossible to get all 3.

Since I value Product/Service more than overall price - I will from now on only purchase from a local Mom 'n Pop store. The service I received after CDNN screwed my order up is appalling. They wouldn't credit my account $20, they wouldn't ship me a thread protector when they came in, they said I could return the gun...but there would be a 15% ($149.55) restocking fee...so to pacify me; they sent me a case that doesn't fit my gun. Great! That's the way to treat a 1st timer shopper that hands over $1k! Send him what he didn't order, overcharge him, and to make him happy, send him something he can't use! Way to go CDNN!!!

Moral of the story; I got what I paid for...crap service. From now on I will happily wait another paycheck to make a gun purchase instead of of trying to save a buck and buy online.

BTW: Anyone want a HK embroidered soft-case made by Blackhawk (.45 Tac & bigger will not fit) in desert tan & a new HK 10rd .45 full-size mag? I get pissed off just looking at them.

You posted right while I was. :)

In any case, you probably paid by CC right? Why not just dispute charges?? It's a extremely effective way of getting EXACTLY what a vendor promised you, IME.

Sean

[AviatorDave]

You posted right while I was. :)

In any case, you probably paid by CC right? Why not just dispute charges?? It's a extremely effective way of getting EXACTLY what a vendor promised you, IME.

Sean

That's exactly what I was going to ask. It has an amazing effect on a vendor's willingness to comply when you tell them you're not paying for it.

[Jason R]

Give CDNN a call and a chance to make it right. I've ordered through them several times and have been very happy.

Long live the internet. I've only bought a firearm at a store TWICE (out of dozens of purchases). It's hard to go into a gun store and get good service or a halfway decent price.

[dohc97]

"Like I said....I would've paid $1070 with tax for my HK USP CT .45 with 2 mags locally. I gave my local dealer a chance to at least get close (and by close I would've paid $25-50 more to get it locally).....guess what? He didn't even bother to ask what prices I was quoted. He just said no, and also said he wouldn't do a transfer on any weapon he sold at his shop. Since he sold the CT, he wouldn't do my transfer. "


I am not even sure if we live in the same state, but, a local gunstore told me the same exact thing.

[HKAZ]

I have dealt with Tracy at CDNN for about five years. I have purchased about 15 HK guns and 100 magazines from him without a single problem or complaint. He tells me the truth even if it isn't the answer I want. On the "mail order" v local retail , Here in the Phoenix area, most gun stores welcome the business as they charge $25.00 to $35.00 (usually in cash) to receive each gun. This is usually what they claim they make on a gun, so they get their money without an investment or warranty problems. I have had stores suggest I order it from so and so when the dealer didn't have it in stock. The dealers know that the guys that buy 6-10 guns a year have sources but they also have friends that buy one or two and will buy them from local dealers recommended by the "collector". I have also had great results with Shawn at Bachman Pawn in Dallas, Mike at M.L. Securities, and Gordon Miller of HK Specialist. Bachman doesn't have a web site but advertises in Gunlist or Shotgun News. Gordon has a website but mostly advertises his hand guns in the Semi section of Sturmgewehr.com as does M.L. Securities. I would say that all of these men have been trustworthy and honest in my dealings with them. I have had one experience with Josh at Clyde Armory on an NFA item and that was positive as well. Hope this helps. Brian

[BBush]

The way that I have handled a couple of my latest firearm purchases is to send an e-mail to a few of my local dealers asking if they order me a new "ABC model gun for XXX dollars". I have been surprised at how many are willing to give me a better price on an e-mail than if I had gone into their store and asked them face-to-face for the same price. Also, when they respond back that they can do it for a certain price, it is showing that he can get the particular model that you want and you don't waste time going all over town trying to chase down who can get it for you. I am able to get my e-mail addresses and prices from a couple of the online auction sites such as gunsamerica.com, gunbroker.com, and auctionarms.com. I usually add maybe an extra $20 to the price over what I find on one of the sites to come up with what I feel should be a fair price. The way that I see it, it is almost like them doing a transfer because the gun is already paid for before they place the order and there is no chance that they are going to be stuck with inventory that they can't sell. Also when trying to get as good of a price as you can when ordering a new firearm, don't forget to try your local pawn shops also. Many times they are willing to do a transfer or order cheaper than your traditional mom and pop gun stores for whatever reason.

[MaverickHK]

Looking at some of the prices, I think GA gunshops might be a bit cheaper than alot of states. If you are in a state or shop where they are trying to charge you $900 for a USP40c, heck yea, internet it up. I just hate it when Joe Schmo comes in, I do a transfer for him and when I get the gun in (half the time the customer's receipt is in the box so I can see what they paid) and they paid something like $729.99 when I sell them instore everyday for $749.99. Add in shipping (usually around $20) and transfer fee (at my store we transfer for $35 on used guns, $50 on new ones I could have sold them). So after adding everything up, online they paid 799.99 where as if they picked it up instore it would have been 794.99 (6% sales tax). Usually the reason I hear is that it was "just easier" to go online and click buttons to order it than check and see if the store carried it.

So let me amend my previous statement:

If you can find a gunstore with competitive prices, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GUNSTORE!!!:79:

[Sean K.]

Picked it up today. Seth at CDNN was spot on with the pricing, shipping and delivery. It's a beaut! :) I'm really pleased with it.....hoping to take it to the range tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone!

Sean

[Goose5]

Forget online, support your local gunstore!!! :79:

I decided on my first HK. A USPf .45. My local gun store said I was buying an unserviceable gun. They had parts on order from HK for over a year in some cases. They wanted 885 for said gun. I bought it online for 700. My local store had nothing good to say about HK. So, I went somewhere else.

[Gerber]

What gun are you speaking of Aviator? I want to see how my prices stack up hehe. I'm the assistant manager of a gun store so my opinion may be a bit biased. However, the problem for me with companies like CDNN is that as far as I know, they are technically a wholesaler. If I as a gunshop go to order product for my store from them, I pay almost the same thing that they are letting individuals buy them for directly.

The markup in my shop on average is generally 10-15% which, if I sell three or four guns a day, basically pays my employees' wages. Maybe I pay my guys too much but it is my experience that people want a more knowledgeable and friendly staff which costs more than just hiring a body to hand out guns and fill out paperwork. Wholesale companies don't have these problems. They have people sitting in front of computers and at warehouses filling orders, half of which I would bet have never even shot a firearm in their lives.

It is almost as annoying as when I have people bring their guns in for me to work on (I'm also a Glock armorer and do other small gunsmithing) and it was purchased online or somewhere else. If you can save $100+ dollars, well I can't blame you for going a different route, I can whine ;) but I can't blame you. However, if you only saved $20 or paid the same thing that you would have in the store but just couldn't bring yourself to get up and contact your local gunstore to see if they could get you the firearm you wanted, then there is a problem. I'll pay an extra $20-$50 any day if I can get friendly face to face service and know I have somewhere to ask questions and bring my gun problems to. [/end late night rant]

disclaimer: None of the previous statements were aimed at AviatorDave or bzdog or any previous posters. This is just a general rant from a gunstore assistant manager who is tired of hearing the words "profit margin" from his owner :)

I can agree with that. Not being an employee of any firearms dealer, nor having a lot of experience in purchasing firearms. But yeah, I'd rather go locally, but I am wanting a NIB USP Compact, either .40 or 9mm LEM and I have found a couple of places with that weapon. One told me they will only match local prices and the other told me they would match the internet price b/c after s/h+ffl fee, it came out to be the same as his base price before taxes. However, I got there and it turned out not to be the LEM model at all. I see it this way, I'm confident most shops will work with you, but I wouldn't expect them to take one or two hundred dollars off there shelf price.