clark brothers, opal VA

[flowmaster]

anyone been to clark brothers on rte29 in opal virginia? i thought it was in warrenton, but i've got a reciept in my hand that says opal VA. anyway, big fake bear on the roof. feels like stepping back in time. long, narrow store. good selection, but ammo prices are pretty rediculous. the reason ammo prices are so high there is because you can shoot at their outdoor range for free, but you've gotta buy your ammo from them. you can't walk in with ammo purchased somewhere else and shoot it there, you can't just pay some fee and shoot your own ammo. its frefreshing to shoot outdoors and still be sort of close to northern virginia.

if you walk in the door and go to the left, then walk all the way to the end, they've got used long guns on a rack that people can handle without having to bother anyone working behind the counter. there are a few unique guns (one with a welded bolt handle) that've been there for several years.

they'll order just about anything you want, but when i inquired about them ordering a henry rifle for me, they quoted me MSRP for it. i don't pay MSRP now that i've got the internet.

the outdoor range used to be scary as hell, but its pretty nice now. they've got a little booth where the range master does his thing with the microphone. the shooting stations have a roof over them and there are generously-sized wooden benches for left and right handed shooters if you're shooting rifles. the pistol side has chicken wire as partitions between the shooting lanes to minimize brass flying into the face of the guy to your right.

what's your opinion?

[Moccasin]

Been to Clark Brothers, wasn't impressed with what they had for sale, seemed a little pricey, but I did like looking at the ones they didn't have for sale. Like you said, the ammo is overpriced, about gave me a heart attack when I saw the prices.

[Harry]

There are bargains there occasionally...like the Hornady Jet bullets for $7.95 a box several months ago.....old stock. The old holster box has some good deals sometimes. Most of the new guns are straight retail.

I always check the collector display which can have some nice stuff from time to time.

Harry

[graybeard321]

I shoot at Clark Brothers once a month and have been for the last 5 years. They don't charge you a range fee,, Shotgun and rifle ammo is a little high, but handgun ammo is out of site. I have purchased several guns from them. You can find some good deals on guns but over all they are a few dollars higher then others.

[gregj]

I used to go there quite a bit. I got tired of the high ammo prices, ( yes you get to shoot at their range for free), but the experience there differs with the RO that happens to be working that day. Some call cease fires to change targets at consistent times (e.g. every 30 min, 45 min, etc), others dont. Last time I was there I waited for 2 or 3 hrs for a 25yrd bench so my son could shoot his 22. None opened up, and the RO wasnt paying to much attention to the fact one guy had some young kids down there, but they basically just occupied the bench, did little shooting. The father was busy shooting on another bench and had no consideration that others were waiting.

Somthing else I noticed last time I was there, I bought a box of WWB 9mm for range use. They NEVER sold WWB before that I ever saw. I just wonder if this is yet another reason why my local WallyWorld never has any WWB on the shelf.

I've been going to the NRA range in Farifax since, it's a lot more enjoyable.

I like looking around at Virginia Arms much better. Prices seem more reasonable. The folks that work at both places are very nice and helpful. I did have a new rear site pushed on my Sig by the smith at Clark Bros for no charge. But as much as I have spent there in ammo and targets, I would hope it wouldnt cost much.

If you are looking to get your CHP permit, the guy doing the class at Clark's is a Sheiff's office Deputy, and puts on a great class. I highly recommend Clarks for the class.

[NewColonial]

I shot at CB for awhile when I first started shooting (which wasn't that long ago.) As I advanced, CB was less attractive. CB limits you to one target, no moving, no double taps.... It's great for sighting in and specific target shooing, but not if you want to learn/practice self-defense.

[CajunBass]

My wife and I shoot at Clark Brothers quite a bit. We've found that buying their handgun ammo and shooting for free, works out about the same as buying our ammo somewhere else, and paying a range fee. If there's any difference it's not much.

BUT!

What we do most of the time is go to CB's to shoot rimfire. We can buy a brick of 22's and shoot pretty much as long as we want to. We usually go on a weekday so we pretty much have the place to ourselves, or if nothing else there are free lanes so we're not holding anyone up. On the rare occasion we've seen someone waiting, we'll wrap up early and head home. We pretty much see the same RO, and he seems to keep the place moving along pretty well.

[nickf829]

I was never impressed with Clark Brothers. Seemed like a store full of car salesmen. I have been in there numerous times looking for a gun, never bought there because 1 they are overpriced for the area and 2 I have not yet had a salesman that impressed me. I understand commission based sales, but don't follow me around after I tell you I am just looking, then when you see I am looking at a pistol in the case, take it out and show it off, then get pissy when I say "ok thanks" and move on, I never even asked for it to come out.. Also their handgun ammo prices are rediculous. Gun prices are a little high for the area, but I understand they have such a broad selection and that is probably why they need to charge more... Good for them, I will go to my LGS with a good selection but much better pricing. I do however stop in whenever in the area just to browse from a distance what they have in hopes of finding a deal, hasn't happened yet however.

[ShortMan]

Alright, been up there 3 times now and will not be going back for a 4th visit. Prices are too high. Especially the ammo. And while I admit its nice to have a free range the quality of such a setup is obvious. Way too many careless, unsafe people running around. The range officer is a good man and very responsible but since we're all civilians with no particular association most of us just do what we damn well please anyway. I didnt care for shooting there. Only did it to try out my new purchase from Virginia Arms Company, and once I get an Izaak Walton membership I will forget about them completely.
Contrary to other opinions I did find the staff to be knowledgeable and helpful. But this was a Monday morning, so maybe its a scheduling thing. Perhaps the weekend guys have different attitudes.

Oh, and the inside smells horrid.

[ProShooter]

I drove by there one day on my way up to Pennsy. Never knew that I was passing the place until I heard repeated gunfire.

Thought that I was taking fire myself!