NoVA Guide to Guns

This page is provided as a quick resource for firearms and shooting information in Northern Virginia. If you find something is incorrect or feel there is information that could be added, feel free to leave a comment or contact me. If you have questions about terms and observations, please feel free to ask. If you have a review and would like me to link to it, also drop me a line.

Table of Contents
  1. Gun Stores
  2. Gun Shows
  3. Public Gun Ranges
  4. Private Gun Ranges
  5. Gunsmiths
  6. Firearms Instructors
  7. Gun Rights Organizations
  8. Shooting Organizations
  9. Gun Blogs and Forums
  10. Local and County Ordinances
  11. Legal Resources

Gun Stores
  1. Blue Ridge Arsenal -- Offers new, used, and consignment firearms. It is my opinion that firearms at or below the $500 mark match normal street prices, but once you get above $500 there tends to be an excessive markup that caps at $200 for guns priced over $800. There are a decent number of accessories. Ammunition is also available, but is priced for use on their range and can be easily beat elsewhere.
    • Location: Chantilly. (map)
    • Contact: (703) 818-0230, http://www.blueridgearsenal.com/
    • Other services: armorer, gun range, training and classes, shooting competitions, FFL transfers, discounts for VCDL members
    • Reviews: The Miller (5/25/2011)
  2. Clarks Brothers -- Offers new, used, and consignment guns, and has an impressive array of turn of the century, not-for-sale, antique lever action rifles up on the walls. They cater more to the hunting community, but seem to have some of everything. This is the only store in the area that carries black powder supplies for pistols and has a sales staff that has actually shot black powder firearms.
    • Location: Warrenton. (map)
    • Contact: (540) 439-8988, http://clarkbrosguns.com/
    • Other services: gun range, gunsmithing, training and classes
  3. Dawson's Small Arms of the World -- Geared toward hunters, also offers fishing supplies.
    • Dick's Sporting Goods -- A big box sporting goods store. They do not advertise firearms and accessories online, so you will have to call the individual stores for information. The cater to hunters, and sell only new rifles and shotguns -- no used guns and no handguns, though they do sell handgun calibre ammunition.
      • Bailey's Crossroads location: (703) 933-0736, (map)
      • Woodbridge location: (703) 491-9432, (map) 
      • Fair Lakes location: (703) 803-0300, (map) 
      • Manassas location: (703) 257-4300, (map)
      • Dulles (Sterling) location: (571) 434-0046, (map)
    • Dominion Arms -- Used and new guns.
      • Location: Manassas. (map)
      • Contact: (703) 330-2772, (no website that I can find)
      • Other services: tax preparation (no kidding!)
    • Guns & Ammo Warehouse -- New, used, and consignment guns.
    • Loudoun Guns -- Claims to be Northern Virginia's largest "stocking gun store". I've never been there, but have heard the prices are a little high.
    • NOVA Armaments -- This is one of my favorite gun stores in the area. Comparatively, it is small but the prices are good and the people are great. In my opinion, it is on-par with Virginia Arms. They offer new and used guns, with a good selection of handguns and evil black rifles, though they do have other long guns.
    • NOVA Firearms -- With the exception of the Dick's Sporting Goods in Seven Corners, this is the only real gun store inside the beltway. Its a very small shop in the notoriously anti-gun Falls Church City. The prices seem reasonable and the owner says he will be competitive on prices. This store has limited hours, so check their website or call them before heading over.
    • Sharp Shooters -- New and used guns and firearms accessories.
      • Location: Lorton. (map)
      • Contact: (703) 550-8005, http://www.sharpshootersva.com/
      • Other services: gun range, classes, gun rental
    • Purcell Guns -- A great gun store with a canon parked out front. They offer used and new guns, and prices are very good. Other than being a good drive from the beltway, my only real complaint is that the store is so stuffed with merchandise you have trouble looking around. I bought my first long gun here.
    • Quantico Tactical -- Specializes in sales to military and law enforcement.
      • Virginia Arms -- If you were to ask me, this is the gun store that sets the standard for the area. They offer new, used, and consignment guns of all types, though for long arms they lean more toward the evil black rifle market than the hunting and clay shooting market. The prices are good, and my only real complaint is that they should offer more optics than the high-end Trijicon and Aimpoint scopes. That being said, I bought my first gun here and have gone back many times.
      • Walmart -- Don't shop at Walmart! I don't care if they sell guns, they are still no friends of gun owners. They took guns out of their stores a few years ago when they thought gun ownership was a low-class habit only to put them back because they needed the money. They cooperate with the anti-gun group Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
        • Other services: take your money, don't care about you, cooperates with the enemy

      Gun Shows
      1. Dale City Gun Show -- Hosted by Old Dominion Shows, this gun show is held at the VFW post in Dale City. Check their website for dates of their shows.
      2. Fredericksburg Gun Show -- Hosted by SGK Gun Shows, this show claims to have over 400 vendor tables.
        • The Nation's Gun Show -- Hosted by C&E Gun Shows and Showmasters, this gun show has vendors from all over the state and mid-Atlantic. It is held periodically at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. Check their website for the dates of their shows.
        • Virginia Gun Collectors Association -- "Connoisseurs of Fine Firearms - Defenders of the Constitution". Leans toward collectable and vintage firearms.

          Public Gun Ranges
          This category does not mean gun ranges on public lands, but rather gun ranges easily open to the public. Some may still require a membership fee, but that is negligible.
          1. American Defensive -- (CLOSED) A 13 lane, outdoor range with a max of 25 yards. Caters to defensive and tactical firearms usage. As of June 2011, this is a new range and has limited hours, check their website. Allows dynamic movement, and has an interesting fee structure though they only take cash.
          2. Blue Ridge Arsenal -- Two 10 lane, indoor, standard box ranges, one for pistols and the other for rifles (you can shoot pistols on the rifle side). Both ranges are 25 yards. Membership is available but not required.
            • Location: Chantilly. (map)
            • Contact: (703) 818-0230, http://www.blueridgearsenal.com/
            • Other services: armor, gun rental, gun store, training and classes, shooting competitions, FFL transfers
            • Reviews: The Miller (5/25/2011)
          3. Bull Run Regional Park Shooting Center -- An outdoor trap, skeet, and sporting clay range. Also has an archery range. Run by a public park authority (ain't that grand!).
            • Clarks Brothers -- Outdoor, 100-yard range. You must buy your ammunition and targets from their store, otherwise there are no fees to use the range.
              • Location: Warrenton. (map)
              • Contact: (540) 439-8988, http://clarkbrosguns.com/
              • Other services: gun range, gunsmithing, training and classes
            • NRA Range -- A 15 lane, indoor box range for both handguns and rifles. Very nice. Discounts for NRA members. You must pass a range safety course first before being issued a range card which allows use of the range. NRA membership not required... though you have to ask yourself why you aren't an NRA member to start with.
            • Sharp Shooters -- An indoor, 16 lane, 25-yard range.
              • Location: Lorton. (map)
              • Contact: (703) 550-8005, http://www.sharpshootersva.com/
              • Other services: gun store, classes, gun rental
            • Silver Eagle Group -- Three indoor box ranges, one 50 yard rifle range and two 25 yard pistol ranges. Very nice facilities, but the management keeps changing along with the prices and services offered.
            • The Range -- A 14 lange, indoor, 25-yard box range for handguns only except rifles chambered in .22LR.


            Private Gun Ranges
            This category defines gun ranges with exclusive membership, and that are not generally open to the public.
            1. Fairfax Rod & Gun -- Multiple trap and skeet ranges, rifle ranges and a pistol range. Membership is limited to 1,000 with a six months waiting list to become an associate (non-voting) member, and new members must be sponsored by two current members. This is really a country club. Looks great if you can afford it.
            2. Izaak Walton League, Alexandria/Stafford -- Has an archery range, one shotgun range, one 100-yard rifle range, and a 25-yard pistol range. Guests are allowed to be shown around the facilities but can not use them. Membership is easy to obtain, and includes all family members.
            3. Izaak Walton League, Arlington/Fairfax -- Has a trap & skeet range, a rifle/pistol range, an archery range, and an indoor airsoft shoot house. They have a cap on the number of memberships allowed, and the sign up for the waiting list starts in February and is usually closed out by April. In my experience -- and from what I have heard from others, the guy running the membership orientation is a bit of a jerk.
            4. Izaak Walton League, Leesburg/Loudoun -- Has a "sight-in" rifle range, a skeet range, and an archery range. Membership is easy to obtain.
            5. Northern Virginia Gun Club -- Has general purpose, outdoor, covered ranges from 25 to 200 yards, 2 trap ranges, 2 skeet ranges, and an archery range. Requires sponsorship from a current member.
            6. Range 82 -- A 16 lane, 100-yard outdoor range, the first 25 yards having outdoor cover. You must call ahead to reserve a lane.
              • Quantico Shooting Club -- Located on the Quantico Marine Base, this club has a membership limit that must be divided between current/retired military and civilians. Range times are limited and usually only on the weekends. Sponsorship is required. Special restrictions on the transportation of firearms apply as the range is on an active military base.

              Gunsmiths

              1. Hatfield Gunsmithing -- Geared more toward the evil black rifle and tactical community.
              2. Northern Virginia Gun Works -- Considered an all-around good gunsmith.
                • Location: Springfield. (map)
                • Contact: (703) 644-6504, no website I could find, but here is the Yahoo page.

              Firearms Instructors

              1. Innovative Defensive Solutions -- NRA, NRA instructor, and other concealed carry and defensive shooting courses.
              2. Proactive Shooters -- Not technically in Northern Virginia, but they hold classes in Chantilly and sometimes in Arlington. Check their schedule.
              3. Safe Pistol -- Mostly NRA courses, though a special firearms law course is available.
              4. She Can Shoot: The Shooting Divas of DMV -- Firearms and other defensive training for women.
              5. Tactical Pink -- Specializes in firearms training for women.
              6. Virginia Gun Safety -- They teach a bevy of NRA firearms courses throughout Northern Virginia.


              Gun Rights Organizations
              1. Virginia Citizens Defense League -- One of the premiere grass-roots gun ownership and self-defense gun rights organizations in the country, the VCDL has been essential in transforming and shaping the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Every gun owner in Virginia should be a member of the VCDL.
              2. Virginia Shooting Sports Association -- The Virginia affiliate of the NRA, the VSSA funds a paid lobbyist to fight for gun rights in Richmond.

              Shooting Organizations
              1. Pink Pistols -- An organization advocating for the armed, self-defense of gays and lesbians. Unfortunately, I do not believe the Northern Virginia chapter is active. If you find out otherwise, please enlighten me.
              2. Shooting Divas -- The Place for Women Shooters. If you are woman and want to get into shooting or carry a gun for self-defense but find all testosterone a bit too much, contact the Shooting Divas.

              Gun Blogs & Forums
              1. In Search of the Tempestuous Sea -- this blog
              2. Excels at Nothing -- Nancy R
              3. Female and Armed -- Lynn F
              4. Legion's Fate -- CTone
              5. Musings Over a Pint -- David
              6. My Muse Shanked Me -- MSgt B
              7. Nobody Asked Me -- Old NFO
              8. The Countertop Chronicles -- “Run by a gun zealot who’s too blinded by the NRA”
              9. The Millier -- JB Miller
              10. The Newbius Papers -- Newbius
              11. Turonistan -- Turk Turon
              12. Virginia Gun Owners Forum -- (I'm LFS on this forum)
              13. Virginia Gun Trader


              Local and County Ordinances
              Though the Commonwealth of Virginia has many state laws that specifically pre-empt local ordinances, certain laws can and do fall under the purview of local jurisdictions. These usually fall into the realm of transportation of shotguns and rifles and the discharge of firearms, air guns, and bows.
              1. Arlington County -- Chapter 17.1 for firearms, Chapter 13 for air guns.
              2. Fairfax County -- Chapter 6, Weapons.
              3. Loudoun County -- Chapter 684, Weapons and Explosives
              4. Fauquier County -- Chapter 15, Article II, Firearms and Hunting
              5. Prince William County -- Chapter 31, Weapons


                Legal Resources
                1. Virginia Legal Defense -- Daniel L. Hawes, a very gun-savy lawyer.
                2. Virginia Gun Owners Forum, Virginia Laws and Regulations Board -- It is not uncommon for folks to ask questions concerning the law here. This forum is regularly visited by people who know Virginia gun laws very well, such a Jim Reynolds from Proactive Shooters and Daniel L. Hawes from Virginia Legal Defense.
                3. Virginia Gun Owners Guide -- A 256 page book about owning guns in Virginia by Alan Korwin and Steve Maniscalco.
                4. Virginia State Police, Frequently Asked Questions about Firearms -- A very good FAQ by Virginia's State Police, complete with a list of state recognition and reciprocity agreements and a link to Virginia's legal code on firearms.
                5. Firearms Laws for Virginia from the NRA/ILA -- A great little PDF that summarizes Virginia law on firearms.
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