I have 20 AR mags and that's plenty as far as I'm concerned.

How reliable are gun store owners for advice?

Knowing they want to upsell you.

depends on the store

you're probably better off going with a friend who has some knowledge rather than trusting the guy behind the counter.

Hm. Fair point. Is there a good way to distinguish the good stores and the bad ones?

I can assume Walmart isn't the best source of information. But what about the local gun shop with a range?

Places that are selling to cops are better than just going to a big chain store.

If they have a range that means you can try it before you buy it.

How do you tell a good one from a bad one? Is it all just feel?

I would assume you can't tell reliability by just firing a weapon a couple times.

Specific firearms?

There are a lot of guys that do reviews on Youtube. Military Arms Channel is one of the best.

<https://www.youtube.com/user/Sturmgewehre>

He tends to focus on high-end brand new products.

Iraqveteran8888 is another good one <https://www.youtube.com/user/Iraqveteran8888>

Honest Outlaw and Nutnfancy on Youtube are also good reviewers

I assume they have BitChute backups or something?

The two that I mentioned do.

Youtube has been purging, as I understand.

Not entirely.

I don't really like Nutnfancy too much. I don't like the tough guy act.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbT5ssxEDZHNyz28N4Ov7Wg

https://www.youtube.com/user/evenesence4444444444

Nutnfancy tends to be real long winded, but he does take the firearms out and tests them as if he is using them in real life.

That and he will update his reviews as things develope down the road.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Mrgunsngear

Thanks for the advice.

no problem.

Nutnfancy is a faget

"I'm having a fuckin stroke"

That reminds me pratel: don't buy a 1911.

Also don't buy Serpa holsters

I learned that one the hard way.

Buy a (not cheap) AR-15 and a Glock 17 or 19

They're boring because they're ubiquitous and they're ubiquitous because they work

Wait, what's wrong with a 1911? I thought that was the classic pistol.

@Atkins

Biggest reason is capacity. Average 1911 has a 7+1 capacity. A full size 9mm can have double that.
Second reason is reliability. Getting a modern construction 1911 to work reliably is not a simple matter.
Third is ammo. 9mm is simply more widely available. Also you will have additional reliability problems with hollow point .45

Weight and size are also considerations. You can get compact 1911s but again, reliability becomes an issue. As does aftermarket parts.

If you want one for the history, or the aesthetics, or for spending a bunch of dough on for competition shooting there's nothing wrong with them.