Website: https://www.classicfirearms.com/
Classic Firearms Overall Rating: [2.7 / 5.0]
A broad catalog and fast shipping when items are in stock keep Classic Firearms competitive, yet inconsistent surplus grading and brusque support cap its appeal.
Classic Firearms Summary
Getting its start in Indian Trail, North Carolina in 1989 as Classic Arms, Classic Firearms markets itself as a Christian owned, discount minded online gun store that now lists more than 50 000 firearms, ammo, and accessories in stock. The company carries new and surplus guns, publishes daily video deals, and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Evaluation Criteria
Quality & Reliability
Classic offers name brand modern handguns and rifles plus surplus lots. New production items usually arrive clean and factory sealed. Buyers can add a paid lifetime warranty on many guns, and BBB files show no major safety recalls.
Surplus grading is the weak link. Multiple Reddit users report “hand select” rifles that still arrive coated in cosmoline or with cracked stocks. One customer described a Swiss 1911 as “abysmal… scumbaggery” after paying extra for hand select.
Compared with J&G Sales and Simpson LTD, Classic’s surplus QC trails both, though new gun condition equals peers.
Customer Experience
Phone staff knowledge ranges from helpful to confrontational. A 2025 Trustpilot review praised an “outstanding” experience, yet another the same year called the rep “nasty” after an eight day ship delay.
Classic deletes web site reviews it dislikes, hurting transparency, and several Redditors accuse it of aggressive email marketing.
Value for Money
Flash sales on police trade pistols can undercut rivals by $40-$60. Magazine bundles are often cheapest online.
Negative feedback centers on high surplus pricing. Some items list $300 above smaller shops. One reviewer skipped a $1 000 order to avoid an $80 saving gamble.
Examples
- Beretta APX at $379 shipped (good deal).
- Enfield No. 4 listed $200 over fully refurbished competitor copy.
GrabAGun beats Classic on many new production guns once shipping and transfer fees are added.
User Feedback
Trustpilot shows 76 percent one star reviews and a 2.2 / 5 overall score, though pockets of five star praise remain. Reddit threads trend negative but include happy repeat customers.
Shipping
Classic processes most in stock orders within one to three business days and ships Monday through Friday from its Matthews, North Carolina warehouse. Long guns and ammunition leave via UPS or FedEx Ground, while handguns usually travel by 2 day air in line with carrier rules. The company advertises that “typical” orders go out within 24 to 72 hours; however, its policy notes that heavy sales periods can push fulfillment to seven to ten days.
No free shipping threshold exists for accessories. Firearm orders qualify for free shipping only when the cart tops one thousand dollars. Ground rates are calculated at checkout and generally fall in the low teens for small parts and the mid twenties for long guns. Classic does not guarantee a specific carrier, and tracking numbers post when a label is created, which means packages can sit 24 to 48 hours before the first scan. Overall speed is average when compared with Bud’s, GrabAGun, and Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore.
Returns
Classic allows returns within seven days but charges shipping plus a 15 percent restock. Buyers returning mis-graded or faulty surplus often report “go through the manufacturer” responses instead of store credit.
Other
Classic Firearms treats YouTube as a full media stack: the main channel sells and educates, Outside The Warehouse entertains, CF Clips captures the scroll crowd, and the podcast builds thought leader gravitas. The mix keeps the algorithm happy and insulates the brand if one feed hits a policy strike. Viewers who want fast buying advice stick to the flagship, while culture minded fans drift toward the side channels. Video quality depends greatly on who is doing videos at the time.
User Feedback Highlights
- “The item was delivered to my FFL at lightspeed, in only 4 days.” – Trustpilot
- “I have gotten multiple rifles from Classic and had a good experience.” – Reddit
- “Nasty person on line, very poor customer service… 8 days still not shipped.” – Trustpilot
We actively gather feedback from the broader firearms community to ensure our reviews reflect a range of real-world experiences.
Classic Firearms Final Verdict
Classic Firearms can still be a bargain hunter’s stop for new guns and magazines, but surplus buyers should inspect expectations and factor the steep restock fee.
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