RifleGear The Colony, TX — Local services in The Colony

Summary: RifleGear gunsmith makes a mistake, management refuses to admit mistake, requests additional $60 to partially fix mistake, relents and agrees to fix mistake, voids agreement and bans me from the store. Mistakes happen, but RifleGear’s response is unacceptable.

Last week I dropped off a Colt 14.5” upper with a pinned A2 flash hider (FH) and requested they remove the pinned A2 FH, install a Surefire 4-prong FH that I provided, and use the new set of accu-washers that I also provided to properly index the FH before pinning and welding it in place, bringing the overall length of the barrel to greater than 16”

I go in today to pick it up and immediately noticed an issue, the gunsmith installed 2 accu-washers between the FH and barrel shoulder instead of 1. For context, there are 18 accu-washers per set, each is a different width, you install the correct width washer so that, when torqued to spec, the FH is aligned properly (referred to as “indexing” or “timing”). The benefit of using accu-washers instead of standard shim kits is that 1 solid washer is compressed between the FH and barrel shoulder, instead of 5-6 thin flimsy shims. There’s no scenario where 2 accu-washers are required to properly index a FH.

I pointed out the issue and asked them to fix it, but instead of admitting that their gunsmith made a mistake by using 2 wrong sized accu-washers, the manager lied and said “that’s how they’re supposed to be installed”, condescendingly asked me “how many years of professional gunsmithing experience do you have?”, and told me that since there’s “no issue” I’d have to pay them an additional $60 to remove the pin and weld. Only when I suggested we post pictures of the barrel assembly online and see if the firearm community agreed that there’s “no issue” did the manager change his tune and agree to fix the issue at no additional cost. We agreed they’d remove the pin and weld, allow me to take the barrel assembly home, I’d install the correct sized accu-washer, torque the FH to spec, verify concentricity with my suppressor and alignment rod, then bring the barrel assembly back to them, where they’d pin and weld it in place. Mistake will be corrected, requires a little more effort on my part, but everyone is happy, right?

Wrong. Before signing off that I’d received my barrel assembly, I asked for our agreement in writing. The sales agent went back to his manager, and while he was gone a customer asked me about my suppressor and what the issue was. I was honest and said the gunsmith made a mistake, that it wouldn’t have damaged the suppressor, but wasn’t the right way to index the FH. He then asked about 9mm suppressors for his pistol and I suggested he look into newer flow through suppressors to reduce the grime-to-face effect that’s experienced when shooting suppressed pistols. That was it. At no point did I raise my voice, at no point did I insult the staff or the business, and at no point did I tell the customer to shop elsewhere.

When the sales agent returned, he told me that he’d been made aware I had talked to “several customers” about the issue, that our agreement is void, and that I am hereby banned from the premises. To his credit, he did remove the pin and weld and refunded the entire price of the botched service ($129.90) without me asking, but honestly I’d prefer the gunsmith and manager own and fix their mistake.

Note to gunsmith/manager: I’ve attached a picture of that same barrel assembly with 1 correct sized accu-washer (#18) installed and the FH properly indexed and torqued (23 ft/lbs, within Surefire’s 20-30 ft/lbs spec). I took that picture 10 mins after I got home. 10 mins was all it took to correct your mistake. Instead you lied, argued, belittled my experience, and banned me for answering the questions of one curious onlooker. I’ve been a customer since April 2022, I’ve spent thousands of dollars at your business since then, I just bought this Colt 14.5” LE6920SOCOM rifle from you on 9/26/24 for $1,492.77, but I guess I’m no longer...

I just recently began shooting at RifleGear because I signed up for their LTC class. I'm in Prosper and there is another range closer, and actually on the way to RG from my house, but I can justify adding the extra minutes to the drive. And, I am not knocking any other business(es) either. This is just my preference based on my experiences. #1, the customer services is really great. Not just the service but it's just a different vibe, a more friendlier vibe. #2, is the amount of staff they have on the floor. There's not a lot of waiting around unless there's a lot of people ahead of you and you're waiting on a lane. If you have questions about any of their inventory, there's typically someone that can assist. Maybe that falls under customer service but it's an important one to me. #3, the prices are competive in every catagory, especially ammo. I love that I don't have to use any reserves or even stop at a sporting goods store because the ammo is typically cheaper at one of those places. I've purchased ammo there every single time because it is actually cheaper than any box store around...that I am aware of anyway. Now, this may not be applicable for all calibers but at least for 9mm it is. I've purchased a few mags as well and they were the exact same price as anywhere else. Why not get pick it up there? #4, the amenities are nice and clean. This one may not be important to a lot, or most, but you'll notice the floors on the range, the stalls and the functionaly of the equipment. And say you want to shoot with a buddy and your lady friends just happen to want to tag a long, there are tables and seats where they can sit and talk while you and your bud shoot. There is even a glass window in between in some areas so they can watch you if they don't want to shoot. Cuz you know they like to keep their eyes on you, (jk ladies). #5, the classes that they offer and the variety. They cover a lot. Like I mentioned earlier, I took the LTC course over this past weekend and I actually learned a helluva lot more than I was expecting. I actually don't even know what I was expecting but I had no problem sitting there for 6 hours. I appreciated how Kyle explained things and took the Texas penal codes and put them into laymen's terms and went further into them by providing scenarios and examples. He never got tired or annoyed by anyone's questions, answered them all. Stayed around after the class and answered some more. LTC is a pretty serious thing and comes with a lot of responsibility and Kyle instructed it as such but was also able to make areas light so that it didn't make you want to keep looking at your watch. I will be taking another class, the stop the bleed probably and an AR course. All in all, I don't have anything negative to say about the place. I will say that I wish the annual memberships were a little more enticing but that's not a negative, it's just me being stingy. Sry for the book but wanted to try...

First-time customer, treated like a suspect — staff demands documents I’ve never been asked for elsewhere

Today was my first visit to Rifle Gear, and it will definitely be my last.

I came to legally purchase a Glock 26, and I presented all required documentation for me as a LEGAL immigrant with a USCIS Combo Card(EAD + Advance Parole):

Texas LTC

Valid state driver’s license

Texas hunting license

Combo Card

These are the same documents I’ve successfully used at Mister Guns and The Range in McKinney without any issue.

But the staff member Mark immediately told me I needed to provide Form I-94, claiming that since I’m not a citizen or permanent resident, their ATF agent “specifically requires” it — even though I clearly explained that I am not on a visa, and that my status is Adjustment of Status (AOS), with full legal presence and eligibility.

Despite that, I went out of my way to print my I-94 and came back.

At that point, they began asking for even more unnecessary documents, like Form I-797, which is not even a required legal document for firearm purchases, and has no use after the applicant receives their Combo Card. They questioned my status again, even as I showed that my Combo Card includes both work authorization and Advance Parole — a document that literally grants me lawful re-entry into the U.S.

I explained to Mark that Advance Parole means I am allowed to re-enter the U.S., and he took my Combo Card to the back for a long time. When he returned, he told me that it must explicitly say "allowed to re-enter the U.S.". I calmly told him Advance Parole means exactly that, and even pulled up official information to show him. He responded, "I know, but it has to be clearly said." Then, bizarrely, he gave an example about "if a refugee comes in to buy a gun" — at which point I told him, calmly, "I’m not a refugee." But he continued trying to explain, essentially denying the legal validity of Advance Parole right to my face.

At that point, I politely said I’d go buy elsewhere, asked him to shred all my documents, and even thanked him before walking out.

I was already halfway through filling out the 4473 form, when they decided to halt the process again.

This was not a matter of legal compliance — I know the rules better than they do. This was a store that doesn't understand immigration status, makes up its own rules, and treats legal buyers with suspicion and confusion.

If you are a legal immigrant going through AOS and carry valid federal documentation, avoid Rifle Gear. Other FFLs in the DFW area understand the law and treat you with professionalism — this place...