San Antonio Report

When Dick's Sporting Goods and Walmart announced firearm sales restrictions in 2018, Nagel's Gun Shop on San Pedro Avenue saw exactly what independent dealers are built for—serving customers who want direct access to a shooter who knows what he's selling.

Nagel's carries a working inventory of semi-automatic rifles, including: - Ruger rifles - Smith & Wesson rifles - Tactical assault rifles - Standard hunting rifles

They also stock handguns and related firearms for both novices and experienced gun owners.

Every firearm sale goes through federal background check requirements. At Nagel's, that process takes anywhere from three seconds to five days depending on your background. Salesman Bill Mochel is direct about it: "A lot of people get denied, you'd be surprised."

But here's what matters: just because you pass a background check doesn't mean you'll walk out with a gun. The shop reserves the right to refuse service. If someone's "acting a little shifty" or "looking weird," the answer is no. Mochel has turned down plenty of customers. "Safety is a very important deal," he said.

"If someone's acting a little shifty, I'm not selling you a gun. If someone looks weird, no. Just because someone is able to pass a background check doesn't mean we have to sell it."

Nagel's is one of 86 licensed firearm dealers in San Antonio according to ATF data. The shop capitalized on major retailers' retreat from the market—when Dick's stopped selling assault rifles and Walmart restricted buyers under 21, independent shops like Nagel's became the go-to for customers who wanted continuity and personal relationships with their dealers.

The total number of federal firearms licenses in San Antonio has climbed from 196 in 2014 to 218 by 2018, even as gun ownership rates declined nationally. That growth reflects a shift toward independent dealers over big-box retailers.

Nearby competitors include Bass Pro Shop (near La Cantera on the Northside), Academy Sports + Outdoors (which operates 240+ stores across 16 states with no stated restrictions), and Cabela's locations.

• •Federal firearms sales with background checks
• •Semi-automatic rifle sales
• •Handgun sales
• •Tactical rifle sales
• •Ammunition sales (implied from context)

Customers range from Second Amendment advocates concerned about major retailers' restrictions to longtime gun owners looking for personalized service. One customer, Royce Sample, noted that Nagel's and similar independent shops would see a boost when chains like Dick's and Walmart pulled back on certain products and age restrictions.