I'll be in Dallas, technically the DFW area, later in the month and will have an afternoon to tool around. Gunstores and BBQ would be an interest to me. Any recommendations on either?

TIA
Chuck

I just me Pat from Willoughby&Mcnabe{sic},seems knowledgable and personable

Chuck,
If you make it down to Austin I'll treat you to some of the best BBQ in Texas, and that's not just my opinion (look up Franklin's BBQ in Texas Monthly Magazine). Check this out...
Hitler doesn't get Franklins BBQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaZx6kGs7pg

Steve

Jackson Armory seems to have some pretty nice stuff, but they are also the enemy. From their website: "NO SALES OF MODERN GUNS TO CALIFORNIA." If you are just looking you should be OK. Tell them where you are from and they might throw you out.

Willoughby and MCabe is a must .
http://www.willoughbymccabe.com/

Chuck: You may also want to look up CHADICK'S in Terrell, Texas just east of DFW on I-20. Herschel has been in business for a long time, escecially with Parkers.

Best Regards, George

Chuck, for BBQ, try Cousin's BBQ in Ft Worth on McCart St. For a steak, go to downtown Ft Worth, and hit Del Frisco's. Try the jalapeno mac and cheese as a side dish. The filet mignon is incredible. And of course, try some Tex Mex. For a chain, El Chico's is hard to beat.
Willoughby and McCabe is on my list but I havent been there yet. The Berretta Gallery in Dallas is great, very friendly, and has some shotguns that cost more than my house. Mi Cocina Tex Mex is in the same parking lot as Beretta...a two-fer!

The best bbq (and Blackberry pie) in Texas is the Salt Lick - technically in Driftwood TX - but I never miss it when I'm in Austin.


More on topic, I've never found truly great bbq in Dallas - and I've been there hundreds of times.

For guns, you shouldn't miss Willoughby McCabe & Co. Last time I was there it was by appointment only, so call Pat and set up a time. You'll hear angels sing as you open the door. Make sure you have some time. I've never purchased a gun there, but it wasn't due to lack of choices.

SALT LICK IS FINE BUT A LONG DRIVE. THE RIB HOUSE ON BURNET AND 183 IS EXCELLENT AND BBQ IS AS GOOD OR BETTER WITHOUT THE RURAL ENHANCEMENTS OF SALT LICK.

Apparently, you've never been to Franklins. I've been to both and Salt Lick is excellent, but Franklins is better and most of Austin agrees with me. If you clicked on that Youtube link, the complaint about the long line, only now they start at 10:00am, is only too true. Yet even with the long wait, I never feel like I've wasted my time eating there.

Steve

I like Franklins. I love Salt Lick. It helps that one of my best friends lives right down the road, so the drive isn't that far out of the way for us.

I hear ya about the lines though. I feel the same way when I wait in the Mothers' (New Orleans) line for lunch!

Funny video. I've seen dozens of parodies of that scene. My favorite - associated with another hobby - is the one about the Sturgis Harley Rally;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUY-H3vWhzY

HammerGuy,
On this one we agree, I had a 1976 Honda Goldwing. Even back then it was like riding a two-wheeled car. I was so happy to see it gone!
I'm going to send your Harley youtube link to my kids, they'll laugh like hell, probably remembering me and my Goldwing.
Steve

Willoghby and McCabe were at the Southern with quite a spread. I think Herschel has closed his operation after many wonderful years.

All this Austin stuff is all fine and good, but he said DFW. Austin is 200 miles away!
Don't get pious, but Cabela's Gun Library is the closest to DFW and it has some pretty nice stuff. The people working there don't have a clue, but the guns are nice.

Herschel Chadick has been shut down for quite some time. He was not trustworthy.
JR

I have heard some of the stories, and I agree that Chadick could be a bit crusty and irritating. Having said that, the one gun I bought from him (Parker Repro 28 ga in the perfect configuration, NIB) was probably the best deal I have ever made with an actual gun shop. Transaction was conducted long distance, and the gun was exactly as represented.

Chuck Willoghby-McCabe and Jackson Armoury are in the same Snider Plaza shopping center. Cabela's in Allen is straight up US 75 a few miles, and Cabela's in Ft Worth is about 35 miles west. Forget Bass Pro in Grapevine.

If you want to have BBQ and look at guns in the same trip, try Ray's Sporting Goods down on Singleton, lots of good BBQ Joints down that was also. And the Patrons might show you their Guns also

Downtown Fort Worth at the stockyards.....get a great steak and watch the cattle drive (longhorns) down the brick streets.
Cabelas's gun library at the Fort Worth store always has some high grade guns. Curt Junge is the manager and has an affinity for English shotguns.

"Smoke" is high grade BBQ in Dallas. Angelo's in Fort Worth where you stand on sawdust isn't bad. Some of the best hole in the wall places you might want an escort...

Steve,
Gotcha on the escort. Some of the best bbq around the LA area is in some of the neighborhoods where I stand out like a cracker in a bag of chocolate cookies.

Gary,
'been to the stockyards for a horse club meet about 8-10 yrs ago.

Don,
Thanks for the reminder on Cabelas.

W&M and Jackson sounds like a must do.

BBQ in FW:
Cousins http://www.cousinsbbq.com/
Railhead http://www.railheadonline.com/

Tex Mex in FW:
Joe T Garcia's http://joets.com/

John: Replacement is correct in that Herschel "could be a bit crusty at times" but for me, as well, he was alway straightforward in his dealings. I believe that they are still in business, but not in the old bank building anymore. At least the last time I picked up the Shotgun News they had an ad in there that they were buying guns.JMHO

Best Regards, George

Chuck the best BBQ Joint I know of is real close to DFW, but is only open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday.


http://northmainbbq.com/

Another well-known gun dealer told me a chest in Chadicks had a drawer full of Parker barrels exactly 2 or 4 inches long.....wonder what guns were built from the originals?

Hard 8 is my favourite. It is about two miles east of the Grapevine Bass Pro, just inside Coppell.

Joe T's used to be great, last time I was in there, It had hanging ferns....Angelos is always good...

Looks like D magazine has a list. They like Bartley's in Grapevine and Hard 8. They're close to the airport where I'll be staying. I'll give at least one of em a try.

The only Hard Eight I know about is in Stephenville Texas, however it looks as if they have expanded - it is very good.