My first visit was so much fun, it’s truly as pleasant as it can get. The whole gang was there, very entertaining. A good selection of quality firearms at a good price. Worth the visit on a weekend, you never know what’s new in store.They have great gunsmith services, suppressors, ammo and great customer serviceThe special attention you’ll given to every customer will not only meet your needs, it’ll make you a customer for life.

Great experience. Extremely knowledgeable and an amazing assortment of guns in stock. They gently guided me in my choice without ever pushing. When it was all done it turns out I chose the same gun the owner carries. They do their best to make ammo affordable.

I reached out to this shop via email and they responded promptly. Had a great experience!! Top notch sales and service. Answered all my questions and gave me great advice. Support your local businesses!!

Everyone here is super friendly and helpful. They are the best!!! Thank y’all so much for everything.

Dave is a true gentleman and knows what hes talking about. Performed a rifle scope modification and revolver repair for me while I waited. Highly recommend

Great place if you truely want help understanding owning a weapon and the mechanics.

Coastal Defense is the best gun shop in town. The entire staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Dave is an excellent gunsmith. For some reason I have found gunsmiths I have used in the past to be unreliable and not timely. Dave is the opposite. He takes personal pride in his work and makes every effort to get the work done as soon as possible. He recently completed a very challenging job for me. Every time he would get close to done, a new issue would arise. Any other gunsmith would have certainly given up and handed the gun back to me. Not Dave. He just stuck to it like a bulldog and worked through each issue until the gun was fixed, upgraded, and better than factory. He is also a really likable guy. After all that work, I braced myself and my wallet for a hit. Not Dave. He came back with such an extremely reasonable price, I was floored. He bought himself a customer for life. I am going to get a suppressor through him soon and will update this review.

These people are JUST THE BEST! So helpful with their knowledge of weapons! Will ONLY BUY from here.

Very knowledgeable, informative and great prices. The best FFL fees. Friends recommended this place... all rave about individual attention and customer service!

Nothing but great things to say about Dave and his team at Coastal Defense. Dave is not only beyond helpful, but he is extremely knowledgeable. I recommend anyone with any gun background to go to Dave at Coastal Defense for your next gun purchase. Dave and his team will take their time with you, help you out with all of your questions, and willing to work with you on all your needs. I have hands down become a loyal customer to Coastal Defense because of the great customer service and the willingness to not just sell you a gun, but sell you a gun that you will be comfortable using. Want to get training on your new purchase, Dave can do that. Need additional customizations on the gun, Dave can do that too!

Top notch customer service, knowledge, and a great selection. 10/10 would recommend

Coastal Defense was recommended to me by friends after I was experiencing horrible customer service at a big name gun store here in Jacksonville. I was able to swing into the store one Saturday and met the owner Dave, he was friendly, knowledgeable and runs a clean and organized store. I left the store feeling confident with the firearm I purchased and was happy with the advertised price I paid. Don’t waste your time at the commercial name stores dealing with people who don’t care and are just looking to make a sale. Spend your hard earned money at coastal defense and feel confident in your purchase. If the store is busy just be patient and you will be treated with respect and your questions will be answered. I also want to add that I made my purchase in March a few months ago and with all the stuff going on and seeing the lines and the horrible customer service at the commercial stores now. I understand selection is now little to none. I would still use coastal defense as a FFl To ship a firearm to. That’s how much of a great experience and first impression was made.

Dave (the owner) takes his time with you, answers all your questions, helps you decide on the most cost efficient parts and installs those parts on your gun right in front of you. This is America at its finest!

Dave is the man. Set me up today with a beautiful glock 19. Ive been looking for one for months now. Cant recommend them enough if u want rifles or boat loads of pistols show up there and they will take care of you. Will definitely be back for more in the future 👍

I’ve been to many gun stores there is none like Coastal defense ! locally owned ! very hands on & great service . I’ve always been into firearms but was always put down and never encouraged when I went to other gun stores . Dave made me feel welcomed and shared all the knowledge he could to help me ! I recommend all in the area or who live in Florida to go by and see Dave and check out the store or check out the conceal carry class ! thanks again for everything dave

Dave is great! No BS like some of the other stores in the area. Great customer service and you can’t beat their prices, plus he actually knows what he’s talking about and won’t try to up sale you. I live almost an hour away and I am more than willing to drive that far just to do business there.

Thank You both for all the good advice today . Happy New Year !

Dave and the staff are extremely helpful and informative. The only place in jax I go for all my gun/ammo needs.

This place is terrific and I highly recommend them! I brought my old 20ga in there that had never been cleaned and had rust. They were professional and got my gun cleaned up in no time. Plus I got to ask about a few other guns—the owner is very knowledgeable. Thanks so much!!

Went in with no idea what I wanted, store owner and a visiting officer were willing to help me find what was comfortable for me. They were patient, kind, and super informative. I’ll keep coming back for all of my needs!

Cant beat the customer service or the prices! Might be my new favorite place to go. Dave and his wife are awesome folks!

I have been to a lot of gun stores in jacksonville and at most i leave feeling like i was a burden or wasting their time. this place i walked in they treated me like i was family and all my questions were answered. these guys and girls are top shelf. they know what customer service is all about. thanks to all of you i will be a loyal customer for years to come.

Absolute best gun store experience ever. It’s like the scene when John wick walks into the weapon concierge. This place is purely top shelf. Dave knows how to do it right.

Hands down the best customer service Ive ever recieved. I took my fathers 1911 in for what I thought would be a simple cleaning, which turned out to be way more. Dave went above and beyond to make it back to the way it should be . The gun hadnt been cleaned properly in many years and Dave made sure he took the time to go over every single piece and make sure it was perfect for him. I will continue to do business with Dave and Coastal Defense from here on out! If youre looking for friendly, reliable and trustworthy work, Dave is the guy to see! Thanks again Dave and Coastal Defense!!

I would not recommend this place at all! I’ve had 3 interactions with the owner and staff on 3 different occasions and and on every occasion I walked out of there thinking I will not return to this place! The owner in particular acts like he doesn’t know a thing about customer service, he’s been rude and acted like he could care less to answer my questions or even give me the slightest bit of info on anything from firearms he might carry to even merchandise that I was looking for! And he tried to lowball the sh*t out of me when I asked about selling one of my firearms to him! Maybe he just don’t like me in particular for some reason but there are way better places to purchase firearms and accessories with a way bigger selection so I will definitely not be going back there again!

Awesome experience! Dave is very friendly and knowledgeable and will go out of his way to explain and answer any questions any customer may have. He also makes sure one is taken care of and have a good time while at Coastal Defense wether one ends up buying anything from him or not. Easy and fast transaction. I will definitely recommend Coastal Defense to anyone and everyone. Great shop and experience. Keep it up Dave!

I bought a gun from Coastal Defense and got a great price and Dave took the time to go over the gun and showed me how to take it apart to clean it. Dave is very knowledgeable and friendly and goes out of his way to help you find what you want for a really good price. I bought a gun and spare mags and ammo and got it all at a really great price! GREAT GUN STORE!!! Thanks Dave!

GREAT OWNER MR DAVE HAS GOT TO BE THE BEST PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING WITH FIREARMS . THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE THAT EVER COULD BE GIVEN 10/5 stars !!!!!!

My son works for j.s.o. and he recommended coastal to his mom! It doesnt get better than that.

Great customer service.Very informative.Fair pricing.

Dave is awesome. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Loved his cwp class and how he presented the info.

Originally walked into purchase ammo and was surprised by their selection of high quality firearms. Dave and Vern were very knowledgeable in their craft and extremely helpful.Not once did I feel high pressure sales tactics, which is a relief. When its time for my next purchase, Ill be returning to Coastal Defense.

Fantastic resource for not only the Beaches area but the metro area too. Excellent selection and very good prices. Knowledgeable and low key staff makes it a great place to buy. If you are just starting out go see Dave. No intimidation, no rush. Feels more like family.

Went there today for concealed weapons liscence permit. Loved how much time and honesty they put into it. Ill never go anywhere else!

Bought a .308 savage, super helpful, finally a local place thats helpful. Im not super knowledgeable and up to date on firearms. I wasnt treated like a idiot. the owner took his time and explained everything I asked about. Its nice to not be intimidated by the staff in a gun shop. I will be back in the next week or 2 for a sweet little.22. thanks again guys.

Top notch. Nothing that Dave can’t get for you...as long as it is legal for you to have it. Knowledgeable, fast, and friendly. A hidden gem that needs to be shared. If you don’t start you search here you should definitely finish it here. Put this place in your speed dial.

Hands down, bar none THE best firearm store EVER! I am VERY HAPPY that I discovered Dave and Coastal Defense on Black Friday, 2018. I am a customer for life and will continue to be regardless of the fact that I live 45 minutes away!!! It’s worth the drive...BELIEVE ME!THANKS FOR SERVING DAVE and thanks for running a sound and much-needed business here on the first coast!!!!

Dave is awesome! He went out of his way, helping me pack a few of my guns in preparation for commercial flight out of the state. Great customer service! His business does several things so it doesnt look like a conventional gun store.

Fair prices especially given the times and very helpful

Had the BEST experience at Coastal Defense. Long story short my beautiful teal FMK 9mm was severely damaged when a bullet got stuck then accidentally detonating backwards in the chamber. It ended up having to be shipped to the manufacturer and was repaired under warranty, but Dave kept me in the loop throughout the entire process and I was very impressed with the knowledge, safety concern as top priority, and customer service at this location. Hands DOWN the best experience Ive had including suggestions for shooting ranges, gun/ammo purchasing, and safety/classes. Visit them and they will set you up for whatever YOU need or want. Friendly, non-intimidating, great with families and teens as well! I will definitely return for our next gun purchase AND defense classes. Thanks again Dave! :-)

I am not a bot. I was in there a couple days ago and was not happy with the mans. general attitude. A lot of animosity for no reason. My point was proven just by his reply of not caring about what someone thinks and trying to disengage instead of fixing an issue. Thank you for responding the way you did. And you continue to berate and accuse me instead of trying to solve the problem. I dont think I need to explain my reasoning. Disgusting. You need to learn respect cause this isnt how salespeople should act toward anyone, let alone an owner. Your response alone warrants the rating I gave.

Stopped in talked to the owner theguy knows his stuff ! He is very knowledgeable and fair with pricing and is honest !

Dave is a great guy. Always a super deal and he values all his customers. I never waste time with any other stores now. I use Coastal.

Great staff. CWP classes are affordable and informational. Answered my dumb questions without making me feel bad. Great prices and selection. Will go out of their way if you are looking for something specific.

First time in the store wow great place very friendly, reasonably priced and bought a firearm . Nice to see a family gun store at a he beach. No more driving over the ditch. Ammo great price too

My new favorite place for my tactical needs. I purchased a firearm today and I am very pleased with the owner and his employee Matt. Fast and very knowledgeable. Will be recommending them to everyone. I am for sure a lifetime customer!!!! Highly recommend!!!!!!

Dave’s customer service is top notch! Very helpful and willing to talk to you and go beyond just making a sale. Highly recommended. Will be making any future purchases here.

This place definitely beats Academy’s prices. Dave didn’t rush us into purchasing anything without giving us lots of great advice. He made sure that we were comfortable with everything. He’s very knowledgable in everything we asked about and we will definitely be returning.

Awesome gun shop. No BS to make you buy stuff you don’t need. Super knowlagable and willing to teach you proper maintenance and assembly of your weapon. Veteran owned and operated. I will not go anywhere else.

Bunch of vets giving great deals and knowledge while having a pressure free, honest shopping experience. Will refer people to yall! Thanks again!

We love coming here. Worth the drive all the way from Orange Park. Owner is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Prices are good too! Highly recommended!

Dave and Matt went way out of their way to assist me. They helped with ordering a rifle before a hunting trip. Dave even opened the shop after hours to let me get the rifle so I would have it for my trip. Great customer service!!

My wife and I purchased two handguns from Coastal Defense and we could not be happier. The owner spent quite a lot of time with us and helped us choose the right gun for our situation and he explained things to us without making us feel inadequate. Overall, we had a great experience and I will be back when it comes time to purchase my next gun.

Great service - great prices and the owner has a lot of patience. Cant ask for a better gun store.

Safe, relaxed, and fun environment. Shop owner was extremely friendly and informative. Didn’t buy anything but wil definitely be back!

Great CWP class. Dave is very knowledgeable and informative. He keeps you engaged the entire time. Thanks Dave.

Best experience in Jacksonville. Good price too! Give this small business owner a chance.

My new gun store, Dave is knowledgeable friendly prices are good, selection is great, he installed a new rail I purchased for my AR 10 from factory to free floating, changed gas block, ALL FOR 250 CHEAPER THAN THE GUN SNOBS ON BEACH BLVD ( U KNOW WHO IM TALKING BOUT) will be purchasing more soon from him...wish I wouldnt have walked in there cause hes got stuff I want at reasonable prices....a gun store like this was needed at the beach...thanks Dave from the SOUTH JAX BEACH MILITIA

Great place with great prices. Dave is a stand up guy and got me a hard to find firearm within a few days with a better price than anyone else in Jacksonville.

Ideal service, plentiful inventory, outstanding prices. Thanks again for for your work, see you next time

If your looking for a good gun store coastal defense is a best store if he sold milk and bread I would never go to Walmart

Cannot say enough good things about Dave and Coastal Defense. You tend to forget youre in a store and more like talking to a good friend. Great selection for whatever you may be looking for. If its training you need, Dave is NRA Certified. My wife bought a gorgeous SCCY CPX2 9MM today and Im going for mine next week. We found a great new resource for our firearm needs and a new friend in Dave. Go see him if youre in the market...support local Jax Beach business!!!

Good prices and selection. Dave is very knowledgeable.

Awesome people with a wealth of knowledge of their profession. Best instructor in town!

Great guys running this place, great deals and an unbeatable FFL fee.

Owner is very knowledgeable very good place to buy your 1st firearm or your 10th either way very good place to go...******** very very good prices ********

Awesome store and staff very friendly and helpful even to a newbie!

Since my last post im a proud new owner of a molot vepr 12 . Put it on layaway on a sunday and just for kix stopped at LOOTERS..err i mean SHOOTERS I ask the clerk to hand me the vepr 12 they had on the wall the same exact model I just put on layaway let me say that againTHE SAME EXACT MODEL IT WAS 1399.OO THATS 500 DOLLARS MORE THAN IM PAYING....LET THAT SINK IN...500 DOLLARS !!INFORMED THE CLERK THAT I HAD JUST PUT ONE ON LAYAWAY FOR 500 LESS (I GOT THE OLE SSSSUUURRREE YA DID LOOK ) WELL I DID MONKEY AND YOU FOOLS NEED TO WAKE UP CAUSE THERES A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN (blazing saddle reference) SOON O VERY SOON I WILL BE PURCHASING A COUPLE OF HIGH END AR 15s FROM COASTAL DEFENSE MOVING UP FROM MY RUN O THE MILL SMITTY AND RUGER MODEL AR15s..A NICE SELECTION OF L.M.T. AS WELL AS CMMG RIFLES IM SURE HE CAN GET DANIELS, LA RUE WHATEVER U WANT ALOT CHEAPER THAN THE GUN SNOB STORES...MY BUSHMASTER WILL BE STAYING THOUGH...😎SO IF YOUR A GUN SNOB LEAVE YOUR BETTER THAN YOURS ATTITUDE AT THE DOOR WE DONT NEED THAT AT THE BEACH, COME IN MEET SOME NICE PEOPLE AND SAVE YOURSELF SOME MONEY DAVE CAN DO ANYTHING YOU NEED TO YOUR GUN AND WHO KNOWS YOU MIGHT HAVE A NEW GUN STORE TOOWERE ALL BROTHERS IN ARMS REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU CAN OR CANT AFFORDTHANX DAVESOUTH JAX BEACH MILITIA

Great place. Very helpful.

Friendly service, amazing prices, and great selection. We will be coming back!

Great customer service, stop in and you will not be disappointed!

Really helpful and eager to help educate you on anything you want to know

Great customer service, very knowledgeable great prices, you really cant go wrong here!

Jax beach gun shop with many self defense options. Friendly staff ensures everyone gets what they need at a better than fair price!!

Excellent prices and solid inventory, highly recommend.

A+ knowledgeable and helpful, great guys.

Awesome shop. So helpful

Good little local shop. Prices are reasonable and selection is nice

Dave was very friendly and accommodating!

Great class.....thanks Dave!

Awesome staff and great prices

The best guy in the gun store