What's Selling Where
WEST
NEW MEXICO
Courtesy Sporting Goods and Pawn, Carlsbad
Located on Canal Street in the center of Carlsbad, this store stocks nearly 500 guns with a large selection of MSR accessories. The store keeps an average of four employees and sells gas at the two pumps out front.
Handguns have picked up since the first of the year, with high numbers of 9mms crossing the counter. FN, Glock, and Smith & Wesson Shield EZ top the list with good inventories of both new and used pistols.
Rifles have slowed, though this retailer reports a great year in both bolt-actions and MSRs. “Rifles really sold well in 2022. And even with high availability, we keep turning MSRs rifles daily,” said gun manager Sam Gunther.
Shotgun inventories are improving with a wide selection of new and used pumps. Ammo inventories are flush for handguns, but in short supply for some rifle calibers. Shotgun ammo is arriving, but very slowly.
COLORADO
Goods for the Woods, Durango
This general hunting store is located on State Highway 160-550 and carries archery, soft goods, firearms, and reloading supplies. Christensen Arms and Tikkas in 6.5 Creedmoor have remained the front-runners throughout the hunting season. “People are in the woods. We just finished a strong big-game season, and we’re pleased with our sales. And while we still have some backorders, our bolt-action selection will be great for fall 2023,” said owner Jane Gustafsen.
MSRs are still moving daily, the vast majority of which have been Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport IIs. Handgun sales remain good for Sig Sauer P635s, P320s, and Glock 19s. Meanwhile, Smith Shield EZs are also selling extremely well.
Ammo stocks have improved. Although there are still some holes in rifle calibers, demand is generally being met.
OREGON
The Sportsman, Florence
Located in a small town on the central Pacific coast, this family-run hunting and fishing store stocks about 100 firearms and specializes in home protection, hunting firearms, accessories, and ATVs.
Smith Shields EZs, Springfield Hellcats, and Sig P320s are in stock and turning quickly. “Our customers are small-town locals, and the political environment rarely drives our sales. We are still making quick turns on popular guns. It surprises me that though it's not a run on the store, it is busy,” said owner Bill Pinkey.
MSRs attracting the most attention are Christensens (at the high end) and M&P Sports IIs (at the low end). Long rifles are also doing well, with some Browning X-Bolts still crossing the counter. Ammo stocks have improved and are generally in good order at this store.
MIDWEST
KANSAS
Joe Bob Outfitters, Hays
This retailer in western Kansas specializes in home defense and MSRs. In addition to its brick-and-mortar business, the store has a significant online presence with over 30,000 square feet of warehousing.
Sales of MSRs are steady. S&W M&P 15 Sport IIs hold the top spot. However, accessories are in higher demand, with numbers that surpass those of the rifle business.
“With our large accessories business, we are seeing changes in shipping trends,” said owner Joe Boeckner. “In response to shrinking traffic, the post office and FedEx are lowering shipping rates.”
Although the store is selling good numbers of Glock 43s and M&P Shield 2.0s, Boeckner says Sig Sauer P365s and P322s are actually posting the best numbers. “While we are doing very well, we do expect some slowing in the market for 2023.”
Another strong seller is the Stoeger M3500. Although bolt-action guns have slowed since the fall, the Savage Axis in .308 and .243 and the Ruger 10/22 are turning.
MINNESOTA
Saginaw Firearms, Saginaw
This independent retailer located just north of Duluth has a seasonal outdoor shooting range and keeps over 300 guns in stock. Ammo shortages and low inventories have eased at this store compared to the pandemic when their shelves were emptied. “While our sales have been high, our ability to restock has vastly improved. It was challenging until mid-last year. Now we are back to normal and doing well on orders,” said president Frank Le Fevre.
The store has concentrated on looking for used guns and continues training classes based on state mandates for combat, concealed-carry, and self-defensive training. Le Fevre also said that training in conjunction with sales continues to be the primary focus for this shop.
NORTH DAKOTA
Outdoorsman Inc, Fargo
Established in 1980 and located in the center of Fargo, this store keeps an average of three employees busy. They sell various general home-defense products, rifles, and handguns.
“We are still turning consistent numbers of MSRs. Our market has been trending to better-quality rifles at a higher-price point,” said counter salesman Kevin Steen. He notes inventory on MSRs is good, and turns are steady at about three or more a week. It has been a nearly equal split between Springfield and Sig Sauer, along with a few Colts. On the bolt-action side, sales have slowed, but inventory looks sufficient for the summer-fall season with Winchesters and Browning X Bolts on the shelves.
Handgun sales are still vibrant. Springfield Hellcats, Sig P365s, and Smith Shield EZs all hold the high slots.
SOUTH
SOUTH CAROLINA
Doc’s Gun Exchange, Florence
Located on Route 52 in the east-central part of the state, this shop inventories an average of 700 firearms with a mix of hunting and defense guns. Handguns are especially hot right now, with heavy sales attributed to price-point Taurus G3Cs and higher-end Springfield Hellcats. Glock 43s are selling through in strong numbers.
At the rifle counter, MSRs are turning close to three a week, with S&W M&P 15 Sport IIs and Ruger 556s getting the most attention. “I know that in most parts of the country MSR sales are slow, but here in South Carolina, they are picking up,” said counter salesman Jeff Wayne.
Bolt-action .22s are also moving, and Ruger American rimfires and 10/22s are all posting better than expected numbers. Ammo stocks are good.
TENNESSEE
Nashville Gun Shop, Nashville
Located in metro Nashville, this 1,000-square-foot store specializes in home defense and services a wide variety of clientele from law enforcement to music industry professionals. Handgun sales have remained steady. Top sales at this location go to Glock 19s and Sig P365s, but Shield 2.0s are also seeing fast turns. “We see an increasing trend in pistol sales. It has ticked up consistently. It also feels like our economy is holding well,” said owner Demur Demirhisar.
Rifle sales at this location are mostly MSRs, with frequent turns going to a mix of Daniel Defense, Ruger 556s, and M&P 15 Sport IIs. Sales of used MSRs are flat.
KENTUCKY
Paducah Shooters Supply, Paducah
In the heart of the Mississippi Flyway in western Kentucky, this 11,000-square-foot facility includes indoor archery and outdoor rifle and pistol ranges. “2023 is a lot like 2022, except this store has good inventory. We are committed to answering the phone, and sales are still higher than we expected. For our store, it hasn't calmed down, and the best news is that we can get most of what’s in demand,” said manager Clint McCutcheon.
While handgun ammo inventory has been in good order, shotgun shells are limited. This store faces a poor selection in 20 gauge and has almost no .410, other than buckshot. “We have seen significant growth in 20 gauge sales for turkey and even waterfowl, but the ammunition isn't keeping up. However, it is improving,” McCutcheon said.
Although shotgun sales have slowed, ATI pumps, semi-auto Stoegers, and Benelli Super Black Eagle IIIs are in good inventory. Other brands, including Browning A5s and Winchester Super X3s, have also caught up.
MSRs are moving in high numbers, with an even mix from Smith & Wesson, Colt, and Daniel Defense. Bolt-action rifle sales have slowed. Savage Axis and Ruger Americans in .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor are the sales leaders.
At the handgun counter, Glock remains in first place, though Smith Shield EZs, Springfield Hellcats, and Sig P365s turn quickly.
EAST
CONNECTICUT
Blue Trail Range Gun Store, Wallingford
Since 1945 this family gun shop and range has kept 800 guns in stock and has over 120 covered outdoor shooting stations. The New England retailer continues to see steady customer traffic from high demand. “Traffic is strong and steady. Our range is as busy as ever, and it’s nice to have the product to sell to our clients,” said manager Mark Slone.
Handgun ammo stocks are the best the store has seen in two years, and traditional rifle calibers are in better than expected supply. Glock Model 48s and 17s are in stock, and the Smith Shield 2.0 turns daily. Throughout the last year, Sig Sauer has also turned in high numbers.
A few price-point Turkish shotguns are in stock. Pump shotguns are in high demand. Competition shotguns are in good inventory. However, sales of air rifles are slowing.
PENNSYKLVANIA
Juniata Trading Post, Everett
Located on the western side of central Pennsylvania, this full-line sporting goods store stocks fishing tackle, clothing, accessories, and an average of 500 firearms and reloading supplies. Pistol demand is steady, with first-of-the-year solid turns. The highest performers include Glock across the board and the Shield EZ. Sig Sauer lands in a close third.
The biggest challenge for this retailer is reloading supplies. Except for older rifle calibers, available ammo inventories have vastly improved. “Powder and primers are nonexistent. We struggle to get anything, and we are starting to be concerned that we may be losing reloaders,” said counter salesman Danny Palmer.
MSR sales mostly go to Smith M&P 15 Sport IIs, Ruger 556s, and Mossbergs. Even though rifle hunting season has ended, bolt-action turns are still high for Tikkas and Weatherbys.
MAINE
J.T. Reid’s Cigar and Gun Shop, Auburn
This small-town firearms store stocks over 200 handguns and rifles along with a substantial cigar selection. Located on Main Street in downtown Auburn, the retailer offers a mix of home defense and hunting supplies.
After a strong deer season, bolt-action rifle sales have slowed. MSRs are still in moderate demand with high inventories of Radicals, Wyndhams, and a few Colts. Henry .22s are seeing high demand at this retailer.
“Our inventory for MSRs and handguns is excellent. Sales have steadied, and demand is what I would almost call historically normal. We now have plenty to sell,” said owner John Reid. With the exception of a few older rifle calibers, ammo stocks are good.
Smith Shields have been this store's top seller, with the M&P EZ leading the count. Additional top-selling handguns include Sig P365s and Glock 40s. At the cigar counter, the store's top seller is Avo.