What's Selling Where
WEST
UTAH
Doug’s Shoot N Sports, Taylorsville
Located in suburban Salt Lake City, this firearms dealer built the first retailer shooting range in the state. In operation for more than 40 years, it keeps a wide inventory of home defense and traditional hunting guns.
Following a high-demand winter bolt-action season, a wide mix of Remington 700s and Ruger Americans are continuing to make the register ring. “Our contingent of 1,000-yard-plus shooters is growing, making our summer sales really jump. Our bolt gun sales are almost year-round,” said counter salesman Matt Proviard.
Demand for Modern Sporting Rifles continue to inch up, with an even mix of high-end and low-price points. Daniel Defense and Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport IIs are holding the bulk of turns. Handgun sales are brisk; the top spot is split between Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZs, Springfield Hellcats, and SIG Sauer P365s. Glock 43Xs are also in the mix.
Sales of shotguns slowed after turkey season. Benelli Super Black Eagle IIs and Stoeger M3500s are doing well, posting better numbers than last year.
IDAHO
Red’s Trading Post, Twin Falls
Founded in 1936, Red’s is the oldest standing gun store in the state of Idaho. With nearly 1,000 firearms in stock, it carries a large line of reloading gear.
Handgun sales are changing for this shop, with an emphasis on the unusual. “We are turning a few subcompacts. However, it’s the more selective guns, such as Sig’s P320 Spectre Comp and gold-inlay 1911s, that seem to turn the quickest. If a customer has never seen it, they want it,” said buyer Larry Barksdale.
MSR sales are flat, selling an average of one a week, mostly models from Palmetto State Armory. This retailer is struggling to fill reloading supplies, with almost no access to big-game primers. Although sales of bolt-action guns have slowed, inventory is the best it has been in years. Savage Varmints and Browning X-Bolts in .243 and .22-250 are in high demand. The over-and-under shotgun inventory is increasing steadily, and the store has the highest number of units from Browning, Beretta, and Stoeger it has seen in years. “We’re receiving more than two years of backordered inventory in the next 60 days. It’s going to be great for our upland shooters,” said Barksdale.
ALASKA
Wolfhawk Guns & Shipping, Tok
Located in remote eastern Alaska near the Canadian border, this small retailer specializes in handguns and hunting rifles. In addition, Wolfhawk arranges firearm shipments. Travelers entering Alaska from Canada can pick up their handguns at this store.
Handguns are selling well in the post-pandemic climate. S&W M&P 2.0s and Ruger Alaskans in .44 Mag. and .454 Casull hold the top slots. Lever actions in .45-70 are also popular.
“We’re a mix of bear protection, tactical-style shotguns, and big-bore revolvers. Handguns chambered in 10mm have driven many of our sales this year,” said owner Bryan Kerly. “We’ve seen a huge swing of customers move away from .44 Mag. and .5 revolvers to high-capacity 10mm pistols.”
Other high-demand rifles include Winchester, Marlin, and Henry .45-70s in any format, new or used. Mossberg 500 Tactical and Remington 870 Express are the lead shotguns at this store. While ammo is available, in the 49th State pricing remains high.
MIDWEST
ILLINOIS
Gat’s Guns, Dundee
This northwest suburban Chicago retailer uses 25,000 square feet to display 7,500 firearms. MSRs are hot, with a mix of turns at the low and high end of the pricing spectrum. “If an MSR is priced below $699, it will sell. If it's priced above $1,300, it will sell,” said general manager Randy Potter. Smith & Wesson Volunteers and models from Daniel Defense are experiencing the highest turns.
Handgun sales are strong. Glock 43Xs, Sig P365 Macros, S&W EZs, and the Staccato CS are attracting the lion’s share of attention.
At the shotgun counter, Benelli 828 over-and-unders are on back order. The Remington 870 Express Deer has sold particularly well this season. With the State of Illinois adding handgun calibers for deer season, this store reports a high demand for Henry single-shots in the straight-wall 350 Legend.
This range retailer keeps over one million rounds of ammo in stock. While inventory selection and price are improving for range ammo, Potter reported hunting cartridge pricing is still on the high side.
INDIANA
Indiana Firearms, Lebanon
This smaller independent, just north of the Indianapolis metro area, specializes in home defense. It has 200 guns in stock and 800 square feet of display.
2023 is the first selling season in a few years where demand matches inventory. Glock leads the handgun counter with 43Xs; Sig P365s are a close second. Smith EZs are also turning at a consistent pace.
The post-pandemic period has made life simpler. “Our inventories are much improved. While sales remain above average, it’s great not spending all day on the phone ordering with distributors,” said manager Riley Smith.
Sales of MSRs have flattened. Models from Colt and Palmetto Arms experience turns of two per week. Shotguns have slowed, but are in good inventory and are expected to do well this fall. Ammo stocks are good.
KANSAS
The Trading Post, Eldorado
Located 20 miles east of Wichita, this small independent gun shop is dedicated exclusively to firearms, with an emphasis on handguns and home defense. Compared with recent months, the warmth of summer is bringing improving turns on handgun sales. Ruger LC9s, Glock 43Xs, and Springfield Hellcats are selling well.
“We’ve been slow this season. Handguns and rimfires are the only segments selling,” said manager Larry Arnold.
Demand for MSRs is down to one or two a month. This retailer is holding a strong inventory of S&W M&P 15 Sport IIs and Ruger 556s. Bolt-action hunting guns are moving slowly, mainly Ruger Americans and the Savage Axis. Shotgun ammo is scarce for this retailer, especially .410.
SOUTH
TENNESSEE
Guns & Leather, Hendersonville
Located on Highway 31 East just north of Nashville, this retailer and range keeps about 1,000 firearms in stock and sports a 15-lane indoor shooting range. Handguns rule at this store. Hefty numbers of Glock 43Xs, Sig P365s, and Springfield Hellcats occupy spots on the leader board. Glock 48s are also in the mix.
Sales of MSRs are steady, averaging one every two days. S&W M&P 15 Sport IIs and Ruger 556s lead the way. “It’s always a mix of price-point and high-end sales. We sell plenty of Sport IIs and almost as many from Daniel Defense. Of course, it’s super competitive at the low end,” said gun buyer Ben Williams.
The 870 Express rests in the top spot for shotguns. Ammo stocks are good for this retailer/range.
TEXAS
Nardis Gun Club, Ammo Ranch, San Antonio
Located on the east side of San Antonio, on the west side of the I-410 loop, this large retailer-range stocks about 700 firearms. The company has two more locations on the other side of San Antonio.
Hellcats are the winner at this counter, with good numbers Glock 43Xs and Shield EZs trailing just behind. “Our sales across the board are excellent. We remain competitive with our pricing and advertise throughout the San Antonio area. Our rentals help drive sales and specific models. It really has an impact on a customer when they can try out a gun first,” said sales rep Ricky Mascorro.
MSR sales are steady. Models from Diamondback and Daniel Defense are making daily turns. Rimfire MSRs are in demand at this location. M&P Sports pull the majority of .22 sales. Ammo stocks are good to excellent, and prices are starting to come down.
KENTUCKY
Sherwood’s, Bowling Green
This family-business retailer in central Kentucky stocks over 3,500 firearms and has a 12-lane indoor shooting range. The shop is experiencing a strong summer, with substantial numbers turning at the handgun counter. Sig P365s hold the top spot, with Glock 43Xs coming in just behind.
“Sales are steady. It’s nice to see after the last two years. With all the new product coming out, we expect a great year,” said owner Dee Davis.
MSRs are turning daily at this location, with an even mix of Ruger Precisions and M&P Sports. Two other guns attracting attention are the FN PS90s and Diamondback. Inventories of handguns and ammo are excellent at this location.
EAST
PENNSYLVANIA
Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitter, Brodheadsville
With two locations sporting a total of 35,000 square feet of display space, this Pennsylvania retailer services a wide area from Scranton to Allentown selling everything from kayaks to guns. Summer is heating up with heavy traffic on Savage Axis .22s, along with higher than expected numbers of Ruger Americans. The most popular calibers have been .22 and .308. A mix of Springfield Saint Victors, M&P Sports, and Ruger 556s lead MSR sales with units crossing the counter between both stores.
Handgun sales continue to increase from late winter. “It’s nice to see a new normal. It’s busy, not crazy, and we can get just about anything we need,” said counter salesman Steven Chiger. Springfield Hellcats, Sig P365s, and M&P Shields are fast movers.
Rimfire ammo stocks are good. Mossberg 500s and Remington 870s sales are holding steady, with an increasing interest in Stoeger and Franchi. Meanwhile, rimfires, especially Ruger American and Savage Axis, hold the summer top spots. Sales of CVA Cascades are expected to increase as the summer changes to fall.
NEW YORK
Kinton Guns LLC, Farmington
Just southeast of Rochester on the edge of the Finger Lakes region, this small-town gun shop keeps 500 firearms in stock with a mix of used and new firearms. Handgun sales are strong, with steady turns on Glock 43Xs, 48s, and Sig P365s. Other movers include the Ruger LCP and LCP Max.
Centerfire rifles are holding steady with good numbers on Ruger Americans in .22. Henrys and Remington 700s are on the move, too.
“Our bolt-gun sales have improved this year. And while the 6.5 Creedmoor has helped, we still sell a good number of traditional calibers like the .30-06. That said, rimfires are busiest in the summer,” said owner Tim Kinton.
While new Remington 870 Expresses are turning, Turkish price-point pumps are also in high demand. Kinton said sales of used shotguns keep improving every fall.
MAINE
York Firearms, Limington
With more than 3,000 firearms in stock, this rural southeast independent specializes in lever-action long guns, revolvers, and defensive rifles. Bolt-action rifles are slow now. In the rimfire arena, the Ruger 10/22 dominates. The retailer also carries an extensive selection of lever-action rifles.
“One of the things we’re known for is our extensive inventory of lever guns, particularly from Henry and Winchester. They’ve always been popular, but this year Henry is significantly ahead. The .22 remains very popular, but the .357 is really making a run at our counter this year,” said owner Michael York.
Additional quick movers include Smith L-Frame .357 wheelguns and Glock 43Xs. Other high-demand pistols include Springfield 1911s in 9mm and .45. Shotguns are a mix of mostly Mossberg 500s and Shockwaves. MSRs are flat, with Ruger 556 in the high selling position.