What's Selling Where
WEST
IDAHO
Lolo Sporting Goods, Lewiston
Located in downtown “Old Lewiston,” this small storefront employs two salespeople and has a large inventory of reloading supplies, handguns, long guns, and MSRs. Post pandemic has been hard for this retailer. “We really have had a difficult time with restocking and finding part-time employees. While we have been able to get most inventory, getting back to our old pre-pandemic SKU numbers has been challenging,” said manager Mike Acree.
Springfield Hellcats and Glock 43Xs are trading back and forth between first and second place positions. Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield EZs are posting good turns. Other notable sales include Ruger Blackhawk .44 Magnums—when this store can get them.
Ruger 10/22s and Americans are attracting plenty of attention; that said, overall long-gun and shotgun sales are down. This store is also experiencing its lowest number of MSR turns in years. Reloading supplies across the board have been particularly difficult to stock, but .22 ammo stocks are good.
CALIFORNIA
Northwest Sporting Goods, Willits
Located two hours north of San Francisco, this general sporting goods store sells a wide range of gear suitable for team sports as well as camping, fishing, and hunting. It also sells soft goods and hot tubs. Last year’s fall sales included turns on Ruger Americans and Remington 700s and numerous Smith & Wesson handguns and pistols.
Although fall sales typically would be moving briskly by now, this retailer is struggling with the State of California Firearms Sales License.
“I purchased this store as an employee. I’ve been waiting for more than six months to be placed as a vendor in the state’s digital system. We can’t sell ammo or firearms to anyone until its complete. Every four weeks or so we get a notice that there’s a slight change or a different requirement. It looks like we will be approved soon, but it has been a long, expensive road,” said owner David Lamprich.
Lamprich also noted how complicated ammo has become to sell. “You can’t just sell ammo to anyone. If an individual has been in the state database less than four years, the purchase requires a full background check and a $20 added charge,” he said.
MONTANA
Red Rock Sporting Goods, Miles City
Located on the high plains of southeastern Montana, this independent retailer stocks soft goods, firearms, and reloading supplies. Fall rifle sales are picking up with lower-end Savage Axis holding the top spot. Christensen Arms, Mesa, Tikka, and Kimber rifles are all posting high numbers. The most popular calibers have been 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 Win. Mag., and .243. This retailer reports good ammo stocks on most rifle calibers.
While sales are good, this retailer feels like they are at a new “normal.” “For the past two years, I have worried about the continuing increased costs in manufacturing and political turmoil. Now, I think we have seen a cooling in demand from last year’s high numbers,” said owner C.B. Scountz.
Shotguns are warming up fast with good numbers of Benelli Super Black Eagle III semi-autos and Nova pumps going out the door. Winchester Super-Xs are also moving. Handguns are steady, with Ruger GP100s, Sig Sauer P365s, and Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield 2.0s pulling the strongest numbers. Springfield Hellcats are on the board, too.
MIDWEST
MINNESOTA
Hair Trigger Gun Shop, Zimmerman
Located just one mile from Lake Freemont in the center of Zimmerman, this small-town recreation destination shop keeps about 400 guns in stock with an even mix of hunting and home defense. Pre-deer season is helping the retailer turn high numbers of package guns from Howa and Savage. The most popular caliber continues to be .30-06. “These package guns just keep getting better every year. The Howas are impressive, with sub-MOA accuracy and performance right out of the box,” said owner Rick Snook. Other good bolt-action sellers include Ruger Americans and Tikkas.
In the shogun category, sales leaders include the Winchester Super X, the Browning Maxus, and the Benelli Nova. Handguns are steady with the Glock 43X holding the high spot, followed closely by Springfield’s Hellcat. S&W Shields are also selling in good numbers. This retailer reports good inventories on rare hunting calibers.
WISCONSIN
R&R Gun Shop, Loyal
Located in a converted barn in rural central Wisconsin, this small-town retailer keeps its firearm inventory below 150 units alongside limited archery and fishing supplies. Top handgun sales for this store go to Shield EZs, Kel-Tec PF9s, and SCCYs. “Our customers are very price sensitive. To meet their needs, we offer layaways. Summer-fall is busier than last year, and it seems to be a little less price driven,” said owner Bruce Denton.
Bolt-action guns, including Savage Model 93s in .17HMR and Axis rifles in .223, are getting more than one look. Ruger Americans are moving across the counter as well.
MSRs are trickling over the counter at two a month. Palmetto Arms and Ruger’s 556 are sitting in the top sales slots. Shotguns are moving, with a few Mossberg 500s, Remington 870 Express, and Stevens heading out the door.
MICHIGAN
Trigger Time Outfitters, Traverse City
With fishing and archery taking up equal amounts of retail space, this north Michigan shop keeps over 500 long guns and handguns on display. It houses additional inventory for rentals on their 25-yard range.
Rimfire was hot over the summer. This retailer turned Ruger Americans in .17 HMR and 10/22s across the counter daily. “We cater to a lot of families. We like to stock guns priced for the kid that’s mowing lawns,” said counter salesman Zach (Cookie) Cook.
Glock 43Xs, Hellcats, and Sig Sauer P365s are turning heads at this store, along with a small number of large-caliber Smith revolvers used for bear protection.
A mix of M&P 15 Sport IIs and Daniel Defense are helping to pick up MSR sales after a slow start this year. Bolt-action rifles are on the move. Models from Christensen, Browning, and Weatherby in 6.5 Creedmoor and .243 are making turns.
SOUTH
OKLAHOMA
Butch’s Guns, Woodward
As the largest firearms dealer in western Oklahoma, this shop specializes in hunting, home safety, and reloading. The storefront keeps nearly 2,000 new and 1,000 used guns in inventory. It attracts buyers from several states.
Handguns are steady at this location. Sig Sauer P365s and P320s and Glock 43Xs top the list. Although MSR sales have slowed to one a week, the primary turns are going to Ruger’s 556 and Smith & Wesson’s M&P 15 Sport II. The Ruger Precision in .300 PRC is also getting attention. Bolt-action rifles are also significantly up at this retailer. Remington 700s, Ruger American Predators, and Savage Model 10s in 6.5 Creedmoor are turning the best numbers.
“Right now, any rifle stocked in 6.5 Creedmoor is going to sell. The .300 PRC is getting almost as much attention. Both have excellent out-of-the-box performance. It’s a great reason for a shooter to buy a gun. That said, .300 PRC is hard to get, and it is affecting sales,” said manager Kalan Smith.
Smith also said that obtaining reloading supplies has been difficult for several years. He’s hoping to see improvement this coming winter.
TENNESSEE
Guns & Leather, Greenbrier
Located on Highway 41 just north of Nashville, this retailer and range keeps about 1,000 firearms in stock and an average of four employees. Handguns rule at this this store. Hefty numbers of Glock 43Xs and Sig P365s dominate the top slots on the leader board followed by Springfield Hellcats. Glock 48s are also selling well.
“We really sell a lot of Glocks. This year we are at a five-to-one margin against other manufacturers. I see it as simply impressive marketing and positioning by the company,” said counter salesman Joe Rice.
Other early fall long-gun sales include the Savage Axis and Ruger American in .243 and .308. MSRs are moving at close to one every four days. Smith Sports and Ruger’s 556 lead the way. Sales of Benelli Super Black Eagle and Franchi Affinity shotguns are quickly heating up. However, the Stoeger M3000 remains the high seller.
MISSISSIPPI
Philadelphia Gun & Pawn, Philadelphia
This east-central Mississippi shop specializes in handguns. It keeps over 500 firearms in stock for its rural clientele. The store also sells archery, safes, ATVs, and even designer handbags.
Glock’s 43X holds the number one position at this store, followed by a high number of Springfield Hellcats and Shield 2.0s. “Our ammo inventory has improved across the board. Even rare hunting cartridges are finally coming in,” said counter salesperson Dawn Cumberland.
Bolt-action hunting rifles are moving. Browning X Bolts and Remington 700s are crossing the counter in better numbers than last year. MSRs are down since early summer to two a week. Sport IIs sit in the leading position.
EAST
MARYLAND
Atlantic Guns, Rockville
Located just north of metro Washington, D.C., this strip-mall store stocks what’s advertised as the “largest new and used gun selection in Maryland.” On the rifle side, Ruger 10/22 Takedowns and Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sports in .22 are moving well. CZ 455 .17 HMRs are also in high demand for local shooters.
Long rifles are steadily getting more attention in early season. “Our Precision target guns are getting popular and adding to our late-summer sales. It’s a nice bump in a high price point. Of course, it also lends itself to higher-end optic sales as well,” said manager Mark Schneider.
Masterpiece Arms leads the category for this retailer with the PMR Pro in 6BR (6mm Bench Rest). Additional high-selling bolt guns include Ruger Americans and Savage .350 Legends.
MSRs continue to move across the counter at approximately three per week. American Defense is in the highest slot; a few Daniel Defense models are on order. Handguns have maintained a steady demand, with Glock 43X, Sig P365X, and Hellcats all moving well in the concealed-carry category.
PENNSYLVANIA
Bob’s Gun Shop & Range, McKeen
Located south of Erie off I-79, this retailer specializes in concealed carry, training, and defensive firearms. They stock close to 500 firearms.
Sales have continued to grow this late summer-fall after a great spring. “I’ve been in the gun business for 51 years. Even I can’t believe that we are up 18 percent from this time last year. And, last year was another top sales year. With the political climate and Biden in the White House, I just don’t see firearms slowing,” said owner Bob McDowell.
Glock 43Xs and 19s sit in the high spots for this retailer. Meanwhile, Sig P365s and Springfield Hellcats are on the increase.
MSRs continue to move, with a mix of lower-end and higher-end rifles, including Smith M&P 15 Sport IIs, Ruger 556s, and models from Daniel Defense. Home-defense shotguns are turning, with special interest in the Mossberg HS410 Tactical. Ammo stocks for hunting rifles have improved, but remain on the expensive side.
MAINE
Jackman Hardware, Jackman
Stocking 250 used and new firearms, this small-town store specializing in hunting firearms and hardware is located on Main Street, just three miles from the Canadian border. Handgun sales are consistent, with several .357 Smith K-Frames crossing the counter. A few concealed-carry guns like Hellcats and Ruger LCPs are making turns.
“There is always demand for short-barreled large-caliber revolvers like Ruger Alaskans in .44 Mag or .454 Casull that are being purchased for bear protection. We will never stock a gun or gun part from China; my customers simply refuse to buy them,” said owner Mark Giroux.
Rabbit guns are always hot at this store. A mix of Ruger 10/22s, used H&R 20-gauge single shots, and Savage Model 10s in .223 are finding new homes. S&W M&P 15-22 Sports and special orders from Daniel Defense are on the rise at this store.