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 in stock.
Following the high demand for fall big-game season, a wide mix of Tikkas and Ruger Americans in .300 Win. Mag. and .308 are continuing to make the register ring. “Our contingent of 1,000-yard-plus shooters is growing, making our fall sales really jump. Our bolt-action gun sales are almost year-round,” said assistant manager Parker Schafer.
Sales of MSRs continue to inch up, with an emphasis on higher-end rifles. Daniel Defense and Springfield Saints command the bulk of turns. Handgun sales are brisk; the high spot is split between Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0s, Springfield Hellcat Pros, and Sig Sauer P365 Macros. Glock 17s and 45s are also in the mix.
Shotguns are picking up fast for waterfowl. Benelli Super Black Eagle 3s and Stoeger M3500s are pulling better numbers than last year. Mossberg Maverick 88s are also in high demand.
MONTANA
Red Rock Sporting Goods, Miles City
Located on the high plains of southeastern Montana, this larger, independent retailer stocks soft goods, firearms, and reloading supplies. Fall rifle sales are heating up. Christensen Arms Mesas, Tikkas, and Ruger American Rifle Generation IIs are posting the best numbers. The most popular calibers have been 7mm PRC, .300 Win. Mag., and .243.
“Ruger has really moved ahead with the American Gen IIs. It's a great price point, and our customers are buying them to fill in alternative caliber choices. We like our bolt guns; if we don’t like them, we don’t sell them,” said owner C.B. Scountz.
Shotguns are warming up fast with good numbers of Benelli Super Black Eagle 3s and Winchester SXPs. Handgun sales are steady. Hellcat Pros and Sig P320s and M17s are pulling the strongest numbers.
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 the bread and butter for this wilderness retailer with S&W M&P 2.0s and Glock 20 Gen 4s in the lead. Ruger Alaskans in .44 Mag. and .454 Casull are the top used guns. Anything in .45-70 in a lever gun is popular.
“We’re a mix of bear protection, tactical-style shotguns, and big-bore revolvers. Ten mil is continuing to drive many of our sales, pushing out older, big-bore revolvers,” said owner Bryan Kerly. “We’ve seen a huge swath of customers move away from .44 Magnum 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 shotguns sell well at this store. Ammo is available, and pricing has lowered slightly since the end of the pandemic.
MIDWEST
ILLINOIS
Gat’s Guns, Dundee
This northwest suburban Chicago retailer uses 25,000 square feet to display 7,500 firearms. “Our MSRs are down to just Mini-14s. The state has continued to tie our hands with any classic AR-style rifle,” said general manager Randy Potter.
Handgun sales are strong. CZ Shadow Compacts, Glock 43Xs, Sig P365 Fuses, and Staccato CSs are attracting the lion’s share of attention. The lead caliber remains the 9mm.
Benelli 828 over-and-unders are in high demand, along with Browning Citori 725 Fields. “We find it interesting that customers love or hate either gun. We believe it’s all about how those two shotguns fit the customer,” he said.
Remington 870 Deer Slayers are turning well this season. Henry single-shot 350 Legends, Ruger Ranch Rifles in .223, and Marlin 1895s SBLs are also in high demand. This range-retailer keeps over one million rounds of ammo in stock. Inventory selection and price have improved for range ammo. Potter reported hard-to-get hunting cartridges are now in good stock.
INDIANA
Indiana Firearms, Lebanon
This smaller independent, just north of the Indianapolis metro area, specializes in home defense with 200 guns in stock and 800 square feet of display. Glock leads the handgun counter with 43Xs and 19s. Next in line is Sig’s P365. Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield EZs follow, turning at a consistent pace.
Like many store buyers, manager Riley Smith says post-pandemic life is now simpler. “Although we are a little surprised we haven’t gotten an election bump in 2024, sales remain above average,” he says. “It’s nice having a well-planned inventory and not spending all day on the phone ordering with distributors.”
Sales of MSRs have remained consistent for the last year. Models from Colt and Radical turn at two a week. Shotguns have slowed, but are in good inventory. Home defense models from Remington and Mossberg are expected to do well later in the fall. Ammo stocks are flush.
KANSAS
The Trading Post, Eldorado
Twenty miles east of Wichita, this small independent gun shop is dedicated exclusively to firearms, with an emphasis on handguns, home defense, and specialty gunsmithing. Compared to the recent months of hot weather, the cool of fall has brought improving turns on handgun sales. Glock 43Xs and Springfield Hellcats are selling best.
“We’ve been slow this last summer, and it’s hard for me to believe that we are in an election year. One bright spot is our MSRs in .17 HMR. We build them with lowers from Bear Creek Arsenal, and they are super fun to shoot. I call them our 200-yard .22. Our gunsmithing is way up in 2024, but I’m not sure why,” 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 IIIs and Ruger 556s. Bolt-action hunting guns are slow, but some Ruger Americans and a few Savage Axis are moving. Shotgun ammo is still 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 Hellcats are on the leader board. CZ Shadows also in the mix. Ruger Americans and the Savage Apex are the leaders for fall bolt-action guns. The most popular calibers are .308 and .243.
While sales of MSRs have slowed, according to manager Daniel Williams the store is seeing an odd mix of guns go out the door. “Hard to believe we are in an election year and MSR sales are this slow. We are selling average numbers of price-point rifles, but almost as many Daniel Defense and Colt. Of course, it’s super competitive at the low end. All that said, bolt-action guns continue to be in high demand.”
A healthy inventory of Benelli, Stoeger, and Franchi shotguns keeps the retailer busy, as does a wide mix of Super Black Eagle 3s and Montefeltros. Other lower-end shotguns include Escorts from Turkey. Ammo stocks are good for this retailer-range, and 9mm is selling for the lowest price in years.
ARKANSAS
Ozark Sportsman, Tontitown
Located between Bentonville and Fayetteville, this large western Arkansas independent stocks over 1,600 firearms while sporting a 15-lane shooting range. The store also has extensive archery and reloading supplies.
Handguns are warming this counter with quick turns on Sig P365 Macros, Walther PPK Pros, and Glock 43Xs. Glock continues to be the most popular rental on the range.
“Arkansas muzzleloader season, now called ‘Modern Gun Season,’ allows hunters to use straight-walled centerfire cartridges. This has opened up many alternative rifles,” said floor manager Dustin Cunningham. The CVA Cascade in 350 Legend leads this category; the .45-70 in second.
While many retailers report slower MSR sales in 2024, this shop does see an election bump happening. Daniel Defense and Sig MCX MSRs are on top. Waterfowl guns are moving quickly with high numbers from Benelli Super Black Eagle 3s and SBE3s in the Tung/Timber Cerakote finish.
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 store and range pull customers from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Although slower than in past years, this retailer reports strong fall numbers. The shop is experiencing strong turns at the handgun counter. The Sig P365 holds the top spot; Glock 43X is right behind.
“Sales are steady. It’s a particularly good year for bolt-action rifles. MSRs are still selling, and our inventory is flush,” said counter salesman Jeremy Moore.
MSRs are turning daily at this location, with an even mix of Ruger Precisions, Radicals, and Sig MCXs. FN PS90s are attracting attention. Bolt-action guns are particularly hot right now. The Savage Axis and Ruger American Rifle Generation Gen II cross the counter daily. The most popular caliber is 7mm. Ammo inventories 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. Fall is heating up with heavy traffic on the Savage Axis, CVA Cascades, and older Browning X-Bolts. A higher-than-expected number of Ruger Americans are making turns. The most popular calibers have been .22, .30-06, and .308.
“We love new models. By clearing out and deeply discounting the old Browning X Bolts we’re creating traffic and new Browning customers. That’s a real win-win,” said counter salesman Steven Chiger.
MSRs continue to move daily. A mix of Springfield Saint Victors, S&W M&P Sports, and Ruger 556s account for the bulk of sales. Three to four units cross the counter between both stores.
Handgun sales continue to increase. “It’s nice to see a new ‘normal.’ It’s busy, not crazy, and we can get just about anything we need,” he said. Springfield Hellcat Pros, Sig P365s, and M&P Shield Equalizers are fast movers. Rimfire ammo stocks are good. Mossberg 500s and Remington 870 sales are holding steady, with an increasing interest in Stoeger and Franchi. Beretta A-300s are particularly hot this fall.
VERMONT
Pidgeon’s Gun Shop, New Haven
Sixty years in the same location, just north of Middlebury, this rural small-town gun shop specializes in hunting long guns and handguns. It offers full gunsmithing services.
Rifles are hot for this retailer. Tikka and Ruger American Rifle Generation Gen I and Gen II are far away in the front position. For this retailer, .270 WSM is the hottest round.
Sales of MSRs are extremely slow for this store, selling only two to three a year. “We have seen demand fall off for these rifles, and it seems like younger shooters would rather build them on their own,” said owner David Pidgeon.
Handgun sales are slowing. Big-caliber revolvers are in the top spot. Ruger Alaskans in .44 Mag and .460, Taurus .44 revolvers, and Glock 19s are all in the high traffic sector.
With the recent surprise delivery of .22 Hornet, ammo stocks are the best they’ve been in years. “Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve seen a case of .22 Hornet? It sold out in a month, and now I’m the go-to store for the caliber and guns,” said Pidgeon with a laugh.
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 peaking for hunting season and this retailer has seen a jump in sales. “This has been a great year for performance updates with bolt guns across the board. There are big improvements from Savage and Ruger, and they are gaining market share in our area,” said owner Michael York.
Ruger American Rifle Generation IIs and the Savage Axis are leading at this counter. The most popular caliber goes to .308. Other fast movers include MSRs—Smith Sports IIIs and Ruger 556 Standards. This retailer also carries an extensive selection of lever-action rifles.
Handguns have slowed, but Smith L Frame .357 wheel guns and Glock 19s are still getting plenty of attention. Other high-demand pistols include Springfield 1911s in 9mm and .45. Shotguns are a mix of mostly Mossberg 500s and 590 Shockwaves. CZ Quails are capturing the majority of new gun over-and-under sales for bird season.