What's Selling Where
WEST
Airzona
Rim Country Guns, Payson
This small-town mountain gun shop rests an hour northeast of Phoenix on Highway 87. They keep 250 guns in stock and cater to a local retired population with two full-time employees.
Lever-action guns are what’s hot at this store no matter the season. “New or used, we can sell any lever gun. Even older calibers are popular. The gun creates a connection to living in the West, and our older residents just love them. It’s the only category that’s not price sensitive at our store right now,” said manager Sam Facunds.
Marlin tops the list for this store, and .22s, .30-30s, and .45 Long Colts are in high demand. Henry Golden Boys are also turning. While MSRs are collecting dust, Ruger 10/22s and used Mini-14s are heating up the counter.
Glock 43Xs are the top seller in the handgun category. Currently, there are no orders for the new Gen 6. Springfield Hellcats and Ruger LCPs are also garnering attention. Shotguns are a mix of new Mossberg turkey guns and a wide variety of used pumps and camo semi-autos.
IDAHO
Dale & Jill’s Sporting Goods, Kamiah
This North Idaho gas station and gun store keeps a mix of new and used guns with four employees sharing responsibility at the gun counter. The retailer has an average of 250 rifles, handguns, and shotguns on hand while featuring snacks, a cafe, and a large goldfish tank.
Late winter/spring is handgun season for this store, which is now seeing above-average turns on Glock 17s, Sig Sauer P320s, and Smith & Wesson Shield 2.0s. “We turn a notable number of handguns this time of year. I’m not sure if it’s from tax returns or cabin fever. We hope winter will give up soon,” said counter salesman Dave Hitchcock.
Other movers include Benelli Nova shotguns and Mossberg 500 turkey guns. Sales of MSRs have slowed with just a few turns from S&W M&P 15 Sport IIIs and used MSRs. Ruger 10/22s are seeing some action with a few used Marlin lever guns in .45-70.
MONTANA
Mitchell Supply, Great Falls
Located on the north side of Great Falls, this firearms dealer stocks an average of 300 guns, with three employees tending the counter. Smith M&P Bodyguard 2.0s are the clear front runner for this retailer, but Glock 43Xs and Ruger RXMs are also selling well.
Suppressors continue to be in exceptionally high demand. However, this retailer is weighed down from the paperwork. “We could get through the system with written documents, but now it’s just too slow. We’re at that point where we’re about to invest in the proprietary software to streamline the process,” said counter salesman Adam Bailey.
Thirty-caliber suppressors dominate this retailer’s sales with Dead Air Primal at the top of the leader board. Bailey added rifle hunters have become their largest sales segment.
MSRs are selling at two a week, with a split retail mix between Radicals and Smith Sport IIIs. A few Ruger Mini 14s and 10-22s are crossing the counter. Bolt-action guns are slow. However, this retailer reports a growing demand for any new or used Remington, especially older 700s.
MIDWEST
MICHIGAN
Ann Arbor Arms, Ann Arbor
This range-retailer is located off Interstate 95, ten minutes west of Ann Arbor. The building spans 26,000 square feet. The space includes a 24-lane indoor shooting range and a 6,000-square-foot retail store carrying an inventory of over 800 firearms.
Handguns are flowing in a steady stream at this location. The Smith M&P EZ Shield 2.0 is emerging as the largest single model sold by this retailer in 2026. “The 2.0 line just keeps getting better and better. New colors and the option of no safety has been super popular,” said retail manager Tim Lang.
Other popular SKUs have been the Walther PDP and PDP-F series. Lang said he attributes the attention to the company’s recent presence on Instagram. “We’ve had these guns in stock for some time. But all of a sudden, demand has notably increased,” he said. Another pistol line on the rise is the Glock Gen 6.
MSR sales are slowing, though a few Smith M&P 15 Sport IIIs and models from Daniel Defense continue to slowly trickle across the counter. Shotguns are also turning, with Beretta A300s and the Orthos Raider securely in the top slots.
NEBRASKA
Guns N Things, Columbus
This small rural gun shop concentrates on a mix of used and new guns, inviting their customer base to use them for transfers. Charging $25 a unit, this retailer continues to promote transfer sales. They stock an average of 250 new and used guns with inventory leaning heavily on handguns.
“We see an increasing demand for new, old stock, and used Glocks. But, that said, the Gen 6 is getting turns,” said owner Wayne Henke. Glock 43Xs and 19s dominate this counter. The Smith CSX is also in seeing strong demand.
Coming out of winter, some bolt-action guns are still turning with a few Bergaras in .300 PRC along with an exceptional demand for Remington 700s in any format. “All of a sudden, my customers want 700s. I’m guessing it’s because they are getting harder to find,” said Henke. Other quick turns are coming from used 870 Express and new Mossberg 500 turkey guns. Ruger 10/22s are expected to sell well, especially into the summer.
KANSAS
The Gun Junction, Junction City
Located in north-central Kansas, this store stocks at least 1,000 new guns with a large mix of hunting, home defense, and antiquities. They are closed Tuesday through Thursday.
Handguns are warming this counter, with high demand for Sig P365s and Springfield Hellcat Pros. Other guns on the move include CZ 75s and used Colt 1911s.
While demand for MSRs is slow in much of the country, this store reports consistent turns and strong inventory. “Our proximity to Fort Riley keeps our MSR turns quick, with high demand for AR-15s and AR-10s. We keep at least 100 rifles in stock. We’re always on the lookout for anything military from Colt,” said owner Barry Arp. Highest sales position at this store goes to Colt, with about even turns on Radicals and Diamondbacks.
Although varmint season has closed, a few bolt-action Ruger American Generation IIs are still selling.
Shotguns are picking up for turkey season. The Mossberg 500 camo, Browning Maxus II Camo II, and CZ 612 are all heading out the door.
SOUTH
TENNESSEE
Guns and Leather, Greenbrier
Located on Highway 41 just north of Nashville, this retailer and range keeps about 1,000 firearms in stock with an average of four employees. Handguns rule here, and hefty numbers of Glock 43Xs and Gen 6s are on the move. Ruger Target .22s are in unusually high demand. Other movers include Sig P365s and Hellcats. Nine millimeter dominates the caliber selection.
“Price-point sales have started to dominate our counter. It has become super competitive at the low end. Even with SCCY dropping their already low price point, we are still selling more Taurus models in the same class,” said gun buyer Ben Williams.
Early fast-moving turkey guns include Franchi Affinity 3s and Stoeger 3500s. As for bolt-action rifles, this store reports the highest numbers of Savage Axis combo guns they have ever sold. A high demand for lever-action rifles has carried throughout the first few months of the year.
“I can’t get over how our customers are just clamoring for levers. We can barely keep them in stock, and we are way past deer season,” said counter salesman Joe Rice. Rice also reported the most popular caliber has been the .357 Mag. Sales of MSRs are moving close to one every four days. Smith Sports and Ruger 556s lead the way.
ALABAMA
Mark's Outdoors, Vestavia Hills
Located in suburban Birmingham, this general hunting and fishing retailer has been in business since 1980 and stocks more than 2,000 firearms. Turkey season is one of this retailer’s largest store events. A full weekend of manufacturers and reps come together, inviting customers to test calls while looking at new product. “This kind of event continues to be an important part our connection with our community. It’s wonderful for families and is very well attended,” said manager Rick Leventry. “Of course, this event helps to drive high numbers of Super Black Eagle IIIs in 28 gauge and EEA’s SBE Clone in 12 gauge. Both will top the sales counter for this season,” he said.
Handgun sales are brisk, with a mix of Glock Gen 6s, Sig P365s, and Hellcats turning in 9mm. MSRs are slowing to about ten a month. Higher-priced Daniel Defense leads; Springfield is just behind. “Our higher- end MSRs are outpacing the low-priced rifles,” said Leventry.
KENTUCKY
Riverside Outdoors, Bowling Green
Resting in south-central Kentucky, this store is about 40 miles north of Nashville. The retailer stocks an average of 300 new and used guns, with an emphasis on hunting rifles and handguns. With spring at its door, this retailer just finished up varmint season with a tournament held in December and January. “We get an average of 75 hunters that compete during a 12-hour period. Winners earn cash prizes for the most and largest taken in one night. It’s improving our turkey hunting, and it’s a great event for helping to promote new rifles sales,” said manager Brent Turner. Turner added the event has made the Ruger American Generation II in .243 the top-selling bolt-action rifle in the store.
At the handgun counter, Glock 43Xs are in high demand, followed closely by any new or used 1911. Smith K-Frames are also getting a significant amount of attention. For turkey season, this store reports the Stevens 301 .410 shotgun is in extremely high demand and difficult to keep in stock. An additional hot seller is the Mossberg 500 turkey gun.
EAST
NEW YORK
Franks Guns & Tackle Shop, Amsterdam
Located 25 miles northwest of Albany, this small-town gun store has been serving New York for over 40 years. They specialize in nearly 1,000 new and used hunting and home defense guns. Even with plenty of snow on the ground, turkey season is in the minds of this store’s customers. “We really start selling turkey guns well before tax time. I think it’s a way to get through the winter,” said owner John Havlick.
Top sellers include Retay Masai Mara in camo and Mossberg 500s. Havlick added there’s still demand for Remington 870s, but they are just not available.
Handguns are steady with a high demand for Ruger wheel guns including the Model 1702 in black and the 1705 in stainless; .357 Mag. is the dominant caliber. Other fast movers include the Smith 2.0 Bodyguards and Glock Gen 6s. Havlick commented that new Glock series is getting positive response from his customers.
PENNSYLVANIA
Reese Grocery & Supply, Smithfield
Located about 40 miles from the West Virgina line, this
small-town gun shop shares space with groceries. Stocking more than 1,700 new and used guns at retail, the store is open six days a week and has a full-time gunsmith.
Coming out of winter, lever guns are hot. This retailer is well invested in a large inventory of Henrys from Golden Boys to Big Boys with calibers that span from .44 Mag to .22 LR. Sales of MSRs have slowed to one a week. Colts sit in the top sales slot, followed by Andersons.
As for shotguns, turkey season is starting to create demand for Stevens 301 single-shot combos. “It’s hard to believe the demand we are seeing on these shotguns. If we can get them in .410, they are gone in a couple of days. We have customers coming from West Virgina to purchase them. That’s pretty extraordinary, considering they don’t have to pay sales taxes in their home state,” said manager and gunsmith Chad Bussey. Other high-moving shotguns include Weatherby Orion over-and-unders and Sorix semi-autos.
Late-winter handguns have been a steady source of turns. Healthy numbers of pre-“V”-style Glocks are getting the highest demand this retailer has seen in years. Other steady sellers include Smith Bodyguard 2.0s and Canik MC9 Metes.
MAINE
Howell’s Indoor Range & Gun Shop, Gray
Located just 15 miles north of Portland, this
27,000-square-foot store sells a mix of archery, soft goods, and firearms. This New England retailer and range keeps an average of 2,000 guns in stock and offers on-site gun storage. The retailer also has two indoor ranges with 12 shooting lanes.
Handgun sales are on the rise, and 9mm is king. Smith M&P 2.0s, Glock 19s, and Sig P320s are steadily moving into the high slots. As for MSRs, Howell’s has just introduced its own MSR platform. “The rifles are made to exacting standards. Whether it’s home defense, hunting, plinking, or distance, they can be adapted to a wide variety of variations. They have been well received by our customers,” said counter salesman Tom Ventresca. Other MSR turns include M&P Sport IIIs and Ruger 556s.
With turkey season two months away, shotguns are taking hold. Mossberg 500s and 835s hold the top slots, and Beretta A300s are also selling well.