What's Selling Where
WEST
UTAH
Doug’s Shoot N’ Sports, Taylorsville
Located in suburban Salt Lake City, this firearms dealer has been in operation for more than 40 years. It was the first retailer in the state to build a shooting range and keeps in stock a wide inventory of home defense and traditional hunting guns.
MSRs continue to inch up in demand, with an emphasis on higher-end rifles. Daniel Defense and Springfield take the bulk of turns. This retailer says the store is continuing to see more MSR turns due to increased interest in suppressors. Some centerfire rifles are turning. A wide mix of Tikkas and Ruger American Generation IIs continue to make the register ring, mostly in .308.
Handgun sales are brisk. The high sales spot splits evenly between Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0s and M&P Shields and and Glock 43Xs. “While Glock remains a staple in our rentals, the Stealth 1911 Platypus is also super popular,” said manager Dave Larsen.
Shotguns are picking up fast for waterfowl. Benelli Super Black Eagle IIIs and Stoeger M3500s are pulling better numbers than last year.
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. It is a local staple in the hunting community.
Fall rifle sales are heating up. Ruger American Gen IIs hold the top spot; Browning X-Bolts and Christensen Arms rifles follow in lockstep order. The most popular calibers have been 7PRC, .308, 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. Bolt guns are always a priority here, and it’s hard for us to list just the top three. If we don’t like them and shoot them, we don’t sell them,” said owner C.B. Scountz.
Shotguns are warming up fast with good numbers on Benelli Super Black Eagle IIIs and Winchester SXPs.
Handguns are steady. S&W M&P 2.0s and Shields sit in the top slots. Springfield Hellcat Pros and Sig Sauer P320s also are in strong demand.
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 item for this wilderness retailer. Smith M&P 2.0s and Glock Gen 6s sell best. Ruger Alaskans in .44 Mag. and .454 Casulls 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 dominates our sales. They continue to push out more traditional, big-bore revolvers. Our guides and hunters are just looking to lighten their load on their chest,” said owner Bryan Kerly.
Other high-demand rifles include Winchester, Marlin, and Henry .45-70s in any format, new or used. The Mossberg 500 Tactical and Remington 870 Express lead shotguns at this store.
MIDWEST
ILLINOIS
Gat Guns, Dundee
This northwest suburban Chicago retailer has been in business for more than 40 years and uses 25,000 square feet to display 7,500 firearms. It also sports more than 50 rifle and pistol lanes.
“Because we are in Illinois, MSRs were down to just Mini 14s and 10/22s until the release of fifty-state-compliant rifles from Dark Storm Industries. They have sold exceptionally well, and I commend their ingenuity and commitment to the industry,” said general manager Randy Potter.
Handgun sales are strong. The Glock 43X MOS, Canik Primes, and Springfield Echelons attract the lion’s share of attention. The lead caliber continues to be 9mm. Potter also mentioned the Glock 43X has been the leading rental pistol for their in-house range.
As for shotguns, the Benelli Ethos is in high demand. CZ Redhead over-and-unders for upland hunters are moving well. Remington 870 Deer Slayers are making turns this season. Henry single-shot 350 Legends, Ruger Ranch Rifles in .223, and Marlin 1895s SBLs are also in high demand.
After several periods of ammo challenges, inventory selection and prices have improved notably. However, shipping prices are causing some price increases.
INDIANA
Indiana Firearms, Lebanon
With two full-time employees, this smaller independent, just north of the Indianapolis metro area, specializes in home defense with 200 guns in stock and 800 square feet of floor space. Glock leads the handgun counter with 17s and 19s. Sig P365s are next in line, followed by Smith 2.0s. All are turning over at a consistent pace.
“Although we are a little surprised, we haven’t gotten a midterm-election bump. Sales remain above average. It’s nice having a well-planned inventory and not spending all day on the phone ordering with distributors,” said manager Riley Smith.
MSRs have remained consistent for the last year with Colts and Radicals turning at two per week. Shotguns have slowed but are in good inventory. Home defense models from Remington and Mossberg Combos are expected to do well through the Christmas season. Ammo stocks are flush.
KANSAS
Ranger Reds Trading Post, El Dorado
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 with recent months, the cool of fall has brought improving turns on handgun sales. Glock 43Xs and Springfield Hellcats are selling best. Transfers are an important part of bringing in customers for this store, and they charge only $20 per gun. “We’ve been slow this last summer and our customers are very price sensitive right now. One bright spot is our MSR in .17HMR. We build them with lowers from Bear Creek Arsenal, and they are super fun to shoot. I call them our 200-yard .22,” 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 Sport IIIs and Ruger 556s. Bolt-action hunting guns are slow, but some Ruger American Gen IIs and a few Savage Axis rifles are moving..
SOUTH
SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gun Doctor, Moncks Corner
Keeping 250-plus hunting guns and handguns in stock, this retailer maintains high traffic by having a full-time gunsmith on hand. The gunsmith also does work for several other local gun shops.
Deer season is in full swing, and Ruger American Gen IIs and Savages are attracting a lot of attention. Price-point Turkish pumps are moving. Used 12-gauge Browning A5s and Remington 1100s lead the board.
While this store stocks new guns, it continues to lean on used firearms for its primary profit center. “Some used guns fly out the door, especially older Marlins and Winchesters. The caliber doesn’t matter. If we can find a used Remington 1100 or Browning A5, it’s usually gone the next day. Our used gun business continues to increase,” said owner Christy Elan. Handgun sales are steady, with plenty of Glock 19s, Kel-Tecs, and Taurus G3Xs heading out the door.
TENNESSEE
Guns & Leather, Greenbrier
Located on Highway 41 north of Nashville, this 2,100-square-foot retailer keeps about 1,000 firearms in stock and sports a 10-lane indoor shooting range. Handguns rule at this store. Hefty numbers of Smith Performance Center Bodyguard M&P 2.0s, Glock 43Xs, Sig P365s, and Springfield Hellcats are finding new homes. At this range, the top rental pistol has been the Glock 43X. The Beretta 19 follows just behind.
Ruger American Gen IIs and Savage Axis XPs lead in the bolt-action category. The most popular calibers hover between .308 and .243.
Sales of MSRs have slowed. “It’s a midterm election year, and MSR sales continue to 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 guns continue to be in high demand,” said manager Daniel Williams.
A healthy inventory of Benellis and Franchis keep the retailer busy, with a wide sales mix of Super Black Eagle IIIs and Affinitys. Other lower-end shotguns include Hatsan Arms from Turkey. Ammo stocks are good at this retailer-range.
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 the Sig P226-X6 Legion, Canik TP9s, and Glock Gen 6s. Glock continues to be the most popular rental on the range.
“The Arkansas muzzleloader season, now called ‘Modern Gun Season,’ allows hunters to use straight-walled centerfire cartridges. This has opened sales for many alternative rifles. The CVA Cascade in 350 Legend leads this category,” said floor manager Dustin Cunningham.
Classic bolt-action guns include a mix of Tikkas, Ruger Gen IIs, and Bergaras. The .308 is the most popular round.
The Daniel Defense Radical tops the MSR list, turning several a week. Waterfowl guns are moving quickly. The best seller continues to be the Benelli Super Black Eagle III.
EAST
PENNSYLVANIA
Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitter, Brodheadsville, PA
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 seeing heavy traffic on the Savage Axis and Ruger American Gen II. The most popular calibers have been .30-06 and .308. Another notable rifle on the move is the Marlin 336.
Centerfire demand is up for this retailer. However, there are challenges. “We continue to see growing demand and sales in the centerfire category. However, getting consistent inventory from Ruger and Marlin has been challenging. The good news, however, is the new rifles are selling well,” said counter salesman Mike Schwartz.
MSRs continue to move daily with a mix of Springfield Victors, S&W M&P Sport IIIs, and Daniel Defense. Two to three units cross the counter between both stores.
Handgun sales continue to increase from the summer. “It’s price sensitive, and our customers love a factory promotion. The good news—we can get just about anything we need,” he said. Springfield Hellcat Pros with four-magazine accessory packages, Sig P365 Micros, and M&P Shield EZs are fast movers.
Rimfire ammo stocks are good. Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 sales are holding steady, with an increasing interest in Stoeger and Franchi. Beretta A300s are particularly hot this fall.
VERMONT
Deep Woods Mafia, Sheldon
Located 10 miles south of Canada and 10 miles east of Lake Champlain, this small-town gun shop specializes in hunting long guns and handguns. Rifles are hot for this retailer. Browning AB3 Hunters and Ruger American Gen IIs are miles ahead in the front position. For this retailer, .308 is the hottest round. Muzzleloaders are also in high demand; here the new T/C FireStick 50 is really attracting attention.
MSRs have slowed for this store, selling just two to three a month. But shotguns are especially busy, with strong numbers of Winchester SXPs and Turkish Benelli clones going out the door.
“These new semi-autos from Turkey are selling exceptionally well. Even if they already own a Super Black Eagle, our duck hunters are trying them,” said owner Matt Williams.
Handgun sales are brisk. Ruger Security 9s and Glock 48s are converging in the high-traffic sector.
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. MSR sales move daily for this retailer, along with with high demand for trigger modifications. “We sell an MSR every day and most leave with an FTR Trigger and often a suppressor added to the mix. These accessories have really added to new sales on these rifles,” said owner Michael York. He also notes that additional fast movers include Smith M&P Sport IIIs, M&P 15 Pistols, and Ruger 556 Standards.
As for bolt-action rifles, Ruger American Gen IIs and the Savage Axis are selling best. The most popular caliber goes to .308. This retailer also carries an extensive selection of new and used lever-action rifles, including Henry, Rossi, and Marlin. The most popular calibers are .30-30 and .45-70.
Handguns are steady, but Smith 637 wheel guns are always in demand. Glock 19Xs are still getting plenty of attention. Other pistols include S&W M&P EZs and Ruger LCPs. Shotguns are a mix of Mossberg 500s and 510s. A good number of Winchester SXPs are capturing most new sales.