WHAT’S SELLING WHERE

UTAl’s Sporting Goods, Logan Stocking an average of 1,000 firearms, this general hunting and fishing retailer is one of the oldest independent retailers in the western states. Although sales are not as high now as they were at this time last year, traffic is still brisk. “Not only have turns stayed impressive, but now we can get what we want for our handgun department,” said assistant manager Bo Nelson.

Glocks, primarily 43s and 19s, have a narrow lead over all others at the handgun counter, but Smith & Wesson Shield EZs and J-frame revolvers are doing well, too. Nelson says Springfield’s entire line is hot, especially the Hellcat.

Sales of Modern Sporting Rifles remain consistent, at five per week. Springfield Saints and S&W M&P Sport IIs are also selling well. Bolt-action gun inventories remain good after big-game season, but popular rifle cartridges remain in short supply, with no relief in sight. AKBoondock Sporting Goods, Eagle River Keep-

ing a mix of home-defense and hunting firearms and accessories, this store sits in between the cities of Anchorage and Wasilla. The retailer also stocks an assortment of camping and fishing gear.

It’s been a busy year for this retailer, and the staff is pleased to see sales for late 2021 were still high. “While MSRs have slowed, daily sales have remained high for handguns,” said manager Shawn Johnson. At this counter, the Springfield Hellcat is in first place, followed by Glock 43s and Springfield XDMs. There are multiple standing orders for the new SA35.

Demand outpaced supply for boltaction rifles, but the store has been able to keep Tikkas, Ruger Americans, and Browning Hell’s Canyons on the rack. Popular calibers continue to be .300 Win. Mag. and the new 6.8 Western.

MSRs are moving at more than two a week, with Ruger 556s in the top slot. Ammo stocks are okay for handguns, but rifle calibers remain a challenge to stock.

MTShedhorn Sports, Ennis This retailer, located just 70 miles outside the Yellowstone Park entrance, has been in business for 34 years. Twelve employees are kept busy stocking over 1,000 guns. Handguns continue to rule; the high turns go to Colt Pythons and Anacondas in .357 Mag. and .44 Mag. Glock 20s and Kimber 1911s in 10mm are also in high demand. Bolt-action rifle sales are up, and this retailer is managing inventory more than a year out. “Rifles are the major part of our business, and it takes advanced ordering to be sure we have a strong selection when fall arrives,” said owner Melissa Glaser. A mix of models from Christensen Arms and the Savage Axis are getting the most turns. MSR sales are slowing; Daniel Defense and Ruger 556s command the high ground.

IADaryl’s Gun Shop, State Center Keeping more than 300

new and used guns in stock, this small shop is located 20 miles northeast of Des Moines. Handguns sales are steady. Glocks sell best, but their overall numbers are down from last year. Other fast movers include Springfield XDMs and Ruger SR22s.

Sales of MSRs are flat, turning just three a month. Here, the Ruger 556 does best. “There’s no question that MSR numbers are down, but sales of higher-end rifles, like the Ruger Precision, are starting to improve,” said buyer Dana Schoppe. Getting enough ammo remains a big challenge. Schoppe said shotgun slugs and anything in .30 caliber is especially hard to get.

MNR H Kay Firearms, St. Paul This home-defense-

focused retailer stocks an average of 300 firearms in a tightly inventoried 500 square feet in metro St. Paul. Glock 19s and 20s and the Taurus model 709 top the high-demand list at the handgun counter. The store is also moving some Sig P365s. “It’s been a busy year, and I’m pleased that we’ve been able get through it,” said owner Rick Kay.

The store has plenty of MSRs in stock. It turns one per week. Springfield Saints deliver the most consistent sales.

Shotgun demand has fallen, and Kay has been left holding a larger number of SKUs from Turkey. “The whole Turkish shotgun shipment was great when they showed up. Now our customers will not buy them unless they are priced below cost,” said Kay. Ammo stocks are better than expected with 9mm, .40, and .223 in good inventory.

MOTarget Masters, Columbia A serious contender in this town for more than 21 years, this store has a ten-lane 25-yard range. Big-box stores surround this retailer, including a Bass Pro Shop just a few miles away.

This has been a tricky time for ammo at this retailer-range. “We are just not willing to gouge our customers. We can sell 9mm for 45 cents per round all day long, but we would rather send them to a box store. If we can get a range round below 29 cents, we’ll stock as much as we can get. We just don’t want our customers to feel like we are taking advantage of them,” said manager Thomas Wright.

At the handgun counter, Glock 43Xs top the list. Springfield Hellcats and Sig P365s are also turning daily. MSR sales have slowed significantly to just two a month. The largest turns are going to Smith M&P Sport IIs. There is an expectation that MSRs will pick up as winter varmint season gets moving. “Our MSR sales always find new owners in the winter. Either it’s a first time .223 shooter, or someone looking to upgrade their distance accuracy with a higher-grade rifle,” said Wright.

CTBlue Trail Range Gun Store, Wallingford In existence since

1945, this family gun shop and range keeps 800 guns in stock and has over 120 covered outdoor shooting stations. The store has range events for young and old, and there’s even a picnic area.

The post-hunting selling season has focused on a few lever-action Marlins in .30-30 and .22 rifles from CZ. Ammo stocks are tricky for this range retailer. “We are doing fine in 9mm, .556, and even 10mm. It gets real challenging with more traditional rifle cartridges. While we have some .308, we tend to only have one SKU,” said counter salesperson Amr Maclad.

Wheel guns have gained popularity at this store, and the demand includes both new and used models. Other top sellers are Sig P365s, Glock 19 and 20s, and Smith Shields. A few shotguns are also turning, mainly Mossberg 500s and Turkish-made guns. Gamo air rifles remain popular, and a few new Anschutz guns are also crossing the counter. MEHowells Guns, Gray Located just 15 miles north of Portland, this 27,000-square-foot store sells a mix of archery, soft goods, and firearms. The retailer keeps an average of 2,000 guns in stock and has 12 shooting lanes at their facility.

Handgun sales are on the rise; Glock 19s and Sig P365s hold the highest slots. Used Smith and Colt revolvers are in especially high demand this year.

“MSRs are slowing from twenty to fifteen a week. Bolt-action guns have gotten hard to stock, and of course, sporting rifle ammo is even tougher. At the same time, handgun ammo is getting much easier to get and is dropping in price,” said manager Tom Ventresca. M&P Sport IIs, Ruger 556s, and rifles from Windham Weaponry are the top sellers. MSRs in .22 caliber are especially in demand.

The firearm deer season has wrapped up, but a handful of bolt-action guns are still selling. Ruger Americans and the Savage Axis in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308, and .243 command the most attention. As January progresses, Ventresca says sales will turn more to varmint calibers such as .243 and .223.

VATown Guns, Collinsville Located in mid-south Virginia, this 1,600-square-foot store has nearly 4,000 guns in inventory, divided between two locations. Serving a rural clientele, the store evenly mixes hunting and home defense.

Winter is handgun time for this retailer with strong numbers of anything conceal carry. Smith EZ Shields, Sig P365s, and Springfield Hellcats are trading evenly at this counter. “Inventory has finely caught up, and except for revolvers, we can get just about anything we need,” said manager Brandon Motley.

Sales of MSRs have slowed to three per week. S&W M&P Sports hold the top slot, followed by Daniel Defense. During November and December, hunting rifles turned faster than at any time in the store’s history, with a mix of Savage Axis and Bergaras in 6.5 Creedmoor and .243.

TNMitchell’s Country Store, Jackson

This small, rural general store sells groceries and sporting goods. It has an average of 100 guns in stock at any one time. And, it just may be the only gun shop in the South where you can get a cheeseburger, an RC Cola, and a Moon Pie with your ammo.

Handgun sales remain consistent. Glock 43s and Shield EZs are the strongest sellers. Smith revolvers are in higher-than-usual demand. Although ammo stocks for handguns are good, the rifle ammo selection is especially poor. “We are a super-small store, and my access to high-demand rifle ammo is just okay. That said, we do have plenty of .308 and .223,” said owner Roy Mitchell.

Sporting long-gun sales are good, and there has been a lot of demand for .22s for the holidays. As a result, the store is moving a lot of Henry .22s. The Savage Axis in .243 is also crossing the counter regularly. Pump shotguns sales have slowed dramatically. SCGun Doctor, Monk Corner Keeping more than 150 hunting guns and handguns in stock, this retailer maintains high traffic by retaining a full-time gunsmith who can do work for other local gun shops. Shotguns are still selling. A few used Browning A5s in 12 gauge and Remington 1100s are the top sellers. “You stock a used 1100 or A5 Browning, and it’s usually gone the next day,” said owner Christy Elan.

Lever actions, including Henrys and Marlins, are turning. Although this store stocks new guns, it continues to lean on gunsmithing and used firearms for its primary profits. Handgun sales are steady. Glock 19s and a few Springfield XDMs move the most.

GASidney’s Guns, Augusta Founded as a haberdashery in the late 1800s, this uniform and softgoods company started to handle firearms in the 1960s to fill duty-belt orders from their local police department. Today, the store stocks more than 1,500 guns and a total of 10 million SKUs.

January is one of biggest firearm sales months for this retailer. “A lot of our customers spend their seasonal bonus or buy gifts this month,” said owner Steven Fishman. “And, fortunately, they spend it with us.”

Handguns have been hot all year. Used 1960s and 1970s vintage Smith and Taurus revolvers are in high demand. Glock 19s and 43s and Smith Shields are also moving well.

Fishman also said January can be a serious time for quail guns. As a result, Franchi Affinitys and Stoeger 320s are turning. Other strong sellers include high-school competition youth guns for trap and skeet clubs. A few bolt-action rifles are still moving. Here, Sakos in .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor sit atop the list. Ammo stocks are good, but selling at all-time high prices. Sales of MSRs are slow and are going at low to moderate price points.