Loading supplies coming to local Walmart

[distinguished]

wierd thing to me is this walmart i am writing about reduced the size of the gun cabinet so is carrying less guns but putting in loading supplies they didnt have before. they have quite a bit of ammo. i just wonder why these things happen the way they do.

I don't know about all of them but, the one here has an anti for a manager. Kind of stupid considering how many ranges are within a 15-20 minute drive.

 

[tommeboy]

I've been in a bunch of walmarts out west that have had reloading stuff. I think it depends on the people running the store if they carry it or not.

 

[jelenko]

And their local demographics/market.

 

[hoz53]

I've been in a bunch of walmarts out west that have had reloading stuff. I think it depends on the people running the store if they carry it or not.

i think thats true and also if it sells or not.

 

[hoz53]

I moved from Wi to NM 9 years ago. The Western Auto had a gun counter in the store. I went to check it out. They even had a wooden crate of surplus AK’s sitting on a table. Sports Authority used to sell a lot of surplus rifles also.

used to be a western auto in this town where the walmart is. i think western auto closed before walmart came- i remember them having guns

 

[hoz53]

I remember when K-Mart sold rifles & shotguns, back around 1970. Also, I remember receiving a catalog from a Store ( P&S Sales) from Tulsa that had a number of listing of fine rifles, mostly old military arms & ammunition. After the 1968 Gun Control Law, they dropped their firearm listing and changed to selling model boat kits, they soon went out of business.

i remember guns at Kmart to. in fact i think i bought a 870 there

 

[hoz53]

When I was a younger man, I bought handloading supplies from Payless Drugs in Lewiston Idaho. This in addition to Lolo Sporting goods and Fred Warrens. This period (late'60's and early 70's) may well have been the golden age for us who were shooters and hunters. Of course, North Idaho was a pretty special place in those days too.
In Canada, Hudson Bay, Woolworths, Sears, all carried hunting, shooting, and reloading stuff, but dedicated gun stores were special.
When I started gunsmithing, I worked in a retail store where we had racks of rifles, display cases full of handguns, all sorts of reloading gear. The coffee was always on, and like the BS, was free. All of the staff were hunters. Both of us gunsmiths were competitive shooters, our shipper/receiver was a veteran of Bisley (he later invented "F" class shooting). Stores like this are not so common today and I think it's too bad. Things happened which made such stores less viable.
I loved trading and dickering with customers and I enjoyed the guys who hung around just to watch me work (as long as they didn't get in the way). I used to keep a junk box (treasure chest) which contained mostly just junk, but which I salted with good pieces (Lyman sights, parts, dies and shellholders, etc.). Guys would come in and drink the free coffee and dig through the box in hopes that I had dropped something good in there that day. Anyway, those days are gone. I think it's good that anyone stocks and sells reloading components and tools; even if it's Walmart. WH

how about Bimart stores out in the west. they always had good prices. thinking about it there used to be many stores selling gun stuff. around here now its mostly guys with FFLs selling out of their house.

 

[bozo699]

how about Bimart stores out in the west. they always had good prices. thinking about it there used to be many stores selling gun stuff. around here now its mostly guys with FFLs selling out of their house.

In 2008 when the not born in this country obammy stole the office my buddy and I each bought $10.000 in reloading supplies and gun related stuff , we actually ended up just about doubling that and sure glad we did as if you was competing back then you know what happened, anyways I bought a full pallet of Winchester wildcats from our local bimart on sale for $5.00 a brick!… never ever regretted it. Sure wish they would have stayed in business here.
Wayne

 

[searcher]

I remember when K-Mart sold rifles & shotguns, back around 1970. Also, I remember receiving a catalog from a Store ( P&S Sales) from Tulsa that had a number of listing of fine rifles, mostly old military arms & ammunition. After the 1968 Gun Control Law, they dropped their firearm listing and changed to selling model boat kits, they soon went out of business.

I (brother-in-law paid) bought my first .44 Mag pistol at Western Auto, my first .22 Marlin rifle and H&R single-barrel shotgun at K-Mart when I was 14. (All 3 guns less than $225.00 total). Even Sears had guns locally - lots of choices, plus the mom & pop shops. Sadly, K-Mart, Sears and Western Auto all long gone. Since that golden time - the rules, red tape and bureaucracy thrust upon small gun shops has been staggering. I'll continue to support them as I can.

 

[hoz53]

In 2008 when the not born in this country obammy stole the office my buddy and I each bought $10.000 in reloading supplies and gun related stuff , we actually ended up just about doubling that and sure glad we did as if you was competing back then you know what happened, anyways I bought a full pallet of Winchester wildcats from our local bimart on sale for $5.00 a brick!… never ever regretted it. Sure wish they would have stayed in business here.
Wayne

since my high school days (70s) which i spent in midwest didnt have any bimarts but i mostly shot my 22 everyday at the gravel bit behing our house. local hardware had sales now and then on cases of WW super X - it came in the 100 rnd plastic boxes. its wat shot in my rifle best so i always got a case when it was on sale. seems it was
1.60 /100 back then. not the cheapest but it shot the best in that gun. coarse i didnt even know about the premium brands back then

 

[bozo699]

since my high school days (70s) which i spent in midwest didnt have any bimarts but i mostly shot my 22 everyday at the gravel bit behing our house. local hardware had sales now and then on cases of WW super X - it came in the 100 rnd plastic boxes. its wat shot in my rifle best so i always got a case when it was on sale. seems it was
1.60 /100 back then. not the cheapest but it shot the best in that gun. coarse i didnt even know about the premium brands back then

I’m a little younger than you but in the late 60’s early 70’s I was in grade school, a extremely small town, the only place that had any ammo at all was the gas/service station if I remember correctly same as you price but for package of 50 , that was outta my price range but the local farmers would buy it for you if you was willing to shoot pests, I can tell you I about wore out that western auto 22 lever rifle with 22 shorts because they was the cheapest lol

 

[shoot4fun]

It's funny that you all long for "The Good Old Days" when you could go down to the LGS and pick up a pound of powder and a box of bullets. Many of you did that once every FIVE YEARS!
Fact is we consumers put our LGS out of the component business because the internet sellers were suddenly the end of the rainbow. Can your LGS stock the amount of product, not to mention the variety, at your finger tips today? Nope.
Remember how it was at the LGS after Obummer won the election in 2008?
What about after Sandy Hook?
Things were great for the LGS for a little while. Then many of them crashed because we got our fill.
Bass Pro and Cabela's both have deep pockets and both are really no better than Walmart or Dick's in many respects. Can you walk in those and find anything approaching what is online at the big internet sellers? Nope.
Brick and mortar is failing at an alarming rate, not just the Macy's and JC Penney type stores but the LGS is going down with them.
This may make no sense to many of you but as someone who was in the firearms industry I've seen many consumers hold their nose and buy from the LGS they didn't like because "they had it" and when Walmart has it many of you will do the same da*n thing!!!!

 

[hoz53]

I’m a little younger than you but in the late 60’s early 70’s I was in grade school, a extremely small town, the only place that had any ammo at all was the gas/service station if I remember correctly same as you price but for package of 50 , that was outta my price range but the local farmers would buy it for you if you was willing to shoot pests, I can tell you I about wore out that western auto 22 lever rifle with 22 shorts because they was the cheapest lol

yeah— i just missed being able to buy my guns mail order by a few years. i gotta wonder what the firearms industry would look like now if GCA68 hadnt happened.
you reminded me of my first trips to ND in the early 2000s— a person could still buy shotgun shells and HP ammo at the gas station there then. i sure shot alot of that WW superx in that 22. i still have it though its not to accurate anymore. - a christmas present from my Mom and Dad when i was a teen.

 

[hoz53]

It's funny that you all long for "The Good Old Days" when you could go down to the LGS and pick up a pound of powder and a box of bullets. Many of you did that once every FIVE YEARS!
Fact is we consumers put our LGS out of the component business because the internet sellers were suddenly the end of the rainbow. Can your LGS stock the amount of product, not to mention the variety, at your finger tips today? Nope.
Remember how it was at the LGS after Obummer won the election in 2008?
What about after Sandy Hook?
Things were great for the LGS for a little while. Then many of them crashed because we got our fill.
Bass Pro and Cabela's both have deep pockets and both are really no better than Walmart or Dick's in many respects. Can you walk in those and find anything approaching what is online at the big internet sellers? Nope.
Brick and mortar is failing at an alarming rate, not just the Macy's and JC Penney type stores but the LGS is going down with them.
This may make no sense to many of you but as someone who was in the firearms industry I've seen many consumers hold their nose and buy from the LGS they didn't like because "they had it" and when Walmart has it many of you will do the same da*n thing!!!!

its Capitalism—— not that its all good IMO— If walmart is the only supplier someday youre right shooters will get their stuff there. FWIW i dont think walmart is making a big push into loading components for now. the one i saw they are putting componets in only had a 4 foot shelf of stuff.

 

[SVT_Tactical]

Looks like stuffs arriving here locally at our WallyWorld

 

[TC260]

FWIW i dont think walmart is making a big push into loading components for now. the one i saw they are putting componets in only had a 4 foot shelf of stuff.

You’re absolutely right. They make more profit in a day in produce than a year of reloading sales.

 

[nmkid]

This hurts. Went to Walmart this morning to purchase a windshield, water spot remover. They are the only retailer in the area that carries that product locally. I ambled on over to their sporting goods section. I noticed a Henry rifle in the rack and asked how much it was. The clerk mentioned they had 4 different ones in the back. Of course, one of them was a brass 45-70 for $92 cheaper than I had bought Saturday, after I had driven almost 90 miles!

 

[dryhumor]

Walmarts seem to stock based on what they can sell, and what managers want in the store. I’ve seen very pro gun stores during the great Obama sales rush get and stock a super variety of hard to find long guns and ammo, while others that were not pro gun not even make an effort- even when they could have sold all the stock they could get. It was interesting to see $1500-2500 rifles hit a store and sell within the week, if not the day.

I’ve always tried to spend my dollars in state. I’m not adverse to making a loop driving and looking , particularly if I’m looking for something specific. All the local stores have pretty much broken me of that. I can never find what I’m looking for, nor can I come across what I’m not looking for, but likely to buy if I did. I look on the internet, and bingo, exactly what I’m after. Cost and shipping costs are pretty much a wash when you factor fuel and maintenance. The exception is a road trip to BCR. A long haul, but a definite oasis in a reloading desert when I drove there a couple years ago.

Wonder what’s gonna happen when the internet breaks. Many suppliers no longer have phone order numbers, much less humans to take an order.