Took this photo recently while dropping by a Walmart in Bozeman, Montana. Can’t say I’ve ever seen a Walmart in Texas that offered as many firearms, including models made by Ruger and Weatherby. The Weatherby Vanguard in walnut is one I suspect is only offered by Walmart in this part of the country. Heck, you can ever find convenience stores in Montana where you can fill your tank and buy a new deer and elk rifle in a single stop.

The Benbrook Texas Walmart had an equal selection of firearms until the gun/ammo run.

When things got rather dicey back during the summer riots, Walmart was known for pulling all their guns from store shelves for reasons of safety. It makes you wonder if certain demographics is a determining factor in how stores are stocked with rifles and shotguns.

That's the way it should be plenty of selection, no big deal.

Got more than an Academy around here

All bubba and booger picker guns

The Henry’s are the nicest rifles in the rack.

Every now and again you will come across a hardware store that has a good selection of rifles.

Honestly, and this is just my opinion, is that rifles have by and large gotten so much cheaper over the years. When I was a boy, you could buy a Remington 700 BDL or a Ruger M77 at the local Walmart and could order more from a Catalog.

Now they carry some Savage and Mossberg rifles and that’s about it. Academy isn’t much better.

It may not be as quite as nice - will have to check again this season, but the Graham Texas Walmart has a pretty good selection as I remember. I do miss the days growing up when you could buy guns at Penny's, Sears, Western Auto, Gibsons, and every Maverick Market had ammo. Hell, I sold them myself at KMart where I worked in High School. All but Penny's are gone now and they are on their last legs and haven't had guns in years. I hear there is still a Gibsons in Weatherford, need to go there sometime for old times sake.

I bought my first shotgun at a Furrs grocery store in New Mexico in ‘81.

You can still buy guns at Gibson's. And some decent waterfowl stuff as well. Mid and high end cold weather and wet weather stuff.

I bought my first Python from Furr's...6" nickle!

I should add to never pass the chance to swing by any of the Bob Ward’s stores when you’re in the area. They sometimes offer some great deals on brand name clothing including Stika and others.

I used to be the gun salesman in Bob Ward's in Bozeman. Back around 1990, we had quite a selection and everyone bought from us. Not even sure if they carry guns anymore.
Montana had a fishing publication back then, kind of like a newspaper with local fishing conditions, ads, etc... they would call me and ask how the fishing was and I would just report what the fishermen were telling me at the time and they would print it like I was the expert. lol

Yes, they still carry firearms and have a great supply of ammo. They would no doubt get a lot of my money if I lived in an area where any of their stores were located. Very friendly and helpful staff. And like many places in the state, they’re hiring.

Reminds me of a when I was growing up in the 50s and early 60s. Seemed like all the department stores, Sears, JC Penny’s all sold guns as well as Western auto and Napa. Of course back those days you didn’t find all these foreign made guns. Winchester, Remington, Brownings.You could find shells at a lot of gas stations

Several of these are scattered around Western Montana. Buy a new rifle and scope and get it bore sighted while you fill up and get feed for the horses and cows.

Rocky Mountain Supply

Reminds me of Sportsman Warehouse back in 1989 in Grand Junction Co. Huge store and gun all the way around the huge building on the wall I think they were at least 300 rifles there. Great store with just about any thing needed for hunting the rockies.

You need to swing by the Fort in Big Timber!!

http://www.fortmt.com/index.html

That was actually my first experience in finding a place were you could fill your tank, pick up a bottle of booze, and buy a new rifle. And the best damn breakfast sandwiches west of the Mississippi. Just ask the wife.

Hmmmmm….no scary black rifles….

It makes me sad that the vast majority of guns now days are made with synthetic stocks. I will always favor a pretty wood stock and blued metal

Me too.

Not me. Like asking for exhibition grade walnut for an ax handle. Not saying I wouldn’t own one but damn sure to pretty to work with

I concur. It's probably much easier and cheaper to outsource gun stocks to another company that may only offer synthetics. I would be surprised if the new Remington factory in Georgia includes a wood shop. Thankfully, there are gun makers like Winchester, Henry, and others who still take pride in creating rifles with wood stocks. The french walnut stocks offered with the new Winchester Model 70 Super Grade are beautiful.




And while we're on the subject, I like how manufacturers seem to have moved away from high gloss to matte wood finishes that do a much better job hiding battle scares. They also seem to make a rifle easier to grip in cold weather when wearing thick gloves.

Going back a long way. I was 12 yoa or so.
I once whittled out a stock for a 22. Took 3 tries due to screw ups. No idea what happened to that gun.