Wal Mart to stop selling mini's, AR's?

I used to see them really consistently at my local WalMart. Even Colts and Bushmasters through the major point of the panic buying a few years ago. Haven't seen any in a few months, but I hadn't asked about it. This would make sense as an explanation, though.

I heard about this several months ago, so I don't think it's a real recent development, but yeah, it seems to be the case. I'm guessing there's liability and politics involved, but it's also possible that Walmart may not be real good at selling anything but .22 rifles for the boy at Christmas or affordable shotguns during duck season. I bought my Mini 14 online instead of at Walmart, even though the price was the same because I wanted to deal with a place where the sales people knew the product.

Not bashing Walmart - it's a good store in many ways - but if the automotive sales clerks are over at sporting goods selling you guns because nobody else is on duty, how can they answer pertinent questions? I think Walmart sells more ammo than anything else. I never see anyone buying a gun. I did buy one there once...but only once.

This is an old story and yes, it's true. Wallyworld was holding onto a lot of AR's at post Newtown prices and people weren't buying them. On top of not moving them off the selves there's still the politics involved and Walmart decided to sell the semi auto rifles they had at heavily discounted prices and now just stock .22's and "hunting" guns or whatever.

I'm not one who was going to Walmart to buy guns so it doesn't affect me, but it's a sign that enough pressure on a company and they'll crack because they don't want anything negative to be said about them.

The Wal-Marts here in Bakersfield CA only sell ammo. Quit firearms years ago.

I think they stopped carrying AR's quite some time ago. There is still a Mini in the display of the closest Walmart. If they are no longer going to sell them it is a recent decision.

gbran said:

The Wal-Marts here in Bakersfield CA only sell ammo. Quit firearms years ago.

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The two local WalFarts here in Illinois are the same way. They haven't had firearms in at least 10 years.

Their selection of ammo is OK - - if you are a target shooter (FMJ). Almost nor HP ammo.

JTHunter said:

gbran said:

The two local WalFarts here in Illinois are the same way. They haven't had firearms in at least 10 years.

Their selection of ammo is OK - - if you are a target shooter (FMJ). Almost nor HP ammo.

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's also the case with Walmart's in Southern New England. Almost no hollow points and also no buckshot for shotguns, birdshot only.

It was a lot worse over a year ago when they had absolutely no jhp ammo, but they're slowly adding it to the shelves. However, 12 ga buckshot is a staple of home defense and until they put some in their glass cabinets, I can't say that they're ammo selection is for anything but plinking/target shooting and hunting.

WalMarts in Deep East Texas cleared them all out this past summer.

No advertising, no forewarning, just did it.

Yes, disappeared a little less than a year ago. Though all the ammo still remains (except for the elusive .22lr). It makes sense too me from a business perspective they wait til sales are low enough to justify it and then drop it so it doesn't look like they're just caving to political pressure. Any future controversies arise and they just sell non-offensive hunting rifles. Its not basspro or cabelas we're talking about I can see why they might decide to just avoid the controversy of selling AR's to protect sales in other departments which quite frankly are probably way more profitable.

One of the two in my city that carries firearms (a third doesn't) still has a Ruger Ranch Rifle, but it has only a five-round magazine. All other SFRs (scary-featured rifles) were dropped about a year or so back.

I checked my local store that does still sell guns, and I was surprised that they didn't have any semi auto in stock...even shotguns. Every rifle and shotgun was either a bolt, or pump action.

We have five large super Walmarts in a 20 mile radius, they all carry firearms. When it was announced last year, there were some AR's in the case that were priced 25% over market. The issue was the buyer and marketing overdid it. They got in too late and hit the market on it's downturn. No sales.

Like any - ANY - other product or line of merchandise, they clearanced it all out. And there are still items in the mark downs today that aren't moving, a year later. MFT full stocks for one, LED rail lights, rail height adapters, etc. Other accessories moved fast as guys like me hit the stores and picked up stuff at internet prices or less - like a Blackhawk push dagger. First of all, MO law isn't friendly over them, why was it even in stock? Second, it's not a "Walmart" demographic item.

There are still items in stock that are part and parcel of the tacticool movement, just not so much. Walmart got in too deep at the wrong time and they don't usually make a mistake like that. On the other hand, I would put no weight on it being permanent. As the AR market continues to mature and they are considered mainstream, Walmart isn't going to ignore profit and will reintroduce items as they are known to turn over and move.

Stores don't keep stuff that are dogs, they want cash cows that move repeatedly and make profit. Brick and mortar stores generally buy thru the distribution system and that didn't dry up, Walmart will approach AR's again.

There are 4 Wal-Marts that I routinely drive past. Only one of them sells firearms. Pump, lever and bolt actions for the most part. The only semi-auto firearms are rimfire like 10/22 or Marlin 60s. I haven't seen an AR or Mini at Wal-mart in about 5 years, so pretty old story.

Local Walmarts cleared out the ARs last summer but I still saw a Mini-14 here and there much longer (haven't seen one recently).

Funny that they sell rifles in .22lr but DON'T have the ammo!

Stopped carrying AR's a long time ago. But still have a Mini 14 in mine. I'm constantly tempted by it.

It's a Leap Year...

You missed the obligatory, once a month post about Walmart and ARs by one day for the March posting.

Todd.

Almost picked up a Mini 14 tonight but decided to behave. Maybe next time.

Have two local Wallmarts, one stopped selling anything but airguns and ammo years ago. The other one has black powder guns, airguns and ammo.

Wal-mart sells what sells, if guns don't sell in a certain store then they won't sell them there. If they can sell more dog food in that space they will sell dog food, what ever brings them the highest profit margins per square ft is what they will sell.

An AR-15 was stolen about 0300 over a year ago from the Walmart on Germantown Rd. in Cordova (by Memphis) TN. This was reported on the local evening news and the Commercial Appeal newspaper rag.
My impression was that it happened a second time at the same store.

Suddenly guns were no longer available, followed by no more ammo. This was more than a coincidence, probably for insurance/legal reasons or a way to easily lower their profile. But who cares about Walmart ammo, as long as you can buy it much cheaper in bulk via "Gunbot" etc? Just bought 2,000 rds. of Wolf .223 at .22/rd. (for my first Saiga: Not from Walmart). Even with shipping included, Walmart never matched that.

But the nearby Walmart on Highway 64 might still have both ammo and guns.

This was a merchandising decision not driven by company ideology. AR's and such are a high dollar item and the market has been in the doldrums owing to oversupply. Not that Walmart hasn't made ideological product choices in the past--they used to not sell stick incense owing to it's association with hippie/pothead culture when Sam W. was still alive--but selling or not selling guns/ammo doesn't seem to be one of these decisions.

I went to the local WalMarts yesterday and looked around.

WalMart guns are in the sporting goods section with fishing, boating, kayaking, etc. outdoor sports. Sporting guns has always been WalMart's stronger point. I think WalMart stocking ARs was a step into a market WalMart simply could not serve well at this point in time.

We do have local gun dealers who do specialize in defensive guns, civilian marksmanship practice, military surplus, active duty police equipment, etc., who I feel are a better fit with the AR market. Their staff often assemble ARs from lowers, FCGs, uppers and stocks, or own ARs and hunt or compete with them.

We do have an increasing number of military vets getting into civilian hunting, plinking, self-defense, etc. and who see no reason to switch from AR to a platform where they will need to retrain safety and handling. After the Civil War, the civilian sports market accepted the lever action repeater. After the Spanish American War and WWI, the civilian market accepted the bolt action rifle. There is a possibility that WalMart simply tried to enter the AR market a half-a-generation too soon.

I have noticed around here that what WalMart stocks is seasonal, too. Muzzleloaders and supplies are present just before and during ML deer season, and after close of the ML hunting season, any remainders are sold off to clear space for the start of boating/fishing season. To find a WalMart that stocks reloading supplies, I had to drive forty miles though; most don't carry reloading supplies at all.

Could be. Wal-mart doesn't get too controversial. None of them sell handguns AFAIK.

Doesn't bother me too much. I don't shop for new guns there unless they're on clearance (and the clearance deals aren't as good as they once were at Walmart - on anymore). Heck the store here in town stopped selling guns altogether for a few years but brought them back after a while.