Heritage & History

Runnings is a farm, home, and outdoor retail chain operating approximately 40 stores across the upper Midwest. Founded in 1947 in Marshall, Minnesota, the company serves rural communities in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and New York with sporting goods, firearms, ammunition, and farm supplies.

:::callout
Runnings is the farm store that sells guns in towns where the nearest Cabela's is a two-hour drive. With ~40 stores across the northern Great Plains and upper Midwest, they serve the communities where hunting isn't a hobby — it's part of the culture. The firearms department is one of their biggest competitive advantages over Tractor Supply, which doesn't sell guns.
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Key facts:

Founded: 1947, Marshall, Minnesota
Stores: ~40 locations across 7 states
Markets: MN, SD, ND, MT, WI, IA, NY
Type: Farm, home, and outdoor retail (with firearms)
Competitors: Tractor Supply, Fleet Farm, local farm stores

Shopping Guide

Aspect	What to Expect
Store size	40,000-80,000 sq ft (large-format)
Departments	Farm/feed, outdoor, home, sporting goods, firearms
Pricing	Competitive with other farm stores; seasonal promotions
Staff knowledge	Good in firearms/farm; variable in other departments
Loyalty program	Yes (Runnings Rewards)
Firearm transfers	FFL on-site at most locations

What Runnings does well:

Firearms department that Tractor Supply doesn't have
Deep farm/feed selection for agricultural customers
Staff with genuine outdoor/hunting knowledge (at good locations)
One-stop shopping: feed, ammo, and fencing in the same trip
Competitive pricing on guns and ammunition
Serves communities with limited retail alternatives

What Runnings could improve:

Service quality varies significantly by location
Inventory management can be inconsistent
Newer stores may have less experienced staff
NY locations face regulatory challenges affecting firearms availability
Less selection than dedicated sporting goods stores

Firearms Department

Category	Selection	Brands Typically Stocked
Hunting rifles (bolt-action)	Good	Ruger, Savage, Winchester, Remington
Shotguns	Good	Mossberg, Remington, Benelli
Handguns	Moderate	Glock, S&W, Ruger
Modern sporting rifles	Moderate	S&W M&P15, Ruger AR-556
Lever-action rifles	Good	Marlin, Henry
Ammunition	Good	Common hunting + range calibers
Optics	Moderate	Leupold, Vortex, budget options
Accessories	Moderate	Cleaning, cases, safes

:::callout
Runnings' firearms advantage over Tractor Supply is real. Tractor Supply doesn't sell guns. Runnings does. In towns with 10,000 people where the options are Runnings, Walmart, and the local pawn shop, the Runnings gun counter becomes the de facto gun store. The staff at the better locations genuinely know firearms and can help you match a rifle to your hunting needs.
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Runnings vs. similar retailers:

Feature	Runnings	Fleet Farm	Tractor Supply	Scheels
Firearms sales	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Gun counter quality	Good (varies)	Good	N/A	Excellent
Farm/feed	Excellent	Good	Excellent	Limited
Store count	~40	~48	2,200+	~30
Geographic focus	Upper Midwest	Upper Midwest	National	Midwest
Ammunition selection	Good	Good	Limited	Excellent

Store Locations

State	Presence	Notes
Minnesota	Strongest (home state)	Marshall (HQ), Rochester, Mankato, and others
South Dakota	Strong	Regional destination stores
North Dakota	Strong	Serves large geographic areas
Wisconsin	Growing	Strong hunting culture supports firearms sales
Iowa	Growing	Agricultural market with outdoor recreation
Montana	Moderate	Mountain West expansion
New York	Limited	Upstate only; complex firearms regulations

:::callout
Bottom line: Runnings is the farm store for gun owners in the northern Great Plains. If you live in their footprint and need a place to buy a hunting rifle, ammunition, and 50 pounds of dog food in the same trip, Runnings delivers. The firearms department is their key differentiator against Tractor Supply, and the better locations have genuinely knowledgeable staff. Don't expect Scheels-level selection or service, but for small-town access to firearms retail, Runnings fills an important niche.
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References

Runnings official site: runnings.com
Runnings store locator and department information
Farm store industry comparisons
Customer reviews across Midwest locations

Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team

Join the Discussion

Does anyone here shop at their local Runnings for ammo and firearms supplies, and how does their selection and pricing compare to the specialty shops in the Boise area?

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