MidwayUSA

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Heritage & History

MidwayUSA is one of the largest online firearms and shooting sports retailers in the United States, headquartered in Columbia, Missouri. Founded in 1977 by Larry and Brenda Potterfield, the company started in their basement selling reloading supplies and has grown into a major e-commerce retailer with over 100,000 products.

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Larry Potterfield is one of the most recognized figures in the shooting sports industry — NRA board member, competitive shooter, and founder of the MidwayUSA Foundation that funds youth shooting teams nationwide. MidwayUSA's growth from a basement reloading supply business to a 100,000+ product retailer is one of the great success stories in firearms e-commerce.
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Key milestones:

1977 — Larry and Brenda Potterfield start MidwayUSA in their basement; reloading supplies
1980s-90s — Expanded to gunsmithing tools, accessories, hunting gear; catalog-based
Late 1990s — Early internet adopter; transitioned to primarily online sales
2000s — Grew to major online retailer; 100,000+ products
Present — Columbia, MO headquarters; multiple warehouses; MidwayUSA Foundation supports youth shooting

Shopping Guide

MidwayUSA is online-only (no retail stores):

Aspect	What to Expect
Channel	Online only (midwayusa.com)
Headquarters	Columbia, Missouri
Products	100,000+ firearms, ammo, reloading, optics, accessories
Firearms shipping	Ships to your FFL dealer; standard federal process
Return policy	60 days for most items; restrictions on firearms/ammo
Promotions	Regular sales, especially during hunting season and holidays

What MidwayUSA does well:

Massive selection of reloading components, gunsmithing tools, and accessories
Competitive pricing, especially during sales
Fast shipping on in-stock items (1-3 business days)
Detailed product specs and user reviews on most items
Strong support for youth shooting programs (MidwayUSA Foundation)

What MidwayUSA doesn't do well:

Customer service has declined (common complaint in recent reviews)
Inventory accuracy issues ("in stock" items sometimes backordered)
Automated chat systems frustrate users seeking real help
Technical support is limited compared to Brownells
Some complaints about return process speed

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MidwayUSA vs. Brownells: Both are major online firearms retailers. MidwayUSA has broader inventory and often better pricing. Brownells has better technical support, educational content, and customer service. For pure purchasing (you know what you want), MidwayUSA is often cheaper. For research and support, Brownells is usually better.
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Selection & Inventory

MidwayUSA's 100,000+ product catalog covers virtually everything in the shooting sports:

Category	Brands/Selection	Strength
Reloading components	Hornady, Sierra, Nosler, Speer, Hodgdon, IMR, Vihtavuori	Core strength; deep inventory
Gunsmithing tools	Brownells, Wheeler, Lyman, RCBS	Comprehensive selection
Firearms	Ruger, S&W, Glock, Savage, Remington, Winchester	Good selection; ships to FFL
Ammunition	All major brands	Competitive pricing; availability fluctuates
Optics	Leupold, Vortex, Nikon, Bushnell, Trijicon	Budget through high-end
Reloading equipment	RCBS, Lee, Hornady, Redding, Dillon	Full press and die selection
Cleaning supplies	All major brands	Deep inventory
Shooting accessories	Targets, hearing protection, bags, rests	Comprehensive

Inventory notes:

In-stock items ship fast (1-3 business days typically)
"In stock" status can be inaccurate — verify for critical purchases
Reloading components fluctuate with market availability
Sales and promotions can offer significant savings
Hazmat shipping fees apply to powder and primers

Service & Support

Aspect	Quality	Notes
Order fulfillment	Good (in-stock)	Fast for items actually in warehouse
Inventory accuracy	Mixed	"In stock" sometimes means backordered
Phone support	Declining	Long wait times; knowledge varies
Chat support	Poor	Automated; often unhelpful
Email support	Adequate	Slower but may get better answers
Technical knowledge	Limited	Functional for orders; limited for reloading/gunsmithing advice
Returns	Standard	60 days; some items restricted; processing can be slow

When MidwayUSA is the right choice:

You know exactly what you want and are comparing prices
You're buying reloading components or gunsmithing tools
You want the widest selection from one retailer
Price is more important than customer service

When other options might be better:

You need technical support or product guidance (Brownells)
You want a physical store experience (Scheels, Sportsman's Warehouse)
You want the absolute lowest ammo prices (SGAmmo, Lucky Gunner)
You want specialty optics with expert advice (EuroOptic)
You want guaranteed inventory accuracy (call before ordering critical items)

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Bottom line: MidwayUSA remains one of the most comprehensive online retailers for shooting sports. The selection and pricing are strong, especially for reloading supplies and accessories. But the customer service reputation has slipped in recent years — if you need support or guidance, Brownells may be a better choice. For straightforward purchases where you know what you want, MidwayUSA is hard to beat on selection.
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References

MidwayUSA official site: midwayusa.com
MidwayUSA Foundation (youth shooting programs)
Consumer reviews: Trustpilot, BBB, Reddit r/guns
Ammunition Depot: MidwayUSA retailer review

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

Join the Discussion

Have you noticed any changes in MidwayUSA's service or inventory lately, and would it affect where you shop for your ammo and gear?

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