Runnings
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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.
:::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.
:::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.
:::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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