Walmart

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Heritage & History

Walmart Inc. is the world's largest retailer, founded in 1962 by Sam Walton in Rogers, Arkansas. Approximately 2,500 of Walmart's ~4,700 U.S. stores carry firearms, primarily hunting rifles and shotguns. Walmart's firearms policies have changed significantly since 2019.

:::callout
Walmart is simultaneously America's largest firearms retailer by volume and one of the most restricted. They stopped selling handguns in 1993 (except Alaska), stopped selling AR-15s in 2015, and stopped selling handgun ammunition in 2019. What's left is hunting rifles and shotguns — Savage Axis combos, Mossberg 500s, Remington 870s — at Walmart prices, which means $20-$50 below what a gun store charges. For a first hunting rifle or a basic shotgun, Walmart works. For anything else, you're in the wrong store.
:::

Key milestones:

1962 — Sam Walton opens first Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas
1990s — Begins selling firearms as part of sporting goods expansion
1993 — Stops selling handguns (except Alaska)
2015 — Discontinues AR-15s and high-capacity magazines
2019 — Stops selling handgun ammunition and short-barrel rifle ammunition
2019 — Requests customers not openly carry in stores
Present — ~2,500 stores with firearms; hunting rifles and shotguns only

Shopping Guide

Aspect	What to Expect
Stores with firearms	~2,500 of ~4,700 U.S. locations (primarily rural/suburban)
What they sell	Hunting rifles, shotguns, hunting ammunition only
What they DON'T sell	Handguns, AR-15s, handgun ammo, short-barrel rifle ammo
Pricing	Everyday low prices — typically $20-$50 below gun store MSRP
Staff knowledge	Variable — trained on compliance, not necessarily on firearms
Online inventory	NOT available online; must visit in-store
Background checks	NICS required; 15-30 min typical; delays during peak season
Returns	No returns on transferred firearms (manufacturer warranty only)

What Walmart does well:

Competitive pricing on basic hunting rifles and shotguns
Widespread availability — 2,500 locations in rural/suburban America
No transfer fee (they're the FFL dealer)
Package deals (rifle + scope combos) at entry-level prices
Ammunition pricing is competitive when in stock
Convenient — buy a rifle while getting groceries

What Walmart doesn't do well:

Zero selection beyond hunting rifles and shotguns
Staff expertise varies wildly — may know nothing about firearms
Firearms counter is often unstaffed or has long waits
Cannot browse inventory online before visiting
No FFL transfers from online purchases at most locations
No gunsmithing, cleaning, or technical services

Firearms Department

Category	Selection	Notes
Bolt-action rifles	Basic	Savage Axis, Ruger American — entry-level hunters
Shotguns	Moderate	Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Stevens 320 — pump-action focused
Semi-auto shotguns	Limited	Seasonal; primarily waterfowl models
Rimfire rifles	Basic	.22 LR from Ruger, Savage — youth/training rifles
Handguns	None	Discontinued in 1993 (Alaska stores excepted)
AR-15 / MSR	None	Discontinued in 2015
Hunting ammunition	Moderate	.243, .270, .308, .30-06, .30-30; 12ga, 20ga; seasonal stock
Handgun ammunition	None	Discontinued in 2019
Optics	Basic	Budget scopes; Bushnell; scope/ring combos

:::callout
The Savage Axis XP combo from Walmart is the cheapest way to start deer hunting. A scoped bolt-action rifle in .308 or .30-06 for under $400 — that's less than most gun stores charge for the rifle alone. The scope is basic, the stock is plastic, and the trigger is heavy. But it'll shoot a deer-sized group at 100 yards, and you can upgrade the trigger ($100) and scope ($200) later as budget allows. For a teenager's first deer rifle or an adult getting into hunting on a budget, it's hard to argue against Walmart's price.
:::

Walmart vs. other retailers for firearms:

Feature	Walmart	Bass Pro/Cabela's	Sportsman's Warehouse	Local Gun Store
Selection	Minimal (hunting only)	Extensive	Very good	Varies widely
Pricing	Lowest (everyday low)	Moderate	Competitive	Varies; often higher
Staff expertise	Variable (often low)	Variable	Variable	Usually highest
Handguns	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
AR-15s	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ammo selection	Hunting only	Comprehensive	Good	Varies
FFL transfers	Rarely	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gunsmithing	No	Some locations	No	Usually yes
Locations	2,500+	~170	~130	Thousands
Convenience	Highest (one-stop shopping)	Medium	Medium	Depends on location

Store Locations

Region	Firearms Availability	Notes
South	Widespread	TX, FL, GA, AL, LA — strong hunting culture
Midwest	Widespread	OH, PA, IN, MI, MN — deer hunting heartland
Mountain West	Common	MT, WY, ID, CO — outdoor recreation markets
Plains	Common	KS, NE, SD, ND — rural communities
Northeast	Limited	NY, CT, NJ — strict state laws; few stores stock firearms
West Coast	Rare	CA, WA, OR — limited by regulation and corporate policy
Urban areas	Rare to none	Most urban Walmart locations don't carry firearms

:::callout
Bottom line: Walmart is a legitimate place to buy a basic hunting rifle or shotgun at the lowest possible price. The Savage Axis, Mossberg 500, and Remington 870 are real firearms from real manufacturers, and Walmart's pricing is consistently the lowest in retail. But that's where the value proposition ends. No handguns, no AR-15s, no handgun ammo, no expert advice, no FFL transfers, no gunsmithing. Walmart is where you buy your first deer rifle because the price is right. It's not where you build a firearms hobby. When you're ready for more, visit a gun store.
:::

References

Walmart corporate firearms policy statements (2019)
Business Insider: Walmart gun buying experience
Walmart store locator and sporting goods department information
Sniper's Hide forum: Walmart rifle discussions
Reddit communities: Walmart firearms purchase experiences

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

Join the Discussion

Have you bought ammo or firearms from your local Walmart, and if so, how does their selection and checkout process compare to dedicated gun shops in the area?

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