Brand Info
Runnings
Retailer
| Overview | |
|---|---|
Founded | 1947 |
Headquarters | Marshall, MN |
| Tagline | Runnings is a farm, home, and outdoor retail chain operating stores across the upper Midwest, including Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and New York. Founded in 1947 in Marshall, Minnesota, Runnings sells sporting goods, firearms, ammunition, farm supplies, and home improvement products. |
Products | |
| Key Products | What You'll Find, Firearms Selection, How They Compare, Store Coverage, The BGC Take |
Links | |
| www.runnings.com | |
Runnings
Reference article
From The Boise Gun Club Handbook
Runnings is a farm store chain with about 40 locations across the upper Midwest that sells firearms -- which makes them different from Tractor Supply right off the bat. Founded in 1947 in Marshall, Minnesota, they serve small towns and rural areas where the nearest dedicated gun store might be an hour away.
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
The company operates large-format stores (40,000-80,000 square feet) that combine farm supplies, outdoor gear, and firearms under one roof. You can buy cattle feed, hunting ammunition, and a new rifle in the same trip -- which is exactly what their customers need in rural markets.
What You'll Findedit
| 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 |
Store Experience
Runnings does some things well and others not so much. Their firearms department gives them a real advantage over Tractor Supply, which stopped selling guns years ago.
The staff at decent locations actually know hunting and can help you pick the right rifle for whitetail or match ammunition to your needs. This includes:
- Experienced gun counter staff at better locations who understand hunting needs
- Ability to match ammunition to specific firearms
- FFL transfer services available on-site
- Seasonal promotions on hunting gear
Service Quality Factors
Service quality varies wildly by location, though. Some stores have experienced gun counter staff who grew up hunting -- others have teenagers who just started last week.
Inventory management can be hit-or-miss, especially on popular ammunition during hunting season.
Firearms Selectionedit
| Category | Selection | Brands Typically Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting rifles (bolt-action) | Good | Ruger, Savage, Winchester, Remington |
| Shotguns | Good | Mossberg, Remington, Benelli |
| Handguns | Moderate | Glock, Smith & Wesson, Ruger |
| Modern sporting rifles | Moderate | Smith & Wesson 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 |
Primary Categories
The gun counter focuses on hunting rifles and shotguns -- which makes sense for their customer base. You'll find plenty of bolt-action rifles from Ruger and Savage, plus the usual selection of Mossberg and Remington shotguns.
Handgun selection is more limited, mostly Glock and Smith & Wesson.
Selection Limitations
Don't expect the depth of selection you'd get at a dedicated sporting goods store. But for a farmer who needs a coyote rifle or a hunter replacing a broken shotgun before deer season, Runnings covers the basics.
How They Compareedit
| 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 |
The key differentiator: Runnings sells firearms while Tractor Supply abandoned the category entirely.
Runnings sits between Fleet Farm and Tractor Supply in most categories. They're bigger than your typical farm store but smaller than Scheels. The key difference -- they sell guns and Tractor Supply doesn't.
Store Coverageedit
| 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 |
The Minnesota and Dakota locations tend to be their strongest -- that's home turf where they understand the market. Wisconsin and Iowa stores are newer but growing.
Montana represents their push west, though they're still figuring out that market.
Runnings' market presence and expansion strategy across seven states
New York is complicated. Upstate locations face a maze of state regulations that make firearms retail challenging compared to their Midwest stores.
The BGC Takeedit
Market Positioning
Runnings fills a specific niche -- the farm store that sells guns in small towns where your options are limited. They're not trying to compete with Bass Pro or Scheels on selection or service.
Runnings succeeds by serving markets where gun store options are limited, not by competing on selection or service depth.
They're the place where you can buy hunting ammunition, livestock feed, and fence posts in one stop.
How Runnings leverages the farm-firearms combination for competitive advantage
Service Expectations
The firearms department varies dramatically by location. Some stores have knowledgeable staff who actually hunt and can give useful advice. Others have whoever was available to work the gun counter that day.
To get better service, consider:
- Call ahead to check ammunition availability
- Visit during off-peak hours for better service
- Ask about staff hunting experience before taking advice
- Check inventory online when possible
Ammunition Availability
Their ammunition selection is decent for common hunting calibers -- .30-06, .270, 12-gauge, .22 LR. Don't expect to find obscure cartridges or match-grade ammunition. This is hunting and farm country retail, not precision shooting.
Bottom Line Assessment
For small-town gun owners in their footprint, Runnings provides access to firearms retail where alternatives are limited. The combination of farm supplies and firearms under one roof makes sense for their rural customer base.
Just manage your expectations accordingly.
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