directory/manufacturer
Sports South
Shreveport, LA
•4.0 (55 reviews)
•Sports South LLC started as J.W. Morris & Co, a druggist opened by Welsh immigrants in 1841 in Shreveport, Louisiana. In those early days, the shop supplied more than medicines—it stocked muzzleloaders, shotguns, pistols, and ammunition for the pioneers, farmers, soldiers, and lawmen who needed them...
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Sports South LLC started as J.W. Morris & Co, a druggist opened by Welsh immigrants in 1841 in Shreveport, Louisiana. In those early days, the shop supplied more than medicines—it stocked muzzleloaders, shotguns, pistols, and ammunition for the pioneers, farmers, soldiers, and lawmen who needed them to survive on the frontier.
Today, Sports South is the nation's oldest and largest distributor of firearms, ammunition, and shooting sports accessories. The company moved through multiple facility expansions to reach its current operation: a highly automated distribution center with robotic storage and retrieval systems that can handle everything from individual retailer restocks to massive bulk orders.
Automation Built for Firearms. In 2007, Sports South built a custom-designed, first-of-its-kind firearms automation system. By 2008, they installed a fully integrated robotic storage and retrieval system across all product lines. This isn't standard warehouse stuff—it's engineered specifically for the demands of firearms distribution.
Scale and Selection. With the nation's largest concentration of shooting sports inventory from all leading manufacturers under one roof, Sports South delivers what smaller distributors can't: comprehensive selection, fast turnaround, and the ability to fulfill orders from any major brand.
Family Business Values. Five generations of Dickson family leadership have built this company on integrity, family, tradition, and drive. That's not marketing speak—it's reflected in how they treat customers and employees.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Firearms | Handguns, rifles, shotguns, black powder, air guns, uppers & lowers |
| Ammunition | Centerfire, rimfire, shotshell, black powder, dummy/blanks, reloading bullets |
| Optics & Sights | Scopes, red dots, thermal, night vision, range finders, spotting scopes, scope mounts |
| Accessories | Gun lights, holsters, magazines, safes & vaults, suppressors, gun parts, slingshots |
| Gear | Hunting gear, camping, apparel, knives, cleaning & maintenance, survival gear |
| Specialty | Lead-free ammo, CA compliant products, left-handed options, youth products |
Starting from a single location in Shreveport, Sports South has expanded four major times since 2007:
- •Port Phase I (2007): Highly automated firearms-exclusive distribution center
- •Port Phase II (2010): Doubled warehouse square footage, integrated all product lines
- •Port Phase III (2014): Added redesigned automated operating facility
- •Port Phase IV (2017): Increased operational footprint by 50%
Dealer Support: Sports South actively recruits new dealers. They offer a straightforward process to become a dealer and provide the inventory depth that retail shops need to compete.
Contact Information: - General Sales & Product Info: 1-800-388-3845 or [email protected] - Tech Support (EDI, API, Web Services): 1-800-772-4287 or [email protected] - Mailing Address: 101 Robert G. Harris Dr, Shreveport, LA 71115
Shipping Options: - Ground: $10.95 - Second Day Air: $27.95 - Next Day Air: $42.95
"Every day, it meets the challenges set forth by its founding fathers by providing the right product to the right place at the right time." — From Sports South's mission statement
The company's 183-year journey shows sustained growth through adaptation:
- •1841: J.W. Morris & Co founded in Shreveport
- •1854: Early firearms and ammunition distribution documented
- •1889: Dr. S.A. Dickson buys in; company renamed
- •1896: Incorporated as Morris & Dickson Ltd., focusing on wholesale
- •1963: Returns to sporting goods with Otto Sports Centers retail stores
- •1972: Branches into wholesale sporting goods as Remington distributor
- •1974: Sports South spun off as independent company
- •1976-2017: Four major warehouse expansions and full automation rollout
Sports South remains family-owned and operated, with current President Markham A. Dickson III ("Tripper") leading the company into its next chapter.