Bomgaars

Bomgaars is that farm supply store you see in small Midwest towns -- the one with the red and white sign that's been there since your dad was a kid. They've got 180+ locations across 15 states, selling everything from chicken feed to firearms. Started in Iowa back in 1944, and they're still family-owned.

In a lot of small towns across the Plains states, Bomgaars is the only place within 30 miles where you can buy a gun or hunting ammo. They're not trying to be Cabela's -- they're the place where you grab fence posts, dog food, and a box of .30-06 in the same trip.

The company's been expanding steady since the '80s when they started adding sporting goods departments. Their slogan is "What You Need...When You Need It" -- which pretty much sums up their role in farm country.

Walk into a Bomgaars expecting a farm supply store with a gun counter, not a gun store that happens to sell other stuff. The difference matters.

Most locations require you to schedule an appointment to look at firearms. Call ahead -- nothing worse than driving 40 minutes to find out the gun guy went home early.

• •The Bomgaars firearms purchasing process

The people working there know farm equipment and feed better than they know guns. They can run your background check and hand you the rifle, but don't expect detailed ballistics discussions.

Bomgaars stocks what rural customers actually buy: deer rifles, bird guns, and rimfire rifles for teaching kids to shoot.

• •Rifles: You'll find the following options in typical hunting calibers:

• •Savage bolt-actions in popular hunting calibers
• •Ruger American and other budget-friendly options
• •Remington hunting rifles (where still available)
• •Ruger 10/22 and other .22 rimfire rifles

Think .30-06, .308, .270, .243 -- the stuff that's been dropping deer for decades.

• •Shotguns: Look for reliable, practical options:

• •Mossberg 500/590 pump-actions
• •Remington 870 pump-actions
• •Semi-automatic models in 12 and 20 gauge
• •Basic waterfowl and upland configurations

• •Handguns: Hit or miss, depends on the location and what their state laws allow. Don't make a special trip expecting a good pistol selection.

• •Ammunition: This is where they shine compared to other farm stores. They keep common hunting rounds in stock and price them competitively. You can usually count on finding .22 LR, popular deer cartridges, and shotgun shells.

Won't beat online prices, but you're not paying shipping and you get it today.

The accessory selection runs to basic cleaning kits, soft cases, and entry-level scopes. Nothing high-end, but adequate for most hunting needs.

Bomgaars blankets the farm belt from Iowa out to the Rockies. Iowa is their home turf with the most stores, but you'll see them throughout Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and scattered across Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and a handful of other states.

They pick locations in agricultural towns along major highways -- the kind of places where the grain elevator is the tallest building and everybody knows what corn prices did yesterday. Store size runs 15,000 to 30,000 square feet with that warehouse feel you get at Tractor Supply.

• •Bomgaars growth from Iowa startup to regional chain

Bomgaars competes directly with Tractor Supply and Fleet Farm for the farm supply dollar. On firearms specifically, Fleet Farm usually has better selection, and Rural King blows them all away. But Bomgaars has deep roots in a lot of small communities where they're the only game in town.

If you live in a town of 3,000 people in central Nebraska, Bomgaars might be your only local option for buying a hunting rifle or picking up ammunition without driving an hour to the big city. They know this, and they've built their business around being that reliable local supplier.

Bomgaars isn't a destination for serious gun shopping, but they serve a real purpose in rural America. If you need a basic hunting rifle and you're not picky about having 20 different models to choose from, they'll get the job done.

Their ammunition pricing stays competitive with other farm supply chains, and the convenience factor matters when you're dealing with small-town distances.

The appointment system for firearms purchases is annoying but understandable -- they're not staffed like a gun store, and they need to have someone available who knows how to run the paperwork. Just plan ahead.

Don't expect advanced tactical gear or extensive handgun selections. This is a place for farmers and hunters who need practical tools, not collectors looking for something special. They stock what sells in farm country, price it fairly, and keep the lights on in towns where a dedicated gun shop couldn't make it work.

For what they are -- a farm supply store that happens to sell guns -- they do it competently. Just know what you're walking into.