Walmart

Walmart is the world's largest retailer and also America's biggest firearms seller by volume -- which tells you something about how many guns get sold in this country. About 2,500 of their 4,700 U.S. stores carry firearms, but don't get excited. We're talking hunting rifles and shotguns only.

Sam Walton opened the first Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas back in 1962. The company started selling guns in the 1990s as part of their sporting goods push, but they've been backing away from firearms ever since. Stopped selling handguns in 1993 (except Alaska), dropped AR-15s in 2015, and quit selling handgun ammo in 2019.

Walmart is simultaneously the biggest gun retailer and one of the most restricted. What's left is hunting rifles and shotguns at Walmart prices -- which means $20–$50 below what gun stores charge.

The selection is entry-level stuff. Savage Axis combos, Mossberg 500s, Remington 870s -- guns that work but won't win any beauty contests. The Savage Axis XP combo is probably their signature piece: 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. You're looking at plastic stocks, heavy triggers, and budget scopes. But here's the thing -- that Savage will shoot a deer-sized group at 100 yards right out of the box.

For a first hunting rifle or getting into the game on a tight budget, it's hard to argue with the math.

• •Walmart's firearms ecosystem focuses on proven, budget-friendly hunting platforms

Walmart's pricing is consistently the lowest you'll find on the rifles they do carry. No transfer fees since they're the dealer. Package deals on rifle-scope combos that save real money. And it's convenient -- buy groceries and a shotgun in one trip.

Staff knowledge varies from decent to nonexistent. The firearms counter is often unstaffed or backed up. You can't browse inventory online before driving over. No FFL transfers from online purchases at most locations. No gunsmithing, no cleaning services, no technical help.

Not every Walmart carries guns. The 2,500 stores that do are concentrated in the South, Midwest, and rural areas where hunting is common. The strongest presence is in:

• •Texas - Extensive rural and suburban presence
• •Florida - Strong hunting and outdoor culture
• •Ohio - Traditional hunting states
• •Pennsylvania - Deer hunting stronghold
• •Southern states - Where hunting is generational
• •Midwest - Rural communities with firearms tradition

Don't expect to find guns at Walmart in Manhattan or downtown Seattle. Urban stores typically don't carry firearms, and some states make it more trouble than it's worth for a general retailer.

• •Walmart's retreat from full firearms retail over three decades

Walmart's lane: Cheapest price on basic hunting rifles and shotguns. Period. If you want a Savage Axis or Mossberg 500 and price is your main concern, Walmart wins.

• •What gun stores offer: Selection, expertise, handguns, AR-15s, FFL transfers, gunsmithing, and staff who actually know the products. You'll pay more, but you get more.

Bass Pro/Cabela's: Better selection than Walmart, more staff knowledge, but higher prices. They're the middle ground between Walmart's bare-bones approach and a full-service gun store.

The reality is that Walmart works for specific situations: First deer rifle for a teenager. Basic home-defense shotgun when money's tight. Getting into hunting without breaking the bank.

But once you want to move beyond hunting basics -- handguns, AR-15s, precision rifles, or just better service -- you're shopping at the wrong store.

Walmart is a legitimate place to buy your first hunting rifle, and their prices are genuinely the lowest in retail. That Savage Axis combo has put more deer in freezers than any rifle in America, and there's nothing wrong with starting there.

Walmart is where you buy your first deer rifle because the price is right. It's not where you build a firearms hobby.

But let's be clear about what you're getting. Basic rifles with basic accessories at rock-bottom prices. The staff might know compliance procedures, but don't expect product expertise. You can't special order anything, can't get FFL transfers, and forget about any kind of service after the sale.

When you're ready for handguns, AR-15s, or just better service, find a real gun store. But for getting started in hunting on a budget? Walmart gets the job done.