Mike Howell — Bullock's Guns-n-More Inc., Flint, Mich.
Handguns are currently the top movers at Bullock's Guns-n-More Inc., notes Sales and Purchasing Manager Mike Howell.
“Our best sellers are Smith and Wesson M&P Shields in 9mm and .40 S&W calibers at $389.95,” said Howell. “Midsize Glock Generation 4 Models 19 and 23, at $539.95, and SCCY CPX-2 9mms, for $269.95, sell steadily. Customers want reliability and value, and these guns have good track records and price points.”
Long gun sales are nowhere near as strong. Yet, Bullock’s moves a respectable number of AR-15 rifles, notably the DPMS Oracle 5.56, and home defense shotguns like the Mossberg Persuader 12-gauge Pistol Grip Pumps at $349.95.
“We were in a shotgun/muzzleloader only zone for deer hunting, but we had a change to the hunting regulations last year, and now hunters can use straight-walled cartridge rifles above .35 caliber,” Howell explains. “So, .357 and .44 Magnum rifles are doing well for us, and so are .450 Bushmaster Uppers.”
A trend Howell has noticed among firearms accessories is customers coming to the store to replace items they already bought—online. “Consumers want value, but they also want products that work as advertised. They buy accessories online, then discover they are not what they thought or they do not meet their needs.”
Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the Winter 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Sharpen Your Defensive Shooting Skills
Are you prepared for the moment when your handgun skills could be called upon to save a life? You will be with the Defensive Pistol Shooting Skills Collection. This kit is designed to give you the knowledge and tools to perform under stress. Experts like Richard Mann and Grant Cunningham provide the tips, skills and drills you need to practice—so you're always ready with your self-defense handgun. Learn More
Handguns are more practical for everyday life, and easier to find places to shoot if you don’t live in the country. So, no surprise they are outselling long guns,.
But I hope the people buying those DPMS are happy with them. I’ve owned two. One I finally got to work with a Buffer Tech extractor kit. It was a Brady era rifle, so I figured I’d try again. The second was worse than the first and I finally just scrapped the upper and replaced the whole thing with another kit. Works fine now.