I know that firearm purchases has been at their zenith for quite a while but this past week on Thursday and Friday afternoon I visited three shops in different parts of CT. The first clue that things were busy was that I had to actually find a parking space. Really! I figured that one of the other businesses must have been drawing customers but I was wrong. When I got into the shops, it was like a Saturday morning at the barbershop. There had to be 20 people (both men and women) at least, browsing the shelves and displays. There were multiple customers examining handguns and rifles, both. The clerks were handling two or three at a time and the registers were ringing. No kidding. I actually felt like I was in a super-market constantly saying "excuse me" as I traveled through the isles.
The other thing I've noticed is the supply on display of just about every item you can imagine supporting the firearms. Ammo is now once again in plentiful supply as opposed to a year ago when you could NOT find .380 ball ammo anywhere at any price. Back then I ended up ordering online and that supply was gone in a morning. Now, ammo is plentiful and back to reasonable prices, especially for plinking ammo. In two stores (Riverview and Hoffman's) both had to have every single holster available from all the major manufacturers and a few from other less known makers. Cleaning supplies and reloading supplies are also in full stock once again. Guys had to have both hands with what they were carrying out the door.
My wife works in E. Hartford and from time to time she's gone to Cabela's for me at lunch. She's told me similar stories about two-deep at the firearm counter so much so that she can't get a clerk to find what I asked here to get for me.
Seems like the firearms business has once again come into its own.
Remember the lack of cigar shops 20 years ago? Remember when the younger generation 'rediscovered' the art of smoking good cigars and the blossoming of shops all over the place to serve that demand? That's where we seem to be right now only with firearms. I sometimes wonder what's driving people this time but it seems that the answers are pretty obvious......and exciting to see.
Anyone else notice high-traffic volumes at your local shops during the weekday?
Rome
The other thing I've noticed is the supply on display of just about every item you can imagine supporting the firearms. Ammo is now once again in plentiful supply as opposed to a year ago when you could NOT find .380 ball ammo anywhere at any price. Back then I ended up ordering online and that supply was gone in a morning. Now, ammo is plentiful and back to reasonable prices, especially for plinking ammo. In two stores (Riverview and Hoffman's) both had to have every single holster available from all the major manufacturers and a few from other less known makers. Cleaning supplies and reloading supplies are also in full stock once again. Guys had to have both hands with what they were carrying out the door.
My wife works in E. Hartford and from time to time she's gone to Cabela's for me at lunch. She's told me similar stories about two-deep at the firearm counter so much so that she can't get a clerk to find what I asked here to get for me.
Seems like the firearms business has once again come into its own.
Remember the lack of cigar shops 20 years ago? Remember when the younger generation 'rediscovered' the art of smoking good cigars and the blossoming of shops all over the place to serve that demand? That's where we seem to be right now only with firearms. I sometimes wonder what's driving people this time but it seems that the answers are pretty obvious......and exciting to see.
Anyone else notice high-traffic volumes at your local shops during the weekday?
Rome
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