Walking into a Dick’s Sporting Goods today feels a lot different than it did ten or fifteen years ago. If you’re looking for a new yoga mat, a pair of Brooks running shoes, or a specialized pickleball paddle, you’re in heaven. But if you’re walking in with the expectation of browsing a massive wall of firearms, you might be in for a surprise.
So, does Dicks sell guns? The short answer is: mostly no, but it’s complicated.
Honestly, the transformation of this retail giant is one of the most fascinating case studies in American business. It wasn't just a slow pivot; it was a loud, controversial, and expensive exit from a market they once dominated. If you go to your local store today, the "Lodge" section—which used to be the heart of their hunting department—is likely filled with kayaks, Yeti coolers, or high-end camping stoves. The firearms are gone.
The Great Gun Exit: What Really Happened
It wasn't a single event, but a series of dominoes that fell over several years. Most people remember 2018 as the turning point. After the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the company’s then-CEO, Ed Stack, made a radical decision. Even though the shooter hadn't used a weapon bought at Dick’s to commit the crime, it came out that he had legally purchased a shotgun from one of their stores months prior.
That was the breaking point for Stack. He didn't just stop selling "assault-style" rifles—a move the company had actually already started after Sandy Hook in 2012. This time, he went further.
He ordered the company to:
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- Stop selling high-capacity magazines.
- Raise the minimum age for any firearm purchase to 21.
- Destroy $5 million worth of inventory rather than returning it to manufacturers or selling it off at a discount.
Think about that for a second. $5 million in product, literally turned into scrap metal. That is a bold move for any publicly traded company.
The Vanishing Hunting Department
After the 2018 announcement, the "test phase" began. Dick’s removed hunting gear and firearms from 10 stores to see what would happen to the bottom line. The results were surprising to some: sales actually went up in those stores because they replaced the gun racks with more profitable gear like outerwear and athletic equipment.
By 2019, they pulled firearms from 125 more stores. Then, they started selling off their Field & Stream locations—the specialty outdoor stores that were basically built to sell guns and ammo. Most of those were sold to Sportsman’s Warehouse or rebranded into "Public Lands," a new concept focused on conservation and hiking rather than hunting.
By 2022, the company had basically scrubbed firearms from nearly all of its 700+ namesake stores. If you find a Dick’s today that still has a few shotguns in the back, you’ve found a rare outlier or a store that hasn't finished its "reconceptualization" phase. In most states—from Maine to California—the gun counters are a thing of the past.
Why Did They Do It?
Business experts like to debate whether this was a moral crusade or a savvy financial play. The truth is probably a bit of both. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) actually expelled Dick’s from their trade association in 2018, accusing them of "conduct detrimental to the best interests" of the industry.
Stack, on the other hand, was very open about the fact that they expected to lose customers. And they did. They lost about $150 million in sales initially. But here’s the kicker: their stock price eventually soared. By pivoting away from the low-margin, high-liability world of firearms, they cleared space for high-margin brands like Nike, Patagonia, and their own private labels like DSG.
Where Can You Still Buy Guns?
If you’re a hunter or a sport shooter, you’re basically looking at other "Big Box" retailers or local shops now. While Dick's has exited the space, players like Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, and Academy Sports + Outdoors have leaned into the void. Even Walmart still sells certain types of firearms and ammunition, though they too have tightened their restrictions significantly over the last few years.
It's sorta weird to think that a store named after a guy who started a fishing tackle shop in 1948 has moved so far away from its "hook and bullet" roots. But that’s the reality of the 2026 retail landscape. They’ve decided that their future is in "athleisure" and team sports, not the shooting range.
Current Inventory Status
If you go to the Dick’s website right now and search for "firearms," you won't find much. You’ll see:
- Airsoft guns and BB guns.
- Archery equipment (they still have a massive selection of bows).
- Gun safes and cleaning kits (occasionally).
- Accessories like ear protection or targets.
But the actual "boom" sticks? Those are gone. Even the ammunition sections have been gutted in the vast majority of locations. They've essentially traded the "Lodge" for the "House of Sport," which features climbing walls and batting cages instead of camouflage and Winchester boxes.
Actionable Steps for Shoppers
If you were hoping to use a Dick's Sporting Goods gift card or rewards points on a firearm, here is the best way to move forward:
- Check the Store Locator: Call your local branch before driving there. Most employees will tell you flat out over the phone that they no longer carry firearms.
- Pivot to Archery: If you're a hunter, Dick’s still maintains a solid selection of compound bows and crossbows, which haven't been affected by the same policy changes.
- Check Specialty Competitors: If you need a firearm, head to Sportsman’s Warehouse or Academy Sports. They have filled the gap left by Dick's and often carry the specific inventory Dick's used to stock.
- Use Rewards for Gear: Use your Dick’s "ScoreCard" points for your boots, camo clothing, or optics, then buy your actual firearm at a dedicated local gun shop where the staff are specialized in that niche.
The bottom line is that the era of Dick’s being a "gun store" is officially over. They’ve made their choice, and the market has—for the most part—rewarded them for it, even if it left a segment of their old customer base feeling a bit stranded.