It’s a Friday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky, and the Bud’s Gun Shop parking lot is full. Inside, the usual buzz: customers chatting about new releases, staff swapping stories, more than a few folks showing off their latest purchase. It’s business as usual, yet one question hangs in the air—rumors have been flying online that Bud’s is shutting its doors for good.
Let’s get the big rumor out of the way. Bud’s Gun Shop is **not** going out of business. No “everything must go” sales, no silent closed doors, no bankruptcy fire drill. Instead, we get the story of a giant in the gun retail world wrestling with change while planning for the future—and frankly, some drama that’s more tabloid than truth.
The Origin of the Rumor Mill: Why People Think Bud’s Is Closing
There’s no shortage of gun forum threads and YouTube comment sections predicting doom when a major store changes direction. Maybe you read gripes about slow shipping, or heard that certain YouTube shooters (like Hickok45) parted ways with Bud’s. Mix that with an ownership change, and suddenly people are drawing dire conclusions.
But rumors are cheap—data is harder to ignore. As of 2025, Bud’s Gun Shop isn’t downscaling operations, axing locations, or closing the web shop. The stores in Lexington, Kentucky; Greenville, Kentucky; and the ever-busy Sevierville, Tennessee location are open, staffed, and reporting regular hours. That’s not the sound of a company teetering on the edge.
The Ownership Shake-Up: Joe Murphy Steps In
Here’s where the plot gets interesting. In 2024, Bud’s Gun Shop shifted from founder-led stability to a new chapter. Rex McClanahan, president and a recognizable face for decades, put in his official retirement. Joe Murphy, who’d been with the company already, stepped up as the new CEO and took sole ownership.
Murphy didn’t walk up to the podium and talk about “orderly wind-downs.” He actually doubled down. His first message to staff and customers? “We’re going bigger. More stores, better service, deeper partnerships.” If anything, Joe is looking to accelerate, not coast.
Business transitions can be a red flag, but here the takeover plan is more football handoff than fumble. Murphy has told reporters and customers directly that expansion, not closure, is the strategy. Growing, not disappearing, is on the menu.
Behind the Counters: What’s Actually Happening in Bud’s Stores
Drop by any of Bud’s retail locations and the vibe is anything but “store closing.” Shelves are stocked, staff are taking deliveries and helping regulars find their next must-have. Online, it’s even more pronounced—Bud’s is processing thousands of orders a week, with new inventory constantly rotating in and out.
A quick scan of Google and Trustpilot reviews from the first half of 2025 paints a familiar picture: shipments land promptly for most. Where there are complaints, they’re usually about how some models are out of stock (thanks to unpredictable supply chains), or someone had a less-than-perfect customer service call. Normal headaches for any big retailer in 2025, not evidence of a failing business.
Here’s a number worth knowing: since opening its doors in 2003, Bud’s has served more than 4.5 million customers. That means dozens of orders per hour—every day. If your online arm processes 100,000+ transactions a month, you’re not just “hanging on.” You’re thriving.
Rumble in the Comments: Rumors, Complaints, and Why It All Matters
Let’s talk about the noise. It’s easy for a few negative experiences to balloon online, especially in social spaces geared toward hobbyists and second-guessers. Some folks have griped about slower shipping, or that Bud’s doesn’t respond as fast as Amazon’s robots.
There’s also been whispers about the company’s withdrawal from sponsorships, most famously parting ways with YouTube firearms influencer Hickok45. For hardcore fans, this looked like a death knell. But—here’s the kicker—these were business decisions, plain and simple, not the canary in the coal mine. Companies tweak marketing all the time when budgets tighten, regulations shift, or brand direction changes.
One candid example: Bud’s had a string of backorders in 2024 and early 2025 during a long import bottleneck. That led to a rash of unhappy emails and flaming forum posts. But the doors never closed, the staff never thinned out, and the company responded by pouring more resources into customer service training.
Another under-the-hood tidbit? Many “Bud’s is going under!” rumors started as Facebook post chains, not credible news outlets or financial filings. There’s no evidence—none—that Bud’s is in financial distress. Missed sponsorships may sting influencers’ wallets, but have little effect on Bud’s bottom line.
How Bud’s Keeps Winning: Growth, Competition, and What Comes Next
Firearms retail is competitive trench warfare, with everyone from your local hardware store to big-box chains selling similar products. The sweet spot: combining the national reach of a major online player with the hand-holding of a local shop. Bud’s rides that midstream efficiently.
Their online store, budsGunShop.com, is a top dog for online sales. Most estimates put them in the top three for U.S. e-commerce gun sales by volume. They offer choice (thousands of products), speed (multiple shipping centers), and a no-nonsense, low-price guarantee that keeps price-checkers coming back.
Joe Murphy’s plan, by his own words, is to continue expanding in both the online and physical stores. He’s outlined strategies for improving employee training, broadening inventory selection, and investing in faster logistics systems—think more trucks, not fewer.
Customer base? Still loyal, still big. If you’re one of 4.5 million buyers and counting, with over a thousand reviews rolling in every month, the odds are good you’re sticking around. Customer complaints are real, but they’re not mass exodus territory—more the expected static for any big e-commerce engine. The smart money is still on Bud’s.
Want to dig deeper into real-world stories of business survival or growth? There’s a quirky ecosystem of case studies at The Business Back, where similar playbook moves play out in everything from barber shops to bike retailers.
The Road Ahead: Bud’s Blueprint for Staying Alive (and Kicking)
Bud’s is not “just surviving” in some fading corner of retail. The store keeps hours, not “out of business” signs. Employees punch the clock (and punch out satisfied customers), not pink slips. The online storefront is still churning, prices are getting adjusted to rising competition, and the company is planning for tomorrow—not limping to a quiet end.
Internal sources talk about diversifying products, investing in new warehouses, and possibly opening more brick-and-mortar stores in neighboring states. Don’t be surprised if you see a Bud’s pop up closer to your own backyard within a year or two.
Conclusion? If you’re waiting for a closeout auction, you’ll be waiting a long time. If you’re a business-watcher, Bud’s Gun Shop is a textbook case of industry shakeups handled with pragmatism—coupled with a hard refusal to let trolls on Facebook write the ending.
Bottom Line: Ignore the Hype—Bud’s Is Here to Stay
The next time you spot a comment thread about Bud’s “secretly closing,” just know the evidence is all smoke—no fire. All credible reports and fresh customer reviews keep painting the same picture: open doors, eager employees, loaded shelves, and a leadership team that prefers the word “expand” over “retire.”
In a tough business, reliability compounds. Bud’s may not be everyone’s favorite every day (those 1-star reviewers can be relentless), but the numbers show a well-oiled, still-growing machine. Durability isn’t about flash—it’s about showing up, serving the next customer, and sticking around after storms pass.
So, no, Bud’s Gun Shop isn’t going out of business. It’s settling into the long haul, whether the internet rumors like it or not.
Land five recurring customers at ~$400 a month, and you’ve built a durable $24,000 annual revenue stream. Add two loyal employees and a smooth supply chain, and you’ll still be here to tell the real story—while your critics are left guessing from afar.
If you want proof, drive by a Bud’s Gun Shop on a Thursday and try to find a parking spot. That’s the kind of evidence that’s hard to argue with.
Also Read:
