By Jill Fennema –

K & R Firearms has opened in a new location. Ron and Kim Menning recently opened their gun shop in the Industrial Park on the north side of Edgerton, across the street from Second Nature Taxidermy.

Keeping ammunition in stock is one of the biggest challenges that gun shops are having right now. Part of the reason for that is that not all ammunition factories are working at full capacity because of the pandemic. Another reason is that demand has risen as people fear for the future – whether they fear violence outbreaks or the possibility of high taxes on guns and ammunition.

“This has been our biggest year for slug season,” Ron commented just after the deer hunting slug season ended a few weeks ago. “But the deer are still thick.” He added that the coyote population is also large this year.

K & R Firearms has a smaller retail space than they used to when they were located by Menning Enterprises, but they still carry a variety of shotguns, Henry lever actions, and pistols. “We are getting in more all the time,” Ron said.

One challenge they face is the availability of guns for purchase. He has had to buy a lot of guns out of Turkey and France because the US producers are not back to full production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “People are not working,” Ron said. He had to wait three months to get in some Smith and Wesson handguns.

Ron is excited about the fact that he recently made an agreement with one of the factories that produce ammo, so he will be buying ammunition factory direct. “We should have a lot more 9mm, 380, 40, and 45 caliber,” he said. “We also just received 3,000 rounds of 223 and 556.”

Politics definitely affects gun shop owners. Ron said that President-Elect Joe Biden has said he will raise taxes on ammo to 40 percent when he takes office. It remains to be seen what will happen in the U.S. political arena in 2021.

In the meantime, K & R Firearms is ready to meet the needs of their customers far and wide. “Folks are coming in from Sioux Falls, Iowa – all over. Because we have the ammo!” he said.

In addition to guns and ammunition, Ron still carries a selection of coyote calls, clips, cases, scopes, and other gun accessories.

Ron Menning (at right) helps a customer in the new location of his business.

K & R Firearms is now located in Edgerton’s Industrial Park, across the street from Second Nature Taxidermy. (Photos by Jill Fennema)

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