Nationwide, gun sales are soaring and Powell might be seeing a bit of that.

Aaron Black, owner of Northwest Trading Post, said hunting rifle and shotgun sales haven’t shown a lot of difference from previous years, but sales of tactical rifles and handguns have seen an uptick.

“Handgun sales are crazy,” he said.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association for the firearm industry, estimates that 5 million people in the U.S. bought a firearm for the first time this year. The figure is based on surveys of firearms retailers.

Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting — a research consultancy focusing on the business and economics of the global small arms and ammunition markets — estimates that last month, 2 million firearm units were sold, which was a year-over-year increase of 134.6% from July 2019.

At his own store, Black estimates there’s a jump in handgun sales of about 100% over last year, meaning he went from selling, on average, one a day to selling two per day.

Rich Olmsted, who owns Absaroka Tactical Supply, said he has seen a seasonal uptick in the summer months — which is normal for this time of year — but no significant changes in sales volume over last year.

“It’s pretty similar to any other year,” Olmsted said.

He pointed out that gun-friendly Wyomingites were pretty well stocked for guns before this recent surge in demand.

“People in this area already have what they need,” Olmsted said.

Black said he sources guns primarily from three wholesalers, and their stock shows how high the demand is nationally.

“Selection is nil,” he said. “It’s nothing.”

One supplier’s catalog features some 2,000 varieties of different makes and models of handguns. Last time Black checked their stock, they had six guns total. Most of the guns they have in stock, Black said, are high-end models, costing $2,500.

Ammunition is also scarce, Black said, especially tactical rifle ammo like .223 and 5.56 cartridges. He’s been trying to restock ammo, but it’s “dried up like toilet paper.”

Olmsted notes the same thing with .40-caliber Smith and Wesson rounds.

Black added that his used gun supply is a lot thinner than usual, suggesting people are holding onto the guns they own.