Massena gun store celebrates 10th anniversary

MASSENA — McCunn Specialty Firearms was very pleased with the large crowds they experienced recently at their 10th anniversary celebration.

“We had a great crowd and great weather, which helps for sure. I made a post on Facebook saying it’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years,” said owner Brice McCunn. “When we started, I was kind of between jobs and looking for the next thing. Dad (Kevin) had worked at the John Deere store here for 30-plus years. He was looking to do something too. We came up with the idea that we could sell guns and run a gun store.”

What started in a small space on Main Street has blossomed to a full, modern store that includes a popular indoor gun range at the corner of Highways 92 and 148.

Last year, they added on to the facility a warehouse for safes they sell.

“We love the local people who come in and the local faces, but we consistently draw people in from over an hour away. We get people from Omaha, Des Moines, down south from Missouri who come up if they’re able to purchase something,” McCunn said. “We have our regular local people and love them, but a lot of people drive now several hours for safes too because of the inventory we have.”

McCunn hopes it’s a “mom and pop’s” store atmosphere with quality customer service you sometimes aren’t able to get from a bigger chain that continues bringing customers back.

Hunting and self-defense are two reasons people get interested in guns, McCunn said. McCunn Specialty Firearms has a permit to carry course and a basic pistol course that they offer. They also have a shooting league each year that many participants are able to enjoy.

“For the time of year, many people are thinking about coyote season. Deer season is right around the corner. The pheasant opener was recently,” McCunn said. “Self-defense has exploded in the last couple of years in my opinion. In the last couple of years with COVID, ammo was really hard to find, inventory was scarce, but it has started to come back. We’re seeing more product come in and the availability is better.”

McCunns employs locally, too. Main employees are Brice and Kevin McCunn, Levi Morris of Greenfield and Kevin Schlotzhauer of Atlantic.

“After the 10-year anniversary, it probably took me three days to come up with the words for a Facebook post. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped us out in getting us to the point where we are,” McCunn said. “My mom (Trisha), my dad, my wife (Chelsea)...we plan to be here for a long time. I’ve got some young kids, but hopefully one day I’ll be able to employ them as well and get their help. I hope that’s where we’re headed.”