Is Bud’s Gun Shop Legit?

Last Updated : November 13, 2025 1 view(s)

Bud’s Gun Shop has been a giant in the online firearms and ammo world for years, but is Bud’s Gun Shop a legit and reputable company?

If you’re searching “Is Bud’s Gun Shop real or a scam?” or wondering about their trustworthiness, this article will give you a fact-based look at Bud’s credentials, customer ratings, and track record.

Background: A Well-Established Firearm Retailer

Bud’s Gun Shop is absolutely a legitimate business. Founded in 2003, Bud’s has grown into one of the largest online firearm and ammunition retailers, having served millions of customers over two decades.

The company is headquartered in Lexington, KY and even operates a major brick-and-mortar store there. Its longevity (20+ years in business) and huge customer base indicate that Bud’s is a real, operational company, not a fly-by-night scam.

In fact, Bud’s Gun Shop proudly advertises its BBB Accredited Business status and A+ rating, which it has held since 2008. This means Bud’s meets the Better Business Bureau’s high standards for honesty and transparency.

Customer Ratings and Reviews

One of the best ways to judge if a company is “good” or reputable is to look at customer feedback:

Trustpilot

Bud’s Gun Shop has an average rating around 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot (an indicator of generally positive customer satisfaction) with hundreds of reviews. Many customers praise Bud’s for its competitive prices and wide selection.
For example, it’s often mentioned that Bud’s offers some of the best deals on both guns and ammo, leveraging its buying power to keep prices low. While individual experiences can vary, a 4+ star Trustpilot score suggests that the vast majority of buyers have a good experience shopping at Bud’s.

Better Business Bureau

Bud’s holds an A+ BBB rating and is BBB-accredited, which confirms the company’s commitment to resolving customer issues. It’s worth noting that due to Bud’s massive sales volume, there have been some customer complaints, about 131 complaints in the last 3 years according to the BBB.
However, this number should be viewed in context: Bud’s likely serves tens of thousands of customers annually, so a few dozen complaints per year is not unusual. Importantly, Bud’s Gun Shop actively responds to and closes complaints (42 were closed in the last 12 months), which shows they do address problems when they arise.
The company’s BBB accreditation since 2008 further indicates Bud’s works within industry guidelines to make things right if issues occur.

Credibility and Trust Signals

Bud’s Gun Shop has several strong trust signals that underscore its legitimacy:

Millions of Satisfied Customers

Bud’s isn’t an obscure website, it claims to have served over 4.7 million customers (as cited by the company) over its history. Such a large customer base wouldn’t be possible if Bud’s were not delivering on its promises.
In online forums and communities, many gun owners attest that “Buds is awesome… Great prices, awesome customer service, quick to ship”, a common sentiment that reinforces Bud’s credibility.

Physical Presence

Unlike a scam site, Bud’s Gun Shop has a real-world presence. They operate Bud’s Gun Shop & Range in Kentucky and have a customer service team available.
Having a physical store and long-standing business operations is a hallmark of a real, established company (scam sites typically do not have decades of history or any physical storefront).

Industry Reputation

Bud’s is frequently mentioned among the top online gun and ammo retailers in industry articles. It often ranks high due to its huge selection and low prices. For instance, in a recent third-party analysis of customer trust across ammo sellers, Bud’s Gun Shop scored well, with an A+ BBB rating and strong customer review scores.
Bud’s long track record and presence in the community (they even have a popular forum and a “Team Bud’s” loyalty program) all point to it being a reputable outfit.

Final Verdict: Is Bud’s Gun Shop Legit?

Absolutely. Bud’s Gun Shop is a legit, reputable company for buying firearms and ammunition. It’s one of the largest and most well-known online gun shops for good reason.

Customers benefit from competitive pricing, a massive product selection, and the security of dealing with an established retailer that has been in business for years. Bud’s high customer ratings and A+ BBB status reinforce that it’s a trustworthy place to spend your money.

As with any large retailer, some customer service hiccups or shipping delays can occur, especially during peak times, and Bud’s has received some complaints (as noted above). However, the key is that Bud’s Gun Shop addresses issues and has millions of successful transactions behind it.

If you’re wondering “Is Bud’s Gun Shop a scam or legit?”, rest assured that Bud’s is the real deal. Shoppers around the country continue to buy with confidence from Bud’s, making it one of the most reputable online gun and ammo sellers today.