Is MidwayUSA Legit?

Last Updated : November 13, 2025 83 view(s)

MidwayUSA is one of the best-known names in the shooting and outdoor supplies industry, with a history stretching back to the 1970s.

But if you’re new to buying ammo or gear online, you might wonder: “Is MidwayUSA a legitimate company? Is it reputable and safe to order from?” The short answer is yes, MidwayUSA is absolutely legit.

It’s a venerable company with a solid reputation, though, like any large retailer, it has received some critical reviews which we will discuss.

Let’s dive into the details:

A 48-Year-Old Family Business

MidwayUSA was founded in 1977 by Larry Potterfield and remains a family-owned business based in Columbia, Missouri. With nearly 50 years in business, MidwayUSA is about as far from a scam as you can get.

The company started as a small gun shop and grew into a massive catalog and online retailer, known for offering “Just About Everything® for Shooting, Hunting, and the Outdoors.” Its longevity and growth testify to its legitimacy.

In fact, MidwayUSA has won numerous industry awards for customer service over the decades. It has also been a staunch supporter of the NRA and other shooting sports initiatives, which shows it’s deeply ingrained in the community (something a fraudulent company would never bother with).

The Potterfield family’s visibility, Larry Potterfield often appeared in MidwayUSA ads and videos, further cements trust. You know who is behind the company, and they have a reputation to uphold.

MidwayUSA even pioneered things like the Nitro Express™ same-day shipping system in their warehouse, underlining their commitment to real, efficient service.

Customer Reviews: The Good and the Bad

MidwayUSA serves millions of customers, so it’s no surprise it has a mix of reviews:

Trustpilot Reviews

MidwayUSA’s Trustpilot rating is currently on the lower side, around 1.6 out of 5 stars. This might alarm some people at first glance. However, it’s important to understand context.
Only ~500 people have reviewed Midway on Trustpilot, often those who had a negative experience (many satisfied customers don’t think to leave a review). Common complaints on Trustpilot include issues like shipping delays or an item being out of stock.
These occurred particularly during surge periods (for example, during ammo shortages or major sales). While a 1.6★ average does indicate some customers were unhappy, it doesn’t tell the whole story.
MidwayUSA has literally millions of transactions, and the vast majority go smoothly, but those don’t all get reported online.

Better Business Bureau

More telling is MidwayUSA’s A+ rating from the BBB. The company is BBB-accredited, which means they actively cooperate to resolve complaints.
In the past 3 years, the BBB reports 61 complaints filed for MidwayUSA. These complaints often touch on similar themes as the Trustpilot reviews (shipping issues, etc.). However, MidwayUSA has addressed all BBB complaints and maintains the A+ rating.
In fact, the BBB profile notes that MidwayUSA has addressed the complaints brought to its attention and suggests considering the company’s size and volume in context. A few dozen complaints over three years is a drop in the bucket given Midway’s volume.
The key is that MidwayUSA resolves issues, an A+ rating wouldn’t be in place if they didn’t.

Customer Satisfaction and Legacy

Many longtime customers continue to shop at MidwayUSA because of its huge selection, fast shipping, and customer service. There are countless positive reviews on forums where people mention getting their ammo orders incredibly fast (thanks to Midway’s advanced logistics).
The company’s sheer variety of products (they list over 175,000 products) and generally fair prices make it a go-to for shooters. MidwayUSA’s repeat customer base and nearly 50-year track record of fulfilling orders speak louder than a cluster of online complaints.
Additionally, MidwayUSA has a generous return policy on most items and a reputation for making things right if there’s an error. This has kept many customers loyal.

To be transparent, MidwayUSA did face some criticism during the 2020-2021 ammo shortage for canceled orders or slow updates on stock, issues that many retailers faced. They have since improved communication. The key point: these were operational hiccups, not fraud.

Trust Signals

A few more reasons you can trust MidwayUSA:

Awards for Service

MidwayUSA has received awards like the Bizrate Circle of Excellence in past years for customer satisfaction.
Such third-party recognitions indicate high levels of trust and performance.

Secure Transactions

The website is highly secure and modern. MidwayUSA handles payments through secure processors and has robust privacy measures.
There have been no indications of any financial impropriety, customers’ payments and data are handled safely.

Community and Philanthropy

The company’s visible contributions (e.g., the Potterfields donating to youth shooting sports) show it’s not some shadow entity.
MidwayUSA’s very public profile in the industry is something only a legitimate, stable business would maintain.

Conclusion: MidwayUSA Is Reputable

Despite some mixed online reviews, MidwayUSA is a thoroughly legitimate and reputable company. It’s one of the pioneers of online ammo and gear sales, and it wouldn’t have lasted this long if it weren’t doing right by customers overall.

The A+ BBB rating and nearly half-century in business trump short-term review snapshots. Is MidwayUSA perfect? No, they’ve had customer service growing pains and occasional issues, especially when demand skyrockets.

But importantly, MidwayUSA addresses problems and strives to improve. Most customers receive exactly what they ordered, quickly, and have a positive experience, that’s why MidwayUSA remains a giant in the industry.

If you’re asking “Is MidwayUSA legit or a scam?”, rest assured it’s 100% legit. You can confidently order ammo or other products from MidwayUSA knowing you’re dealing with a well-established retailer that will deliver your items or resolve any issues in line with their longstanding commitment to customer satisfaction.