The 2020/2021 run on guns and ammunition has been fast and furious. New faces came through the door every day in a search for the right tools to protect themselves and their loved ones until law enforcement’s arrival.

Shelves were empty, and those looking for a modern sporting rifle for the home-defense mission often had no choice but to settle on an entry-level model missing desired features — if a budget AR was even in stock. Limited selection will likely be a recurring...