I, also, have walked the isles of the local Bass Pro Shop and can tell you two things about them.
(1) As a fishing shop they are first rate and very well stocked.
(2) As a gun shop they are a first rate fishing shop first rate and very well stocked.
In Richmond Va. we have two other fairly large shops within three miles of the Bass Pro shop, A Gander Mt. (and that is another story) and a large local shop, Green Tops that has been serving hunters and fishermen as well as all types of shooting to include Bow since 1947.
A couple of the salesmen at Bass Pro were former Green Top employees and admitted that Bass Pro was very thin of many guns, other than hunting guns, it seems to be some sort of company policy.
I have bought a set of Lee 41 Mag pistol dies from them for a slightly higher price, however, they had them I needed them and I bought them.
I have the good fortune to have these three shops within a three mile area and I go to them on a semi frequent basis and I DO purchase some things from all, however, when push comes to pull, I give most of my support to the privately owned shop with employees who have more product knowledge than just saying, "This has got to be right, see, it has the correct stock number".