Having Thoughts Of Starting My Own Ammo Business

What is the one most thing you look for in a Vendor when purchasing Ammunition?

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Lambo

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Bel Air, Maryland
I've been thinking of starting a Business of my own for years. I just never could settle on what to venture into. I do know what ever it would be I would have to enjoy doing it. The few things I enjoy in life other then good food & great sex are Wood-working and Shooting Sports. Since I have no desire to operate a Restaurant or become a Jigilo I'm looking into the idea of Ammunition Sales. Anyone on this Board in this Business or know what's involved here, ie; Laws, Regulations, Permits, etc.? Business Operations would be based out of the State of Maryland
 
Don't know much about the ammo business but I, like you, have an interest in some type of business involving guns. Please share whatever you find in these boards. There's an ammon-only business locally called Ammo Brothers, and I'm going to be checking them out tomorrow and see what they've got.
 
Not only "they offer internet sales," but that their online catalog is user friendly. This involves a usable search function as well as multiple ways to narrow catagories (i.e. by caliber, typical function, bullet type, brand, weight, etc.)
 
I went for the bulk discount.

Being a fellow Marylander, I'm sure you'd allow me to pick up my orders, right...RIGHT??? :evil:
 
Lambo,

If you're talking about retail sales of factory made ammo, you will not be able to undersell the big boys. If you're talking about manufacturing your own ammo and selling it, insurance, permits, and regulation will kill you. I would rethink this business venture.

Don
 
Your poll didn't have what I consider most important...

A while back I bought some .223 ammunition from Lancer Ammo. Out of the first 250 rounds I had no less than four that were either so light that they wouldn't cycle the action or they had no powder at all. In fact, one round got stuck in the barrel.

I wrote them to let them know about the issue (they can't fix a problem that they don't know they have) and they of course did the right thing and offered to replace it free of charge.

As I wrote back ... after my experience with that kind of failure rate, how can I trust any ammunition they make?

Quality... that's what I'm looking for.
 
HMM! If you're going to try to sell reloaded or "remanufactured" ammo, you will need to have a LOT of liability insurance! You'll need to shell out a LOT of bucks for fully-automated COMMERCIAL-sized reloading equipment, and have an "in" with the wholesalers who carry bulk bullets, gunpowder, primers, casings AND packaging materials.

If you're going to sell FACTORY-loaded ammo, you'll be competing against the already-established businesses....including the huge "chain"-type stores.

You'll have to find a location that can be licensed for storing "explosive" components, get a valid business license, have an EIR (Environmental Impact Report) made, and acquire an FFL for loaded ammo storage/sales.

Internet sales? You'll need computers! You'll need all of the associated hardware for "safe" on-line sales. You'll need to spend a few bucks for advertising. You'll need FAX machines. Oh, and you might even NEED to hire an attorney, on "retainer", if you make a "goof" by sending loaded ammo to someone who is "restricted".

You'll probably need to buy several cases of aspirin, for all of the business-related headaches you'll get!

Other than all of those things, I figure that it should be smoothe sailing for you! Just don't count on making a PROFIT for awhile!
 
Well to be honest it is really all of the above

Well to be honest it is really all of the above,

I have many, many different calibers pistols, rifles and now for some reason an in-line muzzle loader so if you could offer all of the above it would be fantastic.


DarthBubba:evil:
 
"Factory" ammo, be it milsurp, WWB, Wolf, or whatever, already has a lot of outlets. Try and do this, and you'll have to make a BIG initial investment to hit the economies of scale your competiton has already established.

If you're planning on loading your own . . . with perhaps one exception - Black Hills - I will not shoot any "remanufactured" ammunition in my guns.

Even when done on a commercial basis, with new brass, these "gun show reloads" are still somebody else's handloaded ammo, and I don't trust it.
 
It's possible to do this on a "onsies-twosies" basis, by simply looking for heavily discounted ammo from Wideners, Ellet Bros, Samco etc. and re-selling at gun shows. You can make money, but you can't make a living. That, and ammo is HEAVY to haul in and haul out.
 
I agree, I read this earlier today while "working" and voted shipping costs (assuming that prices were already low), but thinking further, I think this is a bad idea.
never compete on price, someone can always do it cheaper than you. The only way to win on price is to be the low cost leader, but you won't be big enough to be the low cost business.
It's just a matter of time til you lose it all.
Good idea, but no possible way to win.

The best business ideas are niche's that no one has ever filled before. And that you don't compete on price.
JHMO
 
My vote for "pricing" reflects what I conciously look for when buying ammo.
Unconciously, if it's not easily found on the Internet it doesn't exist.
 
Insurance is the real deal killer.
Talk with an agent before you do anything else.

They will specify everything else you will need
Care to ask how I know?

Sam
 
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