I am wanting some guidance/advice on starting a gun shop and gun repair business.
Background: I am currently a Police Officer and wanting to change careers (need another thread for this one). It's getting old. High interest in guns and gun repair. In the town i live in there is one gun shop which is a mainly a police supply. This shop doesn't do any type of gunsmithing. It sends most of the work to a gunsmith in the next town which is only 5 or 10 minutes away. The other gun shops are either extremely high priced on guns and work or over 30 minutes away.
I have been reading alot of posts on here which have given me mixed emotions. Most of what mixes me up is the truth about it being tough to make it.
My first idea was to specialize in tactical type firearms and accessories. This would intel more specific brands rather than multiple brands. It would also be carrying knives and practical type equipment for the tactical end of things.
The more I think of that idea I think i would be shooting myself in the foot by not catering to the hunting end of the spectrum.
My other problem is I looked into going to gunsmithing school and found that there isn't any in Texas. Unfortunately for me I am not able to up root and move to Colorado to 14 months. I have looked at the correspondence courses but i'm alittle sceptical on them. So I contacted a friend who has been gunsmithing for about 40 years. He attended the Colorado gunsmthing school after his tour with the military as an armorer. He has agreed to let me work under him allowing me to learn everything I can. I am able to learn about problems and how to fix them as they come into his shop.
Would it be better to sell guns, accessories and repair them also. Is this what yall do or are you strictly gunsmithing. I have found out that there isn't much mark up in new guns. So i was also thinking about offering upgrades. Especially for police. I realize things don't happen over night. But they also won't happen at all if I just sit around being frustrated. I'm looking to get into something i'm interested in and to have some satisfaction at what I do.
Any help, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the help and all of the posts have been of great value to me.
Thanks,
Danny
Background: I am currently a Police Officer and wanting to change careers (need another thread for this one). It's getting old. High interest in guns and gun repair. In the town i live in there is one gun shop which is a mainly a police supply. This shop doesn't do any type of gunsmithing. It sends most of the work to a gunsmith in the next town which is only 5 or 10 minutes away. The other gun shops are either extremely high priced on guns and work or over 30 minutes away.
I have been reading alot of posts on here which have given me mixed emotions. Most of what mixes me up is the truth about it being tough to make it.
My first idea was to specialize in tactical type firearms and accessories. This would intel more specific brands rather than multiple brands. It would also be carrying knives and practical type equipment for the tactical end of things.
The more I think of that idea I think i would be shooting myself in the foot by not catering to the hunting end of the spectrum.
My other problem is I looked into going to gunsmithing school and found that there isn't any in Texas. Unfortunately for me I am not able to up root and move to Colorado to 14 months. I have looked at the correspondence courses but i'm alittle sceptical on them. So I contacted a friend who has been gunsmithing for about 40 years. He attended the Colorado gunsmthing school after his tour with the military as an armorer. He has agreed to let me work under him allowing me to learn everything I can. I am able to learn about problems and how to fix them as they come into his shop.
Would it be better to sell guns, accessories and repair them also. Is this what yall do or are you strictly gunsmithing. I have found out that there isn't much mark up in new guns. So i was also thinking about offering upgrades. Especially for police. I realize things don't happen over night. But they also won't happen at all if I just sit around being frustrated. I'm looking to get into something i'm interested in and to have some satisfaction at what I do.
Any help, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the help and all of the posts have been of great value to me.
Thanks,
Danny