Jobs in the firearms industry.

[BlackBearME]

Alright. I need to do something else. I've been a manager in Fast Food for several years - I could advance, but it's not really a career track I want. I trained as a paralegal, but there's absolutely no jobs in this area - they all want 3-5 years experience (doesn't stop me from applying, but eh). I got thinking last night and said "Well,why don't I combine my hobby (guns) with earning money?" which started me thinking of the various jobs/careers in the gun industry. The following are what I came up with off the top of my head.

Gun shop worker:
Pros:Be around guns all day
Stay in touch with the latest developments
Learn more every day

Cons: Dealing with the idiots we all know are out there (not any of us here on THR, of course)
Being at someone else's behest.

Gun shop owner/FFL.
Pros: More of a decision in what goes on day-to-day
Deal with many guns, have access to dealer stock

Cons: Insurance
Cost of opening a business
Dealing with BATFE

Gunsmith
Pros: Get to deal with many different firearms
Get to possibly fire many different firearms

Cons: Building a clientele
Have to be a machinist (I know it's not a requirement, but most agree it helps a damn sight)
Have to have a good working knowledge base of many different firearms (or be able to get it)

Gun Factory Worker
Pros: Gets you right up in the nitty-gritty

Cons: Unless you get the lucky job of function testing, you're only dealing with a few parts at a time.

Custom Builder/Customizer
Pros: Get a lot of experience tweaking guns
Plenty of chance to learn how to make the "perfect" gun (for you)

Cons: Building a client base
Being good enough to keep a client base

Exhibition/Competitive Shooting
Pros: Get to shoot a LOT.
Get a lot of exposure
Get PAID to shoot a lot.

Cons: Have to be good. Real good. So you have to pay a lot to get that good.
(Note: While this is one of the coolest options, I don't see how anyone does it. To get to be a good exhibition shooter, you've got to practice a lot - and who can afford that much ammo?)

I know this is by no means a comprehensive list, so throw things out there. Jobs I may have forgotten, or pros and cons I may have missed for ones I listed. Also, if you have any experience in any of the above areas, and would like to add your opinion, please do so.

 

[rjohnson4405]

I'm interested too! Any software devlopment/networking jobs?

 

[Ala Dan]

I fall into this category: Gun Shop Worker

Yes, we do have too deal with a few "idiots" in the firearms trade;
but most of our customers are upper class, well polished firearms
enthusiast; and in most cases, very knowledgeable persons. With
me being a PT employee, I still have a growing list of clientele who
will only deal with me~!

 

[ambush]

It'd be my dream job too, but can you make a living at it. By a living I mean pay a mortgage (1,500/ mo.) and support a wife, two kids and all the trimmings involved with that? I'm not trying to be a defeatist here, but from where I sit (in NJ), unless you are an owner or well established already, I don't think so.

 

[abrink]

As soon as i retire i dream about opening my own gunshop in my hometown. Might happen might not but you never know. I just hope that if i do open a gunshop that i'll get lots of customers. Then again i live in a kind of redneck town so i probably dont have to worry about that.

 

[strat81]

The gun industry needs a site like the motorcycle industry has:
http://www.motorcycleindustryjobs.com/

 

[vt357]

Firing Range Owner
Pros: Shoot at your own range all you want
Be around guns all day
Excuse to own Class 3 weapons if you plan to rent guns

Cons: Dealing with idiots who have LOADED guns
Liability insurance
Capital costs and permits to start the business

 

[ImARugerFan]

It'd be my dream job too, but can you make a living at it. By a living I mean pay a mortgage (1,500/ mo.) and support a wife, two kids and all the trimmings involved with that? I'm not trying to be a defeatist here, but from where I sit (in NJ), unless you are an owner or well established already, I don't think so.

Not everybody lives in NJ, where I live you can get a pretty decent house on an acre or two with a $750/month mortgage. Not to mention my last apartment albeit small, was only $295/month. Not to say that living off a gun dealer/smith/shop worker income is easy anywhere.

 

[Bubbles]

You forget the downside of being any business owner (e.g. gunsmith, FFL, range owner): dealing with running the business! Monthly sales/use tax filings, quarterly income tax filings, annual LLC re-registration, etc. Calculate the time taken to run the business, and take that away from your "hobby" time.

 

[RP88]

don't forget anything in research, development, engineering and design. Probably best-paying and rewarding out there, but easily the hardest to get into.

 

[eastwood44mag]

If you plan on making money in a gun shop, you need to rethink your plan. That's like putting a fox in charge of the hen house.

Don't get high off your own supply!

 

[RLsnow]

how do you get a job in an existing gun shop then? xD

 

[scrat]

naaaa working for the ATF

i mean Alcohol Tobaco Firearms shieeet you add nudy bars to it and you going to have a 10 year waiting list to join. Some people wont even care if they get paid.

 

[eatont9999]

As a full time career, the only way I see you making ends meet would be to open a shop. For that you need investment capitol. Since guns are expensive, you will need a large load to start an inventory. Great if you have the money, but last time I checked the fast food industry did not pay well (no offense meant). You could do R&D, but you most likely need an engineering degree and work experience.

I thought that after 7 years of computers being my hobby, I should make it a career. I am not as happy as you would think. It gets real boring after the first year or so. You tend to focus on the negative or annoying aspects of what you do instead of the pleasurable moments.

 

[searcher451]

One downside, and perhaps the greatest downside, to being a gunsmith is the constant and inevitable chatter that goes on between smithy and client. Customers who bring in their pistols for, say, the installation of a new set of Wolff springs feel either obligated or entitled to discuss the job, witness the job, provide pointers as to how the job should be done, ask myriad questions about the job ... or, worse, ramble on about the NCAA quarterfinals, the pending visit of Mother-in-law Frump, the rising cost of a gallon of gas, or ammo, or the hourly rate charged by the gunsmith. A very good gunsmith who worked out of a local dealer's new and used shop became so frustrated at the loss of time that he quit after a year and a half.

 

[Ala Dan]

You see, I have NO problems making a living as a PT gun store employee
here in the lowly state of Alabama; cuz I don't depend entirely on the
wages I make from this business. Read my profile, and you will see not
only how I survive; but how I got into the business in the first place~!