New retail store. what rifles to stock?

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I would like to see more gun stores with battle rifles of all kinds. There is nothing more boring than a large gun store with racks and racks of bolt guns and shotguns...yawn
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I definately agree. Only catering to the hunting crowd will limit your business. Remember, you're in the business of selling guns. Hunting is only one niche of the market.
 
TexasRifleman said:
I'd be afraid to go down the "C&R" path simply because of the returns. I'd bet guys that sell that in a retail storefront see more unhappiness once folks get them home than a brand new gun, then come in the next day wanting a refund. That's just my gut feeling though. And frankly how much margin is there in a Mosin?
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C&R Mosin Nagants can be had individually for as little as $60, and I've heard a few importers will drop that price by $10-$20 for bulk orders. Turn around and sell them for $90-$120, depending on model/year/arsenal/rarity, and there's profit there. Dragonman here in Colorado Springs sells his Mosin Nagants for no less than $110-$120, and he has a pretty good turnover rate on them.

A majority of people who buy a used milsurp know what they're getting into, and I've only heard of returns to storefronts because the customers either weren't allowed to or didn't fully inspect their rifles before buying; and upon getting home & firing up the internet, they realized they'd bought a lemon or something that was misrepresented.
If you carry milsurps, just make sure your customers know that they're buying used, possibly 50yd+ old mass-produced, military firearms, and that they should have them checked out by a qualified gunsmith before firing them. Also, don't offer a return policy on milsurps bought inside the store. Although others on the various forums I frequent have, I've personally never been in a store which will offer a return on a used milsurp bought from the storefront, as the customer should be able to ascertain that their rifle is whole & basically mechanically sound.

I'd suggest stocking a few of these rifles: Mosins (try to find some Finnish ones!), Lee Enfields, Mausers, SKSs, Swiss K31s, Carcanos, Springfield '03s, and Garands. For handguns: Nagant 1895s, Makarov & CZ-82s, CZ-52s, Tokarev TT-33s, and Walther P-38s.
Sometimes from importers you can get milsurp ammo along with milsurp firearms & their accessories. But if not, try stocking ammo for the milsurp rifles & handguns you carry. I don't know how many times I've seen guys buy a Mosin Nagant or K31 and immediately ask for some ammo, only to come up empty and have to search for rounds elsewhere. Again using Dragonmans as an example; he sells Bulgarian milsurp 7.62x54R for $50/100rds, and even retail one can buy a 440rd-case for $80.

Hmmm, and for new stuff? AKs are becoming very popular it seems (especially 12ga. Saigas), along with CETMEs & FN-FALs (generally .308 battlerifles). There's also a growing demand by women for suitable handguns, so the Lady Smith S&Ws & Charter Arms revolvers would be a good bet, along with other small .38/.357 revolvers and 9mm/.380 semiautos.
 
Timberwolf:

KCMarine, Anax and others have many good ideas
I can not speak for (or understand) people who only like civilian-styled rifles, but the stores, including my favorite, with numerous military rifles leave a much stronger impression on me, especially with semi- or bolt-action wood versus 'polymer'. You see a military style and know that it was designed for serious business, and some have seen it.

Even two Gander Mountains (Jackson, TN and Evansville, IN) left little impression, and maybe I'm mistaken, but the only old mil. types seem to have been 3-7 Mosin Nagant 44s (and way overpriced at $150 after the intro $99 price: I walked out and will never return to a GM or Dick's).

If I had Tons of extra money (never will), ammo prices would not also be a limitation, could then help you out and buy two LE Jungle Carbines (very handy and wicked, against Japs in Burma), a Dragunov, about three more SKS;), maybe two more MN 44s;) (laminated are getting snatched up), a Saiga in x39, an FN FAL and "GI" M-1 Garand or M-14, Mauser K 98, finishing with about four AKs.

Used Mini 14 & 30, two MN 44s (lam.), but only one SKS. My first gun purchase was last October. No bug bit me... I woke up at age 52.
Ruger and Ruuskie etc, affordable mil.-styled carbines for life.
 
I think the CZs would be great rifles to stock also, especially if they are difficult to find in your area. They aren't impossible to find here in Houston, but you still have to do some looking (if you want a decent price), and when I take mine out to the range, everyone wants one.
 
I'm friends with a manager of a local gun store, and the long guns that move the most are AR-15s, and AK pattern rifles. But generally it's the lower end of the price range that will move the fastest.

Side by side, coach guns, and other more classic designs won't move nearly as fast unless your local community has a market for those guns because of hunting, shooting sports, or simply a shooting demographic that prefers those designs.

So if it were me, I would have 2-3 Mossbergs, 2-3 AKs, 2-3 AR-15s, and 2-3 22LR (probably only the 10/22).

I would also put a mix of some of the newer exotic guns like the FS2000, PS90, and such, but those generally don't move that fast because of the higher price tags attached to them.
 
i'm shocked this has made it to page 2 with out this question being asked.


Where are you?


The answer to that question will effect more then replys more then anything else. Example, if your in a big time varmint hunting area, it would not be wise to stock a bunch of 338 win mags. If there is a big SASS community, you better have a good selction of lever actions.
 
Tikka, Howa and Weatherby make good looking rifles.

For a lot of people, it is not how it is built, or how accurate it is, it is how it looks, how shiney it is and how big the scope is that counts. Sort of like fishing lures....Give me a lure that casts good so that I look good, don't matter if it catches fish so long as it casts good.
 
I would also put a mix of some of the newer exotic guns like the FS2000, PS90, and such, but those generally don't move that fast because of the higher price tags attached to them.
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i agree, any new 'cool' rifle is going to sell better than any old model 700... if you live around my area, i have been looking for a FN dealer. (i love PS90s and their marksman rifles) a good lineup of high quality bolt actions, some nice pump and semi auto shotguns (Saigas!!!), europeon battle rifles, CETME, FALs ect, and old euro rifles. there is a big market for mosins if you live in the right area. use the fact that you can sell things that Dicks can't.
 
I was going to say the same thing as TAB and with just about the same lead-in.

What kind of game hunting is in the area? Is most of the surrounding area suburban, or are there a lot of farms? Are there ranges near by? What about the level of disposable income?

As TAB says, you won't sell many .338s in varmint country. I'll add that if people don't have the money to shop "up-scale" you'll sell more of the new little Savage CF varmint rifles than you would Coopers.

Also, say in time with the seasons, and know the hunting regulations inside and out.

Good luck.
 
I would also specialize in 22 ammo. Lots of folks carry the centerfire ammo but few sell or have much of a selection of good 22 ammo. You could even do mail order sales.
 
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