Small vending machine for selling ammo at range?

[MatthewVanitas]

Slightly off-the-wall idea.

Currently at our campus range, we keep the ammo in the cashbox, and the RSO will fish it out and take the money as shooters request.

Would it be at all practical to get a small table-top vending machine to dispense ammo?

That would be one less distraction for the RSO, and would be pretty cool, in a weird way.

Provided that it's only accessible when the range is open, and we line the drop-bin with foam padding to prevent damage to ammo as its dispensed, is this workable?

If so, any recommendation as to what brands/types I should look for on eBay or an industry site?

-MV

 

[Lucky]

http://www.clawmachinesdirect.com/

Sounds like fun!

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

^^^ hahahahhaha!!!

 

[Car Knocker]

MV,

I would bet that you would run afoul of the federal law restricting sales of handgun ammunition to anyone under the age of 21, since the vending machine can't check IDs. In your shoes, I would run this by the friendly folks at BATFE first.

 

[RNB65]

Only if you want to go to jail. Selling ammo to underage people is a crime.

 

[1 old 0311]

One hell of a idea though.

 

[carpediem]

Hopefully it will be hackable like the Coke Machines

 

[salvador31c]

Sounds Good In Theory why not right, they have those machines at laundry mats, car washes, ect mabey inside a range area where only 21up are allowed for handgun ammo??

 

[#shooter]

Great idea but...

you may run into a snag if it is illegal to sell certain ammo to persons under a certain age in your state (ie hangun ammo to minors).

 

[PotatoJudge]

Are there still vending machines for cigarettes?

 

[carpediem]

Maybe if you only sold rifle, shotgun, and common dual-use ammo* and put a big honkin' sign that said 'Rifle and Shotgun Ammo' and/or 'for use in longarms only.' In CA you have the option to sell dual-use ammo to an 18+ eligible person if they declare it is for use in a longarm. Of course this is assuming that the range is only open to people 18 years or older.

*common dual use - 22lr, 22mag, .38soc, 357mag, 44spc, 44mag OTOH

IANAL

 

[orionengnr]

are there still cigarettes?

 

[salvador31c]

Are there still vending machines for cigarettes?

that Reminds me of the time i saw a lotto vending machine "Scratchers" at a local Safeway

of couse i didnt buy a ticket because i'm not yet 21 as state law requires

 

[bculp2]

Isn't there some sort of exception since its at a range? I rented a gun and bought ammo at the range before I was 21.

 

[RNB65]

The 21 age limit is a federal law that only applies to FFL holders. If the person selling the ammo isn't a gun dealer, then the federal limit doesn't apply and only state law applies. In most states, handgun ammo can be sold to anyone over 18.

 

[klover]

The claw machine is bound to touch off a primer .

 

[MachIVshooter]

It would be a little unnerving to watch a box of 7.62 NATO fall 4-1/2 feet and impact a steel bin

 

[cloudedice]

Make it one of those fancy vending machines that move the platform to the specific row/column and then deliver the box to the dropbin (which is only about a 4 inch drop.) They're more fun to watch too.

 

[fixyurgun]

What about a gumball machine that dispenses plastic eggs full of 22 lr?
The federal law about juveniles in possesion of handgun/ammo, has an exception for target practice. The regs. on it are in18U.S.C.922(x)&18U.S.C.924(a)(6).
Also it don't just apply to ffls. jim

 

[statelineblues]

It would be great 'til the first box of .22 ammo breaks open and spills all over the bottom of the machine...

 

[crunker]

Wait, there's a federal law that says that people under the age of 21 can't buy handgun ammunition?

 

[Fu-man Shoe]

Psshhhh....Don't listen to all the negative nancy's around here...

I think it's a fantastic idea. It sounds like it's going to
be within the range, selling ammo for use on the range,
so I think you'll be OK from a legal standpoint.

Keep in mind however, I am not a lawyer. State and local laws
may vary. Void where prohibited, etc.

You know what I think the main benefit is? It's gonna bring a smile to
people's faces, and they're gonna remember "that place with the ammo
vending machine". Market share recognition and word of mouth sales
are of inestimatible value.

Not to mention you're making the place more accessable to
newbies...I mean really...the crusty old guy behind the
counter who gives you $h1t about shooting Wolf in your
guns doesn't exactly engender the future patronage of that
particular range.

As for the vending machine itself, the kind that you generally see
for snacks and such would work fine. You know, the ones that have
the little screw type deal that turns to free up and drop your Twix or
Snickers bar when you shuck in a dollar and press "B2" or "E5".

There really is a lot of potential to such an idea. Those things generally
have about 6-7 rows, with 5-6 spots on each row. So that's 6-7 calibers
you could stock, with about 5-6 different variations within each caliber.
You could keep all the popular handgun loads in there, from cheap plinking
fodder up to high dollar defensive loads.

I can see the potential for making some money, as well as having a cool
sort of twist on ammo buying that a lot of people will find both novel and
familiar at the same time.

Outstanding idea!

 

[CypherNinja]

Make sure its one that'll take 10s and 20s, maybe with a CC reader.

 

[EllisWyatt]

What about a sandwich vending machine, with the rotating carousel and the little plexiglas doors that unlock?

http://www.bitesandwiches.com/img/vend/Image13.jpg

Might want to disable the refrigeration unit, though.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Dunno, I have a picture of someone slamming the machine around like many do when the chips don't fall