Start Up Gunsmithing Shop Best vs Basic set up

[TheAngrySquirrel]

Looking for a best case blue sky view of what a premium Gunsmithing Shop would look like. Space needed, floor plan layout, machines, tools, benches etc and so on.

The objective is to open a Ammunition and Firearms manufacturing operation using the best methods and equipment.

Please try to provide what you think the cost of such a set up would be and advise Brand names and model numbers of machines and tools.

Secondly compare that Best Case with the basic minimum standard set up for similar operation in terms of space needed, floor plan layout, machines, tools, benches etc and so on.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[rcmodel]

Like J. P. Morgan said.

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.

Right now, Remington Arms company is the only one in the USA that makes both firearms and ammunition.

And even they don't do it all in the same factory.

In 2007, Remington was sold for $370 million, including $252 million in assumed debt.

SO that's about where you would have to start.



rc

 

[horsemen61]

RC said it best as usual

 

[N.Schafer]

Gunsmithing is not manufacturing. Gunsmithing is repairing and customizing firearms. Manufacturing is making them.
What type of firearm are you going to make? A CNC machine with tooling can make an AR-15 lower. Get an anodizing setup and you're set.

 

[Jim K]

And you will be competing with 42 gazillion companies making AR lowers.

Squirrel, I think you need to think seriously about what you want to do. I have seen what I consider reasonable estimates that setting up a good gunsmith shop (not a manufacturing plant) would run a minimum of about $100,000. True, some folks have started out small and worked up, but there are perils in doing that also.

What experience do you have in establishing and operating a business? Have you ever had to raise capital? Do you know how to set up a corporation, even an S corporation? Do you understand the laws involved, not the gun laws, which are simple, but the complex tax laws, corporate regulatory laws, zoning laws, OSHA regulations, etc., etc.

Jim

 

[clocker]

That sure is a heck of a lot to ask, but here goes a guess on the minimum:

I don't see why you couldn't start producing ammo with a Lee Classic kit and some basic supplies + the correct FFL. Total investment could be as low as 1k to turn out your first round. Your $/hr would be dang low, but it might work.
On the high end you could run multiple Dillon 650 or 1050's with electric drives and all the bells and whistles. Figure a couple of grand per press.
Your real upfront cost will be getting the raw materials such as 1x fired cases, projectiles, primers and powder in this market. Figure anything from 1k to 20k to start.

I've never been a gunsmith, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. You could start out with something as simple as and FFL, a good set of files, screwdrivers and a good bench. It only goes up from there Manual lathes. Manual mills. CNC centers. Cerokote. Hydro dipping. Bluing... All of those could be lumped in under gunsmithing. I'm sure there are guys who started in a 10x10 room and there are plenty of people with 10k+ sqft. Depends on what your customers want and what your skills are.

Don't be afraid to keep asking questions. Explore the dream and see what you can make of it.

 

[boom boom]

Be careful now, new manufacturers of ammunition or its components as well as many components for weapons now have to register under with the State Deparment under the ITAR treaty (see http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/offdocs/itar/p121.htm and http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/regulations_laws/documents/official_itar/ITAR_Part_121.pdf ). New makers pay a much stiffer fee of $2250 http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/registration/arf.html.

I was interested in starting a part-time small bullet swaging and jacketing business on old mil-surp bullets. Dropped that idea quickly after reading the regs. Even now, BATF and State are not agreeing on just what this treaty means--see this discussion at http://benchrest.com/archive/index.php/t-70463.html

 

[Ian Sean]

I have mulled this over myself many times.

Gunsmith/gunshop owner friend of mine put it simple, "you want to make a million dollars in the gun business?...easy...start with 2 million".

It is a tough business, reputation and service is everything. The best 'smiths and shops near me are very busy with long wait times on repairs. They take a lot of your time and energy out of you.

Then you have the "customers from hell" that make your life miserable.

I stick to learning and tinkering on my own for now.

 

[smoakingun]

You need to give us more info. Basic armoring/ parts swapping takes basic tools, a few files, jigs, measuring tools, screwdrivers, etc..
real gun smithing takes more. stock making, repair and parts fabrication becomes part of the job. A milling machine, lathe, band saws, tanks, chemicals, and lots more expensive measuring tools and indicators become part of the deal.
Armoring start up can be done for less than a grand.
Smithing might take 6 to 7 thousand to start, but plan on spending thousands in tools each year.

 

[triggerman770]

If you are going to manufacture you need to start with about 50,00 sq ft
separate for firearms and ammunition.
then about 4-5 million in machinery another 500k in gauges( to be sure on uniformity in all the parts} and a damn good business plan

 

[Katvis]

Hi Guys
I'm just another newbie to the site from South Africa. The most Southern Tip of Africa to be precise. I recently inherited my grandfathers lathe and tools and would like to start home gunsmiths. I'm also qualified as a machinist /Tool & Die maker. Unfortunately no where in South Africa can I study to become a gunsmith. I would love to come to the USA to study for this. I've been watching AGI tutorials on Gunsmith and can't get enough of it. I just bought my first .22 BSA (my 1ste practice weapon). I will fix my wife's Bruno 7.65 and start on my compensator and silencer for my 9mm Astra Firefox. This are the jobs I lined up for myself as soon as my shop is set up. My question is. How would I go about studying in the USA and @ what school should I go to?
Any advice would be appreciated
Chris

 

[Jim K]

Hi, Katvis,

If you can possibly afford it, come to the U.S. and go to one of the gunsmithing schools. There simply is no substitute for hands on experience. (Someone once asked, "Would you want to be operated on by a heart surgeon who watched a video course?")

On starting small, I don't think it would work well today. If you can't do the work, and farm it out, your customers will soon find out and skip the middleman. Why should they pay you a premium to ship their gun to Company X when they can go to Company X's web site, and get all the info to ship the gun themselves?

Jim