What rounds to stock?

[461]

If someone where to open a sporting goods store and stock handgun ammo what calibers must be stocked? I think that two loads each of the following makes a good basic selection and then let the customers dictate future additions to the line.


.22lr, .32acp, .380acp, 9mm, .38spl, .357Mag, .40 S&W, . 41 & .44 Mag, .45 Colt, .45acp

Let em know if I'm all washed up here, but I figure the exotic round shooters tend to roll their own more often than not. Thanks for the help. I'm not lucky enough to be opening a store anytime soon, but research is critical.

 

[Oracle]

I'd include .357 Sig and 10mm.

 

[lee n. field]

.41 maybe not.

.25 Auto. There's plenty of them out there.

Otherwise, looks good. Go see what Wally World stocks.

 

[biere]

One thing about figuring that everyone rolls their own for oddball stuff is that sometimes there is no time for reloading. At other times someone is out of town and needs to go to the local store for a box o bullets.

I reload for my 10mm and when folks ask they can shoot a few rounds. However, when someone wants to get really serious I tell them to swing by the gun shop and buy some bullets and they can run all they want through the gun.

Of course I don't consider 10mm all that odd since it is something many people know about in my area.

Anyway, the short version of the above is that I am more than willing to drive a good ways to go somewhere that I know will have what I want. If I know a place simply stocks the basics I don't put a lot of faith in their having exactly what I will be after.

As for your list, I would consider it to certainly be a solid first order. And of course I am not the one looking to have to stock something that may sit on the shelf for years if it is too odd.

 

[461]

Thanks guys.

I had seriously considered the 10mm, but hadn't even thought of the .25acp. The 10mm was really impressive when it first hit the streets, but I just haven't seen a lot of folks using it. I guess it wouldn't hurt to have abox on hand for folks having an emergency.


I guess the reason for the .41 magnum is because I've always wanted one and for some reason never bought one. I'm going to have to remedy that some day.

 

[Pappy John]

GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE ...yet another shop that doesn't carry .44 special.

 

[Greybeard]

Not sure about CA, but there are quite a few 9 X 18 Makarov shooters around here. From experince in our little bitty retail ammo side for CHL people, best movers are 9mm, .40, .45, then 38s.

 

[BluesBear]

.44 Special
.38 Super
9mm Mak
.22 WMR
.357 SIG
.25 ACP
.32 S&W
.454

And two loads of each aren't even close to being enough.

If someone where to open a sporting goods store and stock handgun ammo

then you need to have a better than Wally World selection.

If you only stock what Wally stocks they why should anyone buy from you?

 

[Majic]

If you only stock what Wally stocks they why should anyone buy from you?

If you could match Wally World's prices and not have your customers stand around and wait for service then I think you would steal alot of their ammo business.

 

[learnedmonkey]

I know they're rifle calibers, but if you stock a few 7.62x39 and 7.62x54, you can take advantage of the extensive AK/SKS and Mosin market while you're at it...and who's heard of a sporting goods store that doesn't stock rifle ammo?

 

[Tamara]

Having worked in small gun stores huddled in the shadows of Wally World for ten years, my advice would be to carry what Wally World doesn't. In other words, if they carry a lot of White Box Winchester, they should be prepared to hear "Oh, I can get that cheaper at WalMart." If they carry Hornady and S&B and Aguila and Federal, et cetera, then they are less likely to hear that.

We keep two or three boxes of older or odd calibers on the shelf at all times. About once or twice a year someone will come in and exclaim "Oh! You have .32 Winchester Special!" and buy all we have. It helps our word-of-mouth rep to be known for that. They should build up to it slowly, tacking a caliber to the order every week as they can afford it, rather than spending a bazillion dollars in esoteric calibers all at once.

In handgun ammo, one or two premium hollowpoints in each caliber, plus a cheap ball round like S&B, CCI/Blazer or Magtech is a good start. If you live in an area with a lot of retirees or po' folks, a few boxes each of .32 S&W and .38 S&W on hand will reap dividends; there are a surprising amount of old popguns in these calibers still pulling yeoman nightstand duty.

 

[461]

The problem comes down to money. You could easily spend tens of thousands of dollars on all these brands, loads, calibers etc, and you'd have a kick ??? ammo selection, but you'd have run out of money to stock anything else.

I know you can't compete with Wal-Mart, but they also don't sell guns in California anymore so I'd try to bank on my gun purchase and repair customers determining my stocking volume.

What about remanufactured or reloaded ammo. What is the general opinion of them?

Thanks for all the input, it's quite valuable.

-Tim-

 

[Black Snowman]

You've gotten some good advice so far. Don't try to compete with WW on pricing, do it on selection. Get at least 1-2 boxes of more common "obscure" calibers. 10mm, .44 Special, .357 SIG maybe even .41 Mag. If anyone comes in and buys it, ask them if they'd like to see you stock something in particular. You may get several request for a differant brand or load and boost your sales.

Put up a sign and start a list "If you came in for an ammo we don't have, let us know so we can stock some for you." Even if you only pick up 2 or 3 more sales a year doing this you'll start a customer friendly reputation that should serve you well and at least break even.

Another suggestion if your ammo sales are solid, ask about people if they reload. If you get enough interest stock reloading supplies. Around here very few places do and it can be really frustrating for a reloader to realize that those are the wrong primers or just ran shy of powder or bullets. The local gunstore/range is open late around here and can get away with charging full retail for all their reloading stuff because, well they have it, you need it, and they're the only place in town open that does.

They've gotten a little less greedy since Cabela's has openned up and given them a run for selection and hours.

 

[redneck2]

From a part-time employee....

be prepared to spend thousands on inventory

remember...not only do you need to carry .45 ACP....you need to carry 185 grain, 200 grain, 230 grain....

in Speer, Hornady, Cor-Bon, Winchester, Remington, etc, etc.

Multiply that by dozens of calibers and dozens of manufacturers and you start to get the idea.

And, if you expect to buy one box from a wholesaler at a time at a reasonable price, think again.

Think in terms of cases, not boxes. Wally World buys in freight car loads. They're your competition. HTH

 

[CWL]

Whatever you choose to stock, you are probably going to move mostly, .22lr, 9mm, .40S&W and .45ACP followed by .357magnum and .38spl.

So you sell a few boxes of .25ACP every year, how many cases of .22lr will move off the shelves in that same time?

 

[sm]

I agree with Tamara.

With some 35 years of retail , IME better to establish your own "positioning" than to butt heads with an established high volume discounter. Positioning...what do you want to convey to the customer?

 

[redneck2]

The reloading idea

might work

there's a guy in our area here that is a Dillon dealer. Small neighborhood shop in a dying area. He still gets pretty good floor traffic because he stocks everything, and I mean everything for Dillon. I walk in there, I KNOW he's got it

He buys lead pistol bullets by the ton (literally).

 

[mrapathy2000]

if you stock 40S&W DO NOT STOCK ALOT OF 180gr ammo. I am sick of seeing stores with nothing but 180gr. that stuff puts so many shooters away from guns that use 40S&W its not funny.

155-165gr ammo is preffered, though 135gr could become popular.

if the person wants 9mm recoil in 40S&W the best is Federal Hydrashock 135gr 40S&W not be confused with theyre 135gr 9mm they make both.

155gr is little stout,165 is bit nicer. 180gr expect some rise.

 

[Majic]

if you stock 40S&W DO NOT STOCK ALOT OF 180gr ammo. I am sick of seeing stores with nothing but 180gr. that stuff puts so many shooters away from guns that use 40S&W its not funny.

Well that's the standard bullet weight of a .40S&W. That's like owning a .45acp and complaining of there being nothing but 230 grainers.
The best accuracy of alot of .40 chambered pistols come from using 180 grainers.

 

[461]

I would think one standard loading per round stocked, and one light bullet load. with the future being a heavy bullet load added for each.

 

[TheEgg]

You left out .17 HMR. Lots of new revolvers being sold now for it --and it is one of the fastest selling rifle calibers going right now(I think).

 

[Jake 98c/11b]

"If you could match Wally World's prices and not have your customers stand around and wait for service then I think you would steal alot of their ammo business."

Right up to the point you go bankrupt. Wally World sells cheaper than you can ever buy it for, they are listed as a distributer and often use ammunition as a loss leader. They are willing to take a loss on it to get you in through the doors. Do not try to compete with them price wise, listen to Tamara and the others, sell service and knowledge first and product second.

 

[Majic]

Right up to the point you go bankrupt. Wally World sells cheaper than you can ever buy it for, they are listed as a distributer and often use ammunition as a loss leader. They are willing to take a loss on it to get you in through the doors. Do not try to compete with them price wise, listen to Tamara and the others, sell service and knowledge first and product second.

Notice I qualified my statement with the word "if". The point being "if" you could match their price.
Wally World is not about to take a loss on anything. Notice how their inventory changes when a product doens't sell? They get you thru the doors by constantly lowering prices when they can, but ammo prices are pretty much static.
By attending to the customers and not have them waiting around for someone to come to the counter for assistance or making the sale then you are selling service.
As many have pointed out they would much rather support the smaller shops, but price is a real concern for alot of people.

note to admin.
Please delete this post. There seem to be some form of virus and i'm unable to delete from this site.
Thank you and i'm sorry if this causes problems

 

[Mannlicher]

well, In my ammo closet, there are:
.22
.22 mag
.30 Carbine
.32 Special
.38 Special
9mm
.357
.40 S&W
.41Mag
.44 Special,
.44 Mag
.45 Colt
.45 ACP


So you have to stock those at least.