I apologize if this is over asked or comes off wrong but I am looking for some advice. I recently opened a gunshop and do mainly gunsmithing. I have been getting quite a bit of sales on new guns and guys are asking me about ammo. Where do Gunshops get their ammo from for stocking shelves and such. Do you just buy bulk and charge individual?
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Rollis R. Karvellis
Member
You will need to contact the different distributors and start getting your name known to them. Then it comes down to buy more, pay less, and maintain a good profit margin for yourself.
bassjam
Member
You should probably get on the phone directly with the ammo companies, they can probably point you in the right direction.
https://www.aguilaammo.com/become-a-dealer-or-distributor/
https://www.aguilaammo.com/become-a-dealer-or-distributor/
AABEN
Member
You can find places on here the NET that is how I find good buy ! SGAmmo is a good one you can buy bulk and buy ammo box and sale by 50 round at a time and make money!
If you have a Walmart close by, go look at their prices. Then make phone calls to wholesale distributors and see if you can compete. If you can get with in $2-$3/box, sell your own. If not, carry stuff Walmart isn’t selling. A quick google search of “wholesale ammuntion distributors” will get you results your looking for.
Something else you might consider is selling reloading components and manuals.
Something else you might consider is selling reloading components and manuals.
FL-NC
Member
When I worked at a shop we got most everything from Ellett brothers.
Speedo66
Member
Depending on where you're located, you may be able to find a local distributor and save on bulk shipping.
WelshShooter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2014
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- 491
Why not look into reloading supplies? Shipping bullets and cases is cheap but hazmat fees for primers and powders are expensive. I bet you'd get good local business if you can stock the popular powders and primers at a decent price.
I second the advice to check for local manufacturing or remanufacturing or wholesale distributor that saves you the cost of shipping.
Bbear
Member
Here are just a few that I know of:
http://hillcountrywholesale.com/
http://acusport.com
http://www.grafs.com
http://www.gzanders.com
Grafs sells to both wholesale and the public. The rest are pure wholesalers.
http://hillcountrywholesale.com/
http://acusport.com
http://www.grafs.com
http://www.gzanders.com
Grafs sells to both wholesale and the public. The rest are pure wholesalers.
il.bill
Member
I do not make much money on selling ammo, but the profit margin is usually better than on a firearm, and it is nice to have some target ammo on hand if a customer wants to take a box or two along with their new .22LR semi-auto or their .40S&W pistol.
First place to check for ammunition would be the distributors from whom you are buying those new guns of which you are selling quite a bit. You can just add the ammo to the firearm order - most wholesalers have a flat rate shipping price so there is usually no extra S/H charge even if the order comes in multiple boxes.
I sometimes find very good 'one day only' deals from online retailers like Palmetto State Armory, AIM Surplus, SGAmmo, etc. Buy a case if you get a good price and there you are!
First place to check for ammunition would be the distributors from whom you are buying those new guns of which you are selling quite a bit. You can just add the ammo to the firearm order - most wholesalers have a flat rate shipping price so there is usually no extra S/H charge even if the order comes in multiple boxes.
I sometimes find very good 'one day only' deals from online retailers like Palmetto State Armory, AIM Surplus, SGAmmo, etc. Buy a case if you get a good price and there you are!
Sauer Grapes
Member
Good luck! We can never have too many LGS/gunsmiths.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
My wife and I owned a gun shop during the early and mid 90s. We were fortunate in that we had two major distributors within an hours ride. One killer with ammo was the shipping cost so I would take my truck about once a week and drive down and pick up not just ammo but all of our reloading supplies. They also sole to us at a reduced dealers cost. This worked well for us as while not the best prices we could compete with the Maga-Marts. If you have a close distributor you need to figure out if it is to your advantage, for us there was no doubt.
Ron
let me start with saying thank you for the responses. Really appreciated. I have been checking around I just didn't want to waste anymore time and someone on here say hey dummy go to this place. thank you again and I wish you all the best of luck in anything yall do.
What is your objective? Sell a few boxes when someone buys a gun or be a shop that everyone says is the only place in town to buy ammo from.
Just a few boxes? Maybe hit up a few websites and buy yourself a modest stock in various calibers.
If you want to be the spot to buy ammo. Try hitting up a local remanufacturing business. Box it up in 250 count boxes and hit up your local forums heavily and start mining for ammo sales. Then start selling new ammo in bulk.
A local gun shop that is out of the way used the above recipe and now has a pretty sweet business going for himself.
Good luck
Just a few boxes? Maybe hit up a few websites and buy yourself a modest stock in various calibers.
If you want to be the spot to buy ammo. Try hitting up a local remanufacturing business. Box it up in 250 count boxes and hit up your local forums heavily and start mining for ammo sales. Then start selling new ammo in bulk.
A local gun shop that is out of the way used the above recipe and now has a pretty sweet business going for himself.
Good luck
John Joseph
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
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- 1,441
Who are your customers and what sort of ammo will satisfy the demand?
The CCW crowd is a fickle lot,
Hunters reliable but less volume unless its dove season,
For supplying new gun owners with an initial "stuffing", stocking ammo may be more of public service than a profit.
Cheap surplus ammo from overseas always seems to be very popular with Cosmic Commandos prepping for Armageddon.
As you'll be competing with Walmart and the internet, I'd suggest homing in on niche markets Walmart can't be bothered with.
When I started with pistols, the local shop offered really good commercially loaded reloads (the PD and SO used them for training rds) and would exchange the fired brass for credit against "new" reloads. This helped a lot of us young guys out and built up a loyal clientele.
Kp321
Member
I have been a licensed dealer for 40 years. When I first started, ammo and some components were regulated, ffl required to buy/sell. When the rules were changed, ammo sales hit bottom. I still do not stock any ammo but do carry primers. Bulk purchases allow decent profit margins. Internet ammo sales have made it a different game, concentrate on what Walmart does not carry if you want to have some on the shelf, premium lines, etc. I second buying from Grafs, they are good people to deal with.
MidRoad
Member
Seems like you got your answer,I hope the business works out! It would be nice to see you stick around and not post and run. This forum is full of knowledgeable people ,and can be very helpful and informative. Updates are always interesting .
JeffG
Member
Just a suggestion, buy bulk, and charge a reasonable price increase for the convenience.
https://www.ammoman.com/
https://www.luckygunner.com/
https://www.freedommunitions.com/
https://www.ammoman.com/
https://www.luckygunner.com/
https://www.freedommunitions.com/
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