What guns would you sell? (If you ran a gun shop)

[B&W FOX]

Open up a Bass Pro Shop along with a version of their Webb store and that should sort out a few other retailers!!!

I do like Celtic guns, compact shop and well presented secondhand guns.

 

[Essexsussex]

What with the US restricting rifle sales to Europe, and Brexit making importing both expensive, and a hassle, I'm not certain I'd want to be stocking new rifles, I think I'd be taking advantage of the very depressed used market, concentrating on buying only first class examples, of various of the better brands, covering the most popular calibres, and price points. I would include Blaser, because it is an excellent rifle, with a vast number of options, that can be bought for relatively sensible money used.

I'd build a reputation for only offering properly inspected, rifles, if possible, with a target showing a grp, and the suggested ammunition, taking that "what am I buying" fear out of the equation.

I would narrow down the number of stock items, to limit stock investment, and stick to the core products, where there is a sensible margin, and let the on line bucket shops, and Ebay fight it out for the shrapnel.

Over time, I would expect the business to evolve, finding it's own niches, to build a loyal customer base.

I think the idea of a shop selling high quality secondhand with a target showing genuinely achievable groups is an excellent idea, and probably a no quibble return. Ivythorn seem to be spoken of in a similar vein, I hope he is making money because customers seem to love the service.

 

[Flintlock]

I was chatting to an outdoor/country gear shop owner who wants to apply for a registered firearms dealership.
He’s currently quite niche, only selling Harkilla, Pilla and Swatcom.
He asked me, if I was opening a gun shop, what brands would you sell?
Here’s my list, but what would yours be, if you wanted to make money? There’s little point in stocking lots of exotic calibres because you’d rarely ever sell any. For example, my ‘go to‘ rifle is a 6.5x55, but I wouldn’t sell them in my shop, because so many more people are buying Creedmore’s.

Shotguns: Beretta, Browning, and maybe one Turkish brand, Yildiz or ATA.
Calibres: 20b and 12b. (I wouldn’t bother with 410 & 28b, purely on a volume basis)
Rifles: CZ, Sako, Tikka, Blaser.
Calibres: 17HMR, .22LR, .243, 6.5 Creedmore, .308.

That’s it.

To be a dealer that people want to go to you need a lot of stock, be a decent person and have parking close. The problem with the first one is financial outlay and money tied up in stock. If you go small, you run the risk of just serving the people you know. Anyway, I would add to the lists before me:
Franchi shotguns & now rifle (quality as a good price)
Steyr rifles
Zeiss scopes
Pick 2 reloading bullet and keep stocks up (Hornady and Berger)

Decide if to either do mail order or walk in of the street, and do it well.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I’ve now had time to more fully consider the Op’s proposition and have concluded:

a. Stutzens
b. Fixed power scopes given of European glass
c. Leather rifle slings
d. Leather scope covers
e. Leather ammunition wallets
f. A very limited range of scope rings & mounts
g. 22LR sound moderators

Looking forward to commenting on in-the-woods clothing when the Op gets around to posting such a thread.

K

 

[User00040]

I’ve now had time to more fully consider the Op’s proposition and have concluded:

a. Stutzens
b. Fixed power scopes given of European glass
c. Leather rifle slings
d. Leather scope covers
e. Leather ammunition wallets
f. A very limited range of scope rings & mounts
g. 22LR sound moderators

Looking forward to commenting on in-the-woods clothing when the Op gets around to posting such a thread.

K

Dungeon in the basement?

 

[VSS]

I would start off with the intention of selling some nice, good quality, older rifles...

So I'd go to an auction, and buy up some stock of the type of rifles I like....

And then, once I'd got them, I wouldn't want to sell them, so I'd close up my shop and go stalking.

It's not really surprising that I've never made much money in my life, is it?

 

[Dave_45]

I would start off with the intention of selling some nice, good quality, older rifles...

So I'd go to an auction, and buy up some stock of the type of rifles I like....

And then, once I'd got them, I wouldn't want to sell them, so I'd close up my shop and go stalking.

It's not really surprising that I've never made much money in my life, is it?

I laugh, only because I'd do the same

 

[Taff]

As I already sell guns, here is my opinion, keep most of the well known brands in Calibers that are used in your area, not what the rep says are the future, a good collection of cheap secondhand guns. Ammo for all calibres, even the obscure ones. Airguns always sell, rings, rails , scopes .etc in three price ranges
Ok NZ is different to the uk, we have over 500 guns at the moment, from $135 up.

 

[gixer1]

If I had to choose what guns to sell - none….its a slow move market here and everywhere seems to have a pile of stock lying about, we are close to a government change and I think guns may be one of the things thrown under the bus!

Sorry to be all doom and gloom, but how many guns do you buy a year?

 

[EDCM]

I spoke to an rfd , its been ages since he sold a blaser or high end sauer or sako.

His words

"It's all the sh**e that's selling"


Suppose the economy isn't currently great

The trouble is that a lot of that "sh*te" out shoots the more boutique guns at half the price.

 

[scoby270]

Firstly I would make it a destination to treasured by visitors. I would have skilled gunsmiths building guns and rifles using a mix of both modern and ancient techniques. And I would have a viewing gallery so people can see their gun being built or repaired.

I would also make sure we had a good restaurant selling good healthy food at reasonable prices.

In many ways I would follow the business model of many whisky distilleries.

I would have a good clay and rifle either on hand or close buy

And I would make sure that we catered for all ends of the spectrum. From a good solid working rifle or shotgun for a few hundred right up to hand built bespoke for several tens of thousand.

I would add in outdoor clothing, equipment etc - again from affordable to very fine. And I would include other outdoor pursuits such as mounteneering, skiing, climbing and fishing.

Decathlon with a shooting section ?.

 

[Dave_45]

The trouble is that a lot of that "sh*te" out shoots the more boutique guns at half the price.

It's the truth, a blaser won't shoot any better than a used tikka or some ilk

 

[tackb]

i wouldn't go near owning a gunshop without a major change in the licensing system , it's is made very difficult to change guns/calibres by our government but for no improvement in safety

all restrictions they bring in should have a period of trial and if no appreciable improvement is seen it automatically reverts to the old system , then i'd go and buy my handguns back and semi auto rifles.......

 

[Taff]

Our system is so much better, walk in with license buy what is legal, want to sell your gun, sell to anyone with a license, own as many as you want, newby license five years, ten after that.

 

[slider]

None, 'cause they would all be MINE!

 

[Klenchblaize]

Our system is so much better, walk in with license buy what is legal, want to sell your gun, sell to anyone with a license, own as many as you want, newby license five years, ten after that.

I genuinely hope you hang on to that and much more. What I hear from my NZ contacts; those given of Citenship, is the pressure remains very much on law-abiding firearms owners even though JA is no longer driving Government Policy.

K

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

I would probably sell high end air rifles. The money people spend on them- in sub 12 and fac- is nuts.

But economically it's a risky time to tie up a lot of money in stock and ammo.

 

[John Gryphon]

I wouldn't sell any. Any means having stock and at present that's bad business. The money IMHO is not there as the market is awash with secondhand guns.

Ha ha ha, Richard has it occurred to you that you can only have second hand guns after they start off as new guns?
So many owners only want new and would never dream of buying a used firearm,they are often never happy and that once 'new' gun then gets tossed into the market....so they can buy a new one lol.

 

[User00040]

Our system is so much better, walk in with license buy what is legal, want to sell your gun, sell to anyone with a license, own as many as you want, newby license five years, ten after that.

Seems your powers that be want to copy the UK model... ammo restrictions, 'good reason', triggering event??!

 

[John Gryphon]

Our system is so much better

Yep agreed. On our way down to Tahr country we stopped at the LGS in Greymouth. All firearms were on wall racks around the store. One could simply walk over have a look and pick one up and 'get the feel'