Can You Make $'s at Gunshows?

[Ricochet]

I dont have a FFL.
However, Im playing around with the idea of selling just ammo and mags at gun shows.
Renting like 4 tables and selling the most popular calibers.
Id like to do it to make a few dollars while still working my 9-5 job, and just to get accustomed to running a small gun related business.


Has anyone here ever regularly sold at gun shows?

[Emptymag]

Neo31rex31 is a long time member here who may be able to assist with your quest for profit.

[Gunsnwater]

If you stock up right now on ammo and Ar parts and wate untill the next grab you can make a profit while being called ugly names.

I don't see enough margin in ammo for the weight right now. $300 for 1000 5.56 and $200 for 1000 9mm give or take $20. Then you need free shipping. I'm not paying $340 for the 5,56 or $230 for the 9mm because of the Internet.

Ace cases have good prices on quantity. It's very bulky product. And the ammo can deal that was on P.S.A. Would have been good.

I have had the same ideas as you for a while now.

Oh almost forgot that $5 mag deal on bodyguard mags. I know metalform and sarco had low prices on good 1911 mags, I haven't needed any in a while.

[Ricochet]

If you stock up right now on ammo and Ar parts and wate untill the next grab you can make a profit while being called ugly names.

I don't see enough margin in ammo for the weight right now. $300 for 1000 5.56 and $200 for 1000 9mm give or take $20. Then you need free shipping. I'm not paying $340 for the 5,56 or $230 for the 9mm because of the Internet.

Ace cases have good prices on quantity. It's very bulky product. And the ammo can deal that was on P.S.A. Would have been good.

I have had the same ideas as you for a while now.

Oh almost forgot that $5 mag deal on bodyguard mags. I know metalform and sarco had low prices on good 1911 mags, I haven't needed any in a while.

You make good points.
Ammo and gun parts are the lowest ive seen since the late 90's.

[Remington788]

What do you suppose the table rental would cost?

[WCMG]

What do you suppose the table rental would cost?

We normally pay between $25 to $35 a table... we setup at gun shows about 2 times a year to advertise our machine gun rental business. We used to try to sell ammo, stripped lowers, etc at gun shows, but that was a race to the bottom to make a few dollars. Now if you reload, that's a different story, or sell once-fired brass, but to buy and sell factory ammo at gun shows, you will have a tough time making enough to make it worthwhile. Depends what your goal is for income.

[Ricochet]

We normally pay between $25 to $35 a table... we setup at gun shows about 2 times a year to advertise our machine gun rental business. We used to try to sell ammo, stripped lowers, etc at gun shows, but that was a race to the bottom to make a few dollars. Now if you reload, that's a different story, or sell once-fired brass, but to buy and sell factory ammo at gun shows, you will have a tough time making enough to make it worthwhile. Depends what your goal is for income.

Thanks for the insight.
Id just like to get into the gun business later on down the road and Im looking for some type of way to start learning the ropes.

Ive got a few other ideas I can look into.
I make really good money at my regular job, but Id like to work for myself in the future and firearms have been my passion my whole life.

[wanneroo]

My successful experience in the past as a one man small scale retailer is that you need to do something special that not everyone else is doing. You've got to find some service or product(s) that is wanted but harder to find, basically a niche.

[McSull]

Seems like right now, the guys with military surplus guns that they bought 3-5 years ago or more, are doing pretty good. Everything else is dirt cheap online right now.

[Hawk]

I suggest you sell beef jerky, or gutter helmets, or cheap knives!