If you were starting a reloading store-

[Skip Sackett]

-and wanted to start small, what would be the first products you would put on your shelves?

I want to clarify just a tad. Your store already has a well established firearms sales section. Well stocked and good prices.

Your store also has the only indoor range, open to the public, within a 50 mile radius. The maximum distance is 60'. The targets are on powered positioners and fully adjustable. There is a limit on caliber to 308 Winchester with 95% of the ammo fired being some type of pistol round. From the brass I have gotten out of there, 40% 9mm & 40% 40S&W, 10% 45ACP with all the other calibers coming in with the last 10%.

At this range, you also rent machine guns to shoot on the range. The ammo for those shoots has to be bought on site though.

At any rate, you are thinking on expanding into reloading components too. Another local competitor has recently gone out of business and you will be the only component supplier within a 20 mile radius. I want to stress this part; you want to start small.

So, your suggestions are welcome. Oh, I need to state this too, I have no dog in this hunt. It isn't my store and I don't work there either. It will however, make my trips to supply houses much shorter as it is right across the street from where I work!

List them like this please:
Powders
Projectiles
Primers
(Don't you just love alliteration?)


I know that this is a difficult time to get components. Suppliers are suffering just as consumers are, I understand. I have been encouraging the management of this particular store to get into this part of the "program" too. I believe it is starting to take root!

I'll start:

Powders:
Bullseye, W231, Unique, H110, 2400, and I can't decide on which rifle powder, but something like BL-(C)2 for starters.
Projectiles:
9mm to 45ACP in common weights, plated, 500 each to start. Maybe throw in some 223 55gr bulk cheapies for good measure.
Primers:
Winchester of every kind. WSP, WLP, WSR, WLR.
(If they were available I would get some Wolf too, but that is just me!

)

I know this is like asking folks what kind of car to buy, but think about what you would do if you were starting your own business and had limited funds to start with.

 

[rundownfid]

Some Wal-Marts sell reloading stuff, one can do much worse than copy their thinking. What I have seen is mostly shotgun-handgun powder, such as Clays, 700x, etc, I'd also include 3 or 4 rifle powders.
Projectiles, Berry or Frontier plated (not Wal-mart inspired) in .355, .357, .40, .45 at the very least. A line of either Hornady or Speer pistol HPs (Gold Dot, XTP, etc.) Also, a few rifle types for .22, 7mm, 30 cal at the very least. A few bags of shot & wads appropriate for trap or light field use.
Primers, a 1000 each of S&L rifle and hand gun, plus Shot gun primers.

the reason I have included shotgun and rifle although the shooters using the range are almost all 9mm, 40 & 45 shooters is simple. most shooters and especially reloaders also hunt and will want to buy most of ;their supplies at one place. Force them to go to the INTERNET or the big box and you will likely loose almost all of their business. I doubt there is any way to be really successful with a really small
operation, but by sticking to one brand of primers and one brand of jacketed bullets, etc it can be pared down and still be usefully. In that vein, despite what Wal-Mart does you might look at AA powder and just stock each of their pistol powders 2-7?

 

[canoe on the yukon]

Smith,

How small are you talking about?You will,at least,have to have enough of a selection to cover the most common rounds,powders,etc.

You know which cartridges are the most popular.The pistol powders you mentioned would be okay but you should also cover rifle and shotgun components.

Reloaders will generally try something different on occasion but the "general range"of use should be covered.

I never use anything but heavy field loads in shotguns and so someone else would be much better able to suggest powders for light trap loads,etc but I would consider Herco,SR4756 & Longshot to be minimum.

For rifles,the old standbys are 4895,4350,4831,3031,4064 and a couple of ball powders such as H335 and W760.There are many others,of course,but I'm trying to think of the minimum.

You can stick with one brand of rifle and pistol primers but for shotgun loads,you should have different brands of primers.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I GO TO A RANGE LIKE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. ALOT
OF PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO DRIVE 40 MILES TO ANOTHER TOWN TO GET RELOADING SUPPLIES. I RELOAD
BUT BUY MY SUPPLIES ONLINE AND I BUY IN QUANTITY
THATS CHEAPER.ALOT CHEAPER. GUN STORES ARE VERY HIGH ON EVERYTHING. DON

 

[dennis40x]

For the love Pete no SR-4756 this is so strange.

I’d probably inquire as to the top 10 selling die sets from RCBS and go from there. That information would determine what I stock in the way of components.

 

[Emerson]

I don't want this to sound the wrong way, but I would attempt to stock what folks would buy the most of. Find out from the manufacturers what their most popular products are, and stock those.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Originally posted by rundownfid:
Some Wal-Marts sell reloading stuff, one can do much worse than copy their thinking. What I have seen is mostly shotgun-handgun powder, such as Clays, 700x, etc, I'd also include 3 or 4 rifle powders.
Projectiles, Berry or Frontier plated (not Wal-mart inspired) in .355, .357, .40, .45 at the very least. A line of either Hornady or Speer pistol HPs (Gold Dot, XTP, etc.) Also, a few rifle types for .22, 7mm, 30 cal at the very least. A few bags of shot & wads appropriate for trap or light field use.
Primers, a 1000 each of S&L rifle and hand gun, plus Shot gun primers.

That is the way to go, if a item doesn't sale they remove it from the shelfs and send it where it does sale. So the local store will tell you what the area likes and needs.

 

[rg1]

With the shortage of components now it may not work, but I'd stock popular die sets and shellholders, popular most used powder, Hornady bullets for 9mm, 40SW, 45ACP, 30 caliber rifle, 22 centerfire rifle, 243,270, 7mm , couple of RCBS press kits as well as the less expensive LEE sets and any other often needed items.
Next, I would "post a sign" that you will order powder, primers, bullet, kits, and tools for your customers. I'd place an order every couple weeks for all items ordered. This is assuming you have a reliable dealer that sells wholesale to a FFL and one that can be contacted easily for prices and availability. There's still a lot of customers that prefer to pick up the item at their nearest Gun Shop rather than order on the internet.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Add Power Pistol, 4227, HS-6, Lil'Gun and AA#5 to the handgun/shotgun powders.

Rifle powders, W748, W760, Benchmark, Varget and something for the heavy stuff like 7828 in addition to the powders listed above.

 

[Skip Sackett]

For the love Pete no SR-4756 this is so strange.

Yeah, I know, weird. I didn't want this to turn into a personal supply house idea. The idea isn't to stock what I like, but what others would buy.

That is why I didn't list MY favorite powders, Unique surely isn't one of them, in my list. As I am only ONE customer, and a little odd at that!

What has been suggested is a good one as far as contacting the manufacturers. That is good advice.

 

[walnutred]

Don't forget the annoying little items we all use,
De-capping pins, shell plates, case lube, expander buttons. Around here even shops that do not stock reloading supplies carry 209 primers. So many M/L rifles use them there is good demand.

items

 

[MrPhil]

Almost sounds like the store/range that employs me part time.

I think region has a lot to do with selection.

Powders: In my area they would be Clays, HS6, Unique (or Universal), H110, and BLC2. Clays, HS6, and BLC2 in larger containers too.

Primers: Winchester as you noted. Wolf is also acceptable here.

Bullets: Plated from Xtreme and jacketed from Montana Gold. 223 bullets in 55 fmjbt and 62 fmjbt.

 

[JD 500]

Maybe some of the items not included in "kits" that we still know we need ?

Calipers
Tumblers / Media
Brass (didn't see above)

I would probably second the suggestion of calling a supplier and asking about top sellers.

Did you know that 500 s&w brass is one of Hornady's top 20 items ? I wouldn't have thought that, but that's what they tell me.

I know this will be personal preference, but I don't think there is a more go to powder for .300 wm, than RE-22.

??
Good luck,

 

[duckloads]

Just my thoughts..

You might start out stocking only shotshell components. Shotshell primers are widely available, in my area anyway. All shotshell components are available, but it might be more seasonal (hunting season) than pistol stuff.

When pistol and rifle primers become reliably available again, grow the business some more. Selling buns without hotdogs ain't a good business plan.

 

[duckloads]

I would also go real light on shotgun stuff.

That shows you what I know. You might forget everything I said above. Sometimes my advice isn't worth the ink on the paper. haha.

 

[Noah Zark]

RCBS publishes annual data on the most popular reloading die sets by units sold. I would contact them for the latest version of that data, and perhaps get YTD data for 2009 if possible. The cartridges represented by those most popular die sets would be the cartridges for which I'd stock cases, bullets, and powder. Maybe start with the top 15 best sellers, but note that the top sellers might include many of the "Ultra Short Magnum cartridges of the Month" that were touted in the past 12 months as being the best thing since sliced bread. What guns the shop ain't sellin' in an RCBS popular list-maker cartridge, don't bother stockin' supplies for.

I think region has a lot to do with selection.

Absolutely. Given your personal intel and that of the shop regarding local preferences in cartridges, I would stock those, too, if different from the most popular in the RCBS annual list. For example, the 25-06 is very popular in this neck of the woods because of the large number of silhouette shooters around here. Go elsewhere, and it may be a poor redheaded stepchild.

As for powders, I'd recommend stocking the popular powders that are used in the top 15 selling die sets as above. Review data from reloading forums and other sources such as current editions of reloading manuals and powder manufacturer websites. Then stock the 20% of the powders that do 80% of the loads. Powders are like "Ultra Short Magnum" cartridges, though. A gun rag runs a positive article on a particluar powder that yielded ORH groups at 600 yds and OSK performance on cape buffalo in southern Ohio, then reloaders are going to be asking for that powder. IMO, you can't go wrong with a lot of the old standbys -- 4831, 4195, 4350, BC2, 700-X, 3031, 4227, 2400, W231, W760, Varget, Unique, Titegroup, Clays, Bullseye, RL7, RL9, RL15, RL19, etc. I'm a dinosaur, and some of those powders might no longer be made.

Have the store contact their distributors for intel on what powders and bullets are popular sellers ("All of the above right now, buddy. Ain't you read the newspapers?"). Jerrys, Natchez, RSR, Wideners, etc., all probably have some stats on the 20% of the stuff that accounts for 80% of sales of reloading brass, powder, and bullets.

As for primers, there's a lot of personal reference there. I used to like CCI until I had trouble with their primer dimensions in the mid 80s. CCI primers ran about 0.0015" more in dia and about 0.0002" to 0.0004" long, and despite swaging pockets I had no end of fits getting CCI primers to seat correctly. I read too late that CCI was replacing those primers if customers complained, but I switched to Federal and Winchester and never looked back. If someone only started reloading in the late 90s, for example, and used CCI, they might think I'm telling stories or crazy. That said, you'd be doing well to stock ANY primers at present.

Also the store should be asking every customer if they reload, and what powder and bullets they regularly use, and how much. Keep a clipboard with some spreadsheets done up with the survey questions at the register and at each of the gun counters. Instruct the hired help to chat up the customers about their reloading interests, habits, and needs.

HTH,

Noah

 

[zercool]

My pusher has started stocking RamShot brand powder. He did some work with it personally before stocking, and swears by it. I picked up a pound of TAC (rifle powder) and a pound of True Blue (pistol powder) to try out.

Dies: in my neck of the country, you'd be good with .30-30, .270, .30-06, .38/.357, .40, .45, and maybe 9mm. .223 if you could find them.

Primers: whatever you can find, for the time being.

I've been using MagTech and have been very happy with them. Winchesters have worked well for me also.

 

[Sgt Preston]

Sgt Preston here. Let's first assume that the idea here is to invest a VERY small amount of money & be able to sell ALL the supplies within a very few months, with NO leftovers EVER. Given that starting point, I would suggest talking to & polling his current range members who reload to find out what they actually use now & if they be interested in buying from him. I would limit my selections to pistol primers & only a few powders & a few bullet heads of the weight & shapes that they actually load NOW. After the business got started, I'd consider adding rifle powders & components as requested by his customers. I would also have a small amount of corn cob & liquid brass polish on hand. I would stear clear of reloading machines & die sets as the internet will always beat his prices. He will also need to consider buying adequate & safe (fireproof) storage + how this may new business might affect his property insurance rates. Hope this helps.
Sgt Preston USMC LLA

 

[ricks1]

I will go with sarg on the find out what they would want. Put a "what would you like to see" box out and work from there. Thats the way your local hardware store used to work

 

[n4zov]

Find out from the manufacturers what their most popular products are, and stock those.

That sounds like good advice. I would probably stay with one line of loading equipment until the business was established. Whatever you stock, your first customer is probably gonna say, "Why you mean you don't have any MagBlaster 5122 powder in stock!"