What would it take to open a ammo reloading Facility?

[JON KARGATHALON]

In light of the Jack Ross ammo problems, I was toying with the idea of possibly opening a similar facility selling reloads for plinking ect. Heres what i was wondering, and please be serious, as i am seriously considering it.

What amount of capital would i need to get started?- I know i will need at least 5 reloading presses fully decked out. (Money isn't an issue)

Do i need some sort of special permit to open a business like that?- I'm New to owning a business.



Say i do make this happen, I realize to avoid the JR problem, i would need to produce a couple hundred thousand rounds of different calibers before i start to sell, and continuously make more as the orders come in. Im guesstimating, maybe $30,000 dollers to start?

[hk91666]

In light of the Jack Ross ammo problems, I was toying with the idea of possibly opening a similar facility selling reloads for plinking ect. Heres what i was wondering, and please be serious, as i am seriously considering it.

What amount of capital would i need to get started?- I know i will need at least 5 reloading pressed fully decked out. (Money isn't an issue)

Do i need some sort of special permit to open a business like that?- I'm New to owning a business.



Say i do make this happen, I realize to avoid the JR problem, i would need to produce a couple hundred thousand rounds of different calibers before i start to sell, and continuously make more as the orders come in. Im guesstimating, maybe $30,000 dollers to start?

I am thinking an 06 FFL (hope I got the number correct)

[Dark Mod]

In light of the Jack Ross ammo problems, I was toying with the idea of possibly opening a similar facility selling reloads for plinking ect. Heres what i was wondering, and please be serious, as i am seriously considering it.

What amount of capital would i need to get started?- I know i will need at least 5 reloading pressed fully decked out. (Money isn't an issue)

Do i need some sort of special permit to open a business like that?- I'm New to owning a business.



Say i do make this happen, I realize to avoid the JR problem, i would need to produce a couple hundred thousand rounds of different calibers before i start to sell, and continuously make more as the orders come in. Im guesstimating, maybe $30,000 dollers to start?

Try $20k just for one machine. A Camdex isnt cheap, thats just for 1 caliber. Plus the components needed to feed it etc.. i would think in the $100k+ to get started.

Plus you need a quarter million in liability insurance, an 06 FFL, business liscence etc..

Definatetly not cheap. The market is saturated with cheap reloads, you wont make much of a profit either.

You could do it on the cheap, buy several Dillon 1050's and hire some guys to operate them, but then your talking about only pumping out 20k rounds a day fully staffed.

Youll be going up against entrenched commercial reloaders. Most of these guys have their sh** together and know how to produce a great product.

Weeks of testing loads, problems finding brass, minor hiccups with the machines, just expect nothing to go totally according to plan. Its gonna be alot harder than it sounds

Going the minimal investment route, your looking at profiting a couple hundred bucks a day if that. Maybe less maybe more

[XDRoX]

If you do this from home I doubt it would even take that much capital to start.

FreakShow is a member on this forum who commercially reloads from his home. He doesn't post here any more but is on glocktalk everyday. He's more than happy to tell you everything you need. So if you're serious then I'd join glocktalk and PM him. He actually posted accurate instruction, very lengthly, on the forum a few years back.

You would need a license to sell ammo, which isn't hard to get and not that expensive. And you'd also need insurance in case your loads hurt somebody. Also I remember it as not being very expensive at all.

The hard part is actually making money at it. The profit margin is really small on common calibers like 9mm and 45.

Expensive rarer calibers are where it's at. You have the greatest opportunity to make money with calibers like 10mm, where it's very expensive to buy. Freakshow also talks about this a lot more in depth.

The easiest way to get started IMO would be to buy a 1050 with two caliber conversions. Pick two calibers, throw the presses in your garage, get a license to sell and insurance, and start reloading.

[JNunez23]

Besides spending a fortune on equipment, you'll need to be insured (maybe 5k/year) FFL fees, and the list goes on and on...reload your own and be done with it.

[qtrxist]

Yep, a decked out Camdex wont be cheap, over $20k.

1050 with bulletfeeder, and ponsness auto-drive would be one other option. or maybe 650 with the same set-up.

Market is the big problem. 90% of people i know who regularly shoot, reloads their own. One can start to reload with a decent press and all stuff needed under $1k.

[JON KARGATHALON]

Thanks for the honest replies guys, I know its definitely not a one man job to go completely commercial, and so i will ponder on this some more for a while.

[Quinc]

Thanks for the honest replies guys, I know its definitely not a one man job to go completely commercial, and so i will ponder on this some more for a while.

Find the freakshow thread and read it. He gives ALOT of viable information.

[JON KARGATHALON]

Find the freakshow thread and read it. He gives ALOT of viable information.

Will do, Thanks for pointing me to him guys.

[M27]

Also because you are in sac county you will need to look into that ammo registry thing if you are going to sell.

If you do open and are looking for employes in the area please PM me, this would be my dream job.

[sargenv]

Not to mention that State department levy/tax/fee of I believe $2500/yr.. then ATF wants 11% of your sales for exise taxes... and income taxes.. and and and..

[JNunez23]

I seriously don't even get how "bullet man 911" makes any profit. Insurance and fees are a monster, they kill any profit that might be left IMO..

[DaveInOroValley]

If you decide to do it I would be interested in working there. i'm young but retired and would love that job.

[Norcalkid]

Find the freakshow thread and read it. He gives ALOT of viable information.

Do you have a link to it? I did a search but couldn't find it.

[blockfort]

I can't imagine why you would want to get in to a business where you can only make money by undercutting your competitors, making small profits on (hopefully) huge volumes.

LAX gets free brass, you'd probably have to own a range to get your prices or profit close to theirs, and you'd have to undersell them since no one knows who you are.

Maybe as a hobby, but it may only get you to cover your own ammo costs, probably not something to make a living on.