What Firearms Stuff from N. LA County LE store?

[emerwear]

Greetings,

I have a question regarding firearms stuff for LE members.

By way of introduction I own a uniform store in Santa Clarita, which is in north LA County just north of the San Fernando Valley.

We're thinking of adding firearms stuff (no guns) to our stock. I thought I would ask, especially of the LASD and LAPD members, what you folk want. Obviously replies from anyone would be helpful but we sell mostly to officers/deputies in those two agencies.

Right now I have duty & conceal holsters for most duty/off-duty weapons and related duty gear but that's about it.

Firearms related stuff isn't something we've thought about carrying until very recently. I've been asking customers when they come in and I thought I'd ask here too: With regard to firearms related stuff what do you want? What do you need? Cleaning kits? Accessories? Bags, cases or safes? Grips? Lasers? (Weapon lights I already have.)

I'm not trying to advertise (if you want to know who I am PM me). I'd like to know what LEOs need most related to servicing and using their firearms.

Only caveat is nothing requiring an FFL. So no magazines either.

So here's your chance to tell a store what they should be carrying!

Thanks for looking in.

(Mods, if this is in the wrong forum, or inappropriate to this forum, let me know please.)

[rudeboy3]

Do you happen to be Emergency warehouse?

[TrailerparkTrash]

Well, you said no "FFL" stuff. I have to ask, have you seen "pro force" in Brea? They onky sell to LEO and they are off the hook with business. Plus, besides them and LAPD's LAPRAC store, those two are the only game in town for guns and magazines for LE.

Wouldnt thay be a big business boom for you if you were the only game in town for north LA county , doing the same type of business as those other two retailers?

Im just say'n......

[SoCalDep]

I''m not sure, but the city they're in might make FFL stuff tough...

If it were me I'd try to get an FFL...If nothing else at least to carry mags. But barring that, I'd carry cleaning equipment (bore snakes and basic kits), molle gear, snap caps, laser grips, the new generation of Chinese tactical lights (I know...but Fenix, Eagletac, etc., make some great lights with great selling features), AR15 accessories (CA legal stuff like bullet buttons, stocks, handguards, sights, optics, etc...), and more CCW holster options, including Kydex.

[CSACANNONEER]

You don't need a FFL to carry mags!

[SkyStorm82]

I agree with trailerparktrash. I think you would end up doing a lot more business that way.

[Notorious]

You need a high cap permit to sell LE mags.

I agree, lights, bore snakes, cases, and M4 accessories. As for holsters, unfortunately, the mass market stuff mostly suck when out comes to concealment.

As you know your two main customers' departments, find out what guns are most popular, (glock 22 for lapd; beretta 92 for lasd), and focus on some gods holsters and mag carriers and stuff. Go to Lapraac and Proforce to see their selection. Then carry something different.

[CSACANNONEER]

You need a high cap permit to sell LE mags.

LE mags? Do you just mean +10 round mags? Anyway, yep, a high cap permit has nothing to do with a FFL. So, the OP might be able to get a high cap permit from Ca DOJ without ever trying to get a FFL from ATF.

[emerwear]

To answer multiple replies at once:

Yes, I own Emergency Wearhouse. I didn't want to mention it at the top since customs differ from site to site and I wanted to avoid looking like I was trying to advertise in the forums.

Next, we recently had another business approach us about sub-letting space to sell LE weapons. We decided against having them in, mostly because we were concerned about security (related to being robbed not a problem with them personally). It got us thinking about the fact that we had avoided selling some firearm related stuff, and wondering why we didn't. I already am a factory direct reseller for Safariland, so I can get Break Free and KleenBore. Some items (e.g. Streamlight) require orders larger than a small shop like mine can handle so I get them through a distributor. That gets me to other stuff I don't currently have like Hogue grips, Crimson Trace lasers, Otis Tech, Hoppe, and so on. As I said above I already have holsters (even for the LCP and 1911) and duty gear.

As to an FFL, I've fiddled with the idea for years but never tried doing it. I know about LAPRAAC and ProForce of course, but frankly selling firearms always came back to store security. Obviously from the feedback I'm going to have to re-think getting an FFL. I have a fair idea of the pricing for LE firearms through one of my distributors. I'd need to look into what local permits I need to see if anything has changed since I last looked down this path.

Thanks for your feedback.

[emerwear]

You need a high cap permit to sell LE mags.

I agree, lights, bore snakes, cases, and M4 accessories. As for holsters, unfortunately, the mass market stuff mostly suck when out comes to concealment.

Aker makes some nice, close fitting holsters. Better than Bianchi in that regard. Tried Fobus and got way too much blowback. I'm thinking about trying kydex again with some Blackhawk holsters.

I've got Streamlight TLR-1s and am a direct retailer for SureFire and the X300 (and they'd want me to say the new, New, NEW 6PXD). Even have both rails for the 92FS/TLR set.

As you know your two main customers' departments, find out what guns are most popular, (glock 22 for lapd; beretta 92 for lasd), and focus on some gods holsters and mag carriers and stuff. Go to Lapraac and Proforce to see their selection. Then carry something different.

LAPD has gone crazy for the Ruger LCP and the S&W Bodyguard, though I haven't had nearly as many requests for the Bodyguard as for the LCP. Seems to be a problem getting them. Otherwise the G22, some G21, and G26/27. Get questions about other small Glocks but not enough to stock specifically. This works for the north county municipalities too. For LASD the Beretta 92, S&W M&P 9mm, some Sig (though several for the modified P226R) and H&K, and the J-Frame of course.

[Ron-Solo]

Well, you said no "FFL" stuff. I have to ask, have you seen "pro force" in Brea? They onky sell to LEO and they are off the hook with business. Plus, besides them and LAPD's LAPRAC store, those two are the only game in town for guns and magazines for LE.

Wouldnt thay be a big business boom for you if you were the only game in town for north LA county , doing the same type of business as those other two retailers?

Im just say'n......

Don't forget All State Police Equipment in Pomona. Great people there and they are competitive with ProForce on most items. Some of their gun prices are actually better.

[emerwear]

Don't forget All State Police Equipment in Pomona. Great people there and they are competitive with ProForce on most items. Some of their gun prices are actually better.

Funny thing, I've been buying from their LE wholesale arm for years.

[Jonathan Doe]

LE duty and off duty holsters will be a welcome addition. I am having hard time finding the holsters I want.

[emerwear]

LE duty and off duty holsters will be a welcome addition. I am having hard time finding the holsters I want.

Out of curiosity which types of holsters? For which weapon?

[retired]

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