Surplus defense guns are profit builders - demand for used and surplus firearms - Industry Overview

Shooting Industry, Oct, 1998 by Massab Ayoob

Remember also that, unlike handguns, it is common practice for cops to qualify with dedicated "range shotguns" instead of the ones in their cars. This means that the patrol car guns will have been shot rarely, if ever, but possibly neglected; the range guns will probably have been maintained at least to some degree, but have been buffeted almost to pieces by the constant rapid fire of full power loads that resemble the .375 Magnum elephant rifle.

You'll want to buy the trade-in shotguns from a distributor you can trust to be up front with you about the guns' condition. Before you make the commitment, though, check your latest brochures from the distributors. You may be able to get brand new Mossberg 500 or Remington Express 870 pumps wholesale for very close to what it might cost you for the police trades.

With all three types of police trades, remember that most PDs, especially the big ones, are likely to keep in the armory a number of spare weapons that are in mint, unfired condition, never having been issued. The trade-up of 870 to 11-87, from Model 686 to Model 4006, or from 9mm to .40, will include a limited number of these cherry guns at surplus prices. These may be the best bargains of all for you to share with your loyal customers.

Time was "surplus firearm" meant a Lee-Enfield .303 that you'd sell to your customer with a Fajen stock and Lyman sight so he could sporterize it and go

hunting. Today, it means something different: Affordable, combat-proven protection for a customer who may well be making his first commitment to buy a gun to protect his family.