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6 Trends in Hunting Firearms Manufacturing and What They Mean for Retailers
The hunting weapons industry has experienced many changes over the past five years. Flexible companies seized these opportunities and look forward to a future of steady growth and new markets. Modern technologies like 3D printing and AI design are revolutionizing the production of hunting weapons. Lightweight and modular designs are gaining popularity as they offer customization and better value for money. Ergonomic improvements enhance comfort and precision, benefiting brick-and-mortar retailers. Stay informed and relevant!
Trends in Hunting Firearms Manufacturing and What They Mean for Retailers
All businesses want to stay ahead of the curve. Being relevant and current in the eyes of your customer base is especially important if you’re a retailer in the hunting, shooting, or outdoor industries. End users in these markets are some of the most knowledgeable and technically-minded you will ever meet, so it stands to reason that they also keep well-informed about the latest trends and themes in the industry. This is why it’s vital that you as a retailer also stay in touch with the latest trends, and one of the best ways to do that is to pay attention to what the manufacturers are doing. Companies that make firearms only make products they believe will sell or that there is a strong market for – therefore examining the movements in manufacturing is one of the best ways to inform the way you run your store. Here are a few ideas to think about that could help you stay on trend with your customers.
Evolving Technologies
Many firearms are still made in the traditional ways they always used to be, and that’s part of their appeal to buyers. However, many others are made with more modern and advanced manufacturing technologies that can do things the way the old days did but even better. Smart 3D scanning, 3D printing, AI-assisted design, and newly created materials that require different processes are slowly creeping their way into firearm manufacture, whether that’s for rifles, shotguns, or handguns. As a retailer, it really pays to stay informed when it comes to how manufacturers are building their guns. You can then relay this information to your customers to help them make better decisions and also to prove your worth as a font of knowledge.
Spotlight on Sustainability
Whether you like it or not, sustainability continues to be a hugely pressing issue for modern consumers. People care about products that are kinder to the environment, from the way they are manufactured, to the materials used to make them. For firearms, this could mean using metals and alloys that are less energy-intensive to produce or even creating such materials by recycling old ones. It may also equate to using materials that have less impact on the environment from a pollution standpoint such as non-toxic coatings or using alternatives to lead. As a retailer, it’s important you are aware of these sustainability aspects of different products because they make great selling points. It’s also important that you stay abreast of the latest sustainability efforts being made by the manufacturers in general. If a shotgun manufacturer has just planned to go carbon neutral, or a rifle producer now powers its factory only with sustainable energy, you need to know about it so you can keep your eco-minded customers informed.
Weight is the Enemy
When it comes to hunting rifles, lightweight options used to be few and far between, however, things have been rapidly changing, driven by a demand from consumers and also by more advanced manufacturing techniques and materials. The consumer demand for super-lightweight rifles or shotguns is mainly for a small percentage of hunters who go off into the wilderness over rugged and challenging terrain for multiple days hunting their quarry. For these hunters, it’s obvious why a lighter rifle would be beneficial. But once some lightweight options that don’t compromise performance started entering the market, other consumers began to think: “Why shouldn’t I have a lighter rifle too?” even if they don’t necessarily need it for extreme expeditions. Once something exists that is perceived as a better option, people tend to want it whether they need it or not. In today’s market, it’s not uncommon to find hunting rifles weighing less than 3kg, achieved by using different synthetic materials on the stock and fluted barrels. In rifles for both hunting and target shooting, it’s clear that weight is now enemy number one.
Modular hunting rifles: SAKO - a member of the Beretta Group - as a pioneer at the IWA OutdoorClassicsMaking Things Modular
Almost everyone we have talked to in the hunting and shooting industry over the past few months has told us that the trend for products to be modular and customisable is taking off – no matter which sector they work in. You only have to look at the success of products such as the Sako S20 modular rifle, which has applications in both hunting and precision shooting to see how a product like this can have mass appeal. With finances getting tight for many end users, a modular design that can be adapted or changed makes more sense for many people. It not only offers wider performance but also better value for money. As a retailer, it’s important you make room for such products in your store. Letting customers have customisation and control over what they are buying makes them more emotionally invested in their purchase – something that buys you a lot of kudos as a retailer.
The manufacture of hunting rifles is also being revolutionized technically. One example of this is the hunting rifle manufacturer CZ.Ergonomic Enhancements
The way a gun fits in your hand or goes to your shoulder is perhaps one of the most important aspects about it. It’s also a key advantage that brick-and-mortar retailers have over online, as they are places where people can test the ergonomics of a firearm for themselves. So, when manufacturers start to come up with more advanced ergonomics and designs, physical retailers are best placed to take advantage. Making firearms that fit better, both for sporting shooting and hunting, is a high priority for manufacturers. One great example is CZ’s digital firearm ergonomic design (DiFEND) programme – a manufacturing process that utilises high-end software to perfect almost every aspect of a gun’s ergonomics. When a major brand goes to this level of investment of its time and energy to improve ergonomics, it proves that it is one of the hottest trends in the sector.
Love for Lever-Action
Another trend in hunting firearms manufacturing that has been steadily increasing over the past years is the resurgence of the lever-action rifle. It’s been a remarkable turn of events for a type of firearm that not that long seemed confined to the history books. While bolt-action rifles are generally more accurate, more modern, and more reliable, lever-action rifles have become desired by shooting consumers around the world once again. Perhaps it’s the same nostalgia for older technologies that has seen similar revivals of music on vinyl or 35mm film photography. Whatever it is, manufacturers are investing in the production of lever-action rifles once again. There have been new introductions such as the Winchester Ranger 22, and there have been revivals and reimaginings of classics such as the Marlin 1895, which came about following the purchase of Marlin by Sturm, Ruger & Co. This is a trend that you can’t afford to ignore – people who are into things like this, that are full of nostalgia, are normally some of the most loyal customers you can get.
About Sako Oy
SAKO is one of the world's most prestigious rifle and cartridge manufacturers, and a member of the Beretta Holding Group.
About CZ
Ceska zbrojovka (CZ) is the main European production facility of the Colt CZ Group, located in Uherský Brod, Czech Republic. It produces firearms for commercial, military and law enforcement customers worldwide. The company exports products to more than 90 countries. Currently, CZ’s firearms are widely used by military and law enforcement agencies in more than 40 countries worldwide.
