Montana gun industry thriving despite poor economy

From Big Sky country:

Brian Sipe recalls when the noted rifle barrel maker Les Bauska told him: “If you want to starve to death, become a gunsmith.” So, naturally, Sipe became a gunsmith.

Then in 1990, he parlayed his skills into the rifle barrel business, starting Montana Rifleman with “about $200” to his name. But one by one, the rifle barrels began pouring out of his shop and that $200 grew some fat. Nearly 20 years later, Sipe’s barrels can be found across the world, on rifles with household names like Remington and Bushmaster.

And this year, prompted by concern over how the Obama administration will affect federal gun laws, business has gone through the roof. People are stocking up on firearms, Sipe said. Montana Rifleman, located on Montana Highway 35 outside of Kalispell, has already churned out more than 100,000 rifle barrels this year. In past years, the total was closer to 70,000-80,000, Sipe said.

“We’re not a hobby barrel maker anymore,” Sipe said.

...

In both its regulatory environment and its culture, Montana is a welcoming place for firearms manufacturers. Lone Wolf Riflestocks was originally based out of California, but Culbertson said he “kind of got pushed out of the state” because of costly inspections and regulations. In general, Montana is small-business-friendly, he said. Culbertson moved his business to Columbia Falls in 1996.

Dan Wynne, general manager at McGowen Precision Barrels in Kalispell, said barrel makers don’t have to have a federal firearms license, though manufacturers that make complete guns do. And while there are different federal licenses required depending on the type of business, Wynne said Montana doesn’t heavily regulate what kind of firearms are made in state.

“I can make silencers here,” Wynne said. “You couldn’t do that in California without almost an act of God.” ...

Read the rest here. Note the story of Lone Wolf Riflestocks, which relocated from California to Montana due to California's onerous regulatory climate. Lots of small businesses, not just in the gun industry, have moved to greener pastures out of California, due to high taxes and economically stifling laws, taxes, and regulations.

As an aside, the Montana's Flathead Valley region, where some of the businesses highlighted in the article are located, is a beautiful part of the country.