Brownells

Brownells started in 1939 when Bob Brownell decided Iowa needed a good gunsmithing supply shop. Eighty-five years later, they're still family-owned and still in Grinnell -- but now they're the place every serious gun owner knows about.

Brownells isn't just another online gun store. They're the parts supplier that keeps old guns running and helps you build new ones exactly how you want them.

Back in the day, their printed catalog was thick as a phone book and twice as useful. Every gunsmith had one, dog-eared and coffee-stained, because it was the only reliable way to find that weird spring for a 1950s Remington or the right punch set for serious work.

They moved online early and kept that same approach -- if it exists and fits on a gun, they probably stock it. The catalog went digital, but the depth stayed the same.

You won't mistake Brownells for Bass Pro. They're not trying to sell you a fishing license and camping gear. This is a parts and tools retailer that happens to sell complete guns too.

The evolution of Brownells from local shop to industry leader

• •The real difference: Most retailers stock what sells fast. Brownells stocks what you actually need -- including the weird stuff nobody else bothers with.

Most retailers stock what sells fast. Brownells stocks what you actually need -- including the weird stuff nobody else bothers with.

Their search function works if you know part numbers. If you're browsing, plan to spend some time -- they stock everything, which means everything is in there somewhere.

The website feels like it was built by engineers, not marketing people. Product pages include actual specifications, compatibility notes, and customer reviews from people who installed the parts themselves.

The Brownells shopping process optimized for technical buyers

Brownells' secret weapon is their Tech Line. Call with a gunsmithing question and you'll talk to someone who knows the difference between a gas tube and a gas key.

Brownells' secret weapon is their Tech Line. Call with a gunsmithing question and you'll talk to someone who knows the difference between a gas tube and a gas key. Try that with Amazon.

The reviews matter here because customers actually use this stuff. Someone will tell you if that trigger really is drop-in or if you'll need to file something. They'll mention if the finish matches factory parts or if you're getting Chinesium quality.

Shipping is straightforward -- firearms go to your FFL, everything else comes to your door. Hazmat fees apply to solvents, aerosols, and ammunition because lawyers make the rules.

Brownells used to just sell other people's stuff. Now they make their own, and some of it is worth buying.

Their retro rifle program builds faithful reproductions of Vietnam-era M16s and early AR-10s. These aren't budget builds -- they're historically correct down to the barrel profiles and charging handle designs.

Collectors pay attention to this stuff.

Brownells-branded AR barrels compete with mainstream manufacturers at similar prices. Their magazines work fine. Their tools are built for repeated use, not weekend projects.

• •The bottom line: Brownells-branded AR-15 barrels compete with mainstream manufacturers at similar prices. Their magazines work fine. Their tools are built for repeated use, not weekend projects.

The retro rifle program developed a following because they're doing something other manufacturers won't -- making guns that look and function like the originals instead of modern interpretations.

Choose Brownells when you need something specific:

• •That one spring that keeps your 1970s rifle running
• •Professional gunsmithing tools that won't break under use
• •AR-15 parts for a complete build from one source
• •Technical support from people who actually wrench on guns

Skip them when:

• •You're buying bulk ammunition (compare prices with SGAmmo or Natchez)
• •You want the cheapest possible price on commodity items
• •You're shopping for complete firearms at the lowest price

Edge membership costs fifty bucks a year and includes free shipping on every order. Do the math -- if you order more than three or four times annually, it pays for itself in shipping costs alone.

Brownells occupies a unique spot in the firearms market. They're not trying to be everything to everyone, which is exactly why they work.

When you need a part for an old gun, they probably have it. When you want to build an AR-15 without shopping five different websites, they stock everything. When you have a gunsmithing question, their Tech Line actually helps instead of reading from a script.

The website could use updating and their prices aren't always the lowest, but they deliver on their core promise -- being the place serious gun owners go when they need something done right.

Their retro rifle program shows they understand their customer base. These aren't mass-market guns for casual shooters. They're historically accurate builds for people who care about getting the details right.

That attention to authenticity extends to everything else they do.

If you're the type who fixes your own guns and builds your own rifles, you'll end up shopping here eventually. Might as well get familiar with their catalog now.