Precision in the Product. Precision in the Protection.
Protecting the makers of firearms, ammunition, and components
Firearms and ammunition manufacturing is a high-hazard, heavily regulated class that most standard insurers will not touch. The product itself carries significant liability exposure, the materials involved — powders, primers, and energetic compounds — create real fire and explosion risk inside the plant, and the whole operation runs under federal licensing and compliance obligations. This coverage is specialized by necessity, placed through the surplus-lines and program markets that understand the exposure, and structured very differently from the retail dealers and gunsmiths further down the chain.
Insuring a firearms or ammunition maker is about matching serious hazards with carriers built to handle them.
Key Risks in Operations
Product liability from alleged defects in firearms, ammunition, or components
Fire and explosion exposure from powders, primers, and energetic materials on site
Completed-operations claims that follow the product long after it ships
Product recall and the cost of retrieving defective or unsafe product
Regulatory and licensing exposure under federal and state firearms law
Environmental exposure, including lead, at ranges and production sites
High-hazard workers' compensation in a manufacturing environment
The hazards are concentrated in both the product and the process.
Core Coverages
Product Liability — Covers bodily-injury and property-damage claims alleging a firearm, round, or component was defective — the core and most specialized coverage for this class.
Commercial Property (High-Hazard) — Covers buildings, machinery, and inventory, underwritten for the fire and explosion exposure of energetic materials.
General Liability — Protects against third-party injury and property damage arising from operations.
Product Recall / Withdrawal Expense — Funds locating and retrieving defective or unsafe product from the market.
Completed Operations — Responds to claims arising after the product is sold and in use.
Environmental / Pollution Liability — Addresses lead and other contamination exposures at production and test sites.
Workers' Compensation (High-Hazard) — Covers employees working around machinery and energetic materials.
Umbrella / Excess Liability — Adds the large limits this hazard class and its litigation require.
What's Commonly Overlooked
Firearms and ammunition manufacturing programs are often weakened by:
Placement with carriers that exclude or sublimit the real product and fire exposure
Property coverage that misjudges the explosion hazard of stored energetics
No recall coverage for a defect that forces product retrieval
Environmental gaps around lead at test and production sites
Regulatory and licensing exposures left unaddressed
These gaps typically surface at claim time — not before.
A defect allegation is filed over a firearm or ammunition malfunction
A fire or explosion involving powders or primers damages the plant
A production defect forces a recall of a product lot
Lead contamination at a test range draws an environmental claim
A compliance failure threatens the federal license the business depends on
A single plant fire or product verdict can halt a manufacturer entirely.
Why Proper Placement Matters
Coverage varies significantly based on:
Product mix — firearms, ammunition, components, or all three
On-site quantities of powders, primers, and energetic materials
Domestic production versus imported parts
Distribution channels and contractual requirements
Compliance, licensing, and quality-control discipline
Improper placement — or placement with the wrong carrier — can leave the core hazards uninsured.
Our Approach
At Cory Washington & Co., we place firearms and ammunition manufacturing with the surplus-lines and program markets that actually underwrite the hazard, and we coordinate product, property, environmental, and recall coverage around both the product and the process. For the dealers and gunsmiths downstream, see our gun store and firearms dealer and gunsmith pages.
Serious hazards demand carriers that take them seriously.
All insurance descriptions on this website are provided by Cory Washington & Co. LLC strictly for general informational purposes. They are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, legal, financial, or insurance advice. The information presented is general in nature and does not guarantee the availability, terms, conditions, or scope of any insurance coverage. Actual coverage is determined solely by the specific policy language issued by the insurer and remains subject to underwriting approval. Nothing on this website creates or implies an agent-client relationship, binds coverage, or alters any existing policy. Cory Washington & Co. LLC expressly disclaims any liability for actions taken, or not taken, based on the content provided here. For advice regarding your particular situation, please consult directly with a licensed insurance professional at Cory Washington & Co. LLC or another qualified insurance professional, and always review your policy documents in full.
See the coverages a firearms & ammunition manufacturing business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — plus the gap most often missed, in the Firearms & Ammunition Manufacturing Coverage Checklist.
Complete the Firearms & Ammunition Manufacturing Supplemental online in a few guided steps, download the fillable PDF, or browse all applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get firearms & ammunition manufacturing insurance through Cory Washington & Co.?
Request a quote or contact our team. We start with a short conversation about your operations, analyze your exposures, then negotiate firearms & ammunition manufacturing insurance across multiple carriers that compete for your account and present options with the trade-offs explained. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
What drives the cost of firearms & ammunition manufacturing insurance?
There is no flat rate. The cost of firearms & ammunition manufacturing insurance reflects your industry, your size (payroll and revenue), your claims history, and the limits and deductibles you choose. We market your account to multiple carriers, compare the real quotes side by side, and explain what is driving each number so you can weigh coverage against price with confidence.
Do I need firearms & ammunition manufacturing insurance?
Whether firearms & ammunition manufacturing insurance is strictly required depends on your state, your contracts, and your lenders or clients. Even where it is not mandatory, going without it can leave serious financial gaps. We assess your exposure and any contractual requirements, then structure coverage that meets both.
What if another agency has already declined or non-renewed my coverage?
Difficult, specialty, and previously-declined placements are a core part of our work. We access excess & surplus (E&S) and specialty markets that many generalist agencies cannot, and we explain the trade-offs clearly so you can decide with confidence.
Available in all 50 states. See how requirements differ in California, Texas, Florida, New York, or choose your state.