Firearms & Ammunition Manufacturing Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a firearms & ammunition manufacturing business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for licensed firearms, parts, and ammunition manufacturers. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual products and customers.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Products Liability | Covers defect claims such as unintended discharge — one 2024 verdict reached $11 million. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers premises, test-fire ranges, and trade shows. | Core | |
| Commercial Property | Covers the plant, machinery, and inventory — powder and primers raise fire and explosion risk. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers machining, primer mixing, and loading workers. | Core | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits over products liability; distributors and agencies often require it. | Prevalent | |
| Product Recall Expense | Pays for safety upgrade and recall programs. | Prevalent | |
| Cargo / Transit | Covers firearms and ammunition in transit, a theft target. | Prevalent | |
| Crime / Employee Theft | Covers theft of firearms and parts from inventory. | Prevalent | |
| Directors & Officers Liability | Covers suits against leadership, including government and shareholder actions. | Situational | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers lead and solvent contamination at the plant and range. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by firearms makers is how their products policy treats claims that are not pure defect claims. Some products forms exclude or limit suits tied to criminal misuse, marketing, or government actions, and federal protection under PLCAA does not bar claims that a product was defective. Read the exclusions for firearms, punitive damages, and government suits, and confirm defense costs sit outside the limit.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your firearms & ammunition manufacturing coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Firearms & Ammunition Manufacturing Insurance · Firearms & Ammunition Manufacturing Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a firearms & ammunition manufacturing business need?
The core coverages for a firearms & ammunition manufacturing business are Products Liability, General Liability, Commercial Property, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my firearms & ammunition manufacturing coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.