Solar Tactical

What Solar Tactical does

Solar Tactical is a privately held, California-based multi-channel firearms retailer founded in 2014, operating three physical showrooms in Livermore (headquarters), Castro Valley, and Roseville, with an additional dealer compliance contact point in Star, Idaho. The company serves individual firearms enthusiasts, tactical shooters, and training seekers across the Bay Area and Sacramento regions, and ships nationally via an FFL transfer network. Its product portfolio spans handguns, rifles, shotguns, optics, accessories, and parts from over 100 brands including Glock, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, HK, Beretta, Barrett, FN, Vortex, and B&T, with a deliberate emphasis on California-compliant SKUs (featureless configurations, fixed-magazine solutions, single-shot exempt handguns).

The company operates an e-commerce platform with in-store pickup, FFL transfer processing, and consignment services for used firearms, supplemented by an in-house training vertical that includes scope mounting and optic zeroing ($150) and private training sessions ($1,500). It also sells two registered proprietary products — the Solar Tactical Featureless Custom Grip Wrap and the MFER AK47 Magwell — which are designed specifically to help customers meet California firearms regulations. Revenue is generated through one-time retail sales across all product categories, fee-based transfer and compliance services, percentage-based consignment, and professional training fees, with a uniform 3% cash/check discount and corresponding card surcharge applied across the catalog.

Solar Tactical's underlying technology stack is a standard e-commerce retail platform with integrated inventory management and FFL transfer workflow processing rather than a proprietary technology platform. The company's 11-50 employee base, three-location footprint, and lack of disclosed external funding or revenue suggest a small, self-funded regional retailer whose differentiation rests on California regulatory expertise, brand breadth, in-house training, and a few niche compliance products rather than on technology, scale, or capital intensity.

Name

Solar Tactical

Legal name

Solar Tactical

Website

https://solartactical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Solar Tactical is a California-based, multi-location firearms retailer that sells handguns, rifles, shotguns, optics, and accessories from 100+ brands, specializing in California-compliant products and offering in-house training, FFL transfers, and consignment services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Livermore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Firearms Sales: Direct retail sales of new firearms including handguns, rifles, and shotguns from major manufacturers. Revenue generated through point-of-sale transactions at physical locations and online orders.
2. Accessories and Parts Sales: Sales of optics, accessories, parts, ammunition, and related tactical gear through both physical stores and e-commerce platform.
3. Firearms Training Services: Revenue from training classes including Scope Mounting and Optic Zero services ($150), Private Training Sessions ($1,500), and other firearms training courses for various skill levels.
4. Firearms Transfer Fees: Fee-based firearms transfer services including $100 transfer fees for on-roster handguns, $250 single shot exemption fees, and various state compliance fees.
5. Consignment Sales: Consignment services for used firearms where the store takes a percentage of sales for facilitating the transaction between sellers and buyers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Solar Tactical is a multi-location California firearms retailer that sells new and consigned handguns, rifles, shotguns, optics, and firearm accessories through three California retail showrooms and an e-commerce site, complemented by in-house services such as scope mounting, optic zeroing, and private firearms training. The company specializes in California-compliant configurations and proprietary compliance accessories, serving individual consumers primarily within California with FFL-based transfers elsewhere in the U.S.

Product overview

Solar Tactical is a multi-location firearms retail and gunsmithing business operating in California, offering a comprehensive portfolio of firearms, optics, accessories, and training services. The product lineup centers on handguns (from brands including Sig Sauer, Glock, HK, Smith & Wesson, Canik, Springfield Armory, Walther, and Jacob Grey), rifles (including HK, Barrett, FN, Zastava, VKTR, B&T, Q, and 2A Armament), and shotguns (Beretta, Escort, Military Armament Corporation). The store specializes in California-compliant firearms and offers proprietary compliance products including CompMag fixed magazine systems and Solar Tactical featureless grip wraps. Additional offerings include Vortex optics, firearm parts and accessories, used and consignment firearms, and professional training services. The company operates as both a retail store and online ecommerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handguns Retail category of handheld firearms sold through Solar Tactical's California showrooms and e-commerce site to individual consumers, including concealed-carry, home-defense, and sport-shooting SKUs from major manufacturers.
• Rifles Retail category of rifles sold to individual consumers, including California-compliant configurations of AR-15, AK-pattern, and precision bolt-action platforms.
• Shotguns Retail category of shotguns sold to individual consumers for sport, defense, and tactical use, featuring tactical and bullpup models.
• Optics, Accessories & Parts Retail category of optical sights, scopes, red dots, mounts, firearm parts, and accessories sold to individual consumers, with Vortex Optics as a major featured brand.
• California Compliance Products Specialty compliance hardware sold to California firearm owners to make AR-15 and AK-pattern rifles legal under state law, including fixed-magazine devices and featureless grip wraps.
• Solar Tactical MFER AK47 Magwell Proprietary Solar Tactical-brand drop-in magazine funnel accessory for AK47/AKM-pattern rifles that speeds up reloads via a large polymer funnel opening; made in USA.
• Solar Tactical Featureless Custom Grip Wrap Proprietary Solar Tactical-brand made-to-order grip wrap for AR-15 and AK47 platforms that brings rifles into California featureless compliance without permanent modification.
• Firearms Training Services In-house firearms education services for individual consumers, ranging from introductory safety and CCW classes through advanced scoped carbine courses and one-on-one private instruction.
• Scope Mounting, Optic Zero & Gun Data Service Professional gunsmithing service that mounts scopes, zeros optics, and records gun data for individual customers, priced at $150.
• Used & Consignment Firearms Pre-owned firearms program that sells traded-in and consigned used firearms to individual buyers, with the store taking a percentage commission on consigned sales.
• Firearms Transfer Services Fee-based firearms transfer service that ships online-purchased firearms to FFL dealers nationwide and processes single-shot exemption and compliance paperwork for California buyers.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• GlockcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor firearms manufacturer partnership. Solar Tactical stocks and sells Glock handguns including G19 Gen 3 M.O.S. slides and G34 Gen 3 M.O.S. slides, among other Glock products.
• Sig SauercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey brand partnership for pistols and rifles. Products include P365 variants (Rose XL, XMACRO COMP, standard CA compliant), P322 .22LR, and M400 Rose rifles.
• Smith & WessoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor handgun manufacturer partnership. Products include M&P M2.0 line, Shield Plus, Bodyguard 2.0, and M&P9 variants in various CA-compliant configurations.
• Springfield ArmorycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrand partnership for pistols and rifles. Products include Hellcat Pro OSP, Echelon, and other Springfield firearms available in California-compliant versions.
• HK (Heckler & Koch)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium rifle manufacturer partnership. Products include VP9A1, VP9 Match, and MR556 A4 rifles in California-compliant configurations.
• BerettacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShotgun and pistol manufacturer partnership. Products include 1301 Tactical shotguns and A300 Ultima Patrol semi-automatic shotguns.
• Vortex OpticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor optics manufacturer partnership. Products include Defender-CCW and Defender-ST red dot sights, Razor HD Gen II-E and Gen III riflescopes, Strike Eagle, Venom, and Triumph HD optics.
• BarrettmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrecision rifle manufacturer partnership. Products include REC7 DI rifles in California-compliant configurations.
• FN USA (FNH USA)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTactical rifle manufacturer partnership. Products include FN SCAR 17S in California-compliant non-reciprocating charging handle configuration.
• B&TmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean firearms manufacturer partnership. Products include APC308 Pro DMR semi-automatic centerfire rifle in .308 caliber.
• ZastavamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEastern European AK manufacturer partnership. Products include ZPAP85 5.56 rifles in various configurations including FDE and underfolder models.
• CanikcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTurkish firearms manufacturer partnership. Products include METE MC9 series pistols in multiple configurations (MC9, MC9L, MC9LS) in black, FDE, and CA-compliant versions.
• WalthercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman firearms manufacturer partnership. Products include PDP Compact 4-inch 10-round pistol in California-compliant configuration.
• CMMGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAR-15 parts manufacturer partnership. Products include AR-15 Lower Receiver Parts Kit meeting Mil-Spec standards.
• BCM (Bravo Company)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAR-15 components manufacturer partnership. Products include BCM Complete Lower Receiver with GUNFIGHTER Stock for AR-15 platforms.
• Jacob GreycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium custom pistol manufacturer partnership. Products include Nox 9 SSE, TWC HEX, and Hex Pro pistols in various configurations. Many models offered as pre-order deposits.
• Fusion FirearmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor1911 and tactical firearms manufacturer partnership. Products include XP PRO double-stack 1911 pistols compatible with Glock magazines in single-shot exempt California configurations.
• CompMagcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCalifornia compliance products manufacturer. Products include AR-15 CompMag GEN 3 fixed magazine solution with lifetime warranty and 10-round capacity.
• QmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInnovative rifle manufacturer partnership. Products include BOOMBOX 8.6 Blackout rifles chambered in 8.6 Blackout with 16-inch barrels.
• 2A ArmamentmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium AR-15 manufacturer partnership. Products include Palouse Lite AR15 in .223 Wylde caliber with featureless compliance configuration.
• VKTRmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorModern rifle manufacturer partnership. Products include VK1 5.56MM rifles with patented short stroke piston system in California-compliant configurations.
• EscortminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShotgun manufacturer partnership. Products include BullTac PX 12 gauge bullpup semi-automatic shotgun.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sportsman's Warehouse: U.S. sporting goods retailer with ~170 stores carrying firearms, ammunition, optics, and hunting/shooting gear. Comparable in-store firearms assortment and multi-state footprint, though broader in non-firearms categories.
• Bass Pro Shops / Cabela's: Largest U.S. outdoor sporting goods retailer combining Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's. Overlaps in firearms, optics, accessories, and in-store training, but operates at vastly larger scale and broader non-firearms assortment.
• Academy Sports + Outdoors: Large-format sporting goods retailer with firearms and shooting sports as a core department across ~270 stores. Comparable multi-location retail model with firearms exposure but broader outdoor assortment.

Direct peers

• Brownells: Long-established firearms parts, accessories, and gunsmithing retailer with strong e-commerce platform and AR-building resources. Comparable in accessories/parts focus and direct-to-consumer fulfillment model.
• Midway USA: Large online retailer specializing in firearms, reloading, optics, and accessories with nationwide shipping via FFL transfers. Comparable e-commerce + FFL transfer distribution model and broad accessory/parts catalog.
• Sportsman's Guide: Outdoors/firearms retailer emphasizing value-priced firearms, ammo, and accessories via direct-to-consumer channels and FFL transfer network. Comparable in firearms/accessory focus and e-commerce-led fulfillment.
• Palmetto State Armory: Online-direct firearms and accessories retailer with growing physical retail presence. Comparable in product mix (AR-15/AK parts, CA-compliant SKUs, optics) and direct-to-consumer e-commerce model.
• Big 5 Sporting Goods: California-headquartered sporting goods retailer operating ~430 stores across the western U.S., with firearms and ammunition as a core category. Comparable in multi-location CA-rooted format, though broader in sporting goods assortment.
• Turner's Outdoorsman: California-based multi-location firearms and outdoor sporting goods retailer with deep California compliance expertise. Most directly comparable peer given shared CA-centric footprint, focus on compliant firearms, and in-store training/services model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/solartactical
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solar-tactical-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solar Tactical