Bills Custom Automatics Inc

What Bills Custom Automatics Inc does

Bills Custom Automatics Inc is a privately held, family-owned custom firearms manufacturer founded circa 1980 and based in Shelby, Mississippi. The company builds and customizes 1911 pistols and precision rifles for competition shooting, precision hunting, and professional/law enforcement use, operating from a single physical retail location at 311 W 2nd Ave. Sales are conducted direct-to-consumer via phone, email, and in-person consultations, with no e-commerce channel. The business is led by founder Bill Thompson, a retired Anchorage Police Officer with 40+ years of gunsmithing experience, and his son Tim Thompson, a former U.S. Navy service member and National Champion shooter with 24 years of gunsmithing experience; John Stallins serves as Business & Retail Manager handling retail, parts, and daily financial operations.

The core product portfolio comprises custom 1911 pistols (Open Class Race Guns, Single Stack Competition Models, Limited Class .40 Cal, Open Steel Guns, Signature Series Government Models, Titanium Frame 1911s, and Tactical Operator models) and precision rifles (Ultra-Light Hunters, Precision Field Rifles, Long Range Hunters, and F-Class Competition Rifles). Underlying technology centers on proprietary hand-fitting and machining processes, including a Dual Layer Bedding Process using industrial laminating epoxy and a zero-thermal-expansion compound, EDM-machined 416 stainless barrels held to within .0002 tolerance, hand-tuned trigger systems fitted in jigs rather than drop-in aftermarket parts, the Accu-Rail System for titanium-frame pistols, Tri-Topped Slide weight reduction, and mass balancing techniques. Equipment includes a DRO-controlled ACER 1440 V Precision Gearhead Lathe achieving .0001 concentricity and precision ground surface plates with digital height gauges.

Pricing begins at approximately $2,500 for full-house custom handgun builds on a customer-supplied frame and slide and $3,600+ for Signature Series 1911s and open class STI raceguns, with specific quotes upon consultation. Revenue is generated from three streams: build-to-order custom firearm manufacturing, retail store sales (rifles, pistols, shotguns, ammunition, reloading supplies, 1911 accessories), and gunsmithing services for repair and customization. The customer base spans competition shooters (USPSA, IPSC, F-Class), precision hunters, and law enforcement/military professionals, anchored by named testimonials from USPSA Grand Masters, World Champions, and U.S. Special Operations personnel. The company operates with 1-10 employees, has not raised external funding, and relies on earned media and word-of-mouth rather than paid marketing.

Name

Bills Custom Automatics Inc

Legal name

Bill & Custom Automatics

Website

https://www.billscustomautomatics.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bills Custom Automatics Inc is a family-owned custom firearms manufacturer in Shelby, Mississippi, building and customizing 1911 pistols and precision rifles for competition shooters, precision hunters, and law enforcement professionals via direct-to-consumer sales from its physical retail shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Firearms Manufacturing

NAICS

Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing (332994)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAMAKAA

Firearms & Ammunition Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Hunting, Shooting & Archery Retail

SECONDARYCRAMABAK

Hunting, Shooting Sports & Archery Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Sporting Goods Generalist Retail

Keywords

• Custom 1911 pistols
• Precision rifles
• Gunsmithing services
• F-Class competition rifles
• Custom firearms manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Shelby

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Firearms Manufacturing: Build-to-order custom pistols and rifles. Full house handguns start around $2500 on supplied frame and slide. Signature series 1911s and open class STI raceguns start at $3600. Includes personalized engraving service performed by guild engraver Jim White.
2. Retail Store Sales: Operates retail store stocking rifles, pistols, shotguns, ammunition, reloading supplies, and 1911 accessories for personal defense and competitive shooting.
3. Gunsmithing Services: Repair and customization services for pistols and long guns. Specific prices and turnaround time quoted upon consultation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bills Custom Automatics Inc builds and customizes 1911 pistols and precision rifles for competition, hunting, and defensive use. The company manufactures competition pistols (Open Class Race Guns, Single Stack, Limited .40 Cal, Open Steel), carry pistols (Signature Series Government Model, Titanium Frame 1911s, Tactical Operator), and hunting/competition rifles (Ultra-Light Hunter, Precision Field Rifle, Long Range Hunter, F-Class Competition Rifles). Revenue is generated primarily from build-to-order custom firearms sales starting around $2,500, plus gunsmithing services and a small retail storefront stocking firearms, ammunition, and reloading supplies.

Product overview

Bills Custom Automatics Inc is a custom firearms manufacturer specializing in building and customizing 1911 pistols and precision rifles. Their product portfolio includes two main categories: Custom Pistols (Race Guns, Competition Models, Limited Class .40 Cal, Open Steel Guns, Signature Series Government Models, Titanium Frame 1911s, and Tactical Operator models) and Custom Rifles (Ultra-Light Hunters, Precision Field Rifles, Long Range Hunters, and Competition Rifles). The company also provides gunsmithing services including barrel threading, trigger tuning, dual layer bedding, and 1911 barrel hood fitting. All products are built with 'World Class' precision craftsmanship targeting competition shooters, hunters, and law enforcement professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Class Race Gun High-performance competition pistol designed for USPSA Open Class featuring dual compensation technology, optical sights, hybrid ribbed barrel with four gas ports combined with a five port compensator tuned to pistol mass for minimal muzzle rise.
• Single Stack Competition Model Competition pistol based on Signature Series platform modified for USPSA Single Stack Competition with bushing barrel system, mag well, ambidextrous safety, and Bo-Mar adjustable sights.
• Limited Class .40 Cal Competition pistol built on STI High Capacity frames for USPSA Limited and IPSC Standard division competitions with fiber optic front sight and fully adjustable Bo-Mar style rear sight.
• Open Steel Gun Single stack race gun for USPSA steel competitions featuring tapered cone compensator, mass balancing, adjustable rear sights, and optical sight mounting capability.
• Signature Series Government Model Full-size defensive 1911 pistol incorporating competition quality tolerances with real world usability, featuring hand-fitted components, hard chrome finish, and personalized engraving performed by guild engraver Jim White.
• Titanium Frame 1911's (BCA Titanium Officers Model) Lightweight carry pistol using titanium receivers with Accu-Rail system to eliminate metal galling between carbon/stainless slides and titanium receivers, featuring bobtail design and tri-topped slide for reduced weight and improved handling.
• Tactical Operator Tactical 1911 pistol with integral Picatinny rail for attaching accessories such as flashlights and lasers, built to uncompromising standards with custom-fitted components.
• Ultra-Light Hunter Ultralight precision hunting rifle featuring McMillan Sporter stock with Ultralight Fill and Kevlar exterior, Borden repeating action, and Krieger match grade barrel for extreme accuracy.
• Precision Field Rifle Versatile field rifle combining portability with stability, featuring McMillan Sporter stock, Borden repeating action, and Multi Laminate Pillar Bedding for rigid action-to-stock mating.
• Long Range Hunter Long-range precision hunting rifle designed for repeatability with heavy barrels and McMillan Tactical stocks, featuring Borden repeating action and Multi Laminate Pillar Bedding.
• Competition Rifles F-Class competition rifles built on BAT Single Shot MB actions achieving record-breaking accuracy with 6 Dasher builds and Krieger barrels, featuring Nightforce Optics integration. BCA F-Class rifles set 3 national records in 2013, won 4 Regional Competitions 2011-2012, and 5 State competitions in the prior three years.
• Gunsmithing Services Repair and customization services for pistols and long guns including Dual Layer Bedding, Rifle Barrel Threading, 1911 Barrel Hood Fitting, Trigger Tuning, refinishing, and DuraCoat finishing. Specific prices and turnaround times quoted upon consultation.
• Retail Storefront Physical retail gun shop stocking rifles, pistols, shotguns, ammunition, reloading supplies, and 1911 accessories for personal defense and competitive shooting customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 national records set in 2013 with F-Class competition rifles
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Gunsite Custom Shop / Agency Arms: Custom 1911/2011 builders serving similar competitive and tactical segments; represents a more modern, digitally native competitor with stronger social media presence targeting BCA's customer base.

Direct peers

• Nighthawk Custom: Premium custom 1911 manufacturer based in Berryville, AR — same product category (high-end custom 1911 pistols), same target customers (competition shooters, defensive carry, collectors), and similar build-to-order business model.
• Wilson Combat: Established custom 1911 and AR-15 manufacturer headquartered in Berryville, AR — direct overlap in custom 1911 pistols for competition and defensive use, with broader product breadth and larger scale than BCA.
• Ed Brown Products: Custom 1911 pistol maker based in Perry, IA — same niche (premium hand-fitted 1911 pistols for competition and carry), same build philosophy emphasizing hand craftsmanship, comparable pricing tiers.
• Les Baer Custom: Custom precision 1911 and rifle manufacturer in Hillsdale, IL — closely comparable in offering custom competition and hunting firearms with hand-fitting, similar premium pricing model, serving competition shooters and hunters.
• Staccato (STI International): Texas-based manufacturer of 2011/1911-pattern competition and duty pistols — overlaps in USPSA race guns, Limited/Open division pistols, and Signature-series-style builds; broader commercial scale and direct e-commerce presence.

Others

• McMillan Firearms: Manufacturer of precision rifle stocks (Fiberglass stocks) used by BCA's rifle builds (Ultra-Light Hunter, Precision Field Rifle, Long Range Hunter) — supplier/ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.
• Krieger Barrels: Manufacturer of match-grade stainless and chrome-moly rifle barrels supplied to BCA's rifle builds (F-Class competition rifles, Precision Field, Long Range Hunter) — supply chain peer enabling BCA's accuracy claims.
• Nightforce Optics: Premium precision riflescope manufacturer whose optics are integrated on BCA's F-Class competition rifles — adjacent ecosystem supplier, not a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• V Seven Weapons Systems: Broader firearms manufacturer offering precision components and rifles for competition and tactical use — adjacent space serving some overlapping customer segments, though specializing in aluminum/AR-platform rather than 1911.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BillsCustomAutomatics?rf=117442464981394
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bills-custom-automatics-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Bills Custom Automatics Inc