With a rising global interest in gun-related products, the gun industry continues to thrive and expand. This presents an ideal opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts, shooting sports enthusiasts, and bloggers to earn commissions.
We’ve curated 19 top gun affiliate programs, highlighting commission rates, cookie durations, and unique benefits. Explore our list to find the perfect program that aligns with your audience and interests!
TL;DR
You can earn commissions by sharing high-quality shooting accessories with your audience. Let’s see which programs offer the best benefits and opportunities.
- Sig Sauer (Commission: 3-5%, Cookie: 30 days)
- Smith and Wesson (Commission: 7%, Cookie: 30 days)
- Faxon Firearms (Commission: 7%, Cookie: 45 days)
- AmmoSquared (Commission: 3%, Cookie: 180 days)
- Galco Holster (Commission: 15%, Cookie: 60 days)
- Rock Your Glock (Commission: 5%, Cookie: 30 days)
- AirGun Depot (Commission: 6%, Cookie: 30 days)
- Beretta (Commission: 4-8%, Cookie: 30 days)
- Gorilla Ammunition (Commission: 2-5%, Cookie: 30 days)
- Cash For Arms (Commission: 4%, Cookie: 30 days)
115,000+ users worldwide have used UpPromote to start affiliate marketing. Now is your turn.
19 Must-Join Gun Affiliate Programs to Elevate Your Earnings
Looking for the best gun affiliate programs? Let’s check the table below for the best options available.
| The best affiliate programs | Program name |
| Affiliate program with the highest commission rates | Galco Holster (15%) |
| Affiliate program with the longest cookie duration | AmmoSquared (180 days) |
| Affiliate program with the most payment methods | Beretta (AHC, bank transfer, PayPal, wire transfer) |
| Affiliate program with the most promotional materials | Galco Holster (Banners, text links, coupons) |
1. Sig Sauer
Sig Sauer produces a wide range of firearms, including rifles, pistols, suppressors, optics, ammunition, and airguns. They also offer elite firearms instruction and tactical training through the SIG Sauer Academy.
You can get a 3-5% commission on every item purchased via your link with the Sig Sauer gun affiliate program. The cookie duration remains valid for 30 days after the customer’s first click on your unique link.
You can leverage their ready-to-use banners to enhance your promotions and boost audience engagement. Additionally, highlighting their free shipping on orders over $100 on your site is a great way to grab attention and drive more sales.
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2. Smith and Wesson
Smith and Wesson is an American firearm manufacturer with over 173 years of expertise. In addition to pistols, revolvers, and rifles, they also sell firearm accessories, safes, apparel, watches, collectibles, knives, axes, tools, and air guns.
The Smith and Wesson gun affiliate program offers a 7% commission for each order through your unique link. This rate may increase to 10% based on your performance. You have a month from the customer’s first click to earn money on successful sales.
Managed via the AvantLink network, their affiliate program gives you access to a custom tracking link to monitor your promotions. Besides, their dedicated affiliate manager will provide tailored advice and strategies to boost your earnings.
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3. Faxon Firearms
Faxon Firearms designs precision parts for firearms, including rifle barrels, upper receivers, handguards, and muzzle devices. They’re best known for their AR-15 and AR-10 platform components.
You can get a 7% commission rate for all sales when joining the Faxon Firearms gun affiliate program. That means you’ll earn about $14 with an average order value of $200. The company gives you a 45-day referral window to earn money on sales from the customer’s first click.
Affiliates will receive exclusive deals weekly from the brand to share with their audience and drive engagement. You can also ask their affiliate manager for personalized tips and recommendations to boost your sales.
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4. AmmoSquared
AmmoSquared helps people automate the stockpiling ammunition process. Users can simply select the calibers and amounts to stockpile each month, along with a budget and frequency for automatic orders.
Their gun affiliate program provides a 3% commission on completed orders. The cookie window will remain active for up to 180 days after the visitor’s initial click on your link.
You can receive commissions via AHC or paper check, based on your preference. However, you must reach a minimum balance of $50 before you can withdraw your earnings.
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5. Galco Holster
Galco Holsters is a well-known American manufacturer of gun holsters, belts, and accessories. Their durable and high-performing holsters are made from steer hide, horsehide, and Kydex, and luxurious exotic leathers like alligator, shark, stingray, and ostrich.
You’ll receive a 15% commission on each sale when joining their gun affiliate program. The cookie remains active for 60 days from the customer’s initial click.
Your payouts will be processed through PayPal or AHC when your commission balance reaches a minimum of $100. You can use their pre-made banners, text links, and coupon codes to create engaging promotions.
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6. Rock Your Glock
Rock Your Glock sells various Glock parts and accessories, including barrels, slides, grips, magazine extensions, and trigger components. Consumers can also customize their Glocks with unique designs and features.
You will get a 5% commission rate on successful sales via your link with the Glock gun affiliate program. You can get earnings on purchases made within 30 days of the visitor’s initial click.
The brand uses the Goaffpro affiliate marketing software to run their affiliate program. You can access the software and track your promotional results instantly through a personal dashboard.
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7. AirGun Depot
AirGun Depot is a US-based retailer specializing in airguns, airsoft, paintball, blank guns, crossbows, and shooting accessories. They also provide consumers with expert services for airgun repairs and tuning.
You will earn a 6% commission rate for each successful purchase you generate. That means you may get $9 with an average order value of $150. You have 30 days to get earnings if customers buy products via your link.
The brand runs their gun affiliate program through the AvantLink network. That means you’ll first need to sign up for an AvantLink account to become an AirGun Depot affiliate.
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8. Beretta
Beretta is the oldest active firearm manufacturer in the world. Their product line includes shotguns, rifles, and handguns, along with shooting accessories and clothing.
Their gun affiliate program offers a commission rate of 4-8% for every purchase via your unique link. The average order value is $115, so you may earn about $4 per sale. The cookie period will remain valid for 30 days from the visitor’s first click on affiliate links.
Affiliates will gain access to their collection of appealing creatives to create captivating content. The brand also gives you exclusive offers to make your promotions stand out. Moreover, you can ask their management team if you have any promotional concerns.
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9. Gorilla Ammunition
Gorilla Ammunition produces high-quality, precision-engineered ammunition. Their items are suitable for various shooting disciplines, including hunting, self-defense, and competitive shooting.
Publishers may earn a 2-5% commission on verified sales by becoming a part of their gun affiliate program. You may enjoy $4 with an average order size of $150. You have a full month to earn money from the customer’s first click on your link.
The brand provides various visually appealing ad materials to support your promotions. Their affiliate marketing coordinator will also send you the latest product information and promotional materials.
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10. Cash for Arms
Cash for Arms helps individuals to sell their firearms from home through an easy online process. They buy various handguns, rifles, shotguns, NFA Class III items, antique and collectible firearms, black powder guns, muzzleloaders, ammo, and accessories.
Affiliates can enjoy a 4% commission rate on every successful sale they make. The cookie period lasts 30 days from the customer’s initial click.
The brand manages their gun affiliate program through AvantLink. You can log into your account to check your referrals, sales, and commissions via a personal dashboard.
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11. Palmetto State Armory
- Commission rate: 3%
- Cookie duration: 7 days
Palmetto State Armory is an American firearms retailer supplying AR-15 rifles, AR-10 rifles, handguns, and build kits. In addition to firearms, they offer a range of gun-related products, including magazines, optics, shooting accessories, and outdoor gear.
12. Remington
- Commission rate: 3%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Remington is one of the oldest and most well-known firearms and ammunition manufacturers in the United States. They produce high-quality ammunition used for hunting, sport shooting, and law enforcement.
13. Guns.com
- Commission rate: 5.5%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Guns.com launches an online platform for buying and selling guns, ammo, and related accessories. They publish product and industry news, Second Amendment issues, gun and gear reviews, and political commentary.
14. GritrSports
- Commission rate: 6%
- Cookie duration: 60 days
Gritr Sports is an omni-channel retailer that sells firearms, ammunition, outdoor accessories, and sporting goods. Consumers can explore the brand’s products through their online store, physical stores, and online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart.com.
15. Stag Arms
- Commission rate: 7%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Stag Arms is a firearms manufacturer specializing in AR-15-type rifles. They are best known for their left-handed models, which feature a mirror-imaged upper receiver and a reversed ejection port for left-handed shooters.
16. WMD Guns
- Commission rate: 7%
- Cookie duration: 45 days
WMD Guns manufactures high-quality custom firearms and parts, particularly focusing on AR-15 and AR-10-style rifles. Their items are often coated with Nickel Boron on key parts like bolts and bolt carriers to boost performance, reduce friction, and increase the components’ durability.
Affiliate marketing allows brands to expand their reach while optimizing their marketing budget. With UpPromote affiliate software, you can set up an affiliate program in under 5 minutes. You can also easily recruit, manage affiliates and encourage them to drive sales.
17. GunMag Warehouse
- Commission rate: 3%
- Cookie duration: 14 days
GunMag Warehouse sells firearms magazines and accessories to individual sport shooters, law enforcement officers, departments, the military, and private agencies. Additionally, they sell gun parts, holsters, optics, range gear, and ammunition.
18. Original Gun Oil
- Commission rate: 20%
- Cookie duration: Not mentioned
Original Gun Oil offers high-quality firearms lubricants and cleaning solutions. Their premium gun oils and cleaning products help improve firearms’ performance, extend their lifespan, reduce friction, prevent rust, and ensure smooth operation.
19. GunSafes
- Commission rate: 5-7%
- Cookie duration: Not mentioned
GunSafes sells various gun safes and premium secure storage solutions. Their items come from popular brands like Hollon, Remington, and Liberty Safe, including options with different fire ratings, locking mechanisms, and sizes.
How to create an affiliate program for gun brands on Shopify?
If you run a firearms brand, you know the struggle.
You have a passionate customer base that loves your products, but you’re blocked from using major advertising platforms like Google and Facebook.
Trying to grow your business can feel like you’re shouting into a void.
So, how do you get the word out? What if there was a way to bypass these restrictions and let trusted voices in the community sell for you?
That’s exactly what an affiliate program does. It’s a powerful and cost-effective way to scale your gun brand online.
This guide will give you a clear guide on how to build an affiliate program for gun stores on Shopify.
Why a Performance-Based Model is a Perfect Fit for Gun Brands
Before diving into the setup, it’s important to understand why this model works so well for the gun industry.
It’s a direct solution to your biggest marketing headaches.
The most obvious advantage is getting around the ad bans on major platforms.
Instead of constantly battling ad disapprovals and account restrictions, an affiliate program gives you a marketing channel that you completely control.
This creates a stable and reliable way to reach customers, free from the unpredictable rules of platforms that don’t support your business.
Beyond that, affiliate marketing builds the kind of trust that regular advertising simply can’t.
In the firearms world, customers value real-world experience over flashy ads.
A recommendation from a skilled firearms instructor or a respected product reviewer is incredibly powerful because it’s authentic.
When they recommend your product, their hard-earned credibility is shared with your brand, turning a sales pitch into trusted advice.
Finally, this model is incredibly low-risk and cost-effective.
With traditional ads, you spend money on clicks and views, hoping they lead to a sale.
But with affiliate marketing, you only pay a commission after a confirmed sale has been made.
This means your marketing budget is never wasted. Every dollar you spend is directly tied to revenue, making it one of the most efficient ways to grow your business.
Choosing the Right Tool to Run Your Program
Seeing the potential of an affiliate program is exciting, but then a practical question hits you: “How will I actually manage all of this?“
Let’s be honest, your first thought might be to just use a spreadsheet.
It seems simple enough at first. But what happens when you have ten affiliates all making sales at once?
Suddenly, you’re spending hours trying to track every sale, manually calculating commissions, and triple-checking your math.
It’s not just another task. It’s like taking on a second job filled with boring administrative work.
The biggest problem with managing a program this way is that it’s incredibly easy to make mistakes.
A single typo in a spreadsheet can lead to you paying an affiliate the wrong amount. That one small error can damage their trust in you forever. Once that trust is broken, it’s very hard to get back, and you could lose a valuable partner.
This is where an affiliate management app comes in.
It solves this entire problem by doing all the heavy lifting for you. The app automatically tracks every sale and calculates commissions perfectly, every single time.
It removes the risk of human error and frees you up to focus on growing your business, not getting stuck in spreadsheets.
For gun brands on Shopify, having a system you can trust is key. Apps like UpPromote and Refersion are built to handle these challenges, giving you the control you need to run your program with confidence from day one.
Building a Commission Structure
Figuring out how much to pay your affiliates is tough. If you offer too little, the best partners won’t be interested.
But if you offer too much, you’ll hurt your own profits. So, what’s the right number?
We did the research so you don’t have to. After analyzing over 130 gun affiliate programs on the market and gathering insights directly from our own clients, we’ve found some insights.
The secret isn’t one flat rate; it’s about matching your commission to the product category.
Here’s our recommendation, broken down for you.
Firearms (Pistols, Rifles, etc.): We recommend 3% – 10% Commission
Firearms are your big-ticket items, but they also have high costs, which means your profit margin is tighter.
A lower commission in this range is the industry standard and protects your bottom line.
For example, a 5% commission on a $1,200 AR-15 build still nets your affiliate a solid $60 payout, which is a great reward for a single sale.
Ammunition: We recommend 2% – 6% Commission
Profit margins on ammunition are often the thinnest, so this category should have your lowest commission rate.
While the payout per sale is small, for instance, 4% on a $50 box of 9mm ammo is only $2, ammo is a consumable that customers buy over and over.
Your affiliates may earn consistent, passive income as their audience makes repeat purchases month after month.
Holsters and Accessories: We recommend 3% – 20% Commission
This is where you can be the most generous, and it’s the sweet spot for attracting top affiliates.
Accessories like red dot sights, weapon lights, premium triggerrs, and custom holsters have much higher profit margins than firearms.
Offering a strong commission rate here like 18% on a $400 optic gives an affiliate a huge $72 payday.
Firearm Training and Education: We recommend 10% – 30%
If you sell digital products like an online concealed carry course or tactical training videos, your costs to sell one more are almost zero.
This means you can and should offer the highest commission rates here.
A generous payout, like 30%, is incredibly attractive to top firearms instructors and expert content creators who are looking to monetize their knowledge.
Finding and Vetting Your Ideal Partners
The success of your affiliate program depends entirely on the people in it.
For a gun Shopify store, a small team of credible, trustworthy partners is far more valuable than a large group of generic promoters.
The goal should always be quality over quantity.
Who to Look For: Your Ideal Partners
Your ideal partners often fall into a few key groups.
A highly visible group is made up of content creators, particularly YouTubers and bloggers who produce honest, in-depth gun reviews.
These creators have built a loyal following because their audience trusts their opinion.
When someone like Garand Thumb, who is respected for his tactical expertise. Or Colion Noir, a powerful voice in Second Amendment education, recommends a product that carries significant weight.
The YouTube channel Garand Thumb has 4.43M subscribers and 452 videos.
Some of your best partners will be the people who actually teach this stuff. Think about certified gun instructors, safety teachers, and tactical trainers.
When a local concealed carry instructor tells their students “Hey, this holster is really good,” that’s not just some random opinion. That’s professional advice from someone they trust and learn from.
Don’t forget about military veterans and police officers who make content online. These folks have used gear in real situations. When they say something works, people listen. That kind of trust is hard to find anywhere else.
A final group worth exploring is found within the world of gun-related online communities.
Respected members of massive forums and dedicated blogs hold a lot of influence. Their advice is taken seriously because they are seen as true experts and dedicated hobbyists.
A single positive review or recommendation in one of these niche communities can drive a significant number of sales.
For example, massive forums like AR-15.com and M4Carbine.net are filled with thousands of AR-platform builders and enthusiasts who are constantly discussing the best parts and accessories.
For long-range precision shooters, communities like Snipers Hide are the go-to place for expert advice. And for shotgun lovers, there’s Shotgun World.
It’s also smart to look at Reddit communities for new gun owners, like NoobGunOwners with 6.7K followers.
How to Vet Your Potential Affiliates
Because your brand’s reputation is always on the line, you must carefully screen every person who wants to become an affiliate.
This is a critical step to protect your business from irresponsible partners.
Your first line of defense is a detailed application form.
A basic form that only asks for a name and email tells you almost nothing. You need to dig deeper, and this is where a tool with a fully customizable registration form becomes essential.
Within UpPromote, for example, you can edit your registration page to require specific information. You can add mandatory fields that ask applicants pointed questions like:
- “What is your experience with firearms?”
- “Please provide links to your YouTube, Instagram, or blog.”
- “Describe your audience (e.g., new gun owners, competitive shooters, hunters).”
- “How do you plan to promote our products?”
UpPromote’s registration page editor even allows you to choose from different templates (Basic, Trendy, and Comfort) and match the form to your Shopify brand’s style.
After an application comes in that looks promising, the real work begins with a manual review of their content.
You need to visit their YouTube channel, read their blog, and look at their social media feeds. When you do, ask yourself a few key questions:
- Do they practice and promote gun safety? Look for the basics, like trigger discipline and muzzle awareness in their videos.
- Is their messaging responsible and professional? Are they providing educational content, or are they just trying to look tough?
- Do their values align with your brand?
Supporting Your Gun Affiliates
After finding great partners, the next step is making it as easy as possible for them to promote your brand correctly and effectively.
A little support upfront can make a huge difference in their performance.
A Great Start with a Simple Onboarding
Imagine an affiliate’s first day in your program. They are excited to start but need clear directions.
A great welcome kit, usually sent as an email, gives them the confidence to begin.
Fortunately, merchants don’t have to handle this manually for every new partner.
With UpPromote, many Shopify gun stores set up an automated welcome email that goes out the moment a new affiliate is approved.
An effective welcome email often contains three essential things:
- The partner’s unique affiliate link
- Their login to the affiliate dashboard where they track sales
- A clear link to the program’s rules.
Beyond the welcome email, successful programs empower their affiliates with the tools to create great content.
An asset library is a perfect example. Instead of affiliates using blurry photos they found online, a central folder with high-quality, pre-approved marketing materials saves them time and keeps your branding consistent.
UpPromote supports that too. You can include everything in the Media Gallery.
Affiliates just log in, grab what they need, and get to work. No back-and-forth emails asking for photos or videos.
For example, your gun Shopify brand may provide affiliates with:
- High-quality photos of your gear in action, like a holster being worn at the range or an optic mounted on a rifle.
- Short videos showing a key feature, such as how a quick-detach mount works or a demonstration of a magazine loader.
- Product spec sheets with the correct technical details, so they don’t share inaccurate information.
Clear Rules and Guidelines to Protect Your Brand
This is the most important step for any brand in the firearms industry.
You need a simple, one-page document that clearly explains the “do’s and don’ts” of representing your brand.
This isn’t about being restrictive; it’s about being responsible and protecting your business.
Your guidelines should include simple but firm rules. For example:
- DON’T make illegal modification suggestions.
- DO use the correct terminology (e.g., “suppressor,” not “silencer”).
- DON’T make definitive self-defense claims like “this gun will save your life.”
- DO promote safe and responsible gun ownership at all times.
A critical part of these guidelines covers FTC disclosure rules, which are a legal requirement. Affiliates need to know exactly how to disclose their partnership.
It can be as simple as using #sponsored on social media, or adding a sentence like, “As a [Your Brand Name] affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases” to their blog posts.
Managing and Growing Your Program for the Long Term
Your affiliate program is up and running, and your partners are starting to make sales.
Now, your job shifts from setup to the ongoing work of managing your team and optimizing for even better results.
Track the Numbers That Really Matter
To understand how your program is truly performing, you need to look beyond just the total sales number.
A good affiliate software gives you an analytics dashboard to easily see the whole story, not just the highlights.
For example, inside UpPromote, the Analytics tab gives you a clear picture of all the important metrics.
The main performance graph shows you key numbers like Total Clicks, Total Orders, Total Sales, and Total Commissions.
You can even filter this data by a specific date range or by a particular affiliate program to get a more focused view.
This data is incredibly valuable.
If you notice an affiliate has a ton of clicks but very few orders, it might be a sign that their audience isn’t the right fit for your products. You can then talk to them and help them adjust their strategy.
The analytics will also quickly show you who your all-stars are.
You’ll likely find that a small group of your affiliates (around 20%) is driving most of your sales (around 80%).
The Top Affiliates report in UpPromote makes it easy to identify these key partners. You can sort the list by sales or commissions to see who is at the top.
Once you know who they are, you can focus on building strong relationships with them and finding out what they need to be even more successful.
Keep Your Partners Excited and Working Hard
Most brands make a big mistake: they set up their affiliate program and walk away. But your best partners are running real businesses. They’ll focus on the companies that keep them interested and motivated. A little effort here brings much bigger results.
Contests Make Everything More Fun
Monthly contests for your top sellers work great.
Cash prizes or cool free gear – maybe a new trigger or a case of ammo – get everyone excited. People love friendly competition, and it gives them something to work toward.
Shopify gun brands using UpPromote see this work really well.
The bonus feature lets them set up automatic rewards.
For example, any affiliate who brings in over $5,000 in sales during three months gets a $100 bonus.
The system watches their numbers and pays out the bonus when they hit their goal. No extra work needed.
Your Best People Deserve Special Treatment
Early access to new products makes your top partners feel amazing.
Before you launch that new holster or suppressor to everyone else, your best affiliates should get one first.
It makes them feel special, like they’re in an exclusive club. Plus, they can write reviews and get people excited before the product even goes on sale.
Most affiliates actually prefer working with brands that send them sample products to try.
UpPromote’s gift feature makes this super easy. You can send free or discounted products straight to your affiliates as a thank-you or for reviews.
Regular Communication Always Matters
You don’t need to bug them every day, but a simple monthly newsletter does amazing things.
Updates about new products, upcoming sales (like Black Friday deals), or content ideas all help keep your brand fresh in their minds.
Something like this works great: “New red dot sights are coming next month – here are the specs to help you get started.”
UpPromote lets you send one newsletter to all affiliates at once, or just to certain groups. If you need to chat with someone specific, you can message them directly through the app.
Conclusion
And that’s really all there is to it.
Building a great affiliate program does take some work, but the payoff is huge. You get a marketing channel that actually works, which is a big deal when so many other advertising options are off the table.
Just remember the most important steps: put rules and safety first, use the right tools, find good partners, and keep them happy and engaged.
If you focus on those things, you won’t just be getting more sales. You’ll be building your own team of trusted fans who will help your brand grow for years to come.
Ellie Tran, a seasoned SEO content writer with three years of experience in the eCommerce world. Being a part of the UpPromote team, Ellie wants to assist Shopify merchants in achieving success through useful content & actionable insights. Ellie's commitment to learning never stops; she's always eager to gain more knowledge about SEO and content marketing to create valuable content for users. When she's not working on content, Ellie enjoys baking and exploring new places.
