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ArmoryBox User's Guide

Complete user's guide for ArmoryBox — privacy-first firearms inventory for iPhone covering firearms, ammunition, maintenance, range visits, and more.

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Version 1.0 | iOS 17+

ArmoryBox is a privacy-first firearms inventory app for iPhone. Everything stays on your device — nothing is uploaded unless you choose to export or back up your data.

Getting Started

When you first open ArmoryBox, you’ll see three tabs at the bottom of the screen:

  • Home — Your dashboard with a summary of your collection
  • Firearms — Your full firearms list
  • More — Access to all other features: ammo, magazines, accessories, maintenance, range visits, reloading, insurance, export, backup, and settings

Start by adding your first firearm from the Firearms tab. Tap the + button in the top-right corner to begin.

Dashboard

The Home tab gives you an at-a-glance view of your collection:

  • Summary Cards — Total firearms count and total ammunition on hand
  • Favorites — Your starred firearms for quick access (up to 5 shown, with a “Show All” link)
  • Recently Added — A horizontal carousel of your newest firearms
  • Type Breakdown — Firearms grouped by type (Handgun, Rifle, Shotgun, NFA, Other)

Premium dashboard features:

  • Recent Range Visits — Your latest range sessions with a quick-add button
  • Maintenance Due — Firearms that are overdue for cleaning or service
  • Low Ammo Alerts — Ammunition types that have dropped below your set threshold
  • Insurance Expiring — Policies expiring within the next 30 days

Firearms

Adding a Firearm

Tap + on the Firearms tab. Fill in as much or as little as you’d like:

Basic Information

  • Make and Model (with auto-suggestions from built-in database)
  • Serial Number
  • Caliber (with suggestions — type a few characters to see matches)
  • Type: Handgun, Rifle, Shotgun, NFA Item, or Other
  • Action: Semi-Auto, Bolt, Lever, Pump, Revolver, Single Shot, Break, Fully Auto, Select Fire, or Other
  • Condition: New, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor

Physical Specs

  • Barrel Length, Overall Length, Weight
  • Finish and Frame Material
  • Magazine Capacity

Purchase Info

  • Date, Price, Source
  • Current Estimated Value (useful for insurance and collection tracking)

FFL & NFA Details

  • FFL Dealer Name and Number
  • NFA designation (SBR, SBS, Suppressor, Machine Gun, AOW, Destructive Device)
  • Tax Stamp Date and Approval Date

Storage & Organization

  • Storage Location
  • Notes

Viewing a Firearm

Tap any firearm to see its full detail view, organized into sections:

  • Basic info, specs, and purchase details
  • Photos (tap to view full-screen)
  • Linked ammunition, magazines, and accessories
  • Maintenance history and schedule
  • Range visit history and lifetime round count
  • Reloading recipes
  • Insurance policies

Favorites

Star a firearm to add it to your Favorites. Starred firearms appear on the dashboard for quick access. Toggle the star from the detail view or swipe on the list.

Disposition Tracking

If you sell, trade, gift, or otherwise transfer a firearm, mark it as disposed:

  • Disposition Type: Sold, Traded, Gifted, Stolen, Lost, Destroyed, or Surrendered
  • Date, Recipient, and Price (if applicable)

Disposed firearms remain in your records for documentation purposes.

Estate Planning

For each firearm you can designate an inheritance recipient with notes — useful for estate planning and ensuring your collection has clear instructions.

Search & Filter

  • Use the search bar to find firearms by make, model, or caliber
  • Toggle the star icon to show favorites only
  • Change sort order from the sort button

Ammunition

Adding Ammo

Navigate to More > Ammunition and tap +:

  • Caliber — With auto-suggestions
  • Brand — With manufacturer database
  • Product Line — e.g., “American Eagle” or “Gold Dot”
  • Grain Weight
  • Load Type — FMJ, JHP, JSP, BTHP, HP, SP, Wadcutter, Semi-Wadcutter, Buckshot, Birdshot, Slug, Tracer, AP, Frangible, Subsonic, or Other
  • Quantity On Hand
  • Low Stock Threshold — Set a number and you’ll get dashboard alerts when you drop below it
  • Storage Location and Notes

Logging Purchases

Each ammo type has its own purchase history. When you buy more ammo:

  1. Open the ammo type
  2. Tap “Add Purchase”
  3. Enter: date, quantity, total price, source, and lot number (optional)

ArmoryBox automatically calculates:

  • Cost per round for each purchase
  • Average cost per round across all purchases
  • Total rounds purchased and total spent

Adjusting Quantity

Use the quantity adjustment to quickly update your on-hand count without logging a formal purchase — useful after a range day.

Linking to Firearms

Link ammo types to the firearms that use them. This creates a many-to-many relationship, so one caliber can be linked to multiple firearms and vice versa.

Magazines

Premium feature

Navigate to More > Magazines to track your magazine inventory:

  • Make, Model, Caliber, Capacity
  • OEM vs. Aftermarket
  • Material (Plastic, Steel, Aluminum)
  • Color or ID Mark (useful for marking mags)
  • Condition
  • Purchase Date, Price, Source
  • Storage Location and Notes

Magazines can be linked to multiple firearms, and a firearm can have multiple magazines.

Accessories

Premium feature

Navigate to More > Accessories to track optics, lights, grips, and more:

17 Categories: Optic, Light, Laser, Grip, Stock, Handguard, Muzzle Device, Trigger, Sling, Bipod, Rail/Mount, Magazine Extension, Choke, Case/Holster, Cleaning, Safety Device, Personal Gear, Other

For each accessory, track:

  • Brand, Model, Serial Number
  • Mount Type (Picatinny, M-LOK, KeyMod, Weaver, Dovetail, Direct Mount, Quick Detach, Clamp, Adhesive, Other)
  • Condition and Current Value
  • Purchase Date, Price, Source
  • Warranty Expiration and Type
  • Storage Location and Notes
  • Linked Firearm

Maintenance

Premium feature

Navigate to More > Maintenance or access from a firearm’s detail view.

Logging Service

Record every cleaning, repair, or modification:

  • Type: Field Clean, Deep Clean, Bore Cleaning, Lubrication, Inspection, Part Replacement, Repair, Custom Work, Refinish, Sight Zeroing, Detail Strip, Gunsmith Service, or Other
  • Service Date
  • Round Count at Service — Auto-populated from the linked firearm
  • Parts Replaced and Products Used
  • Gunsmith: Name, Shop, Contact, Cost
  • Notes

Maintenance Scheduling

Set maintenance intervals per firearm in two ways:

  1. Time-based — Clean every X days
  2. Round count-based — Service every X rounds

ArmoryBox tracks when each firearm is due and flags overdue items on the dashboard.

Range Visits

Premium feature

Navigate to More > Range Visits or use the quick-add + button on the dashboard.

Creating a Range Visit

  1. Set the date, range name, location, and duration
  2. Add entries for each firearm you shot:
    • Select the firearm
    • Select the ammunition used
    • Enter rounds fired
    • Choose a drill type: Practice, Zeroing, Competition, Training, Hunting, Defensive Drill, Long Range, Rapid Fire, Accuracy, Qualifying Course, Recreational, or Other
  3. Log any malfunctions:
    • Type: Failure to Feed, Failure to Eject, Failure to Fire, Stovepipe, Double Feed, Squib Load, Light Strike, or Other
    • Notes about the malfunction

Automatic Round Count

When you log rounds fired at the range, ArmoryBox automatically updates the firearm’s lifetime round count. This also feeds into maintenance scheduling — if a firearm is due for service every 500 rounds, ArmoryBox knows exactly when that is.

Reloading Recipes

Premium feature

Navigate to More > Reloading to store your handload data:

  • Recipe Name and Caliber
  • Powder: Manufacturer, Name, Charge Weight (grains)
  • Bullet: Brand, Weight (grains), Type
  • Primer: Brand, Type (Small Pistol, Large Pistol, Small/Large Pistol Magnum, Small Rifle, Large Rifle, Small/Large Rifle Magnum, Shotshell 209, Other)
  • Brass: Manufacturer, Case Length, Trim Length
  • Cartridge: Overall Length (OAL)
  • Performance: Muzzle Velocity (fps), Pressure
  • Source — Reference the manual or publication
  • Link to Firearm — Associate with the gun you developed the load for
  • Favorite — Star recipes for quick access

Insurance

Premium feature

Navigate to More > Insurance to track your firearms insurance policies:

  • Policy Number and Provider
  • Policy Type: Scheduled, Blanket Rider, Standalone, Homeowners, Renters, or Other
  • Agent: Name, Phone, Email
  • Coverage: Amount and Deductible
  • Premium: Amount and Frequency (Monthly, Quarterly, Annual)
  • Start Date and End Date
  • Linked Firearms — Associate policies with specific firearms
  • Notes

ArmoryBox tracks expiration dates and warns you on the dashboard when a policy is within 30 days of expiring.

Photos

Capture and organize photos for each firearm:

  • Tap the photo grid on a firearm’s detail view to add photos
  • Choose from your camera or photo library
  • Classify each photo by type: General, Serial Number, Receipt, Target, Before/After, Tax Stamp, or Document
  • Add captions or notes to individual photos
  • Drag to reorder photos
  • Tap any photo to view full-screen

Limits:

  • Free: 3 photos per firearm
  • Pro: Unlimited photos per firearm

Tip: Use the “Serial Number” and “Receipt” photo types to keep a visual record for insurance claims.

Tags

Premium feature

Create custom color-coded tags to organize your collection your way:

  • Create tags with custom names and colors
  • Assign multiple tags to each firearm
  • Use tags for any categorization: “EDC,” “Safe 1,” “Competition,” “Inherited,” etc.

Collection Value

Track the financial side of your collection:

  • Total Invested — Sum of all purchase prices
  • Estimated Current Value — Sum of all current estimated values
  • Per-Firearm Breakdown — Each firearm listed with purchase price and current value, sorted highest to lowest

Update the “Current Estimated Value” field on individual firearms to keep this view accurate.

Export & Import

Premium feature

Navigate to More > Import & Export.

PDF Export

Generate a professional collection report including:

  • Cover page with collection summary
  • Full firearms table with all details
  • Ammunition inventory table
  • Value summary (invested vs. current)
  • Page numbers and generation date

The PDF opens in a share sheet — save to Files, email it, print it, or send it wherever you need.

CSV Export

Export your data as spreadsheets:

  • Firearms CSV — Make, Model, Serial, Type, Caliber, Action, Condition, Barrel Length, Purchase Date, Price, Current Value, Storage Location, Lifetime Rounds, Notes
  • Ammunition CSV — Caliber, Brand, Product Line, Grain Weight, Load Type, Quantity, Storage Location, Notes

CSV Import

Bulk-add firearms or ammunition from a CSV file:

  1. Prepare a CSV file with the correct column headers (matching the export format)
  2. Tap “Import Firearms CSV” or “Import Ammo CSV”
  3. Select your file
  4. ArmoryBox validates the data and reports any warnings for rows that couldn’t be parsed
  5. Valid rows are imported atomically — if the import fails, nothing is partially added

Supported date formats: Most common formats are accepted (MM/dd/yyyy, yyyy-MM-dd, etc.)

Backup & Restore

Navigate to More > Backup.

Creating a Backup

  1. Tap “Create Backup”
  2. Set a password (minimum 8 characters) — remember this password, it cannot be recovered
  3. ArmoryBox encrypts your entire collection using AES-256-GCM encryption with PBKDF2 key derivation
  4. Save the .armorybox file via the share sheet

Your backup includes everything: all firearms, ammo, magazines, accessories, maintenance records, range visits, reloading recipes, insurance policies, photos, tags, and all relationship data.

Restoring from Backup

  1. Tap “Restore from Backup”
  2. Select your .armorybox file
  3. Enter the backup password
  4. Choose a restore mode:
    • Replace All — Wipes your current data and restores from backup
    • Merge — Adds new items from the backup, skips duplicates
  5. Review the import summary before confirming

ArmoryBox validates checksums on each data category to ensure backup integrity before restoring.

Tip: Create regular backups and store them somewhere safe (iCloud Drive, external drive, etc.). Your data is only on your device — if you lose your phone without a backup, it’s gone.

Settings

Navigate to More > Settings.

  • Metric Barrel Lengths — Toggle between inches and centimeters
  • Default Sort — Set your preferred sort field and direction for lists
  • Biometric Authentication — Enable Face ID or Touch ID to open the app
  • Maintenance Reminders — Toggle maintenance due notifications
  • Low Ammo Alerts — Toggle low-stock notifications
  • Backup Settings — Configure auto-backup preferences
  • ArmoryBox Pro — Purchase, restore purchases, or view your premium status

Free vs. Pro

ArmoryBox is free to download with core functionality. Upgrade to ArmoryBox Pro ($9.99 one-time purchase) to unlock everything.

FeatureFreePro
Firearms5Unlimited
Ammunition Types3Unlimited
Photos per Firearm3Unlimited
DashboardYesYes
Search & FilterYesYes
Magazine Tracking—Yes
Accessory Tracking—Yes
Maintenance Tracking—Yes
Range Visit Log—Yes
Reloading Recipes—Yes
Insurance Tracking—Yes
PDF & CSV Export—Yes
CSV Import—Yes
Custom Tags—Yes
Low Ammo Alerts—Yes
Maintenance Due Alerts—Yes
Insurance Expiry Alerts—Yes

One-time purchase. No subscription. No account required.

Tips & Best Practices

  1. Star your carry guns — Favorite your EDC and most-used firearms so they appear on the dashboard for quick access.
  2. Set low ammo thresholds — For calibers you shoot regularly, set a threshold at whatever your “time to restock” quantity is.
  3. Log range visits consistently — Lifetime round counts and maintenance scheduling only work if you log your range trips.
  4. Photograph serial numbers and receipts — Use the dedicated photo types to keep visual records for insurance claims.
  5. Set maintenance intervals — Even a simple 500-round or 90-day cleaning interval keeps you honest about maintenance.
  6. Update current values annually — Keep the “Current Estimated Value” field up to date for accurate collection value tracking.
  7. Back up regularly — Your data lives only on your device. Create encrypted backups after adding new firearms or making significant updates.
  8. Use tags creatively — Tags are flexible. Use them for storage locations, purposes, or any grouping that makes sense for your collection.
  9. Track disposition details — If you sell or transfer a firearm, log the details before removing it.
  10. Use CSV import for large collections — If you’re migrating from a spreadsheet, export it as CSV with matching column headers and import in bulk.

Privacy & Data

  • All data is stored locally on your device using Apple’s SwiftData framework
  • No accounts, no cloud sync, no telemetry
  • Nothing is shared unless you choose to export or back up
  • Backups are encrypted with AES-256-GCM — even if someone gets the file, they can’t read it without your password
  • Photos are stored in the app’s private container, not in your photo library