So where do you all buy ammo?

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ABPOS

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For me it's .38 special I'm after.

But I feel like it's the same story for every caliber. If you buy online prices are high and then you add shipping. Or prices might be fair, but you add shipping. I feel like the only way you're going to get a fair shake is if you get free shipping. And I don't usually buy enough in bulk to get that. I don't even know if they do that.

Then the prices might be OK locally, but then you're stuck with whatever the LGS and walmart or whoever carries. Which I find is pretty much lacking in choices. I don't have any big box stores local. The big one was Gander Mountain and they went out of business. Oh yeah, we do have a dunhams but their selection is usually not great. And their prices, unless it's a sale, aren't good at all.

Always feels like a bad compromise. You either pay extravagent prices to get exactly what you want shipped, or you make do with what's around.

Is it just me?
 
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There is a small reload shop in my town. They buy back the empty casings. I bought 1,000 of .38sp
 
I have 4 suppliers i use, when i'm looking i just see who has the better deal (including shipping)

brownells
midwayusa
aimsurplus
natchez shooter supply
 
I order, now and then, from LAX in California. Who'da thought? Once in a blue moon they offer a free shipping deal. Otherwise you need a decent sized order to make it worthwhile.
Have not tried their reloads, only OEM.
 
SGAmmo, and Target Sports on-line for SD ammo, plus Walmart and CalRanch in person for .22 RF, .17 HMR, and cheap 9mm and 10mm plinking ammo. I load my own .357 mag and .38 Special range fodder and woods carry loads. I carry Underwood in the 10mm for the woods.
 
I usually buy from SG Ammo and Target Sports USA. For these or other sites, research what you need and wait for free shipping offers. Also take into account sales tax if you order from a business in your state (soon to be a moot point, sadly).
 
Mostly sgammo in bulk. Prices are great, good selection and shipping is fast.

Shipping is never free, some stores just include it in the price of the ammo. I have heard some complain about what SG charges for shipping but it is about what I would pay if I had UPS ship a very heavy package with an ORMD sticker on it.

This assumes you are buying in case quantities. If you just need a box or two of ammo I would buy it locally.
 
ABPOS said:
For me it's .38 special I'm after.

But I feel like it's the same story for every caliber. If you buy online prices are high and then you add shipping. Or prices might be fair, but you add shipping. I feel like the only way you're going to get a fair shake is if you get free shipping. And I don't usually buy enough in bulk to get that. I don't even know if they do that.

Then the prices might be OK locally, but then you're stuck with whatever the LGS and walmart or whoever carries. Which I find is pretty much lacking in choices. I don't have any big box stores local. The big one was Gander Mountain and they went out of business. Oh yeah, we do have a dunhams but their selection is usually not great. And their prices, unless it's a sale, aren't good at all.

Always feels like a bad compromise. You either pay extravagent prices to get exactly what you want shipped, or you make do with what's around.

Is it just me?
Click to expand...

Great time to consider reloading. Like you, I was getting frustrated with the prices, availability, and quality. I quit buying ammo for a few months, shot up what I had on hand, and used my saved ammo money to buy the basic equipment to reload a couple of my most shot calibers. From there I've just been slowly adding stuff, much of it used that I find in classified ads, and now reload 9 different calibers. Once I jumped in with both feet, I realized how easy and rewarding it was.
 
tlawler said:
Great time to consider reloading. Like you, I was getting frustrated with the prices, availability, and quality. I quit buying ammo for a few months, shot up what I had on hand, and used my saved ammo money to buy the basic equipment to reload a couple of my most shot calibers. From there I've just been slowly adding stuff, much of it used that I find in classified ads, and now reload 9 different calibers. Once I jumped in with both feet, I realized how easy and rewarding it was.
Click to expand...
^SO MUCH
Not everyone who gets in to handloading falls deeply in love with the hobby but in my experience... it sure seems like most do. Until you get in to it, you may not realize how much differently you will look at guns and shooting from a handloading perspective.

I find that sometimes it's difficult to capture it with words, but it is more than simply "getting ammo cheaper", it's very liberating with regards to having a supply of ammo, or the supplies to produce ammo on hand, and the learning that you do along the way honestly opens up a whole new angle of understanding of what the guns and ammo are doing.

I also believe that one of the biggest myths held by folks who do not reload is that you need a large, "safe" operating space to undertake this massive endeavor, and I say that idea is false.

Bottom line? No, handloading isn't the only answer to the OP's question and frustration. It is, however, the best answer, by far.
 
I want to cast my vote for SGAmmo and Brownell's

Sam Gabbert runs an excellent operation, plus I receive e-mail notifications several times/week. I also don't buy in bulk, but the separate box purchase price works well for me - mostly .45 ACP. No sales taxes and a fixed shipping rate of $16.00. I have had several shipments from SGAmmo. They have all been well packed, and there were no damages.

Brownell's is also my "Go To" store. Again, mostly .45 ACP. No sales taxes, and I wait for the free shipping offers. Keeping my eye on the front sight, during the holidays my ammo (PMC and Mag Tech) was on sale, free shipping, no sales taxes, a $20.00 discount on my $200.00 plus order, plus a 10% discount on my order. Yahoooooo!

Bill
 
The very little ammo that I buy.....

The very little ammo that I buy that's not local is from places like Graf's or Powder Valley or whoever has what I need the cheapest because it's usually oddball stuff.

Everything else I reload myself. Except for one cartridge. The 7.62 x 39 mm for my SKS. I got some boxer primed brass to be able to reload for that one to, but I only recovered half of the brass and the rest went into orbit.
When I found that I could buy 40 rounds of Tullammo for $12 I gave up on reloading for that round. I will probably do some just to say I did, but that's all.
 
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