S/H can sneak up on you with some vendors. As to where's a good place to buy ammo; that depends on the ammo you want. if you're like me and shoot 90%+ steel case ammo through my AR's and Saigas, then Sportsman's Guide is definitely good if you are a member and have some discount coupons. I just bought 500 rounds of Wolf ammo delivered yesterday by UPS. "No, I didn't sign for it". I had some $15 off coupons and some free S/H left over. It cost me about $4.50 per box. I could have gotten some for a little less money, but I paid extra because this was 500 rounds sealed in a Spam Can. "I keep 1 spam can of ammo per rifle/caliber. Just in case".
For those who don't mind the russian steel case ammo, but they prefer some NON-polymer or lacquer coating; e.g. Silver Bear; the best place to buy it, is at weaponsworld.com . They have MFS 62 grain SOFT POINT .223 ammo for $229 for 1000 rounds, and FLAT RATE SHIPPING ON AMMO OF $9.95. Basically; $240 for 1000 rounds. That's $4.80 per box or $0.24 per rounds.... SHIPPED! Now that's a LITTLE more than some of the others, but with shipping it's a great deal. PLUS!!! You're never going to find Zinc Plated steel case, (No polymer or lacquer), or SOFT POINT, for that price. I use 62 grain Soft Point ammo for my ALL-AROUND AMMO. Cheap enough for plinking..... Soft Point is EXCELLENT for coyotes, varmints, prairie dogs, etc....... And Soft Point makes for a great HOME DEFENSE round. Plus for those of you who live in an area that lets you hunt deer with a .223, "Our deer are too big for such a small round", the 62 grain soft point is PERFECT for that too. It expands nicely.