Georgia Arms reloaded ammo - why buy?

R

reloader-1

New member
I've been puzzling over something the last few days - why do people buy ammo from Georgia Arms?

My question relates to price/value. Georgia Arms is reloaded ammunition, which is not a problem to me (check out my username ;) ) However, reloaded ammunition is supposed to be cheaper than factory ammunition. GA ammo ("Canned Heat") is normally more expensive than factory ammo. Why the fuss?

I'll use 9mm as an example, in 1000 round lots:

Georgia Arms: $230 for 115 gr. 9mm "Canned Heat" + $22 shipping, or $15 sales tax (depending if you have it shipped to you, or pick it up at the gun show)
Total: $245

Wal-Mart: $210 for 115 gr. Federal 9mm, + $12 sales tax (20 50rd boxes @ $10.47)
Total: $222

Gander Mountain: $200 for 115. gr Remington UMC "Bulk Pack", free shipping (it is on sale Friday, even when it is not on sale, it is $240 shipped - 4 250rd boxes @ $49.99 )
Total: $200

I just randomly selected those two - I have several other places that I buy factory ammo from - I recently bought 1000 rounds of Remington UMC Bulk Pack for $180.

My question remains - why the attraction?
 
It's reloaded hotter than std fare and many who don't reload like the extra performance. As a handloader myself, I can't see the attraction either.
 
I've often wondered the same thing. Could it possibly be the other calibers that they reload for? In the past, I've contempted getting some of their bulk .38.

Have you tried running the price comparisons for say their .38 ammo? 9mm is extremely common and high in demand. So it's only natural that a lot of other businesses are going to want to be competitive with their pricing.
 
Olympus - I'll get a cost estimate for .38 special up in a little bit.

One other thing - as a reloader, I buy factory ammo for new, once fired brass (after firing) - buying this stuff, you get mixed headstamps and who knows how many times the casings have been loaded. I really don't see the point.
 
A little better with .38 so far - but still nothing exceptional:

Georgia Arms: 1000rd 158 gr. LRN "Canned Heat" $210 + $22 S&H
Total: $232

Ammoman: 1000rd 158 gr. LRN Federal AE $269 Free shipping
Total: $269

There are cheaper factory loads, but I only chose US loaded ammo (as I thought that might be one reason to buy GA)

$37 doesn't seem enought to warrant buying remanufactured ammo. ($0.03 a round cheaper) + with the factory load, you get 1000 pcs of once fired .38 Special brass when you are done (should be at least $40 in value)

Thoughts?
 
That might have a little more sway for someone like me who doesn't reload. That's close to $40 cheaper, and honestly my wallet would notice that amount of savings. And since I don't personally reload, the various headstamps of the GA and the fact that you can't guarantee it's been once-fired doesn't particularly hold any benefit to me. I don't reload, but I keep all my brass and give it to buddies that I know reload. If they can use some it, great. If not, it doesn't really affect me either way.

So I guess it just depends on a person's situation and what caliber you're interested in.
 
I use Georgia Arms all the time for 40 cal

VERY accurate in my P226

I have found it to be less expensive as well
 
"Wal-Mart: $210 for 115 gr. Federal 9mm, + $12 sales tax (20 50rd boxes @ $10.47)
Total: $222

Gander Mountain: $200 for 115. gr Remington UMC "Bulk Pack", free shipping (it is on sale Friday, even when it is not on sale, it is $240 shipped - 4 250rd boxes @ $49.99 )
Total: $200"
---------------

:(
I live in NE Pa and those store prices simply don't apply here.

Walmart is higher and Gander Mountain is RIDICULOUS!
 
Three reasons for me.

#1 Their ammo is about the same price, sometimes a bit more expensive than factory ammo, but it has always been more accurate than the cheaper generic ammo sold at Walmart and the other big stores.

#2 They are the best, cheapest source for quality 10mm ammo.

#3 They will buy back your used brass. If I save my brass and take it back they will give me credit for the returned brass and reduce the price on the new ammo I buy from them. This certainly gets the cost below factory ammo and is to the point that I don't even try to reload handgun ammo anymore.
 
AksRule

Check out Gander Mountain online. Those are the prices I quoted, and they are free shipping!


jmr,

#1 I'll give you

#2 as well - it seems that for more uncommon calibers, they are cheaper

#3 Here is my point - when I go to a gunshow, a huge percentage (40% - 60% are buying their "Canned Heat" 9mm. Brass buyback is $20/1000rd. Total price for 1000rds 9mm would be $225.

I am buying several thousand rounds from Gander Mountain on Black Friday - total cost per 1000rd of 9mm will be $160 shipped. I just don't see the point.

I'm sticking to my 9mm example - you can go to just about any site online and buy 1000rds of 9mm for $200-220 shipped.
 
I don't buy the 115 gr ammo. I prefer the 124 gr NATO spec ammo at $260/1000. It has always been more accurate in my guns and worth the price increase. If I want to shoot cheap that is what the 22 is for.

I also use their 124 gr +P ammo loaded with speer bullets for carry. This is new ammo and it sells for $23.50/50.

I shoot 45, 10mm 357, and 44 mag as well. They offer a LOT more for the larger brass when returned.

You can find prices on specific ammo at better prices at times, and when I run across a good deal I will buy from other sources as well. I also only live about 30 min. from the factory and will buy directly from there if I'm in the area. I realize it may not be as good a deal if you have to pay shipping, or even if you make a special trip to a gunshow.

But If I'm already at a show I always stock up on a few bags of something. I've never been disappointed in their handgun ammo. I load all my own rifle ammo, because I've found my own reloads to be more accurate.
 
jmr,

I also like using 124 gr. NATO. PM me if you'd like - I have a source for Swiss 9mm, brand new, commercial production. $210 a case of 1000
 
Thanks, but I have plenty. I have only bought the 1000 round package once. I usually pick up 200-300 rounds at a time when at a gunshow. It accumulates after a time.
 
The Georgia Arms .357 Magnum ammo is a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the "factory" ammo I've been able to find, also G.A. offers 158 Gr. bullets in several different styles, I.e. JHP, and my preferred SWC at different Performance levels. This allows me shoot a mid range .357 Magnum round at a price that is not painful to my wallet or my aging hands.

additionally, I don't have the time or the patience to go store to store looking for ammo deals. It's so easy to order on line as needed.

I should note I will only shoot G.A. ammo or any other reload as range practice ammo. For carry and self-defense I use factory ammo only.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving all:)

old bear
 
.357 magnum, .44 magnum, .30 Carbine .... I got those cheaper than factory rounds, plus it comes in metal ammo cans rather than paper boxes.
 
The metal cans are cool.

I find that it costs less than WWB or the Remington low end stuff, and generally shoots better than the low end factory ammo, too.

Looking forward to moving next year, though, because when we finally get settled into a place, I intend to acquire handloading gear and set up a loading area in the basement.
 
I have never bought Georgia Arms ammo, but here are a few things that come to me on the subject:

--it's a decently priced source for "factory" loaded 10mm ammo, and it's not weak and watered down 10mm ammo like the stuff that Rem-UMC, Federal and CCI offer. In 10mm circles, it's a very viable option and competitively priced. As jmr40 said, these guys are known to most anyone that shoots 10mm.

--in 9mm, I don't know of ANY place that meets or beats Wal-Mart's $9.99 for 9mm ball ammo, whether it be Federal Champion (specifically boxed and branded for Wal-Mart) or CCI Blazer Brass. Maybe not everyone's Wal-Mart sells 9mm ball that cheap, but that's what it costs around here. 2 or 3 years ago, it was $8.99 a box. So I wouldn't point fingers at Georgia Arms because it seems to me like nobody can beat Wal-Mart on 9mm ball.

--Georgia Arms also (I think?) offers new loaded ammo, not just factory reloads in used brass. Most opinions I've ever heard about Georgia Arms ammo has been very good and I know it's got a following in the south where it's actually sold on the gun show circuit and not mail order.

Back when I first started shooting in the late 80s, there was Black Hills and Black Hills made "reman" ammo... factory reloads in used brass for cheap money and it was not only a cheap, decent way to shoot but it was a fine way to build a supply of brass when I was a new handloader. I bought countless boxes of .38 Special for $4.99 and $5.99 a box for 50 rounds. They even made and sold 10mm ammo and I bought that also.

Something happened to Black Hills at some point and now they price themselves as if it's supreme elite cutting edge platinum deluxe stuff. I don't know how good it is (because I don't buy centerfire ammo from anyone... I load my own) but I can say that Black Hills is awfully proud of it. It seems to me like they've forgotten their roots. Prices on Black Hills ammo makes me giggle.

Now that might be a bit of a thread drift... but when I see Georgia Arms, I think about the market niche that Black Hills used to own, but seemed to abandon with reckless MSRP's.
 
Looking forward to moving next year, though, because when we finally get settled into a place, I intend to acquire handloading gear and set up a loading area in the basement.
Click to expand...
You'll have a blast hanging out in the H&R area of this site. We've got lots of quality posters and discussions over there... sometimes, it feels like a different place than the main discussion areas of TFL forums.
 
I asked this in a different thread - but no answers so far:

Has anyone Chrono'd Georgia Arms "canned heat" ammo in 9mm - 115 and 124 g? Is it hotter than Walmart Ammo [WWB, Federal, RWS, Tula?] The same?

Just wondering - no one seems to know.
 
cdnn has 9mm 124 gr nato for 13.99 a box,shipping is 9.99 for as many rounds as you want to buy.Also had 380 for 14.99 a box same shipping 9.99
 
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