Why not buy your ammo online or from local business?

A

American Eagle

New member
As you all know, Walmart has raised ammo prices considerably. A box 9f 9MM is now $14 or $15 USD at Walmart, but instead of complaining why not buy online or support your local gun dealer?

Online places like cheaperthandirt, sportsmanguide,LuckyGunner, etc have boxes of 9MM for as low as $8.21 USD per box.

At that price, we are talking about a price difference of $5-$6 from anything you can get at Walmart, so if you buy bulk, even with shipping and handling a few boxes of 9MM will be quite a bit cheaper online than buying them at Walmart.

Heck, check your local mom and pop gun store. You'd be surprised, but some of them have ammo at competitive prices.

At my local dealer I bought a box of 555 .22lr for $14, Walmart has the same box for $19....and a box of .380 ACP for $14, Walmart has the same box for $18. So in one quick trip to a mom and pop gun store near the house I saved myself $9, plus the extra gas money I would have spent driving to Walmart.
 
My reloads using a premium fully jacketed bullet is around $ 5 for a box of 50in 9mm ( 124gr) ....and at least 30% more accurate than most commercial ammo ...so I don't buy any ammo ( at least in 9mm, .40S&W, .45 acp, .38spl, .357 mag,
.44 mag - or in 12ga, 20ga, 28ga or .410 shotshells....

But yes, supporting a good local gun shop makes way more sense to me - than any internet operation or Wal-Mart.
 
I have to buy from a LGS, walmarts near me don't stock ammo and I can't have ammo shipped to my house. Darn you Chicago! I really wish I could buy online. The LGSs near me aren't entirely unreasonable, I get they need a higher profit margin without the volume of walmart or online dealers. However, they're more expensive than the prices people have been quoting from walmart and way way more expensive than online. I just wish I had more options. :(

Edit: Shipping costs don't seem to bad if you look around for deals. Cabela's currently has $5 shipping on orders over $99. Ive seen other places with similar deals on shipping but they definitely come and go and aren't always available. Good deal on S&B 9mm right now too if anyone is needing any.
 
Last edited:
I will never, I repeat, NEVER, buy anything from Wal-Mart. Strictly personal reasons that I will not go in to.
I buy all my ammo and reloading gear from a local gunshop.
Sometimes may be a bit more expensive, but my money...my choice.
 
1. Because I reload.
2. Because just before the current president took office and gun sales went nuts I purchased 10 cases of 9mm ($6.80 box) and 6 cases of 45 ACP (9$) and 5000 surplus .223 and don’t remember the price. Still have about half of that.And the only shipping cost was putting it in the back of my truck and off loading it at home.
3. The local stores charge 3 times what I paid.
4. As another put it, shipping can be very expensive.
 
the main issue is that very few mom and pop stores can actually shell out the cash needed to buy alot of ammo in alot of calibers. they just get the most common calibers. as a result your looking at a selection of various shotgun ammo, and a few different types of hunting ammo for 30-30, 30-06, and 308, if your lucky you may find a box of 243 or 270.

And even in the best gun store within 60 miles, everything is special order. that means a minimum purchase of at least a case, at full retail price. normally a buck higher per box then walmart, plus heavy freight charges, plus all other taxes and hasmat fees.

and whenever i get online for ammunition, EVERYONE is down to fmj only, or its on backorder.
 
I reload most of what I shoot ......but I do buy from
a few online places as well,walmart is last on my shopping list and far from what I would call the standard...raising prices means they do want your business anyways
 
I sometimes buy ammo online. The key is to buy in enough bulk that shipping costs are much less per box of ammo.
 
I supported my local gun shop today. A box a American Eagle .45's for $24.00 and a box of .22's (50) for $3.29. Needless to say I don't buy bulk there. But, if you want your local gun shop to stay in business you got to purchase.
 
You do save taxes online. Depending on how much you buy, it can offset shipping.

Wow! My Walmart still has Federal Champion 9mm for $11.97/box. I just bought 6 boxes the other day.
 
Don't know where your Walmart is located, but my Walmart has as low a price as can be found on all the common calibers and always has tons in stock. I just bought 250 rds(5X50rd boxes)of Federal 357 mag for less than $20.00 a box. 7.62X39 $4.87 a box of 20. Win WB 45ACP 100ct for $32.00. Remington 380ACP JHP $28.87 per 100ct box. The gun shops around here can't even come close. Additionally online orders form out of state vendors don't charge sales tax which on large orders can often offset the cost delivery.
 
When I buy ammo at the gunshop I have do my transfers I consider it like a tip. bulk mail order purchases are how I do almost all my ammo purchases.
 
ammo prices at the walmarts i've been to in several states recently has been the same it has been for a few years.



i buy bulk stuff online too, mainly jhp's. you generally get prison raped if you buy hollowpoint ammo locally lol
 
I reload my ammo. I have never shppoed at Walmart, I have only used the restrooms. Everytime I pull the handle, it's a "minus" on their books.
 
If I just need a few boxes I buy at my local gun shop, but most of the time I buy bulk online. I reload so it isn't that often unless I find good deals. I buy by the case, or with .22 ammo, a flat of 6,300 rounds...saves on shipping cost, and I don't have to order very often.
 
Our 'big' LGS charges ~ 40% more than Wally; the smaller LGSs are usually out of common ammo or charge about the same. In order to order online one really has to buy bulk to offset the S&H. A $130+ bill for ammo, even once a year, is tough when one is married w/ children. Then there's also the wait, making an impulse range trip a no-go.

So, if it's only for 50-100 rnds, Wally is, in the end, the cheapest and most convenient.

I will, however, support the LGSs when possible - yesterday I picked up 2ea 50rnd boxes of Fiocchi .32acp for $13.50 which is, even before S&H, better than online. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top