Just when I was about to post the (largely unnecessary) reminder for National Ammo Day, came this pearl of wisdom:
Simple response: Would like to, always have in the past. Can’t, now.
There are either per-order limits, or nothing in stock, or else the ammo is so expensive that I can’t afford it per box, let alone in bulk. That said:
…and:
Good luck, folks. Yer gonna need it.
Define “bulk”.
Not that long ago, here on the ghost compound, it meant about 1000 rds of the same caliber in the same order. Today it is something else.
Recently I purchased (2) 550 rd boxes of .22 from a joint in Calif I had never done biz with before. Each box was about $45 and so was the shipping. Total was about $135, so it cost me a box of boolits just to get the shit to me. In summation, for me now, a bulk purchase is 2 boxes of .22.
Fortunately I have been buying more than I had been shooting for the past coupla years so we’re in good shape but, you can never have too many. So I’m ever watchful.
As I’ve said before, the only time you have too much ammo is when you’re trying to swim with it or your house is on fire.
I have enough ammo–as long as I don’t shoot any of it.
Bulk? Good luck with that. Here in San Diego in the DPRK, IF you can get common pistol calibers (like 9mm europellet), it’s at least 60c/round for realoads, if/when you can get it. Even shite like .38 special wadcutter is around 50c/round. Factory 9mm/40/45? Forget it.
Can’t find common calibers of rifle ammunition. No 30-06 or 308 or 30-30. If they can’ be found, the cost is approaching $1 per cartridge or often times more.
Pistol ammunition is marked by signs in the window or just inside the gun shops stating that they are our of almost all of it plus 5.56 Poodle shooter.
I have seen some 22-250, 7mm and 6.5mm for sale but they don’t fit.
Buy whatever you can when availability and bank account are in alignment.
JQ
Learn to reload. Yes it takes time and effort and setting up is expensive, but it may be the only way to get specific calibers you need. Yes even getting the proper Powders, primers and Boolits is a pain in these times but if you search the web, gun stores, bulletin boards at the range and network with other shooters you can manage. Reloading offers a variety of ways to feed your guns, if you do your research.
great advice!
I reloaded 38special years ago so I stocked up on bullets, powder and some primers. I haven’t reloaded something else but I did save all my brass and buy some dies, bullets, powder and some primers. By reloading standards I have don’t have much at all.
Jq
@Hermit,
What you say makes sense, generally. Some of us, including me, lack two key components for reloading (1) I don’t have a space I can dedicate to a permanent reloading bench (2) I don’t have the inclination to reload.
#1 – should be self explanatory
#2 – I have enough to do, my time is somewhat limited, and quite frankly, for the amount I shoot it would take at least 5 years for me to recoup the costs. That’s too long a payback period for my liking. Moreover, I simply don’t want another hobby.
Don’t get me wrong … your advice is good for a lot of folks out there, just not for me. YMMV.
My pistol range had cases of PMC 9mm FMJ for 699.99. Too rich for my blood, but I was glad to see they had some. They also had 5.56, but it was steel case and marked that you can’t use it at the range. Don’t remember the price, but they had it by the case as well.
Of course, they probably sold out in a couple hours.
I’ve started taking my .22 Ruger pistol and my CO2 BB pistol to the range to conserve the centerfire stuff.
I have enough ammo for social occasions, but I forgot about training.
If it’s steel case, it most likely has steel in the bullet also. Could be a steel core, and/or a steel jacket. Steel jacket will wear out your barrel much too soon. Soviet 7.62 would totally remove the rifling by 6k rounds in the SKS or AK. It would lose accuracy long before that point, of course.
To keep your eye in, how about getting a crossbow and some bolts? Sure you have the initial expense, but after that each shot is free, as long as you recover the bolts.
The “load to reload” time for my crossbow is about the same as it took an experienced shooter in the 17th century to do the same thing with his flint lock. On a good day I can get 2 bolts accurately down range in 1 minute or less.