Buy ammo online or at local gun shop?

[Marksman2019]

Hey everybody!

I normally go online to by my ammo but during a visit to my local gun shop I noticed that they carry a far larger variety of brands and calibers. Is it worth it to purchase ammo from my local shops even though many times the prices are higher? Also, do you purchase your ammo locally whether it be from big box stores or your LGS or do you purchase online?

 

[ModernGunner]

Respectfully, doubtful the LGS carries a larger variety than that available online, since absolutely everything is available online, depending on where one looks.

Personally, whether the purchase is online or through a LGS depends on the need at the moment. JMO, but if just one or two boxes are needed, it's typically not worth the shipping to order online. However, if half a dozen boxes or more are needed, the shipping (perhaps free) makes it worthwhile to order online.

For me, rarely is the instance where ammo is needed 'immediately'. A sufficient supply is on-hand, and any bought (from whatever source) just replenishes what is being depleted.

 

[Meena]

I would rather buy locally but I guess so would everyone else because they are always out of what I need. I did find some .22 the other day at Walmart. WOW!

 

[Bennettjh]

I like to buy local but sometimes I can't find what I need so usually I end up buying online.

 

[Hogwylde]

It all depends on how much money you have and how much you care about how much you pay for your ammo. If you don't mind it being over priced and have the money to waste, go ahead and get it where ever you like. If you don't have much disposable income and are looking for the best value, shop around and buy from the best place you can find it......LGS or online.

 

[Broom_jm]

Or, if you really want great ammo, for a great price...load your own.

 

[glank09]

I will typically buy my plinking ammo at Walmart, assuming availability. My last carry ammo came from Big R.

 

[medcoxo]

Lately I have been on line, but months ago, LGS had it, I bought it.
Just to support local business, I also buy 'something', anytime it is my first visit to any LGS. It can range from targets, something from the 'bargain bin', or ammo if needed.

 

[Arm America]

I prefer local or the shows. Guess I'm just weird about putting some things on plastic and having purchases attached to me.

 

[Destro]

Last LGS I was in had bought theirs from Palmetto, as the shipping label they left on clearly stated.

 

[CampingJosh]

I tend go online to buy any factory ammo that I do purchase. More often, though, it'buying components online.

.22LR is the one exception that I always have bought locally.

 

[ctbreitwieser]

Before I started reloading, if I was buying bulk ammo, I ordered online. If I was buying just a couple boxes of ammo for hunting or something that I didn't shoot a lot, then I'd buy in store. Only bulk ammo I've never bought online is shotgun shells.

 

[goldtrigger]

Last month, I bought some ammo, mostly 22, online. It was available and I got free shipping.

 

[IndyGlockMan]

sometimes it's a fine line between paying sales tax or shipping cost.
If the numbers are close, I would by local and have the ammo in hand right away.

Of course I reload now, so the only ammo I purchase anymore is self defense ammo.

 

[wtburnette]

If you look around, some online sites will have free shipping if you buy in bulk. Target Sports USA is a good example of this. You can find some really good prices, plus if you buy a case (1k rounds typically) you get free shipping. Otherwise, ammoseek is a great resource for finding a good price per round, though you have to check each place out to see what they charge for shipping and if they charge tax up front.

If you can afford it, buy local. Otherwise, nothing wrong with saving money and buying online.

 

[TECKS]

what caliber and weight are you looking to get?

 

[STEEL CORE]

Buy it whwre you find it, I would like another box or two of 9mm 147 gr Federal HST, that said no one that I know of in Central Indiana, has them in stock (you can find 124 gr at GM), so on line like www.sgammo.com at times is the only option.

 

[dsol]

I reload so I don't buy ammo normally. Probably just get 22lr from WalMart whenever it comes back on the shelves, but stacked it deep when it was cheap so I have been able to weather the storm. I get my subsonic or std velocity 22lr from any LGS that has it on the shelf when I want to play with my suppressor. I did order a couple boxes of Buffalo Bore 38spl +P nasties last week because nobody around here stocks it. I would have paid the extra to buy it locally if anyone had it on their shelf though. I was a small business owner myself for a while so I try to support them as much as I can now.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Like so many of you, I reload, but mostly handgun ammo. I have buds (and a son) in various LE agencies, so whenever they're doing their 5.56 purchases, I'll piggyback a case or two along w/them. Helps them with their order volume, and I get a pretty good deal. They advise the vendor that there's some of the ammo being bought for a "friend" of the department, and none of them have ever had an issue with it.

Some of the other stuff, i DO buy online, either because it's rare (8x57JR for my 120 year-old Drilling, etc), or to ensure I can get matched lot numbers (I buy 8-10 boxes of hunting ammo at a time of the same caliber). Other than that, I go with local shops.

Having said all that....I typically buy my reloading components from Graf's - they usually have the best prices on 10k primers w/shipping & hazmats (for primers & powder). Has anyone come across a better source? I'd be inclined to stay with them unless it's a significant difference, though, since they will hold an order until it's complete if you ask them to.

 

[Bapak2ja]

Wise folks will buy where they get the best price. One must do the math. Taxes and shipping often make online more expensive than LGS, so one must run the numbers first.

Wise folks will keep a good supply on hand so they can keep shooting during Sandy Hill panics. This will also eliminate need-it-now purchases.