All of us shooters are feeling the price hikes that have slammed ammo over the past few years. First it was panic buying, then it was raw material supply shortages, then it was international conflict and defense spending driving up the price of ammo.
Whatever the case, ammo is more expensive than it was just a few years ago, and in some cases, to the tune of double or more. Shooters are fed up.
Now more than ever they are seeking alternatives in the form of bulk and cheap ammo to keep costs down. And why shouldn’t they? Depending on the shooting discipline, sometimes there really is no reason at all to spend a premium on ammo.
Here’s a short guide that should help set some things straight with regard to the price of ammo and when the use of cheap alternatives is justified.
When to Use Cheap Ammo
When you’re sighting in a gun, competing, long-range shooting, hunting, or carrying for defensive applications, by all means, do not use cheap ammo. It will be ineffective at best, counterproductive to your goals, and can actually be dangerous.
However, when you’re literally just burning brass at the range, enjoying the time spent plinking or punching holes in paper targets or even shooting at steel, there’s just no need for ultra-premium performance.
The same goes for drilling. If you’re trying to break a flinch or a bad habit, there’s no need to drop the hammer on extra pennies to do it. If the trigger breaks and the gun goes off, that’s all you need for that application.
Skip the hollow points and the +P rounds, unless of course you are training with your carry gun and need to pattern it or be sure it feeds reliably.
So now let’s talk about some ways to engineer costs down in ammo so you can actually realize this goal.
What to Look for in Cheap Ammo
There are a few things you can do to cut costs on ammo. Two of the best are buying in bulk and storing wisely, as well as buying surplus ammo. Since most surplus ammo is loaded for the military or sold by law enforcement agencies that haven’t used it or have no need for it, they often need to offload it at steep discounts, the benefits of which you can reap.
In addition to bulk and surplus deals, one of the best ways to find cheap ammo is to lighten the weight of the bullet. Shoot lighter loads and you save on material costs.
Another thing you can do is shoot cheap alternatives to what you’re used to. For instance, if you shoot wadcutters, maybe just shoot round nose. If you’re used to total metal jacket, consider full metal jacket or even copper plate, if it’s available.
Here’s another way to cut costs. If you shoot brass-cased ammo but don’t reload, shoot steel or aluminum-cased ammo. They’re not designed to be reloaded (and you probably shouldn’t try) but they are usually substantially cheaper than brass-cased loads.
You could also look into alternative brands. Sure, Fiocchi, Remington, Hornady, Winchester and Federal have most of the market on lock, but there are other great ammo manufacturers, too, like Bornaghi, Aguila, Rio and Magtech are all suitable alternatives, too.
Where to Get Cheap Ammo Online
Now that you know when you should be shooting cheap ammo, as well as a few ways to cut costs, you need a place to get it. Let’s make that online: get it at Able Ammo. They carry a massive inventory of calibers, brands and options, including bulk deals, and at competitive prices. Visit their website for more details or get in touch with them directly, and remember, stock the ammo cans well in advance of when you expect to be shooting.
