We’re in an era where the price of ammo doesn’t seem to be going anywhere but up. Prices are today in some instances two, three, even four times as high as they were just five years ago.
The price of ammo, the causes, and what we can expect of it all is something that we’ve covered in our blog before. Inflation only goes one way, but at a certain point, this is just ridiculous, right?
So, we’re here with some tips on how to save money on ammo, from buying 9mm bulk ammo to shopping for other specials.
Buy 9mm Bulk Ammo
The first and most straightforward way to save money on ammo is to buy more of it at once. That is, if you’re a 9mm shooter, buy 9mm bulk ammo, and buy as much of it as you can store and use.
The reason for this is that as purchase quantities go up, down goes price. At normal prices, you might be paying somewhere around 33 to 50 cents per round on mild FMJ 9mm rounds, right.
Well, if you buy in bulk you can bring the price down, and in some instances, by quite a bit.
Take a look at just one bulk 9mm deal on our website. That’s 500 rounds for just $140.
That comes out to just 28 cents a round - and there are even better bulk packs we offer, like 500 rounds of MaxxTech for $124.99, which is only 25 cents per round.
Just one thing. Make sure you know how to store it properly. High heat, humidity, and temperature swings can also spell doom for good ammo.
So, if you buy 9mm bulk ammo, make sure you have somewhere cool and dry to store it for the long term.
Shop Police Trade-in Specials
Police trade-in specials are just as good as bulk ammo purchases and in some cases, even better.
The thing about police trade-in is you can get bulk, that is if you want to. There are some bulk and mixed ammo deals in our police trade-in catalog, but there are also opportunities for you to buy in smaller quantities and still get great prices.
Basically, police occasionally trade in their guns, ammo, or other tactical gear in exchange for better deals on something else (or just something new). That works to your benefit.
While there are bulk deals in our police trade-in section, there are also plenty of one-off deals that can get you a great price without requiring you to buy a huge load of ammo all at once.
The bottom line here is this: bookmark our police trade-in page.
Adjust Your Preferences
Specifically, don’t shoot expensive, over-pressure, or hot-loaded ammo if you don’t need to.
If all you’re doing is punching paper, burning brass, or enjoying range therapy, and you’re not competing or anything like that, you really shouldn’t be that particular about what you shoot.
As long as it’s serviceably accurate, doesn’t damage your gun, feeds reliably, and isn’t way too dirty, you shouldn’t care, right?
Skip the +P ammo and only shoot the hollow points when you’re training for defensive carry. A cheap, light, 115 grain 9mm round should work absolutely fine for you if you’re just practicing.
Also, and this goes along the same vein, is not to be wasteful. If you’re at the range because you need to sight in, do it quickly and use a laser boresight to help you get on paper faster.
Otherwise, buy in bulk and shoot the cheap stuff.
Start Reloading
Our last suggestion is actually one of the most practical, but with it comes one very significant caveat. You need to be able to find the components that are necessary for you to take this up.
Assuming you can, which in the current era is mildly presumptuous, you should absolutely start reloading.
For one, every box of ammo you buy (assuming the brass is reloadable) gives you casings you can reload several times.
Moreover, straight-walled cartridges that don’t produce a lot of chamber pressure tend to last a long time. It’s not uncommon to get away with 5 reloads for 9mm, if not more.
Also, if you buy components in bulk - bullets, primers, and powder - after a while, the reloading press will pay for itself.
This is probably the best way, after shopping for bulk ammo, to engineer down your per-unit cost of ammo so you can enjoy shooting more for less.
For More Money Saving Tips…
This post only covers some of the ways that you can save on ammo itself. We’ve published a few posts on how to save money at the range. See our first and second sets of money-saving tips via the previous links.