Current prices of commercial ammo

[The_Shadow]

Here is a websit for pricing of most calibers of commercial ammo http://gun-deals.com/dailyPrices/
Parent site http://gun-deals.com/
Has it broken down to price per round... 

[Intercooler]

I recognize the Guy that submitted most of the 10's

[sqlbullet]

Round, Round, Get-A-Round, He gets around,
Get-A-Round, Round, He gets around....

Good to have you with us.

[XYZ]

Is that site similar to ammo engine:

http://www.ammoengine.com/find/ammo/10mm

[Intercooler]

Question here. What do most think is a fair and reasonable amount to give for a box of 10mm ammo? Given what .40 is, I think we still get ripped some. I think $20-$22 is more in the range we should pay. I'm kind of shocked I can get some boxes of .44 Magnum for the same price 

[DM1906]

Question here. What do most think is a fair and reasonable amount to give for a box of 10mm ammo? Given what .40 is, I think we still get ripped some. I think $20-$22 is more in the range we should pay. I'm kind of shocked I can get some boxes of .44 Magnum for the same price 

Like it or not, it isn't about fair.  It's supply, demand, marketing quantities, and production runs.  With (relatively) little demand, there's little market quantity, which equates to a relative high demand per unit available.  Tooling is expensive (man hours with no return), and short runs yield less profit than long runs.  It's simple economics.  The less popular the round, the more expensive it's going to be, commercially.

[Intercooler]

.380 is crazy too but I know that one has more demand.

[michael e]

Price out 25auto,  last time I looked it was higher than 45acp.       

[DM1906]

.380 is crazy too but I know that one has more demand.

I don't buy boxed ammo, but .380 is one of the cheapest on the shelf at my local Walmart.  100 rounds of Remington JHP is about $30, and this is in CA.  Less than 9mm, .38spl, .40's, etc.  The only thing less is .22LR, or others I haven't noticed.  Maybe .25 Auto is more, I haven't looked.

I think what you are finding out is, you are getting what you pay for.  Cheap rounds gets you cheap performance.  If you're shooting 10mm at near .40 velocity, there's no reason to not just shoot the .40's and save the money, if you're willing to settle for that.  I shoot as many .40's as 10's through my 10's, for the same economic reasons.  If I only shot 10mm rounds, I'd shoot a lot less.  I don't shoot any less 10mm now than I would if .40's weren't available.  The same applies to .38spl/.357, .44spl/.44M, and all the .45's.  Not only are they more expensive to buy, they are also more expensive to handload (nearly double).  It's no more complicated than that.

[REDLINE]

I think $20-$22 is more in the range we should pay.

Plinking?, Premium?, both?

Per 20...50...100?

From all manufacturers, or just the big ones?

[Intercooler]

$20 should be Federal, Remington, etc... for 50 FMJ.

The Buffalo Bore and DoubleTap premium are pretty much robbery at $1/round. Kevin has the best deal going there and pretty reasonable at $25/50.


I'm having a hard time spending for 40ish ammo at $23/50 for testing. If I didn't have my factory connection I would be buying Armscor and Underwood solely (unless HPR has a deal).

[REDLINE]

$20 should be Federal, Remington, etc... for 50 FMJ.

Agreed.

The Buffalo Bore and DoubleTap premium are pretty much robbery at $1/round. Kevin has the best deal going there and pretty reasonable at $25/50.

Robbery?, for companies that don't sell billions of rounds to governments and what not every year?  Kevin's prices only work by having his ducks lined up in a row the way he does (mostly unbeknownst to us).  It seems you compare what ammo should cost based partially on handloading costs and partially on how much you can buy other cheaper ammo for.

Now along with what it costs to handload;  Add in the costs of a website and all that goes along with setting up and upkeeping one.  Add in the 11% excise tax Uncle Sam will charge you on the retail price of all the ammo you sell.  Add in all the other taxes you will pay just because you have a business.  Add in your personal taxes if this is a sole source of income for you.  Add in packaging costs.  Add in the repayment costs of a small business loan you may have had to get for startup or expansion (even a "simple" Camdex loading machine will cost you +$35,000 a pop).  Add in the FULL cost of each employee outside of simply an hourly wage.  Add in the costs of keeping the lights and water turned on.  Add in what you need for a salary even keeping life simple.  Add in the cost of keeping yourself supplied with components.  Add in the cost of break downs.  Add in the cost of insuring the business.  Add in the cost of retaining a lawyer if you see fit.  Add in the cost of quality control.  Add in the costs of marketing and advertising.  Add in all other things I can't think up at the moment.  And now hope someone even cares to buy your ammo at any price.

Sometimes a buck a round doesn't seem so great, and yet sometimes it wouldn't exist at all if it weren't at the buck a round or more that's being charged for it.  People like Obama aren't helping either, quite the opposite.   
   

I'm having a hard time spending for 40ish ammo at $23/50 for testing. If I didn't have my factory connection I would be buying Armscor and Underwood solely (unless HPR has a deal).

I hear ya.  But would you rather all the currently available ammo at costs you frown on didn't exist at all?  It ain't a perfect world out there my friend.

[Intercooler]

   Buffalo Bore and DoubleTap could exit stage left and I would be okay with that.


These were my opinions as we are entitled to. Please don't pick them apart as I wouldn't pick yours apart. Thanks in advance.

[sqlbullet]

Unburdened cost pre-labor to load Zero 180 gr FMJ to Underwood specs, at my prices for components is $320/K.

The general rule of thumb if you don't have time to do full market research is retail price will be 4x component cost.  You count on economy of scale to reign that in somewhat.

Based on that rule of thumb, ammo is really cheap.  The 4X rule puts you at $1.28 each.  Undewood is selling his for 1.43X costs (again, not accounting for bulk discounts he hopefully gets). 

I can remember when Double Tap was about $60/K for ammo.  Clearly something changed.  Be interesting to find out what.

Speaking for myself, I am glad to have Buffalo Bore and Double Tap.  I don't buy a lot of their product, but they are in most BGS around here.  And they are present in boutique calibers like 10mm.  Underwood is great ammo, and will get some of my business this year, but I don't want those that have assumed the burdens of getting into Sportsmans Warehouse to disappear.

[The_Shadow]

People in business do have to make a profit and the liabilities and all the cost of production do add in to the prices.  Fed and Local taxes drive many out of business as they all want their cut.  If I had to buy commercial stuff it would be from Underwood as his quality vs. cost with premium bullets has shown to be better than most. 

However Handloading was my logical decision way back in the mid 70's...I knew I could put together ammo just as good, if not better, for my own guns.  Add into that casting my own bullets, it has been an investment that is still paying dividens!