Online Ammo Retailer Tactics

Cropduster172

Cropduster172

Joined
Apr 20, 2021
Messages
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Location
PA & CMC, NJ
I've ordered ammunition online from a few different retailers over the years. Lately, I've liked Target Sports USA. Their pricing is decent. Free shipping dependent upon order size, great email communication and super fast UPS shipping...and they never spout scare tactics of pending shortages like one guy does SGA and now 2AWAREHOUSE.
Here's the text of the latest email I got from 2AWAREHOUSE:


"Stock Up - Before Prices Go Up! ​


The gun powder shortage of 2024 is continuing and getting worse in 2025. This shortage is causing huge price increases on gun powder across the entire ammunition manufacturing industry.

On top of the gun powder situation, we have a major global shortage of antimony, which is a key additive in bullet making. The price has shot up exponentially, which is adding to the cost of bullets across the industry.

These two issues alone are going to push finished ammo prices up this year. If you add in any new wars/conflicts or tariffs, we could see ammo skyrocket again.

We say all this not to scare you or fearmonger but to be transparent about the state of the ammunition industry in early 2025."


I have a tough time buying into this approach and in my experience, it never really materializes.

You guys see any validity to this tactic?
 
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Interesting since I just bought an 8 pounder of Titegroup for $3 less than 14 months ago at a local shop.

The antimony thing is true but the amount of antimony in a jacketed or plated bullet in minuscule. It could up the pice of shotshells.
 
Like you, I'm a little skeptical of sales tactics like this. What I read between the lines is, "We are way overstocked, due to mistakes made by our attempt to get ammo in, when it was less available. So we want you, the customer, to believe that the sky is about to fall again, and you need to stock up - even more."
 
Slick3914 said:
Interesting since I just bought an 8 pounder of Titegroup for $3 less than 14 months ago at a local shop.

The antimony thing is true but the amount of antimony in a jacketed or plated bullet in minuscule. It could up the pice of shotshells.
Click to expand...
Kind of blows the theory of 2024 price increases so why believe them about 2025. It's always a projected shortage of one component or another.
 
Cropduster172 said:
SG is the purveyor of this tactic. Will take a look at AIM.
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Oh I see what you are saying, the scare tactic. I misunderstood.

I go for price per round and quality of ammo. SG has nice boxes they ship in.

Purchases will predict price. One way or the other, the price will be the price. If one who uses scare tactics increases thier price without other companies following suit, then they will lose sales and credibility. IMO.
 
burbguy82 said:
Oh I see what you are saying, the scare tactic. I misunderstood.

I go for price per round and quality of ammo. SG has nice boxes they ship in.

Purchases will predict price. One way or the other, the price will be the price. If one who uses scare tactics increases thier price without other companies following suit, then they will lose sales and credibility. IMO.
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You're right about price/round including shipping is the deciding factor. Also, some places offer the option of remanufactured/reloaded stuff which I guess some folks like. I've never tried it because the calibers I'm buying have been cheap enough to buy new... 9mm, .223 and some.45.
The 9mm and .223 is almost always overseas manufacturers. .45 not so much.
 
Cropduster172 said:
You're right about price/round including shipping is the deciding factor. Also, some places offer the option of remanufactured/reloaded stuff which I guess some folks like. I've never tried it because the calibers I'm buying have been cheap enough to buy new... 9mm, .223 and some.45.
The 9mm and .223 is almost always overseas manufacturers. .45 not so much.
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Igman brand ammo is good, perhaps give that a shot. Cheap and accurate.
 
I like PSA for ammo. Prices always great, sometimes free ship with the right deal.

The other day target sports sent me a email that said "MADE YOU LOOK" then cracked a joke about stocking up.
so I put them on spam block and dont get those any more.
 
I ignore the scare tactics and buy where the price per round, delivered, is good. I buy a case (or two) at a time and nearly every place offers free shipping at that volume.

Sgammo has been excellent with their packaging, shipping, and price per round.

Often, in those scare tactic emails, are some sales that offer very competitive prices.
 
Speedy3861 said:
One of the most basic sales techniques is FUD
Create
FEAR
UNCERTAINTY
DOUBT

I buy primarily from Target Sports, they're pretty straightforward. I pay the $100 Premium Member fee, paid for itself every year. They deliver fast as well.
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I'm going to think about that premium membership. I like Target Sports USA I wish they sold more than just ammo though...not necessarily guns but holsters, optics, rails, etc...
 
of the components needed for a cartridge , everything seems to have come off its peak quite a bit , except powder. there has been a lot of consolidation of the powder biz and its controlled domestically by a couple of companies . So domestic ammo makers area the mercy of these companies .

What is keeping ammo prices low over all is the imports , unless you want a non popular cartridge . Right now we are at a lull in ammo prices for popular rounds like 9mm and 5.56 . same for primers and bullets .

As usual in this situation, buy cheap and stack deep . We are many times one law or action away from prices increasing and shortages .
 
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I usually buy from SGAmmo and don’t find his marketing manipulative. Just a small business owner sharing what he thinks. 🤷

Regardless they are a good outfit to do business with.

I have had positive experiences with Target sports also but the membership is a scam IMO, what good is it when they are out of what you want?
 
I recently got a phone call from a gentleman with a thick Indian accent named "Jason Lawrence", a name that he could barely pronounce. He told me that I need to get solar panels ASAP, before the Chinese cyber-attack the grid. If that happens, we’ll be without power for the next ten years, he said. That takes the cake when it comes to fear-mongering, I’d say - it’s on the next level. 😂
 
Cropduster172 said:
SG is the purveyor of this tactic. Will take a look at AIM.
Click to expand...
I don’t know that I took SG to be using a scare tactic. He is often fairly open about pricing and taking a loss. He does talk about the ammo market happenings, but I don’t see that as a bad thing in the big picture.

Any business is going to try to capitalize on market events, and optimize their cost compared to the market.

Astro14 said:
I ignore the scare tactics and buy where the price per round, delivered, is good. I buy a case (or two) at a time and nearly every place offers free shipping at that volume.

Sgammo has been excellent with their packaging, shipping, and price per round.

Often, in those scare tactic emails, are some sales that offer very competitive prices.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Either the ppr is what I consider to be a fair value historically, or I walk… or I really want some.

I don’t know that the folks that OP would consider more “matter of fact” really have any different pricing structure. Some can be a lot more $$.
 
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