12ga ammo Where to buy

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DustyGmt

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I always bought my 12ga ammo from Wal mart or other big box stores, I actually hardly ever did because I never really shot my shotguns but now I'm thinking I might transition to busting clays for a little while. I haven't been to a Wal mart for quite a long time but they used to have pallets of the stuff, should I expect all of it to be gone now, in step with what is going on with other popular centerfire cartridges? I was always under the impression that shotgunning was a smaller subset of the shooting public. I would guess that it's probably not as cheap as pre covid but is all the 12ga ammo wiped out with the rest of em or is it generally available? Where is a good place to buy?
 
Walmart's prices are the same as always so it goes quickly; they're also not getting as much as they used to; add in panic buying and folks will buy it all instead of that 1 4-pack they were going to buy. I shoot a LOT of clay targets (a few times per week) so I scrounge whenever I can; but then I was stocking up when times were good. I should be able to make it through the rest of this year between reloading and factory ammo. Prices are higher now though; those days of $5/box ammo are gone - they're now closer to $7/box, and in some cases $9
 
those days of $5/box ammo are gone - they're now closer to $7/box, and in some cases $9

Very true, George. I bought a case of Federal 1 1/8th oz #8's at the local hardware store last week, and it wound up costing me $93 tax and all. In all my years of shooting, I've never paid that much for 12 gauge target loads. Some friends of mine, who live close to the local Wal-Mart, have managed to catch the 100 round boxes for the normal price of $21. Unfortunately, they seem to be hit and miss. If you have and Academy Sports locally, you might have some luck there. I've seen ammo in stock in stores there, but not online. Same with Bass Pro/Cabelas. Ammoseek.com is your friend as well, just be leary of "too good to be true" offers. Avoid the gougers on Gunbroker/etc.

Mac
 
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Bought 7.5 shot for years for 1.50.
7 8 or 9 shot was 5.49. No idea why. But it was that way for a while
 
Once all the handgun ammo was gone, everyone bought up all rifle ammo. Once all the rifle ammo was gone, everyone bought up every single piece of lead they could buy including shotgun target loads!

Absolutely stupidness in the shooting sports!
 
In the past I couldn’t find 16ga shells locally. The other day at Walmart I find a few boxes of 16ga 7.5 and had to buy it. Kinda hoarding the 12ga I have so my son has extra for his youth league. Now we can shoot a few rounds together and I’ll see how the 16 does. I haven’t spotted 12ga target loads at Walmart in a long time.
 
Very true, George. I bought a case of Federal 1 1/8th oz #8's at the local hardware store last week, and it wound up costing me $93 tax and all. In all my years of shooting, I've never paid that much for 12 gauge target loads. Some friends of mine, who live close to the local Wal-Mart, have managed to catch the 100 round boxes for the normal price of $21. Unfortunately, they seem to be hit and miss. If you have and Academy Sports locally, you might have some luck there. I've seen ammo in stock in stores there, but not online. Same with Bass Pro/Cabelas. Ammoseek.com is your friend as well, just be leary of "too good to be true" offers. Avoid the gougers on Gunbroker/etc.

Mac
Academy hasn't had squat since before the election. I have gift cards from Christmas I am trying to figure out what to spend them on in there as I always used them for ammo. Even the BASS has had some shotgun and rifle ammo now and again; Academy has zip. I am told, like the old shortage with .22 where the same crew waited at Walmart, we have that same scenario happening here at Academy
 
I just saw 100 rd. packs of #7.5 lead shot (12 ga.) for $22 at my local WalMart yesterday. They also had 100 rd. packs of #4 steel shot for around $45. Dick's near me had a fair amount of 12 and 20 ga.shotgun ammo last time I checked (prices were a bit higher than walmart). The local farm stores have been cleaned out for a while now.
 
Academy hasn't had squat since before the election

I actually went to an Academy for the first time right before Christmas. Needed a bicycle and nobody had one because of covid. (Idk) Academy did.

And no they didn't have a single box of ammo in November or December. Whenever it was
 
Unless something has happened in the last few days shotgun shells were still in stock at most places locally. Maybe not a huge selection, but they were there. But I haven't been into a store that sells ammo in a week or more.
 
I'm watching a local property auction that is on line only that has quite a bit of ammo. They are auctioning the Winchester Universal 100 round box of #7.5 birdshot a week before and they are already up to $50 a box plus a 10% buyers premium. 5 different lots and all are at the $50 mark, wonder what they will get to at the end of the auction next Saturday. Single boxes Fiocchi Optima .410 #6 shot are at $30.
 
I am told, like the old shortage with .22 where the same crew waited at Walmart, we have that same scenario happening here at Academy

I wish I had the time to skulk outside the store all the time waiting to raid the shelf...smh. if I did have the time I wouldn't be able to afford it in the first place... I'm guessing alot of these guys are retailers. I know these guys are hurting this time around so I won't knock anybody, but during BHO it was just ridiculous, I ran into a local retailer who traveled across state lines and I would wait in line behind him and about 6-8 of his employees buying the box limit to jack it up 3-4× price back in town where we live. I found that irritating. This wasn't a "keep the lights on" situation. It was bs.
 
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Not needing any shotgun ammo at present... If I were in need, my first stop would be to check ammoseek to scan the 'net - then most probably go to SGAmmo and have whatever I purchased shipped directly to my house... My days of prowling stores seem to be over - unless I need a specific item locally... If asked, years ago, I'd have never guessed we'd end up where we are at present... and very, very glad I was talked out of owning a shop some years ago (in my case fishing tackle, of course...).
 
I always bought my 12ga ammo from Wal mart or other big box stores, I actually hardly ever did because I never really shot my shotguns but now I'm thinking I might transition to busting clays for a little while. I haven't been to a Wal mart for quite a long time but they used to have pallets of the stuff, should I expect all of it to be gone now, in step with what is going on with other popular centerfire cartridges? I was always under the impression that shotgunning was a smaller subset of the shooting public. I would guess that it's probably not as cheap as pre covid but is all the 12ga ammo wiped out with the rest of em or is it generally available? Where is a good place to buy?
https://www.wikiarms.com/group/12ga

Yup, expensive BUT my son has found shells for my SG at Cabela's, Jax and Sportsman's warehouse here around Denver..spotty availability but there.
 
https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Lead/products/463/ Several options for GOOD target loads here, in stock, at reasonable prices. No Wal Mart Estate garbage for $4.99 a box, but good shells. Don't be greedy, as I don't believe they have a limit.

Trap shooting in the North is somewhat seasonal. Federal Cartridge and others will meet the demand for these shells by mid-late March, you just may not have the option to be picky.
 
Both Bass Pro and Gander RV seem to have some 12 gauge birdshot available when I've gone to either of them.

That being said, the pickings are slim for basic 12 gauge birdshot.

There seems to be an over abundance of 12 gauge steel shot, especially 3.5" steel at big box stores
 
Just got a robo-email from Optics Planet. Ad for Winchester shells, ouch! Cheap target Winchester 12ga $13.99 a box, around $5.50 last time I picked some up locally.
 
I always bought my 12ga ammo from Wal mart or other big box stores, I actually hardly ever did because I never really shot my shotguns but now I'm thinking I might transition to busting clays for a little while. I haven't been to a Wal mart for quite a long time but they used to have pallets of the stuff, should I expect all of it to be gone now, in step with what is going on with other popular centerfire cartridges? I was always under the impression that shotgunning was a smaller subset of the shooting public. I would guess that it's probably not as cheap as pre covid but is all the 12ga ammo wiped out with the rest of em or is it generally available? Where is a good place to buy?
I haven't been inside of a Wal Mart in over a decade, but if you can't 12 ga target loads, we're all really screwed In my neck of the woods, it's the only thing left.
 
Went to Sportsman's Warehouse and Jax here(Denver), both had 12g birdshot(also 16g and 20g)...Bought 20g...$8 per 25..
 
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