Cost of Defensive Handgun Ammo-WHY?

[Packman]

I was just wondering, is there anything in the manufacturing process of defensive handgun ammo that creates the absurdly high cost of it?

I mean, I can buy 9mm FMJ in bulk for around .23 cents per round. Locally, however, the CHEAPEST 9mm JHP I've found was in excess of 1 dollar per round. Generally, it's closer to 1.10 to 1.20 per round. Online, I've noticed it can be had for more like .50 cents per round, IF you're willing to buy in lots of 500 to 1000 rounds at a time.

Is the manufacturing process on the JHP defensive ammo that much more expensive, or is everyone from the manufacturer to the retailer just taking a ridiculous profit on the stuff?

 

[hometheaterman]

Just markup, because buying the bullets as a component to reload are only $1 or so more per box of $100 than fmj's.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Locally, however, the CHEAPEST 9mm JHP I've found was in excess of 1 dollar per round.

Must be a local thing, most places you can find it for less than that.

Online, I've noticed it can be had for more like .50 cents per round, IF you're willing to buy in lots of 500 to 1000 rounds at a time.

Without looking too hard:
$ .48/round in a box of 50
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=123193

Just markup, because buying the bullets as a component to reload are only $1 or so more per box of $100 than fmj's.

I disagree. There's more to the price than just the projectile. If you are really comparing apples to apples, you need to buy the same bullets, flash reduced powder, new nickel cases, etc. If you can do that for $1 more per hundred, let me know where you are getting the stuff.

While there's certainly a premium charged and a higher markup (which makes sense since most people only seem to buy a handful of boxes of decent defensive JHPs ever and will buy a couple of boxes of FMJs each range trip), attributing it all to those factors on the premise the bullets are only $1 more per 100 neglects to consider all the other differences in components.

 

[Packman]

Jorg,

I'm pretty sure it is partially local.

The problem with buying online is that, like at the Midway site you linked, the cost of shipping drives the cost up higher. The best I've seen was at ammoman.com, which had Federal JHP for 499/1000 rounds, and that included shipping. That's probably the way to go, it's just that shelling out 500 dollars on ammo in one go isn't something I can swing right now.

 

[huntsman]

the $1.00 a round pays for the advertising and gun shows on TV, it also makes up for the loss on the 23 cent round.

 

[Old Fuff]

Besides the obvious, which as already been explained, many (O.K. most) of today's buyers are convinced that they "can't stop the threat" unless their personal pack'n gun is loaded with a particular brand of high performance(?) ammunition with a cool tactical name. That being the case they get to pay extra for whatever.

The truth of the matter is that bullet placement and diameter (bigger is usually better) is more important then what the particular bullet construction is. What seems to work in jelly blocks doesn't always translate into what happens in the real world. However carrying what one thinks gives them an edge is a great confidence builder, even if it is or isn't.

 

[RhinoDefense]

Research in defensive ammunition costs a lot of money. Presenting the results and having clinics costs a lot of money. They pay for that with ammunition sales.

Practice ammunition isn't a loss leader as they sell a lot more FMJ ammo than JHP ammo. To think FMJ ammo is losing money is absurd.

The cost of research is built into the COGS for the JHP ammunition and is not necessarily profit margin. Recall the major manufacturers don't sell retail. They only sell wholesale (sell to someone who sells to someone else that sells it at retail).

 

[basicblur]

the CHEAPEST 9mm JHP I've found was in excess of 1 dollar per round.

Avoid those 20/25 round 'consumer' boxes like the plague (unless they're having a good sale).
Get a small group together (or buy yourself) and get 4 boxes and up at Ammunition To Go-I played around with various numbers of boxes to split shipping-didn't seem too bad after you hit the 4 box mark, but you have to watch his prices and jump at the right time.

Also keep a check on LE supply houses in your area-I hit about 6 of 'em every month or so and you never know what specials they'll be running.

'Bout all my practice ammo I get at WalMart-all my SD ammo is from LE supply houses when on sale (and their prices vary widely) and places like Ammunition To Go, Ammo Man, etc.

 

[A.H. Fox]

I use WWB .40, $28.95 per 100 at Wally World. I'll just toss two or three extra rounds at the BG if one don't do the trick. Keeps me from having "what have I got loaded today" conversations with myself....no...I do not normally talk to myself. Although my wife says I talk to myself quite often...usualy after every interaction with my snot nosed teenage kids.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Defensive ammo tends to go through more QC checks... supposedly. But I agree that the price can be bloated... a dollar + per round of 9mm is excessive and I would not pay that. I usually just order it online when I find a good deal. Once you decide what loads your gun likes, just order 500 of them... it ought to last you for years if you rotate your ammo out every 4-6 months.

 

[oneounceload]

hat, like at the Midway site you linked, the cost of shipping drives the cost up higher. The best I've seen was at ammoman.com, which had Federal JHP for 499/1000 rounds, and that included shipping. That's probably the way to go, it's just that shelling out 500 dollars on ammo in one go isn't something I can swing right now.

Graf's includes shipping as part of the price

As to the higher cost, there is more marketing, packaging, and component costs. coupled with lower volume - adds to higher cost. I will also bet the mark-up is a little higher - as is anything when it is designated for a special purpose, for professional use, tactical or any of a number of adjectives

 

[Carter]

But some federal HST. Its cheap yet effective. Order two or three boxes of it and once you add in the shipping it shouldn't be too bad. Ammunitiontogo.com usually has it for a good price.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I bought five hundred rounds of HST and a few thousand 9mm practice rounds. It helped keep the cost to local prices and get the hollowpoints.

I got five hundred because me and my wife's guns needed to run 150 of them without a hitch to be considered. Then fifty rounds to load each gun and extra magazines and fifty rounds for each gun in the safe (the rest of my emergency ammo is FMJ). Then once a year I buy a few thousand rounds on a great ammo deal and pick up a few more premium boxes to practice with and grow my emergency stash of this ammo.

 

[SSN Vet]

You should expect to pay more for premium defense ammo. than bulk FMJ for a couple of real reasons....

1.) Defense ammo. often uses nickel plated brass cases. These resist corrosion when sitting for long period of time (i.e. a police officers duty belt, etc...). They also cost more to make.

2.) Defense ammo. uses state of the art design hollow point bullets. They mfg. has to recoup their R & D expenses (while ball hasn't changed much in 50 years). But the process of making a modern hollow point (especially a bonded core one) is greater and as premium components the QC is tighter, both on geometry and mass.

3.) Defense ammo. is often loaded hot. By hot, I mean it is loaded to achieve pressures close to the max. SAMMI allowed pressures. If your going to load to the limit, you better pay very close attention and ramp up your QC. If FMJ is loaded to only 80% of the limit, you've got a lot more margin of safety.

4.) Marketing, marketing, and more marketing. They can get away with charging what they do because the masses are demanding more, more, more.

5.) Many folks advocate that you should not reload your own defense ammo. because when you plug the home invader bent on killing you and raping your wife and kids b4 burning them alive, they'll sic their attorney on you to sue you for loading "killer bullets" (as opposed to just normal bullets that don't kill??). So even the re-loaders are scared into buying their own defense ammo. And of course they need to practice with the same ammo. they carry, so the demand goes up even more.

Now exactly how much more depends on your shopping skills. So put it on your wife's grocery list and you might just save a bundle.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I'd say SD ammo is somewhat overpriced. I still buy it. There are times to save and times not to save. If my life is on the line is not the time to be saving $10. Its the time to be using something good. I shoot a hundred rounds or so a week and I'm as big a cheapskate when it comes to that as you can imagine. But my SD ammo once I've satisfied myself its reliable, I buy once and it sits there in my gun and magazines for a year. Then I replace it. In the big scheme of things that is small change. It is the big reason for brand loyalty though, I don't have to reliability checks on it again. Last years ammo takes care of that.

 

[basicblur]

It all depends on the target audience...

Back when I was using a lot of Mobil 1, I found you could buy it much cheaper at truck stops etc than you could at WalMart etc.
I assume it was so because truckers deal in volume and they ain't gonna pay retail prices fer it as much oil as those trucks hold.

Kinda reminds me of buying 20/25 rd boxes of SD ammo vs the 50 rd boxes sold to LE etc...

 

[NMGonzo]

willing and able

 

[hardworker]

Defensive ammo is expensive because people will buy it. The world is full of people that equate price to quality, and spend accordingly.

 

[CoastieShep]

We have a winner
I agree. Price is high because people will buy it. I can understand a slightly higher price due to more steps to make it or whatever, but nearly twice the price? Nope.

 

[basicblur]

but nearly twice the price

I've got some 357 SIG Golden Saber Bonded that I bought at a LE supply house for $17.95/50 (cleaned him out over 'bout 3 trips). 357 practice ammo at WalMart is much higher.
So what do I do now...shoot the good stuff for practice ammo?
The same ammo at another LE house 30 miles up the road was $59.95/box!

I've also picked up 9mm HST +P for $20/50, 9BPLE, 357 SIG Frangible at various LE houses (all name brand ammo)-don't remember exactly what I paid (it's in my records), but I remember they were all a heckuva sale!

Hey, I don't really care if folks overpay for the 20/25 round boxes-only problem is if they keep it up, sooner or later they'll expect us cheap SOBs (and you KNOW who you are! ) to pay those kind of prices, and that just ain't gonna happen...

 

[No4Mk1*]

I just use WWB 9mm 147gr jhp. Otherwise I might be inclined to keep saving old and possibly oil soaked ammo instead of shooting it at each range trip. I also have to consider diminishing returns regarding how unlikely I am to ever fire a gun in defense, and multiply that by how unlikely WWB vs a premium brand's performance would differ and I realize at least for me the money would be better spent elsewhere.

 

[killchain]

I was just wondering, is there anything in the manufacturing process of defensive handgun ammo that creates the absurdly high cost of it?

I mean, I can buy 9mm FMJ in bulk for around .23 cents per round. Locally, however, the CHEAPEST 9mm JHP I've found was in excess of 1 dollar per round. Generally, it's closer to 1.10 to 1.20 per round. Online, I've noticed it can be had for more like .50 cents per round, IF you're willing to buy in lots of 500 to 1000 rounds at a time.

Is the manufacturing process on the JHP defensive ammo that much more expensive, or is everyone from the manufacturer to the retailer just taking a ridiculous profit on the stuff?

Demand.

 

[MikeNice]

I found BVAC JHP for $0.29 each. If you buy three boxes the cost is about $56.00. That is about $0.37 per round.

BVAC 124gr JHP @ Cheaper Than Dirt

I also found Fiochi Shooting Dynamics 115gr JHP for $0.30 per round. If you buy three boxes it is $54.40 with shipping. That works out to about $0.36 per round. You can pick those up at The Sportsman's Guide online.

If you use Ammo To Go you can get two boxes of Speer Gold Dot LE 147gr JHP for about $56.00 shipped. That works out to $0.56 per round.

I hope that information helps a little bit.

ETA: Ammo To Go has Ranger 147gr T series hollow point for the same price as 147gr Gold Dot. So, you have options.

They also have Fiochi loaded with Hornady XTP bullets. If you buy two boxes it is $0.49 per round with shipping.

 

[Packman]

Interesting. Thanks for the info, guys.

Mike, and others, I guess the trick is to seek out unusual supply corridors and watch the sales.

Thanks again.

 

[basicblur]

I would think in SW Florida you'd have a pretty good number of LE supply houses to put on a regular run?

I've got 'bout 15 places mapped out using my mapping program (LE supply, gun shops, 1 pawn shop)-every month or so (or when inventory needs a little replenishing) I may just make a day of it and hit all of 'em on my mapped out loop.

Get a few buddies together to share gas and make a day of it-you could also use these same buds to share shipping costs for places like Ammuniton To Go.
You never know what kind of deals you'll run across at these places.

I often end up bringing home more than just ammo, but always at good prices.