I've been shopping around for a 9mm self defense ammo and Speer Gold Dot and Federal HST seem to be two that come up the most, as well as Winchester Ranger T.
Most self defense ammo seems to come in 20 round packs at around $1 per round. Ranger T only seems to be available from the big names when there is an overrun on a LE order. Ranger T and Federal HST never seem to be available at brick and mortar stores.
Some online stores that I wouldn't consider "the big names" sell HST, Ranger and Gold Dot 50 round boxes for about 20% of the price of a 20 round box. All of them say Law Enforcement, and internet talk says that Federal at least tells its distributors only to sell HST to Law Enforcement.
What is the deal? The Gold Dot sold in 50 round LE boxes is the exact same round as sold everywhere in 20 round boxes, so it isn't as if they don't think non-LE should have access to it. Over run batches also pop up, so again, it isn't as if they think we should have it.
It this more of a discount for LE thing, or conversely are civilians getting gouged by the manufacturers? Even so, why not sell the 50 round boxes to civilians for a little more than sold to LEO. Are self defense rounds just not sold enough to warrant relegating machinery to producing it at a lower cost, and why aren't HST bullets showing up in 20 round packs?
Edit: another thought...are some of these rounds so highly valued because of the "exclusivity factor"?
Most self defense ammo seems to come in 20 round packs at around $1 per round. Ranger T only seems to be available from the big names when there is an overrun on a LE order. Ranger T and Federal HST never seem to be available at brick and mortar stores.
Some online stores that I wouldn't consider "the big names" sell HST, Ranger and Gold Dot 50 round boxes for about 20% of the price of a 20 round box. All of them say Law Enforcement, and internet talk says that Federal at least tells its distributors only to sell HST to Law Enforcement.
What is the deal? The Gold Dot sold in 50 round LE boxes is the exact same round as sold everywhere in 20 round boxes, so it isn't as if they don't think non-LE should have access to it. Over run batches also pop up, so again, it isn't as if they think we should have it.
It this more of a discount for LE thing, or conversely are civilians getting gouged by the manufacturers? Even so, why not sell the 50 round boxes to civilians for a little more than sold to LEO. Are self defense rounds just not sold enough to warrant relegating machinery to producing it at a lower cost, and why aren't HST bullets showing up in 20 round packs?
Edit: another thought...are some of these rounds so highly valued because of the "exclusivity factor"?
