Traveling I75 FL to TN; where to stop for ammo?

[SouthSeaPirate]

Im seeing more and more often that some areas are overstocked when most areas are on a major shortage. Seeing how I will be covering many many miles, I figured I would ask and see if I might pass by any of these places. That said, does anyone know where I can stop and check for the sought after calibers?

I imagine that there aren't many places known to have ammo in quantity, so maybe just big chain stores that MIGHT have them would also suffice. Ex, Gander Mt. which I believe is outside of Knoxville; not known to have massive stock, but the store is big enough to have some possibility.

Hopefully I can go shooting on my vacation! TIA

 

[buck1032]

I was at Bass Pro Shop in Knoxville this past week and they had ammo on the shelf, granted I didnt inspect every shelf as I was on a family vacation and was looking at a different holster. I did see that they had some 22 with a 3 box limit. I didnt look for any other caliber.

 

[cfullgraf]

I imagine that there aren't many places known to have ammo in quantity, so maybe just big chain stores that MIGHT have them would also suffice. Ex, Gander Mt. which I believe is outside of Knoxville; not known to have massive stock, but the store is big enough to have some possibility.

Actually, the Gander Mountain in Knoxville claims to be the "biggest" gun store in Tennessee. Their gun department greatly expanded last fall. Their gun shelves have remained fairly well stocked throughout the last couple months

I was in there a week or so ago and their ammunition supplies were better than I expected. I am afraid I cannot say exactly what they had although prices were a bit inflated in my opinion for what i did look at. None of the prices would even come close to my reloading costs.

Lots of shot shells.

 

[SouthSeaPirate]

Thanks gents!

Help me confirm here; GM is in Farragut and BPS is in Kodak? This is per Google maps.

Also, seeing that both of you are in TN, and likely East TN; do either of you know where I can shoot in the Sevier county area?

 

[22-rimfire]

Perhaps here? http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/gunranges/RangeDetails.aspx?sid=2060

There are public ranges operated in the National Forests. I am only familiar with one which is pretty far away from Sevierville.

Yes, GM is in Farragut and BP is in Kodiak or right at the intersection where you would likely turn south toward Sevierville. You will pass a number of gunshops around Sevierville. One sporting goods store is located on your left by the movie theater just before you get into Sevierville.

I am not seeing much ammunition available in East TN.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Probably the Smithsonian. They've likely a good sharp holographic rendering of the extinct ".22". good luck

 

[JerZsquid]

Maybe sportsmans warehouse in Chattanooga.

 

[JerZsquid]

I was at gander mountain in Farragut on Sat. They had self defense handgun ammo but no target ammo or 22 or 223

 

[SouthSeaPirate]

Added Sportmans Warehouse to the list of stops. THanks for that.

I think part of the issue with Gander is that its too well known and everyone goes there.

Looks like I should also be looking for the smaller places; the price gouging ones.

Hopefully I can find something though GA.

 

[Jimbo2032]

Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, GA.

HUGE gun store, AND an indoor range!

 

[hso]

Seviere Indoor Range - https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&...50&ei=WM9ZUdukC6bk4APwwYGgCQ&ved=0CLABEPwSMAA

Coal Creek Armory in Knoxville off I40/75.

TWRA ranges in East Tennessee-
John Sevier Hunter Education Center
Fee required. 2327 Rifle Range Road, Knoxville. Call (865) 594-6279 or send an e-mail for more information.

JSHEC is closed the first full weekend of each month.

Pistol, rifle, and archery ranges are open on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00-6:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00-6:00 p.m. All pistol, rifle, and archery range users need to check in before 5:00 p.m.

Shotgun ranges are open on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday shotgun range shooters need to check in before 5:00 p.m. Shotgun ranges are open on Tuesday from 6:30-10:00 p.m. Tuesday night shotgun shooters need to check in by 7:00 p.m. The range charges $6.00 for every 25 targets used in addition to the $5.50 daily facility fee.

There are two clubs located on-site that provide additional opportunities for archery and gun related programs: Smoky Mountain Archers and the Volunteer Rifle and Pistol Club.

Daily/Annual Fees Required To Use The Facility:
Adults (16 and older) - $5.50 per 2 hrs. or $101.00/year
Youths (15 and under) - $1.50 per 2 hrs. or $26.00/year

Target distances on the rifle/pistol bench are 15 yards, 50 yards, and 100 yards.



Chuck Swan WMA Firing Range
John Mike (865) 278-3248. Closed during big game hunts.



North Cumberland WMA Firing Range
Located on Flatwoods Road. Stan Stooksbury (423) 566-8557.



North Cherokee WMA Ranges
Fee required, daylight hours only.

•Jacobs Creek - Denton Valley Road, Sullivan Co. (423) 735-1500
•Pond Mountain - Hwy. 321, Carter Co. (423) 735-1500
•Scioto - Scioto Road, Unicoi Co. (423) 735-1500
•Bubbling Springs - Hwy. 107, Cocke Co. (423) 638-4109

 

[cfullgraf]

Thanks gents!

Help me confirm here; GM is in Farragut and BPS is in Kodak? This is per Google maps.

Bass Pro is just off the Sevierville/Gatlinburg exit, No. 407 on I-40 east of Knoxville, if i remember. Same exit as the Smoky's baseball park.

For the Gander Mountain, take either the Lovell Road exit coming from the east, or the Campbell Station Road exit coming from the west. Both in Farragut slightly west of Knoxville while I-75 and I-40 are collocated. In between those two exits, you can see Gander Mountain from the interstate.

For Coal Creek Armory, take the Lovell Road exit and head north.

A GPS can be your friend. Google Maps directions gets confused at times in this area. My wife works in this area and truck drivers going to her work are alway getting lost following Google Maps.

Yes, I live near Knoxville in the booming metropolis of Philadelphia. (At least our baseball team never lost a Worlds Series game.)

 

[SouthSeaPirate]

Okay, have a bit of a list now;

As Im in Old Town, FL; Pickett Weaponry will be my first stop. When I officailly head out, Ill be stopping at Walmarts just off 75 as well as aforementioned places in TN. Also, recently added Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna.

Im bout ready to switch to 5.45, seeing how surp is still available and really cheap. Anyone got an AK74 they need to get rid of

Amazing list HSO. Thank you. Ill be leaning more towards the outdoor range. Thats assuming I can even find ammo.

 

[Sapper771]

Benton Shooters Supply in Benton,TN (East of Cleveland,TN).

Sevier Indoor Range (Gun shop and indoor range) in Sevierville/Sevier County.

J Floyds Golf and Guns in Sevierville,TN.

 

[SouthSeaPirate]

Coal Creek added; sorry I missed that in the post. This is just after Gander; maybe Ill just drive from one to the other; no need to hit the interstate again.

Snapper; thanks for those in Sevierville. I will also be seeing Laconte Armory in Gatlinburg. Any other small, not so known, in Sevierville?

 

[janedoedad]

Bass Pro Shop in Macon, GA

Accessable from I-75 or I-475 Recommend you stay on 75 and exit on Bass Pro Blvd (Exit 172)

 

[22-rimfire]

The Macon Bass Pro is one of the smaller ones.

As mentioned, Sportsman Warehouse in Chattanooga (Lee Hwy exit off Hwy 153) is probably worth a stop. They have not had much ammunition in stock and very few handguns other than single actions. There are also two Academy Sports location in Chattanogga (one is 1/2 mile off Shallowford Rd exit on 1-75 near the mall).

 

[SouthSeaPirate]

I now have 200 rounds of 223 and 50 of 9mm. Heavent even left on my trip yet. 223 was 13.99 a box and the 9mm was 19.99.

Not rubbing it in; just pointing out there is still hope of finding some. Even only 30 min away

 

[22-rimfire]

No rub here. Buy all you want where ever you want.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

+1 on Adventure Outdoors...if they're ammo anywhere, they should have it...that place is like a Costco for guns, ammo, and everything else.

 

[22-rimfire]

I think that I need to plan a stop at Outdoor Adventures. Never heard of the place prior to this thread.

Benton Shooters Supply was mentioned earlier. That is about 30 minutes East of Cleveland. Of course, you could decide to take that route and go north on US 411 but you would hit Knoxville east of some of the places mentioned. They are currently charging scalper prices on the ammunition they have. You would also pass within a couple miles of the free public range (Spring Creek Range) after you cross the Hiwassee River on US411. It is a nice drive north with the mountains to your east.

 

[SouthSeaPirate]

Adventure Outdoors deff on the list. Any locals been there recently? Any report?

Still have two days before I head out from here.

And a big thank you to everyone trying to help! Got much more support than I would have imagined!

 

[janedoedad]

Another one not too far out of your way

Academy Sports in Macon, GA Exit 3 on I-475 or exit 162 on I-75.

1689 Eisenhower Pkwy, Macon, GA

FYI Adventure Outdoors does not allow carry in their store. Enforcement of this rule, much like their customer service, is haphazard.

 

[coltsfreak18]

Seviere Indoor Range - https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&...50&ei=WM9ZUdukC6bk4APwwYGgCQ&ved=0CLABEPwSMAA

Coal Creek Armory in Knoxville off I40/75.

TWRA ranges in East Tennessee-
John Sevier Hunter Education Center
Fee required. 2327 Rifle Range Road, Knoxville. Call (865) 594-6279 or send an e-mail for more information.

JSHEC is closed the first full weekend of each month.

Pistol, rifle, and archery ranges are open on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00-6:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00-6:00 p.m. All pistol, rifle, and archery range users need to check in before 5:00 p.m.

Shotgun ranges are open on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday shotgun range shooters need to check in before 5:00 p.m. Shotgun ranges are open on Tuesday from 6:30-10:00 p.m. Tuesday night shotgun shooters need to check in by 7:00 p.m. The range charges $6.00 for every 25 targets used in addition to the $5.50 daily facility fee.

There are two clubs located on-site that provide additional opportunities for archery and gun related programs: Smoky Mountain Archers and the Volunteer Rifle and Pistol Club.

Daily/Annual Fees Required To Use The Facility:
Adults (16 and older) - $5.50 per 2 hrs. or $101.00/year
Youths (15 and under) - $1.50 per 2 hrs. or $26.00/year

Target distances on the rifle/pistol bench are 15 yards, 50 yards, and 100 yards.



Chuck Swan WMA Firing Range
John Mike (865) 278-3248. Closed during big game hunts.



North Cumberland WMA Firing Range
Located on Flatwoods Road. Stan Stooksbury (423) 566-8557.



North Cherokee WMA Ranges
Fee required, daylight hours only.

•Jacobs Creek - Denton Valley Road, Sullivan Co. (423) 735-1500
•Pond Mountain - Hwy. 321, Carter Co. (423) 735-1500
•Scioto - Scioto Road, Unicoi Co. (423) 735-1500
•Bubbling Springs - Hwy. 107, Cocke Co. (423) 638-4109

As far as stores, Gander Mountain and Academy are generally the go-to places around Knoxville...Unfortunately, neither are very well stocked at the moment, just a lot of shot shells. Frontier Firearms is also pretty nice, but I haven't been there in a while.

If you know some shooters in the Knoxville area, I think Oak Ridge Sportsmen's Association (ORSA) has the best and most convenient ranges in the Knoxville area, bar none.

In reply to an earlier poster, I'd definitely get off of the Campbell Station exit to get to Gander Mountain--Turkey Creek off of Lovell Road is a slow route full of miserable drivers. The Bass Pro Shop is about thirty minutes on the interstate East of the Gander Mountain exit. Keep in mind, even if these places have ammo, they are currently running off of a three box or so limit.

 

[savhmustang80]

Adventure Outdoors

Not in metro ATL anymore, but talked just last week to a friend of mine who had been in Adventure Outdoors that week. Said the ammo shelves there were barren. To me, that was devestating cause they usually had ammo stacked on pallets to the roof. Cross your fingers if you pass by and stop. When they got it- they really got it.

I have been in both their old and new locations- first time I went in there (old location) the counters were 4 and 5 deep with customers looking at guns. Ammo was being purchased as it was being set upon the shelves.

New location- can definitely see the similarity to a Costco for guns. Truly incredible. Also, seemed to be consistently hiring knowledgeable counter staff- no way they could keep up with demand.