Wal-Mart Ammo

[fallingbird]

Ammunition may be an annually booked item, and the 2012 shipments may have not begun to arrive yet.

 

[Serenity]

I buy a box of each, 9mm and 38 special, whenever I go in WW. The 38 special is nearly twice the cost per 50 round box, so I buy 100 round boxes of the 9mm to even it up. This helps me to spread the cost out AND lay low on the bank statement

 

[Chris-bob]

I did get a rather nice explanation from WW the other day. They said that individual stores can submit orders, but the orders are filled first come, first served. Meaning they only ship ammo as headquarters gets it, and then to the first stores on the list. Then he said that when a store sells out, it tends to create a panic and people purchase more ammo when they see it, even if they didn't plan on buying that much, out of fear they won't have the option again.

I personally purchase one brick of .22LR every payday(weekly) just to keep stocked up.

 

[arcticap]

Of course, since no one has mentioned it, companies send WalMart their less than perfect ammo. That is why its a bit cheaper than at other places.

Really? Please tell us more.
I thought that their lower prices were about volume purchasing and having negotiated contracts for large deliveries on an regular basis, i.e. - pre-purchase agreements.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Of course, since no one has mentioned it, companies send WalMart their less than perfect ammo. That is why its a bit cheaper than at other places.

Internet rumors.

Really? Please tell us more.
I thought that their lower prices were about volume purchasing and contracts.

That's hitting the nail on the head.

Walmart is cheaper than other stores, but priced slightly higher than buying bulk online. They can charge less because they buy it in massive quantities.

 

[oneounceload]

Of course, since no one has mentioned it, companies send WalMart their less than perfect ammo. That is why its a bit cheaper than at other places.

Don't go starting that BS rumor again Lizzie - it has been beat to death too many times!...

 

[WinThePennant]

But -- It is very true that lower quality items of the same product name are sold at Wal-Mart.

 

[TJx]

I had a gun shop tell me about the Walmart ammo is manufacturers seconds. I bought a box of his for $10.50 for a 50 round box (Federal) only to discover later that the Walmart is the same damn thing, Federal in the exact same box except it is a 100 round economy pack.

 

[writerinmo]

And I bet that same gun shop was perfectly willing to sell you their "higher quality, higher priced" ammunition, weren't they?

The only ammo I won't buy at Walmart, or anywhere else for that matter, is the 9mm WWB in the 100 round bulk pack...got tired of getting bullets in the cases crooked and even backwards in one instance, and I'd like a full measure of powder in them as well...it's a bit disconcerting to have your shooting buddy lean down 2 feet in front of you and pick up the bullet after it FELL out of the end of the barrel. Two of these in one 100 round box was enough for me to stop buying it. Plus I can buy Federal and Blazer cheaper.

 

[we are not amused]

I had a gun shop tell me about the Walmart ammo is manufacturers seconds. I bought a box of his for $10.50 for a 50 round box (Federal) only to discover later that the Walmart is the same damn thing, Federal in the exact same box except it is a 100 round economy pack.

A lot of people rag on Wal-mart, but I notice they all shop there!
I won't buy a gun from them because I want the service of a regular dealer available if I have a problem with it. (Although some dealers are no more helpful than Wal-mart). But I have no problem buying ammunition or cleaning supplies and targets from them. Good prices, good products, and they are open 24-7.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Considering the crowds I saw at the last two gun shows, buying guns, I'm surprised WM has any ammo.

A couple weeks ago a friend bought a gun from one of the big dealers. Because there were so many sales ahead of her she had to wait an hour before filling out the 4473, and there were 5 sales people doing the paperwork.

The last couple times I was at Cheaper Than Dirt the people were lined up at the gun counters two deep. The salesmen were selling guns and doing the paperwork for two people at a time.
I very seldom buy a gun from CTD but I bought two (on sale).

I reload so the only ammo I buy at WM is bulk pack 22 but I take note of the ammo supply. If it was me, I'd be stocking up on all the calibers I use.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I had a gun shop tell me

ANY story that starts that way is 99%l likely to be complete nonsense.

This one is no exception. I have a friend who works at ATK (owns Federal among others) who gets this question from customers often. It's simply not true that Wal Mart ammo is "seconds". It's cheaper, because no one is better than Wal Mart at beating their suppliers down on price, but it's the same stuff.

 

[FROGO207]

He He He-- I went into the local specialty food store looking for Pepperige Farm Parmisarn goldfish. None in stock. They would find some for me they said. Next trip in and they said that contacting PF and the company production was making product for WM contract in the immediate future and expected a 60-80 day delay for resupply of their store. The more independent I can be of things out of my control the happier I am. That is why I reload and cast my own.

As far as WM interweb rumor goes they do cheapen some products. I got Chef BoyarDee ravioli both from there and from my local food store. Same label same weight BUT the count of ravioli within is 1 or more less in the WM packaging EVERY TIME for 2 year random sample period of 24 cans from each place. You draw your own conclusions. This was MY result. I have never heard of WWB ammo problems from any other retail source on the net as of today, why not??
This is only my opinion/experience. YMMV

 

[the_hustleman]

Mine is hit or miss. Wal Mart is horrible about stocking items and they cant tell you when they will be back in stock.

With that said I buy "winchester white box all the time and have never had an issue".

Its super dirty but I clean my gun everytime its shot.

Why buy that at 13 a box when federal champion is 10.50 a box, or 19.99 for 100?




Oan I stopped using wwb because one of my rounds had a double charge and my m&p was *

The neck of the casing was wide open and the gun just wouldn't function.

S&w said it was overcharged with too much powder.

I went back to my old fc which didn't give me a problem in the ~5,000 rounds fired.




*swyped from the evo so excuse any typos*

 

[Carl N. Brown]

companies send WalMart their less than perfect ammo

The rumor I heard was that Walmart sets a price they will pay for bulk ammo orders, and the white box ammo is loaded to that price point. And that CCI and Federal refused to compromise. Another rumor I heard is that the 100 round white box is slightly cheaper quality than the 50 round white box. Even further, I heard that the government has a UFO at Area 51 from which they stole the F117 and B2 stealth technology. And workers inspecting the base of Hoover Dam encountered a 45-foot catfish.

 

[the_hustleman]

The rumor I heard was that Walmart sets a price they will pay for bulk ammo orders, and the white box ammo is loaded to that price point. And that CCI and Federal refused to compromise. Another rumor I heard is that the 100 round white box is slightly cheaper quality than the 50 round white box. Even further, I heard that the government has a UFO at Area 51 from which they stole the F117 and B2 stealth technology. And workers inspecting the base of Hoover Dam encountered a 45-foot catfish.

Lol, yet federal is cheaper than the wwb

*swyped from the evo so excuse any typos*

 

[Tcruse]

I think that if the manufacture's part number is the same, then the product is the same. Walmart, SAMs, Best Buy, and Costco many time have some products that look identical to advertised first line products but with some features changed and slightly different part numbers. But, I have not seen such in the WWB ammo world. They do price matching and check the street price for ammo in the area, so they are generally cheaper on the products that they sell. They just do not always have the brand that others have on sale.
In this area it seems that all ammo has increased in price since December and is in lower supply than normal. Probably a short term issue.

 

[Batty67]

Picked up a box of Federal 100-rds of .40S&W for $26.00 today at local W-M. I've never seen them have it in stock (always have plent of boxes of 50 for $16.50 or so).

 

[pazz]

My Walmart is stocked up on pretty much everything,
even .44 Magnum. It's just outside of Atlanta.

 

[One_Jackal]

I do most of my shopping at the WalMart in Wake Forest. NC. The shelves were well stocked with ammo before Christmas. The shelves are bare now, I got the last large box of .22 ammo. I asked the clerk was there more ammo in the warehouse, she replied "no." She also said there is never any ammo in the warehouse. They stock the entire order when it's received. Whats funny is the Louisburg, Henderson and South Hill, VA WalMarts have plenty of ammo. It appears that each WalMart places their own order regardless of demand.

 

[zonzin]

Probably everyone buying ammo for their Christmas presents.


.

 

[22-rimfire]

A lot of people rag on Wal-mart, but I notice they all shop there!

I seldom rag on Walmart. The stores tend to be well managed and stocked regularly. The majority of my groceries are purchased at Walmart which means I'm a pretty regular customer.

Walmart gets much of my regular shopping dollars simply because they consistantly do a good job, prices are seldom higher than anyone else on most items, and the stores are clean. When I see dirty floors, I pretty much turn around and go somewhere else that actually cleans.

The ammunition rumors persist at Walmart. The Ravioli statement above was interesting. I could see that with "store brand" merchandise.

 

[Rshooter]

WalMart gets in what the trucks bring. If ammo sells out fast they do not do a special order, they just wait for the next truck. It is sorta a feast and famine thing.

 

[accrhodes]

Mine normally takes 2-3 weeks to replinish the ammo stock. They have great prices though so its sometimes worth the wait depending on what ammo you need.

 

[wristtwister]

First of all, Wal Mart is not an ammo supplier... they are a department store, and they "supply" ammo from their sporting goods department. I'll bet all these "ammo shortages" you've encountered were also coincident with ammo shortages in other stores that carried ammo as well.

Working in a gun store, I know a little about "ammo suppliers"... and "suppliers" are nothing more than distribution companies. If they did a good job of ordering, or have a good "supply train", it's no big issue to get ammo or anything else they carry. During shortages, EVERYBODY is out of whatever's short, unless they have a "stash" of it stored for such emergencies.

We have a local ammo manufacturer who gives me a lot of insight into what goes on in their business, and it takes several things to go "into production". First, they have to have the "makings" for the cartridges... that means empty brass, primers, powder, and bullets in sufficient numbers to make a production run profitable. A shortage in any one of those streams, can cut off the line and shut down that particular caliber's production. With the economy in the toilet, brass suppliers, primer suppliers, powder suppliers, and bullet suppliers don't have the vast amounts of excess everything they used to carry, and are producing what they have sold or what they forsee in the market... so it makes the "supply train" both slower, and a bit jerkier as they have "spot" shortages in areas where they might normally be functioning.

The "great .380 acp shortage" was caused by several things... every gun manufacturer on the planet introduced a new .380 into the market, the public panicked and instead of buying two boxes of .380, they bought ten cases, and it all occurred during the normal "down time" for the production of that particular caliber during the industry's manufacturing process. The wholesalers got wiped out in about a week, and it was several months until the industry was scheduled to start producing ammo in that caliber again... so it was a "perfect storm" that was both misreported and fueled by rumors more than facts.

As for Wal Mart's "ammo shortages", they treat ammo just like anything else in their sporting goods department. If they're out of fishing gear, they order more of it and wait for it to arrive. Just because YOU have a need for their goods, it doesn't mean that they are rushing to supply it... they have it going through their normal ordering process, and it will arrive when it's supplied from their distribution center.

What is true, is that true "ammo suppliers" are now fighting a lot of regulations and fees that weren't in place prior to this administration... but there's not any kind of actual ammo shortage out there. It's a "supply train" problem, and our wholesalers are backordered out the wazoo for "special caliber" ammo, and certain specialty ammos... but that is tied to the supply train, not to production or an actual "shortage".

There are limits on how much powder can be shipped on a truck, hazmat fees for shipping both powder and ammo, and the list just goes on from there. What's clear is that ammunition is over-regulated, and it is over-regulated at the distributor level and not so much at the production level... but with this administration, I can see that changing at the first available opportunity.

If you're shooting bulk ammo from Wal Mart, you can go to places like Georgia Arms, J&G Sales, CDNN, etc. and order "bulk" packages and have it shipped directly to you. What a lot of people don't realize is that you have to be a "shipper" to be able to ship ammo, and if they send you the wrong stuff, you can't send it back. Since we deal with ammo shipments at the gun store every day, it's pretty clear that ammo is available, and the public has many different avenues to get ammunition, including reloading... so don't panic if you don't find what you need at Wally World... go to a local gun shop and buy it. I know from checking regularly, our prices at the gun store are comparable with theirs... and we're just an independent gun store... not one of the "big box" suppliers.

WT