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What is the Best Ammo to Buy in Bulk?

Best ammo to buy in bulk

Table of Contents

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to help answer the question: “what is the best ammo to buy in bulk?” Essentially, we are going to be going over some popular ammunition offerings which are available in bulk quantities. The ammunition covered today will encompass pistol, rifle, and shotgun offerings which are often bought in bulk.

 

What is Bulk Ammo?

The term “bulk ammo” simply refers to quantities of ammunition which are exponentially greater than a single box. These quantities can be had in different levels which can range from quantities of a few hundred rounds to complete case quantities. Bulk ammunition will come in a variety of storage solutions. Sometimes, bulk ammunition comes in the form of standard boxes of ammunition sealed in a cardboard box. These options are typically referred to as a “case” or “case quantity”. Cardboard boxes can also hold bulk ammo in the form of loose rounds enclosed in a plastic bag. Other times, bulk ammunition can be purchased in ammo cans. These ammo cans can either be plastic or metal as far as construction goes. Sometimes, ammo cans will feature ammunition loaded on stripper clips. At the end of the day, bulk ammunition can be found in a variety of forms.

 

Why Buy Bulk Ammo?

Shooters will purchase bulk ammunition for a variety of reasons. If a shooter finds a loading that their firearm tends to work best with, they will typically purchase a large quantity of this ammunition. The reason for this is simple – if something works, why not get more of it and ensure future range trips go as smoothly as possible? People will also buy bulk ammunition to ensure that their shooting supply stays healthy. Simply put, if you have ammo, you can shoot it. If you don’t have ammo, what are you going to shoot? One can also purchase specialty loadings such as hollow points and other defensive loadings in bulk quantities to ensure that fresh ammunition stays in the carry rotation. In addition to providing more ammunition, one will find that there are savings to be had when buying bulk quantities of ammunition. Typically, when buying ammunition in higher quantities, one will find that there are generally price breaks at different quantities. At the end of the day, there are many reasons to purchase bulk ammunition.

PMC .40 Smith & Wesson
PMC .40 Smith & Wesson

Best Handgun Ammo to Buy in Bulk

  • 9mm Luger9mm Luger is probably the most popular handgun cartridge on the market. Bulk 9mm Luger quantities can be acquired from a variety of sources such as PMC, Sellier & Bellot, Magtech, and Blazer to name a few. The cartridge can be found in a variety of bulk quantities, often ranging from 500 to 1,000 round case quantities. PMC offers a 9mm Luger battle pack which includes 300 rounds if one did not want to commit to purchasing an entire case. Due to the wide variety of loadings on the market, one can also buy specialized loadings optimized for uses such as self-defense in bulk. 9mm Luger is worth stocking up on due to it being a common use round among a variety of shooters. Whether it is needed for duty, self-defense, or general plinking, it truly pays to stock up on 9mm Luger ammunition.
  • .40 Smith & Wesson – While the .40 Smith & Wesson has waned in popularity in recent years, it is still one of the more common and popular handgun cartridges. Like the 9mm Luger, PMC also offers a 300 round battle pack of .40 Smith & Wesson. Typically, one will encounter .40 Smith & Wesson in case quantities of 1,000 rounds. One will be able to peruse a variety of loadings intended for many use cases when browsing .40 Smith & Wesson This round is worth stocking up on if it is your chosen round for self-defense and general use.
  • .45 ACP – Another one of the more popular handgun cartridges on the market, the .45 ACP is enjoyed by a wide variety of shooters. The cartridge is especially popular among suppressed shooters due to the inherent subsonic nature of most standard loadings. Due to the increasing number of suppressed shooters these days and general popularity of the round, it is worth stocking up on .45 ACP. Typically, one will encounter bulk quantities of .45 ACP in 1,000 round case quantities from a variety of manufacturers. Like other popular handgun calibers, PMC offers a 250 round battle pack of .45 ACP if one did not want to purchase an entire case of ammunition.
  • 5.7x28mm – This cartridge has been experiencing an exponential growth of popularity in recent years. This is mainly due to more firearms being made in the cartridge. With more firearms available on the market, the supply of ammunition has grown in response. Typically, higher quantity ammunition options for 5.7x28mm come in 150, 450, or 500 round quantities. These options are available with a variety of projectiles optimized for a variety of uses such as target use and self-defense. Whether you’re shooting an FN Five-seveN or another firearm chambered in 5.7x28mm, one will certainly benefit from having a good supply of ammunition. Even though supply is growing alongside the popularity of the cartridge, this round is still not nearly as plentiful as something like 9mm Luger or .45 ACP. Due to this fact, the cartridge is certainly worth buying in bulk when you can find it to ensure you have a healthy supply of ammunition.
  • .357 Magnum/.38 Special – Owners of firearms such as lever action rifles or revolvers in .357 Magnum will often stock up on the round itself as well as .38 Special. This is due to the fact that a firearm chambered in .357 Magnum will also shoot .38 Special. .357 Magnum ammunition tends to be a bit more expensive than .38 Special, making the latter round quite popular among shooters. Both cartridges can be acquired in case quantities of 1,000 rounds from companies such as PMC and Federal. Battle packs of 300 rounds are also available from PMC if one desired a higher quantity of ammunition without investing in an entire case.

Best Rifle Ammunition to Buy in Bulk

  • .223 Remington/56x45mm NATO – Both the .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO are some of the most popular rifle cartridges in the United States. One will encounter .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO offerings from PMC which come in the form of 120 round or 200 round battle packs. These cartridges are also available in case quantities of 1,000 rounds. The X-Tac line of 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition in both 55 grain M193 and 62 grain M855 loadings are particularly popular case quantity bulk ammunition offerings. These cartridges are worth stocking up as they can be utilized for a variety of uses such as self-defense, training, and general plinking. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have a large supply of some of the most prolific cartridges in the United States.
  • .300 Blackout – One will find .300 Blackout ammunition in subsonic and supersonic varieties. Ammunition of these types is manufactured by a variety of companies. Sellier & Bellot in particular produces subsonic and supersonic .300 Blackout ammunition. While this cartridge is certainly popular, it is not nearly as popular or common as the 56x45mm NATO is. Due to this fact, the round is certainly worth stocking up on. Suppressed shooters will find it beneficial to have a healthy amount of .300 Blackout ammunition.
  • 7.62×397.62×39 ammunition of various styles is worth purchasing in bulk. Bulk quantities of this cartridge are typically available in quantities such as 480, 500, and 1,000 round quantities Ammunition of this type is often imported, typically from Eastern European countries. For the last few decades, importation from some of these countries has been hampered by sanctions and other import restrictions. 7.62×39 ammunition is also manufactured by countries beyond those in Eastern Europe, generally coming with a heftier price tag or being less plentiful. The potential volatility of the market means that 7.62×39 ammunition is worth purchasing in bulk quantities.
  • .308 Winchester/62x51mm NATO – Like the .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO, the .308 Winchester and it’s metric counterpart, the 7.62x51mm NATO are worth buying in bulk. These two cartridges can be acquired in a variety of bulk quantities. These bulk quantities often range from 500, 800, and 1,000 round case quantities.
PMC 62 gr Green Tip
PMC 62 gr Green Tip

Best Rimfire Ammunition to Buy in Bulk

  • .22 Long Rifle – The .22 Long Rifle is the most popular rimfire cartridge on the market. The cartridge is used in a wide variety of pistols and rifles and is enjoyed by novice and seasoned shooters alike. .22 Long Rifle can be acquired in many bulk quantities. These can come in the form of “bricks” which contain varied quantities of hundreds of rounds. Common examples of these bricks include Winchester’s 222 round Power Point, Federal’s 400 rounds of copper plated hollow point rounds, and Aguila’s 500 round box of copper plated high velocity soft point rounds. Of course, these loadings and more can be purchased in quantities meeting or exceeding 1,000 rounds. .22 Long Rifle is an excellent round to stock up on as it is used in many different firearms and one of the most pleasant rounds to shoot. Whether you are shooting a lever action or semi-automatic firearm, .22 Long Rifle ammunition can go quick. Might as well get a lot of it.

 

Best Shotgun Ammunition to Buy in Bulk

  • 12 Gauge12 gauge ammunition of all types can be purchased in bulk quantities. Whether you are buying slugs, target loads, or buckshot, bulk shotgun ammunition is worth considering. The most prolific and common shotgun caliber on the market is 12 gauge as many shotguns are available in the round. Shotguns are versatile firearms which are utilized for hunting, self-defense, and competition. One can browse the wide variety of 12 gauge ammunition and find a load which works best in their shotgun and for their intended use. For example, if one wanted to stock up on a good target load, one could buy a few flats of Nobel Sport Due Sporting if they found the round shoots well for them. Flats contain 10 boxes of 25 for a total of 250 rounds, providing a
  • 20 Gauge – Second only to 12 gauge in terms of commonality and popularity, 20 gauge is worth stocking up on. Hunters and target shooters will shoot high volumes of ammunition, making it a good idea to have a healthy supply of ammunition. Whether you’re wanting to get some Nobel Sport Target Sporting Clays or some hunting loads specific to your intended game.
  • 410 Gauge – The supply of 410 ammunition can be volatile at times. Loadings of this type are not nearly as common as 12 gauge or 20 gauge but still fly off the shelves thanks to dedicated shooters. Because of the relatively slim supply of 410 ammunition and its tendency to get bought out, it is certainly worth picking up a few flats of ammunition.

 

Conclusion

All in all, these are some solid calibers worth picking up in bulk quantities. This of course is not an exhaustive list for ammunition worth buying in bulk as there are many other viable quantities. The most practical answer when looking for the best bulk ammunition to buy is simply going to come down to what you truly need and what you can afford. You may prioritize one cartridge over others or try to get high quantities of multiple loadings. This all comes down to the individual. We here at True Shot carry a wide variety of bulk ammunition and are here to help you stock up. As always, happy shooting.

Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at [email protected] for more ammo options.

 

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