AMMO Group buy

[1SGMAT]

I have seen all the group buys for uppers and other parts. Has anyone ever tried to do the same for a bunch of ammo. I would think that getting a group buy up for some mil surp or even factory ammo in popular calibers could pay off. Its just a thought and i'm sure someone with more time here than me may have some more insight. Thanks.

[tenpercentfirearms]

The main obstacle is going to be shipping. Your group buy is going to be limited to the people who are willing to drive to where you are at because no one is going to want to pay shipping twice. Good luck though.

[xenophobe]

Unless it were for real bulk, like placing an order for a couple hundred thousand rounds (which itself would be a logistical nightmare), you won't save anything, but actually end up spending more for double shipping as Wes stated.

How many people are willing to order lots of 5,000-10,000 rounds each so we can buy a shipping container off a boat or a semi from Black Hills or something? Each person's "share" would have to be 300lbs+ to get any kind of bulk shipping rate discount. Still in?

Didn't think so.

[guimus]

I can't imagine there being much wiggle room in surplus ammo prices. The surplus dealers all seem to have roughly equal prices (some slightly lower for one make, slightly higher for another vs. competitors) which I assume comes from buying ammo in shipping container quantities and having it move via ship and rail to their warehouses (i.e. Wideners currently has 1094 720-round boxes of radway green on hand, and it's been a month since they got their last shipment.) I'd imagine their margins to be rather slim on most items, so maybe you could negotiate a better price for a pallet of ammo, but probably not for less than that. Some savings may be possible in shipping. When I buy surplus 7.62x54R, 1/3 of the money goes to UPS. With a big enough load, it could go bulk freight cheaper. The question, then, is how much savings will it take to get people to give up the convenience of having ammo shipped to their home and instead have to pick it up at a central location.

[xenophobe]

300 pounds is what it takes to get bulk shipping rate from UPS.

[tenpercentfirearms]

OT (AKA Off Topic).

"If a cop asks you why you have a shotgun in your truck, tell him it's because having a pistol in your glovebox is illegal." Bill Wiese

LOL. That is a good one Xeno.

Back on topic, I have seen too many group buys gone bad and just am not a fan of them. Plus the guy that does the group buys ends up spending the amount of time working on it to make it not worth doing it in the first place. Just shop around and do a single buy with research and maximize your money that way is what I recommend.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

300 pounds is what it takes to get bulk shipping rate from UPS.

For UPS "Hundredweight" rates, you only need 200 pounds. That usually works out to 3 cases of rifle ammo. So it usually cost the same amount to ship 3 cased of ammo as it does to ship 2 cases. That's the way to go if you want to save money on ammo. Buy three cases yourself or with a close friend or two.

With group buys you always end up with at least one guy backing out on the deal after the ammo is stacked up in your garage. And as everybody pointed out, getting the ammo from your garage to the other buyers can be a hassle. Even driving to the next town over to pick up your ammo from a group buy can erase all of your savings, since gas prices are so high right now.

[xenophobe]

For UPS "Hundredweight" rates, you only need 200 pounds. That usually works out to 3 cases of rifle ammo. So it usually cost the same amount to ship 3 cased of ammo as it does to ship 2 cases. That's the way to go if you want to save money on ammo. Buy three cases yourself or with a close friend or two.

Well, we buy a lot of bulk ammo at the shop, and the commercial rates we're quoted change dramatically in price at 300lbs and 500lbs. There might be bulk rates lower and higher, but those two weight ranges give you the best weight to shipping $$$ ratio.

With group buys you always end up with at least one guy backing out on the deal after the ammo is stacked up in your garage. And as everybody pointed out, getting the ammo from your garage to the other buyers can be a hassle. Even driving to the next town over to pick up your ammo from a group buy can erase all of your savings, since gas prices are so high right now.

Agreed.

[cornholio1]

I am down if the prices are right. Even a clean supply of 7.62x39 or 308. I'll buy bulk if its cheap enough...thats the bottom line

[guimus]

With group buys you always end up with at least one guy backing out on the deal after the ammo is stacked up in your garage.

The person placing the order just has to collect money beforehand, and make it clear that any ammo in his garage after a week becomes his! Years ago I managed a food cooperative and I never had to pay for food as long as I was willing to eat whatever it was that other buyers failed to pick up.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

Years ago I managed a food cooperative and I never had to pay for food as long as I was willing to eat whatever it was that other buyers failed to pick up.

Yeah, but how long can you survive on "fair trade" lentils and bulk pack tofu?

But seriously, I've seen so many group buy organizers bending over backwards to accomodate one pissy participant, who goes on to haunt them on every single gun board for ever.

"I was having a little financial trouble and had to wait 18 months to pay for the parts kit, but when I finally showed up the kit was gone!!! When are you going to give me my parts kit you stole? Don't buy from this THIEF!"