why is 380 ammo so darn expensive?

[beerman]

I was reading the sunday paper adds, and saw Big 5 (not known for ammo deals anyway) Bragging that they had 380 ammo ON SALE , $29.99 a box of 50. Regular price $39.99....holy chit! Why is 9mm soooo much cheaper than 380? Especially because is uses less brass, lead and powder?

[emelioosluper]

I was reading the sunday paper adds, and saw Big 5 (not known for ammo deals anyway) Bragging that they had 380 ammo ON SALE , $29.99 a box of 50. Regular price $39.99....holy chit! Why is 9mm soooo much cheaper than 380? Especially because is uses less brass, lead and powder?

Maybe google "supply and demand" ??

EO

[Intimid8tor]

Maybe google "supply and demand" ??

EO

ding ding ding.

Volume production equals lower cost of production per unit.

[89 Vision]

I've never bought ammo from Big5 and never plan to. Their prices are generally 25-50% higher than other retail stores. Wally world usually has very competitively priced ammo. There are many places online to get cheap ammo too.

[jess1911]

Maybe google "supply and demand" ??

EO

i agree with this in theory but something that is manufactured by the millions using no special tooling that is all that unique to that product should not be all that more or less then the next product. and the fact that there are less materials involved then 9mm means, to me at least, it should be the same or cheaper. i think i understand supply and demand but sometimes i think its more of a "because they can". like why is diesel so much more then gas? supply and demand? i dont buy that.

[SilverTauron]

i agree with this in theory but something that is manufactured by the millions using no special tooling that is all that unique to that product should not be all that more or less then the next product. and the fact that there are less materials involved then 9mm means, to me at least, it should be the same or cheaper. i think i understand supply and demand but sometimes i think its more of a "because they can". like why is diesel so much more then gas? supply and demand? i dont buy that.

As the others said, supply and demand. A lot of people and police agencies alike shoot 9mm. So does the US DoD . That means more customers, which means more ammo is made, which reduces the companies' cost to make and sell.

.380 in the US is strictly a civilian round not used for primary duty by any police or large agency. Less demand, lesser supply, and a correspondingly higher cost to produce.

[RedFord150]

I pay $35 for 100 rounds of .380 at WM. Exact same price as .38 special.

[surplus-addict]

I can find it online for around $13 a box.

[drifter2be]

I've never paid more than $16 a box for 50 rds of .380 when I was shooting it, usually less. Walmart or any other big box store is not the place to get good prices on .380, but certain gun shops will have it at decent prices, or ordering online for ~$13/box, but you need to buy enough to make it worth the cost of shipping. I remember when I had a KelTec P32 and went to pick up some practice ammo at Walmart and just about crapped my pants when I saw it priced at ~$25/50 rounds. Pretty sad when you can shoot a real round like .45acp cheaper than some little pop-gun round like .32acp.

[BroncoBob]

Just got 525 rd for $128 plus shipping

[boomer135]

Just another reason why you should not buy your next few firearms and invest in reloading...

[john67elco]

Yeah I buy a couple of boxes for about 13-14 from midway when I'm buying other items. I haven't check prices latley but yes donot go to Walmart for 380. Way to high.