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Finding ammo
in stock can be a real challenge these days. Since 2020, we’ve seen supply chain issues, raw material shortages, and tens of millions of new, first-time gun owners. It’s created a perfect storm for higher-than-normal prices and extensive ammo shortages on store shelves across the country—which is why so many people have started looking for where to buy ammo online.
The internet has been an absolute game-changer when it comes to shopping for ammo (unless you live in one of those states that asks for extra ID or requires ammo, like guns, to ship to an FFL dealer instead of to your door). It can be frustrating going from store to store searching in vain for a certain caliber and finding the shelves lacking. It seems that whatever it is you’re looking for that day, they don’t have it. But what they do have in stock is ammo for an obscure French rifle that hasn’t been made in 130 years.
Thankfully, in today’s world, we’re no longer limited to the selection at stores within driving distance. You might find what you’re looking for on the website of a mom-and-pop shop two states over, or maybe you’ll find a good deal at a big online retailer that buys in bulk and passes the savings on to you.
Either way, the fact of the matter is that ammo—whether for a rifle, handgun, or shotgun—is hard to find, and finding the best places to buy ammo online is the best way to get what you need.
The Best Places to Buy Ammo
Return Policy: All ammunition sales are final
Shipping: Free shipping on orders of $50 or more
No list of shooting gear—whether it be ammo, guns, or optics—would be complete without Cabela’s. The giant outdoor retailer is well-stocked with ammunition from top brands including Hornady, Remington, and Winchester in any and every caliber and gauge. You can filter by grain, price, shell length, shot size, brand, and more to narrow down your search. Once you make your selection, you can have the ammo delivered to your door or to your nearest Cabela’s location to pick up curbside free of charge.
Return Policy: All ammunition sales are final
Shipping: Varies based on location
If you’re looking to buy in bulk and get the best deal around, Palmetto State Armory is where you should look first. They offer a wide selection of brands in the most popular calibers at great prices when you buy in bulk. If you’re looking to get 500 or even 1,000 rounds, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better retailer. Plus, they put up new deals each day that can sometimes result in even better buys on harder-to-find brands or calibers.
Best of all, though, is that they sometimes offer free shipping on ammo deals. That alone can be a lifesaver and make a good deal a great deal! Be sure to act fast when you find what you want; Palmetto State Armory is a terribly-kept secret when it comes to finding bulk ammo deals, so you’re not the only one looking to buy from them.
Return Policy: All ammunition sales are final
Shipping: Free shipping on orders over $25
Academy Sports—a retailer known for its budget-friendly outdoor gear—is home to wide selection of ammunition. Whether you’re looking for rifle, pistol, or shotgun ammo, they’ve got it. You can even buy bulk ammo at Academy, up to 1,575 rounds. Prices start as low as under $10 per box, so it’s a great place to shop if you don’t want to shell out a ton of money on cartridges. You can browse through a variety of brands and calibers to find the best style for your needs.
Return Policy: All ammunition sales are final
Shipping: $12.95 for ground shipping
Don’t be fooled by the name—Guns.com has a lot more than just guns. Whether it’s 9mm, 6.5 Creedmoor, .223 Remington, or .308 Winchester, the popular firearms site also has plenty of ammunition available to deliver right to your doorstep. Guns.com often runs some pretty incredible sales and deals, too, so you’re liable to find ammo at a discounted price. The in-depth filtering lets you search for (and find) exactly what you want.
Return Policy: Can return unopened merchandise within 30 days
Shipping: Free shipping for most domestic orders
Shipping and sales tax are the worst part of online ammo sales and Bereli knows it. They don’t charge for shipping on anything they sell, no matter what the cost, quantity, or weight. They also don’t charge sales tax unless you’re a Florida resident. (Which they have no control over. Complain to your representative, not Bereli.) When you combine that with the fact that they also sell pretty much any other item that a gun guy or gal could want, plus every one of those items ships free, too, well…It’s pretty clear why Bereli is the best place to buy your ammo online. If you find somewhere better, let me know!
Return Policy: NA
Shipping: NA
Stop searching from one online retailer to another trying to compare their ammo inventory, overall costs, shipping fees, etc. This takes up valuable time that you could use on the range. Use AmmoSeek instead and let their search engine scour the entire internet to find the best deal on ammo—and guns, magazines, or other gear. Search results tell you the kind of ammo, quantity, cost, shipping fees, and retailer reputation all with a quick glance. It really doesn’t get any easier to do a fast search of the entire internet for the best ammo prices when using AmmoSeek.
Return Policy: Free returns with full refund within 30 days
Shipping: Free shipping for a year with a $99 membership
Ammo is heavy and the extra cost of shipping can really eat into a good deal. With a True Shot Ammo Rewards membership, the annual $99 fee pays for itself with just two ammo orders. For example, it costs $49 to ship 1,000 rounds of .45ACP ammo, but with the rewards program, you won’t pay extra for shipping. Buy that ammo twice in one year and you’ve paid for the membership! Anything shipped after that—ammo, gear, magazines, etc— and you’re saving money. Plus, the rewards program also qualifies you for members-only deals, early access to sales, and more.
Return Policy: Only accepts returns for damaged or defective products within 30 days of order
Shipping: No free shipping
You won’t find any faster shipping for your ammo than at LuckyGunner. If your order is placed before 3pm EST on a business day, it will ship the same day. If your order is placed after 3pm EST or on a weekend/holiday, it will ship the following business day. No other company guarantees shipments to leave their warehouse faster. Period. Of course, they can’t control their shipping partners, which are UPS or FedEx ground. Transit times are generally 1-5 business days depending on your distance from their Knoxville, Tennessee warehouse.
How to Buy Ammo Online
Buying ammo online has never been easier, but it definitely requires you to do your due diligence before you order the items in your cart. Obviously, the final decision is up to you, but if you decide that you’re going to buy ammo online, then here are some of the things you should think about before parting with your hard-earned money:
Customer Service
The internet is full of scams, and ammo “sellers” are no exception—especially with prices so high these days. Make sure you’re buying from a reputable dealer and not some fly-by-night place that no one has ever heard of before. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Shipping Period
Unlike buying ammo at a local shop, you’re going to have to wait for your ammo to arrive. Depending on where you live in relation to where the company is shipping from, you could be looking at a wait of up to a week. If you don’t need the ammo right away, then it doesn’t matter, but if you’ve waited until the last minute and need it for this weekend’s match, then you’re probably out of luck.
Shipping Costs
Don’t forget to take the cost of shipping into consideration. What may seem like a really good deal at first can go south fast once you factor in the shipping cost. Ammo is heavy and shipping isn’t cheap.
FAQs
Q: Why is ammo out of stock everywhere?
Ammo is out of stock everywhere because demand has never been higher and manufacturing obstacles have never been so prevalent. Since 2020, we’ve seen supply chain issues, raw material shortages, and tens of millions of new, first-time gun owners. All of this has come together at once. What we’ve got is a perfect storm of factors that contribute to much higher-than-normal ammo prices and extensive ammo shortages on store shelves across the country.
Q: Is ammo cheaper in stores or online?
Determining whether or not ammo is cheaper in stores or online requires more than just a quick glance at the price tag. If you’re buying ammo in a store, you’ve got to factor in sales tax. If you’re buying ammo online, you’ve got to factor in shipping and, in many states, sales tax as well. Only after you do that math can it be determined if ammo is cheaper in stores or online
Q: Is it better to buy ammo in bulk?
Generally speaking, yes, it is better to buy ammo in bulk. Just like any item you find at Sam’s Club or Costco that’s a lot cheaper because you’re buying it in a larger quantity, the same rule applies to ammo.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
