[Biomortis]

I finally got around to checking out the selection at our Augusta Mall Dick's Sporting Goods location. Basically, all the shelves were well stocked, including .380. I started talking with the college aged kid behind the counter and he seemed sharp and was pleasant to talk to. I asked him what .40 ammo he had in stock and asked if I wanted personal protection or range ammo and I said range. He did that inward smile people usually do when they are expecting a reaction....

"Well we're pretty well stocked, Blazer Brass and Wolf FMJ's are $20/box and the Remington UMC is $99 for 250"

"Seriously?" I asked?

"Yep, so you now know why we're so well stocked, it isn't moving at these prices"

I didn't look carefully at the other prices but they all looked high. The Mossberg and Remington 12ga that were $289-ish at Academy were $329-$349 at Dicks. I basically have no reason to ever go back.

Also, when I asked him, the guy said they don't advertise any firearms on their website because corporate told him its owned by a 3rd party that doesn't have their FFL. I don't know if its true or not and don't really care.

I really do prefer to support the independent shops but there are almost none left in town and the one I have friends at is open when my business is open so I have to make special arrangements to go there.

So I look at it this way, at least for this area, it isn't so much that there is a shortage, its that people are stock piling the Wal-Mart ammo because its cheap in comparison.....and I can't blame them when you can get 300rounds of Remington UMC JHP's at Wal-Mart for less than 250 of Remington UMC FMJ's at Dick's.

 

[Ridgeline]

Actually I for one really enjoy shopping at Dicks... true story:

A year ago I went Dicks in Rockwall, Tx and picked up 3 cases (30 boxes) of 9mm at 7.98 a box, at that same time I also asked for and got a rain check for 4 additional cases (40 boxes). For the past year they have been out of stock whenever I went by ... UnTiL two weeks ago, story goes like this:

me - I see you finally have ammo in stock, do you have any in back still in the case?

clerk - errrr, no and we have a 3 box limit anyway...

me - Ohhhhhhh, ok... give me 40 boxes please.

clerk - you dont understand we only sell 3 boxes per customer.

me - oh I understand, but you don't understand (pulling out 1 year old raincheck from my front shirt pocket) I have a raincheck.

clerk - ohhhhhhhhhhhhh

me - I'll go get a cart while you set it up on the counter.

(fast forward to checkout counter up front)

manager - omg, we don't even give rain checks for ammo anymore

me - yeah, that's what I hear, it's a good thing I had this one.

(bottom line - $7.98 per for 40 boxes --- regular price $15.97.)

Moral of the story - save those rain check, it could be the deal of a lifetime...

 

[scgunlover1]

Actually I for one really enjoy shopping at Dicks... true story:

A year ago I went Dicks in Rockwall, Tx and picked up 3 cases (30 boxes) of 9mm at 7.98 a box, at that same time I also asked for and got a rain check for 4 additional cases (40 boxes). For the past year they have been out of stock whenever I went by ... UnTiL two weeks ago, story goes like this:

me - I see you finally have ammo in stock, do you have any in back still in the case?

clerk - errrr, no and we have a 3 box limit anyway...

me - Ohhhhhhh, ok... give me 40 boxes please.

clerk - you dont understand we only sell 3 boxes per customer.

me - oh I understand, but you don't understand (pulling out 1 year old raincheck from my front shirt pocket) I have a raincheck.

clerk - ohhhhhhhhhhhhh

me - I'll go get a cart while you set it up on the counter.

(fast forward to checkout counter up front)

manager - omg, we don't even give rain checks for ammo anymore

me - yeah, that's what I hear, it's a good thing I had this one.

(bottom line - $7.98 per for 40 boxes --- regular price $15.97.)

Moral of the story - save those rain check, it could be the deal of a lifetime...

You hit the jackpot on that one.

 

[razor02097]

Actually I for one really enjoy shopping at Dicks... true story:

A year ago I went Dicks in Rockwall, Tx and picked up 3 cases (30 boxes) of 9mm at 7.98 a box, at that same time I also asked for and got a rain check for 4 additional cases (40 boxes). For the past year they have been out of stock whenever I went by ... UnTiL two weeks ago, story goes like this:

me - I see you finally have ammo in stock, do you have any in back still in the case?

clerk - errrr, no and we have a 3 box limit anyway...

me - Ohhhhhhh, ok... give me 40 boxes please.

clerk - you dont understand we only sell 3 boxes per customer.

me - oh I understand, but you don't understand (pulling out 1 year old raincheck from my front shirt pocket) I have a raincheck.

clerk - ohhhhhhhhhhhhh

me - I'll go get a cart while you set it up on the counter.

(fast forward to checkout counter up front)

manager - omg, we don't even give rain checks for ammo anymore

me - yeah, that's what I hear, it's a good thing I had this one.

(bottom line - $7.98 per for 40 boxes --- regular price $15.97.)

Moral of the story - save those rain check, it could be the deal of a lifetime...

wow I am suprized they honored the full 40 boxes. I would have thought they would give you the 3 and thats it.

Nicely done :hand10:

 

[frankmako]

the dick's here in east tennessee is aways out of pistol ammo. when they get any in it does not last long. either the workers are buying it or they are calling their friends. same with the wal marts here, no ammo.

 

[PastorPack]

It was only a matter of time for the prices to jump. Law of supply and demand is a basic business principles that is still at work.

 

[Der Alte]

Times must be a-changing. Our local Wal-Marts seem to be able to maintain a good stock of 9mm, .40 and .45. They have no .38, .357 most of the time and havn't had any .380 this year. The only Dicks around is to far to make it worthwhile.

 

[CRags99]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a Dick's. Is this a big chain?

 

[boscobeans]

Just got back from WW.. Remington MegaPack 250rounds .40 S&W $69.

The 9mm is $57

Lots of pro's and con's for Dicks but for the above they seem to be living up to their name.

bosco

 

[Landric]

Everytime I read one of these threads I get even happier that I handload. $57 for 250 9mm is a deal? Since I cast my own bullets and have lots of free 9mm range brass, I can load 1000 rounds for less than $57, and 9mm is probably the cartridge that I save the least handloading.

Back when there were all sorts of posts of the lack of availability of .38 Special ammunition (and when it was available, it was selling for $20/50 rounds), I loaded up all this:

Really, if one is a serious shooter, one should look seriously into handloading. Its quite possible to get a fully serviceable kit with everything required for around $250, or ~600 rounds of ammunition from Dick's.

 

[Ram Rod]

I can't wait for a new Academy Sports to be build here locally. We don't have any Dick's sporting goods stores in these parts.

 

[Majorlk]

If one shoots more than a couple of hundred rounds (total of every centerfire one has) a month, I can't imagine NOT handloading.

Even not casting bullets, but using Barry's plated bullets, I load .40S&W and 9mm for about 14 cents a round.

 

[Geno]

Academy had a lot of different flavors of pistol ammo at 15% off in Wichita, Ks. That brought the price on some of it to cheaper than Wally. .380 is starting to show up at some stores in the last week.

 

[inman]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a Dick's. Is this a big chain?

Dick's started with one store in Binghamton, New York. The home office is in Conklin, New York. My old neck of the woods.

 

[Landric]

If one shoots more than a couple of hundred rounds (total of every centerfire one has) a month, I can't imagine NOT handloading.

Even not casting bullets, but using Barry's plated bullets, I load .40S&W and 9mm for about 14 cents a round.

I couldn't even afford to shoot a couple of hundred rounds a month without handloading. My average cost per round, using my own cast bullets and reused brass is about $.04 per round (some a little less, some a little more). That is $8 for 200 rounds. I figure purchasing 200 rounds for the calibers I shoot most often, .38 Special and .45 ACP would run me at least $60 for 200 rounds of the cheapest ammunition available. Of course my handloads are specifically tailored to my needs, so they are better than say WWB, but that is the comparison everyone uses when they price handloads vs. factory. That is a difference of $52 a month. Saving $52 a month it would take less than a year to pay for both a handloading and basic casting setup.

 

[boscobeans]

"Of course my handloads are specifically tailored to my needs,"

+1

As Landric stated in the above quote, this is one very important aspect to reloading.

bosco

 

[bklynboy]

Given that I have been unable to find any 9mm at Walmart for a year, I have begun to think about reloading. Landric or others, can you give me some idea of what a basic reloading kit would consist of and some recommendations for brands and sources of information for newbie reloaders?

 

[Landric]

Given that I have been unable to find any 9mm at Walmart for a year, I have begun to think about reloading. Landric or others, can you give me some idea of what a basic reloading kit would consist of and some recommendations for brands and sources of information for newbie reloaders?

There are a number of good forums with handloading sections. The section here has some good info, but it isn't very active. My preference is for The High Road THR - Powered by vBulletin

As for a basic setup, its hard to beat Lee equipment for that. You can spend $1000 or more to get started, and some folks who's solution to every problem related to handloading is "buy a Dillon" will tell you to do just that. However, you can also get into everything you need to start for about $250, or even less, depending on your needs.

If you are getting started with 9mm, I would suggest these products:

Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit - MidwayUSA

Lee Breech Lock Quick Change Bushings Package of 2 - MidwayUSA

Lee Deluxe Carbide 4-Die Set 9mm Luger - MidwayUSA

Frankford Arsenal Electronic Caliper 6" Stainless Steel - MidwayUSA

Lyman "Pistol and Revolver: Reloading Handbook: Third Edition" Reloading Manual - MidwayUSA

"ABC's of Reloading, 8th Edition" Book by Bill Chevalier - MidwayUSA

Missouri Bullet Company

As for powder and primers, I'd buy locally. If you happen to be somewhere in the southern part of Virginia, I could probably help you out with both. Hopefully you have been saving brass, but if not, once fired 9mm brass is pretty cheap on both Gunbroker and the various forums.

The total for the above items from Midway is about $175, and should be plenty to get you going. Add another ~$65 for 1000 bullets from Missouri bullet (including shipping), get a hold of 1 pound of powder and 1000 small pistol primers (about another $50), and you will be in business to load 1000 rounds. That is $290, not counting brass. How much does a case of 9x19mm go for? Keep in mind that once you buy the equipment and save your brass, you are looking at about $115 per 1000 rounds. Not too shabby in this day and age (I remember when 9x19 and .223 were $99/1000, but those days are long gone).

 

[tmizzi]

If you happen to be somewhere in the southern part of Virginia, I could probably help you out with both.

Thanks for the informative rundown Landric. I have been thinking about making the plunge into reloading. It certaininly doesn't seam complicated but there is always that fear of the unknown. How far out are you from Charlotte?

 

[Colin]

Welcome to our world, those are not bad prices up here, oh yea don't forget the tax. To reload a 1,000 9mm FMJ right now.

$155 for 1,000 124gr berry plated bullets
$37 for 1lb of Titegroup
$37 for 1,000 cci primers