Triangle Tactical Podcast and Blog on Guns, Gear, and Competition Shooting
This afternoon I ventured out to find a box or two of Remington Golden Sabres in the 124gr (standard or +P, I don’t really care) variety. I had remembered a pretty reasonable price from the last time I was at Bass Pro in Cary, so I decided to hit Gander Mountain first, and then go to Bass Pro on the way home of Gander didn’t have what I needed.
When I arrived at Gander Mountain, I couldn’t believe the price of 124gr and 147gr Remington Golden Sabres. $44.99 for 25rds which is about $1.79/rd. Golden Sabres aren’t the new kid on the block when it comes to defensive ammo, so this is pretty dang steep.
I left Gander Mountain without making any purchases (I still have never spent a dime in there…) and headed to Bass Pro. They were stocked with a pretty decent selection of defensive ammo, and I found a box of standard pressure 124gr Golden Sabres for $29.99, which is about $1.19/rd (same price for 147gr). Same ammo as above, $0.60/rd price difference a couple miles away. Still a little more than I could get it online, but I grabbed a box because I needed it.
Now, I just got home and decided to see what online prices are like for the same ammo. Lucky Gunner has the 124gr +P Golden Sabres for $21 ($0.84/rd), and the 147gr standard pressure Golden Sabres for $17.50 ($0.70/rd).
[table caption=”Remington Golden Sabre Prices”] Merchant,Price Per 25rd Box,Price Per RoundGander Mountain,$44.99,$1.79
Bass Pro,$29.99,$1.19
Lucky Gunner,$17.50,$0.70
[/table]
I think the lesson here is two fold:
- Shop around. Just because someone has ammo doesn’t mean you should just buy it up because it’s there. Within just a couple miles I was able to save almost $15 on the same box of ammo.
- Plan Ahead. Had I jumped online this morning, I could have bought more ammo for less money, and saved myself a trip.
Mistake to go with the 124g rather than the 147g. Discuss. ( Ducks 🙂 )
Bah! I always stay mid weight for caliber.
Why would it be? The point of bigger/slower when talking about similar diameter/energy rounds is penetration. If the 124 grain has proper penetration through common barriers and mediums (and in this case it does), then why would the 147 grain be an advantage when the 124 is lighter to carry, shoots easier, and typically has a few extra ft/lbs of overall energy?
Gander Mountain’s price tags on that particular shelf are usually not the actual ones, because they simply don’t update the price tags when stacking the ammo I paid $30 for GS 9mm there just a week or so ago.
There was a sales person working the endcap where the defensive ammo was, I had him confirm the $44 price on the Golden Sabres, thinking there was no way it was correct.
I feel similar about Gander Mtn. Last time I went to one I had just bought a 120 round box of XM193 online for $45, and walking into GM I saw the exact same box on SALE for $80 (original $90). What can you do except shake your head? Same for pistol rounds, their prices easily doubled what I could get them for online.
Don’t get me wrong, I expect to pay more in the store. I’m getting it instantly, and there’s no individual shipping to worry about. But I mean I’d expect $50 or $55 for that 120 round box of XM193 instead of $45…not a $90 regular price. That’s insane.
Guess I’m just gonna be buying online more.
Yeah, I don’t mine paying a few bucks more for the instant gratification, but more than double for the same box of 9mm is a little nuts.
Why would anyone buy firearms or ammo from “Gander Mtn’ or “Cheaper Than Dirt’??
They were both exposed as GOUGERS during the last “Crisis”.
Don’t forget how ‘Dick’s Sporting Goods’ fought against our gun rights, either.
Go to one of these ‘known’ establishments and you deserve to get burned.
I do not walk in to a store to buy ammo unless I already know the price.
Ten minutes on the PC or Smartphone tells all.