So I went to Outdoor World yesterday to get some ammo for my Kimber 1911, but to my surprise, there were literally 40 people in front of me at the counter. The salespeople were issuing numbers to everybody for a waiting list like it was a deli counter at at the grocery store. I promptly left when I saw that debacle. There has to be a better way to buy ammo. Any insight?
Go when the store opens the doors. (Or, just tell them you're the sheriff. You'll be placed at the front of the line.)
There are others of course. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.aspx http://www.gunsamerica.com/Search/Category/796/4/Non-Guns/Ammunition.htm
I know we don't see eye to eye all the time but one thing I respect about you is that you are a mans man. You have a lot of knowledge on things and are kind enough to share.
I've been buying ammo online for years, it's no more difficult than buying any other product and there are many benefits. One, you can find pretty much anything (often hit 'n miss at local shops). Two, you can buy LE (Law Enforcement) packaging and products, NATO surplus, things you can't often find in local shops. Three, price is frequently better than what you will pay locally, especially for the quality defense ammo. Anyway, along with those already mentioned here's a number of places that are good, solid, trustworthy dealers: Ammunition To Go Lucky Gunner SG Ammo Midway USA Buffalo Bore M.A.H. Supplies
Ok, looking at the links that have been posted, there seems to be a ton of choices when it comes to ammo. So narrow it down for me. Knowing what gun I have, what brand and grain/type of ammo should I go with for practicing at the range? I don't care about the home defense ammo yet because I need to get my shit together at the range first.
Standard 230 grain Ball ammo. Hollow points will tend to jam, you can have the port polished which will help with this issue is you fell the need to load HP's. I have had jamming issues using 185 grain ball with mine, Kimber (custom classic, series 1), don't really understand the reasons I just know I have to load 230 ball for optimal performance, probably has something to do with my grip. Also, use Kimber mags.
Some .45s wil jam with hollow points. They were originally designed to fire only full metal jacket, ie ball, ammo. A gunsmith can remedy the problem by machining the feed ramp, ie the part the shell slides on when it transitions from the mag to the chamber. Most high end 1911's today come with a feed ramp that will handle hollow points, but I would certainly want to fire a lot of them through the gun at the range to make sure. The problem with using ball ammo as a home defense load is our old bugaboo, overpenetration. A full metal jacket round will tend to penetrate more than a hollow point.