Jim,
I have read recently on other shooting boards how some guys have stopped by their local Wal-Mart in the US and found selected lots of slow moving ammo with special red sale tags on them in the sporting goods section at reduced prices. I don’t know if this is in the wake of Wal-Mart’s move to clear most or all of its stores in the future of firearms and ammunition, but there are some good prices on some rifle, pistol and shotgun ammo, different calibers and gauges, apparently at each store.
I know that in a crisis situation, you should have only common calibers, but for those out there who hang on to their Weatherby, Winchester Short Magnum (WSM), Winchester Super Short Magnum (WSSM), and Remington Ultra Magnum (RUM) caliber rifles. For example, $7 a box for Remington brand .300 Weatherby magnums, or $9/box for 7mm Remington Magnum is hard to beat. I checked out our local Wal-Mart that cleared itself of firearms last March and bought several five packs of 20ga. slugs for my wife’s farm shotgun for $1 a box.
This is just a note for blog readers to check out their local Wal-Mart (only Wal-Mart) stores in the sporting goods section for the red tag only sale ammo that is periodically cleared. You might find something that will help your ammo stocks or possibly to have on hand to make the sale of an oddball caliber rifle go easier.
After visits to a half dozen stores in our area the general story is that the red tagged ammo, the calibers or gauges that vary from store to store, many at bargain prices, are slow movers for walmart and that most sale items are being discontinued by that particular ammo company. Though some of the stores I visited are slated to lose their firearms, the salespeople said that ammo would still be available, but in reduced choices -not a bad thing. That being said, it seems the best bargain to be had in ammo would be in the rifle calibers – but I was able to snap up 750 rds. of 40S&W ball ammo for .07 cents a round including taxes, which is cheaper than I can buy the brass and bullet for new – go figure. I would advise your blog readers to check out their local Wal-Marts and keep and eye on their clearance ammo for specialty hunting loads. It seems that specialty 20guage loads are also being discontinued (slugs, buckshot). These items would not stock your retreat completely, but might offer opportunities in the future for barter or charity, if not practice shooting sessions for the family. – Regards, Redclay