So it mainly boils down to US $ issues and supply in the u.s is starving us up north. So we basically need our dealers to start importing from countries that have excess supply and cheaper labour costs i.e Western Europe. Or we need an entrepreneurial person/ firm ( ex. Winchester) to set up in canada serve the Canadian market yet they'll still be choked by purchasing material in us$ unless a local source could be negotiated.
Why *IS* ammo so expensive in Canada?
- Thread starter ilikeoldguns
- Start date
Besides the currency exchange the main factor effecting ammo prices in Canada is when it was purchased. Since there is virtually no bulk ammunition manufacturing in Canada the vast majority of it comes from the USA. When prices go up and in the USA due mainly to artificial demand from hording and panic buying there is significantly more stock piles of existing ammo (in dealer or distributor storage) or the ability to manufacture more in the same country. In Canada the stock piles of ammo are significantly less at any given time so if I'm out of a particular caliber or make I have to pull from a Canadian distributor(not very many to choose from) who likely doesn't have much over stock. By the time the distributor gets in more ammo the dollar is often getting worse at exchange, the price has gone up from the manufacturer(because they can) and maybe they will jack up the wholesale cost to me (again because they can). In the end the price we have to sell it at seems pretty unreasonable compared with old pricing in the USA of goods that are readily at hand at significant volume. We along with my competitors try to stock pile as much ammo as we can afford to even out this supply and demand. The limitations are warehousing space and cash tied up for however long we can hold out. Phil.
- Location
- South Ontario
Current Ammo prices in Michigan
22LR - 0.09/round
9mm - 0.16/round
40 - 0.21/round
45 ACP - 0.25/round
223/556 - 0.21/round
All prices are for ammo purchased in 1000 round cases. Not sure what the exact exchange rate is right now but last week Ithat was $230ish for 1000/rounds 556 compared to $449 hear.
22LR - 0.09/round
9mm - 0.16/round
40 - 0.21/round
45 ACP - 0.25/round
223/556 - 0.21/round
All prices are for ammo purchased in 1000 round cases. Not sure what the exact exchange rate is right now but last week Ithat was $230ish for 1000/rounds 556 compared to $449 hear.
They have a lot more guns and balls also
Don't be so hard on yourself, I'm sure you have some balls.
I've been working in the US for the last 6 weeks - food isn't much if any cheaper here in Louisiana than it is at home.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Basically cause we pay it, much like vehicles are several thousand dollars higher in price than the USA but yet we still keep paying. I can see a dollar difference but we basically get screwed and say thank you for the screwing.
Most of those are higher than our cost from the manufacturer, so something is off. What brand are they?
My usual source for low ammo prices, sportsmans guide lists 223 at 45 cents per round
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Don't be so hard on yourself, I'm sure you have some balls.
I've been working in the US for the last 6 weeks - food isn't much if any cheaper here in Louisiana than it is at home.
Yep huge ones in my NRA seasoned red , white and BLUE blood.
Sure is cheaper in Ohio and West Virginia where my brothers live, everything is. One was up this summer and spent a hour in the grocery store here taking pictures of prices to show his friends back state side. Cannot understand how I can afford to eat up here . I remember him saying eggs were like 4X the cost and milk 2.5 x as a small exampleCheers
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Well the .22lr sounds expensive also, I paid less than than from cabelas Calgary last week.
I just googled and the first American link is 34.4 cents a round for 5.56... 45 for American sounds excessive imo
The US has 90 million shooters, and Canada has 2.5 million. If someone can understand price break on volume the prior sentence is self explanatory.
Further to this, as mentioned the CDN dollar is down and the price of shipping is up.
Many people ask why Canada doesn't make its own ammunition? Well we do, and we always have, but Canadians are not interested in supporting local manufacturers when they can save 50 cents by going to Walmart. A dozen years ago Edmonton had a maker of shotgun ammunition. The shells were good quality and many trap shooters competed with these shells, but the hunter market was a vital and they did not support the local brand. When the anti-gun/anti-hunting people went after him for lead content he lost everything in the fight while the hunters saved 50 cents on a box purchasing at chain outlets.
Unless you like taking it in the butt from US makers, people need to support local companies. Canadian Tire and Walmart are not your friends. They will sell you ammo, but bring your own lube.
Further to this, as mentioned the CDN dollar is down and the price of shipping is up.
Many people ask why Canada doesn't make its own ammunition? Well we do, and we always have, but Canadians are not interested in supporting local manufacturers when they can save 50 cents by going to Walmart. A dozen years ago Edmonton had a maker of shotgun ammunition. The shells were good quality and many trap shooters competed with these shells, but the hunter market was a vital and they did not support the local brand. When the anti-gun/anti-hunting people went after him for lead content he lost everything in the fight while the hunters saved 50 cents on a box purchasing at chain outlets.
Unless you like taking it in the butt from US makers, people need to support local companies. Canadian Tire and Walmart are not your friends. They will sell you ammo, but bring your own lube.
Yep huge ones in my NRA seasoned red , white and BLUE blood.
Cheers
In my experience people who brag about having big balls usually don't. But I'll match balls with you any day yank, and I won't need to use the NRA as a crutch to do it.
Turkey was on sale here for 15cents a pound last year, which doesn't mean squat. Food prices are no lower in Houston or Lafayette than they are in Alberta. Cape Breton isn't exactly the center of the universe for big balls or low grocery prices, in case you didn't know. h
Cheers
In my experience people who brag about having big balls usually don't. But I'll match balls with you any day yank, and I won't need to use the NRA as a crutch to do it.
Turkey was on sale here for 15cents a pound last year, which doesn't mean squat. Food prices are no lower in Houston or Lafayette than they are in Alberta. Cape Breton isn't exactly the center of the universe for big balls or low grocery prices, in case you didn't know. h
Cheers
Oh please. Remember your mother said you were special
and I have been nice to you don't make me change my mind.. Believe me my balls are HUGE from always getting kicked in them if nothing else. I live with three ladies. Think about that. I already did at least 5 things wrong this morning and kicked twice, despite the fact I make them breakfast, put the tree up and did my house chores. I'm sorry the cape isn't the center of the universe to you but it is to me. I've done my time in Alberta as most down this way have and YOU CAN HAVE IT also some day soon unfortunately
we will all be wishing we had the NRA as a crutch heretake care
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- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
Lots of ammo starting to appear on the shelves lately and prices are not going up any. In fact I see most have levelled off and a few have even dropped. One thing that would help us here in Canada would be to have a manufacturer producing rifle ammo. We have shotgun ammo made here by Challenger who also produce under the old Imperial name again and of course their is Score in MB making shotgun ammo but nobody I am aware of is producing rifle? I have to say that surprises me somewhat since Challenger purchased the old IVI(Imperial) facilities to the best of my knowledge? One would think they would have kept the rifle line alive? Especially rimfire. It was rare to see a Canadian back in the day shooting any rimfire cartridge other than Imperial!!
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
A friend of mine lives in NH, the "live free or die" state. He had me buy him 9mm ammo here in Canada for his wife's handgun because in NH he was looking at $45 U.S for a 50rd box if he could even find it?! I paid $20 Canadian for it here.
He can get better pricing on non-toxic shotshells for waterfowl but thats it!! His target load shotshells are the same price in the US as I pay here in Canada. He is paying $69.99 US/flat for Federal Top Gun, I am paying $75 CDN!!
- Location
- South Ontario
Mostly Federal, some of the local reloaded stuff can be had even cheaper
Interesting as they may be selling it below cost if it is federal. Lowest I have seen is the bulk packs retailing for around $160
