Hate to break it to ya my friend. That box of 500 for $129.99 is $260 for 1k rounds. That’s more expensive than what I got. Of course I failed 3rd grade maths. Didn’t do too good in Engrish either.
Ammo manufacturers increased ammo production prior to 2016 in anticipation of Hillary winning, expecting demand to be high. As it turned out, Trump won and the supply was high realitive to demand, so we saw lower prices.
I personally see a similar situation developing right now, and hope Trump wins again and ammo prices drop because everyone feels like they can buy a box or two anytime they want to go to the range, i.e. demand will drop.
Fortunately I personally am well stocked, but plan to wait for Trump to win again, and prices to drop again.
I am feeling the pain in the 38 special/357 @Joseph488 mentioned as I just moved into that arena and paid more for 357 than I paid for 10mm
Edit: Remember, FMJ becomes self defense ammo if required
Pre Covid, I used to pay an average of 20¢ a round for 9mm FMJ ammo. Recently, iv been able to find the same or similar ammo at about 25¢ a round. I watch for sales in my area at Cabela’s and Range USA but have bought some online close to or at the same price point.
I always have and always will buy my ammo with cash and cash only and if it cost a couple bucks more every Tom , Dick and Harry in our Gummitt knowing about it… People worry about this and that happening and yet they still hand over everything to them with open arms to save a couple bucks man that’s unbelievable. I needed some .22 mag and stopped by a gun shop every week on way home on pay day and sometimes I picked up one plastic box of CCI or two depending on how much money I had and before I knew it I had so much of it I could never shoot it all. Stop showing the bast***s everything you have!