Best Bulk Ammo to Stock Up On in 2027: How to Pick

For most shooters stocking up in 2027, the bulk ammo worth buying is the practice ammo you shoot most, in the calibers you own, bought by the full case in brass-case loads your range allows, and stored sealed, dry and indoors. That usually means 5.56 or .223, 9mm, .22 LR, 7.62x39 and enough of your defense load to practice with.

Updated October 2026 for 2027.

Top bulk picks for 2027

1. MKE 5.56 SS109 62 grain battle pack (AM8303). MKE packs SS109 ball 30 rounds per carton, 15 cartons to a 450-round bag and five bags to a 2,250-round crate. It suits AR-15 owners who want one large, sealed lot. We stock it: MKE SS109, 450 or 2,250 rounds. The crate ships at 67.5 pounds.

2. Federal American Eagle 5.56 M855 62 grain (XM855). Federal lists 3,020 fps. A US-made M855-type load in a mid-size bulk pack. We stock it: Federal American Eagle M855, 150 or 600 rounds.

3. PMC Bronze .223 Remington 55 grain FMJ-BT (223A). A lead-core load for ranges that ban steel core. PMC lists 2,900 fps from a 16-inch barrel. We stock it: PMC Bronze .223, up to 1,000 rounds at 27.8 pounds.

4. Precision One 7.62x39 123 grain FMJ steel case (1823). American-made steel-case AK and SKS practice ammo. We stock it: Precision One 7.62x39, in 500-round packs at 21.0 pounds.

5. Aguila Colibri 22 LR 20 grain (1B220337). Aguila packs it 50 per box and 1,000 per case. It is powderless and made for bolt actions and revolvers, so it is a quiet-practice stock, not a semi-auto stock. We stock it: Aguila Colibri, up to 1,000 rounds at 7.8 pounds.

6. Sellier & Bellot 00 buck 9 pellet (SB12BSG). Sellier & Bellot lists 1,214 fps and nine No. 00 pellets. A 250-shell case lets you pattern and practice with your home-defense load. We stock it: Sellier & Bellot 00 buck, 25 or 250 shells.

7. Federal American Eagle 9mm 115 grain FMJ (AE9DP). A common bulk 9mm practice load. Federal lists 1,180 fps and 50 rounds per box, marketed for target shooting. We do not stock this load, and we do not stock any 9mm FMJ range ammo right now. Our 9mm is Speer Gold Dot hollow point, in packs up to 1,000 rounds, covered in 9mm self-defense picks for 2027.

How we picked

Picks are based on manufacturer specifications, published standards from SAAMI, FBI-protocol statements only where the manufacturer itself publishes them, law-enforcement adoption only where it is publicly documented, and long-running shooter consensus. We did not run our own ballistic tests for this page. Every velocity and spec here is the maker's published figure, usually from a test barrel, so results from your own gun will differ.

Case sizes

There is no standard case. A case is the maker's shipping carton, and the round count changes by caliber and brand. Rifle ammo often comes 20 per box, handgun 50, shotshells 25 and .22 LR 50 or more. Always read the round count on the listing. See how many rounds are in a case of ammo.

Cost per round, the right way

Divide the pack price by the number of rounds. Compare packs at the same round count, and compare like for like: brass with brass, new with new, the same bullet weight. Add shipping to the total before dividing, because ammo ships by weight. Larger packs often cost less per round, for reasons explained in why bulk ammo is cheaper per round. For where the market sits now, see our Q4 2026 ammo price report.

Brass vs steel in bulk

Steel-case ammo is common in 7.62x39 and is built for rifles like the AK. Brass case is accepted at more ranges and can be reloaded. Some indoor ranges ban steel case, steel core or bimetal bullets. Check before you buy a case. More in steel case vs brass case.

Storing bulk ammo in Arizona heat

SAAMI advises storing ammunition in a cool, dry place and not leaving it in a vehicle in direct sun or high heat for long periods. SAAMI's primer guidance says to keep primers from temperatures above 150 F. In Phoenix, that rules out the garage, shed, attic and truck for summer storage. Keep cases sealed, inside the air-conditioned part of the house, off bare concrete, and use the oldest lot first. See how long ammo lasts in storage.

Which calibers make sense in bulk

• Calibers you shoot every month: practice ammo goes fastest.
• Calibers shared across your guns, such as 5.56 for several ARs.
• Your defense load, in enough quantity to practice with it, not only to keep it.
• Skip bulk in a caliber you rarely shoot. A few boxes is enough.

Buying bulk in Phoenix

Browse every caliber in all ammunition. Heavy cases are a good reason to pick up in Phoenix, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with ID. Orders ship UPS Ground from Phoenix within 2 business days, charged by weight and never free. See where we ship. You must be 21 or older to order.

Bulk ammo questions

How much ammo should I buy in bulk?

Base it on what you actually shoot. Count the rounds you fire in a typical month, multiply by the months you want covered, and buy that in the largest pack that fits your budget and storage.

Is steel case ammo good for stocking up?

It can be, if your rifle runs it and your range allows it. AK-pattern rifles were designed around steel case. If you shoot at an indoor range that bans steel, stock brass instead.

How long does bulk ammo last?

Factory ammo kept cool, dry and sealed can stay reliable for decades. Heat and moisture shorten that, which matters in Arizona.

Do you sell 9mm FMJ in bulk?

Not right now. Our 9mm stock is Speer Gold Dot hollow point in 124 grain +P and 147 grain, in packs up to 1,000 rounds.