Ammo Problems?--No Problem..................Picture Heavy

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:36 pm

when you shop at Targetmaster, Chadds Ford, Pa., right down the street from the famous Brandywine Battlefield where good ole George W. (The first George W.) plied his trade on the Limeys. Everything from air soft guns to machine guns and everything in between. Yes, of course, I get first dibs on the Winchesters, Colts, Marlins, Smith & Wessons and old model Rugers but lately I have been declining them as I don't anymore room for gun storage. Yea, life can be cruel sometimes. No, I ain't modest and make no excuses.

Anyway, things are back to normal and the ammo business has always been normal at Targetmaster, but only if you bought a gun or used the range. Its now back to buying it by the case, but sadly, only one case per customer. If my buddy Tommy catches you sneaking back in or in some way being sneaky about getting more than your fair share, he will ban you from the store. He don't care who he pee's off as business is so good that for every customer that he loses, there are 20 to take their place.

.22's by the case (Federal)

Everything from 25 acp to 45 auto

CCI Mini Mags and other goodies

For those who like to use shotgun for self defense.

Not one brand of .22's, but 3. Here are Remingtons.

For our redneck Southern shooters

There's so much of this stuff, Tommy uses them for door stops

Where else can you find an original unfired Civil War Remington...with Navy stampings?!

I thumb my nose up at junk like this.

Most guncranks have never even seen one of these in beat up condition, let alone new unfired from the 1840's.

Colt AR 308's, LE .223, most better brands of AR's and Springfield M1-A's? He has a truckload of them in the back.

There are signs everywhere that state "NO OVERNIGHT PARKING" and "HIGH SECURITY AREA". Tommy don't have them towed, he smothers them. It took this guy 3 hours to dig out his car. You could only see the roof. Good ole Tommy has a sense of humor. Here in the East, people are not nice and you have to respond in kind.-----------------6

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:46 pm

LOT of eye candy in this thread!

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:47 pm

Lots of great things there, made my mouth water

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:59 pm

The West Coast is not seeing the volume that the rest of the country is. If you want .40, 5.56, 17hmr, and shot shells there are plenty of cases, but nothing else on a regular basis.

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:06 pm

haven't even seen a single box of 22 ammo here for 2 years, now I see the reason why

looks like the place to blow a years wages in short time

Brad

Post by **Old Savage** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:09 pm

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:13 pm

Could make a fella envious...

wvfarrier · Post by **wvfarrier** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:21 pm

Was that heaven? Surely looked like it

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:22 pm

How much to get a case of those federals to me?

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:37 pm

Borregos wrote:Lots of great things there, made my mouth water

Me too.....

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 8:01 pm

No brag, my bud Tommy is the smartest business man I have ever known, even smarter than my Uncle Frank who owns about 20% of New Jersey. (Well, not really, but you know what I mean)
He started from NOTHING, being a truck driver for WaWa Dairy. No college education and only mediocre in high school. Came from a normal working class family (yea, like my family, all Italians

)

Back in the early eighties, he opened up this little gunshop about the size of my bathroom. Did not have any connections with anyone. He wheeled and dealed, played by the rules, and paid his taxes. His motto-----"no mistakes". I saw him chew out one of his workers for leaving a period off of a sentence on a 4473.

He is now on a first name basis with all the big boys. He has introduced me to a couple of big names at Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Colt, and just last month, the big shot who controls Federal ammo. I feel like a mouse in the corner when I'm around these guys who talk millions of dollars like I talk $30.

Last year he talked Federal into selling him cut in half 55 gallon drums filled with Lake City green tip 223. Each half drum holds 12,500 rounds. I have since seen these drums in pictures from other dealers on the internet. That was Tommy's idea.

The exotica that flows through Targetmaster would make Leroy Mertz jealous. Its amazing the stuff that is still coming out of estates for the first time here in S.E. Pa.

People travel hundreds of miles every week just to shop in the store and spend part of their life's savings. Everything from buying a half dozen Colt AR's to shooting the full automatics in the range.

The range gets about a pickup truck of brass every week and is near impossible to get one of (I think) 22 lanes to shoot on the weekends. 99% of all shooters leave their brass.

Every couple of months, the lead is collected by an outside vendor and enough is collected to "weigh out" a 53 foot trailer (44,000 pounds)

If your ever around this part of Pa., it's well worth the time to stop in.-----6

carbluesnake · Post by **carbluesnake** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 8:21 pm

Ooh, that Allen and Thurber. That is nice !

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 8:24 pm

carbluesnake wrote:Ooh, that Allen and Thurber. That is nice !

Flip you for it...

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 8:25 pm

Wow. That is a store and a half.

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 9:18 pm

Cool Stuff!

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 10:56 pm

KirkD wrote:Wow. That is a store and a half.

+1

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 4:00 am

My wife and I go down to Jersey a couple times a year to visit her aunt. She is just over the bridge from Philly. I'd sure like to make a detour and check that place out. Maybe I will see you there haha.

Figure I've got quite a bit of points built up from taking my wife to Jersey!

ethang · Post by **ethang** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 4:35 am

That place looks worth a road trip from MI>

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 8:53 am

wish we had a store like that down here!

Post by **Old Savage** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 10:06 am

Indidanagirl wants some 22s and wants to know how you can make that happen for her.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 10:43 am

OMG drool rag!

Nope too late, clean up!
Honey hide the hogs and missy put that away before you put someone's eye out!

NYS can only look at some!

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:00 am

Yeah, Six.
How do I get a case of Federals?

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:17 am

Not back to normal around here. Still have a very difficult time getting any 22LR, and powder is non-existant. I'm glad parts of the country are doing better keeping the shelves stocked, but it's really getting ridiculous around here. It was a good thing I had a good supply of powder before, because I haven't been able to buy any powder locally in probably 2 years. That's not to say they haven't been getting any in, it's just gone before I can get it I suppose. Last time I asked, the local store said they hadn't been able to get any powder for 8 weeks.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 9:48 pm

Old Win.---it's only a hop, skip, and a jump from the bridge in Philly, about 15 miles, if that. I'd be more than happy to meet anyone at the gunshop for a tour and some quick machine gun play.

As far as getting ammo for resale, well, that's not going to happen. Tommy sold me a case of CCI Mini Mags a couple of weeks ago and he knows that's going to last me a couple of years. He is very adamant about reselling ammo purchased there and that includes me. Even reselling guns that are priced cheap will get me in the doghouse, not only because it's illegal, but because he wants to please the people living in the area and he tells me, "who gives a f about people living in other states, I'll never see them again. I take care of people living around here, within driving distance. Those people will be back."

I got to agree with him. He has had calls from police departments from all over and the last one came for a department in Connecticut begging for law enforcement ammo in 9mm and 40's. (He also supplies law enforcement needs) He told the guy to go find it elsewhere as he takes care of Pennsylvania State Police and the local police depts. in S.E. Pa. The chief asked him, " What? You can't take care of cops up here?" Tommy told him that after the sale, he will never hear from him anymore, where the local cops
and the State boys are continuous customers.-----6

Gaucho Gringo · Post by **Gaucho Gringo** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 10:20 pm

ROAD TRIP

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:41 pm

Hey Six,
That's just awesome man! Thanks.

I told my wife what a character you are ( read my kinda dude! ) and she been telling me to let you know when we are down there and see if we could meet up.
Next time we are getting ready for a trip south I will PM you a week or two prior. No preassure

Be cool to be with my own kind.

I'm kind of a hillbilly curiosity in Jersey.

fordwannabe · Post by **fordwannabe** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:06 am

now how far is this place from leesport?????

Steelbanger · Post by **Steelbanger** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:24 am

I seem to sense "The Great Lobster Trade of 2014" in the near future. Lobster for 22's, leverguns, etc.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:32 am

fordwannabe wrote:now how far is this place from leesport?????

Tom,
Everything is on the website. Targetmaster is about 6 miles south of West Chester, on Rt 202. For you, it would be easy to jump on the turnpike, go east and take the 212 exit.....then straight south for 14 miles.

Come on over and make a day out of it. Probably about 60-65 miles from you.

No BS, Now you know why you don't see me at gunshows anymore. This place is better than any gunshow I've been to except the Allentown, York, or the Timonium shows.------6

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:46 am

I can't hold that against him, at least he is taking care of the local people.

Indianagirl · Post by **Indianagirl** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:54 am

1. Longggggg sighhhhhhhh
2. Wiping the drool from my chin

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:32 am

American exceptionalism, and capitalism/free market in action.

God Bless America

Catshooter · Post by **Catshooter** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:55 pm

Sixgun,

Good job for him. Looks like he's quite the business man and knows what he's about.

Show us his powder & primer stocks, just for fun.

Cat

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:44 pm

Catshooter wrote:Sixgun,
Good job for him. Looks like he's quite the business man and knows what he's about.
Show us his powder & primer stocks, just for fun.
Cat

Cat,
No can do.

Why? He does not carry any reloading components except maybe 5 or 10,000 rifle primers which he sells by the thou., or a few mixed types of Vihtavuori powders. (Had to look up the spelling of that one). It all fits on one small shelf. Same goes for reloading tools....zilch...none. Sometimes, he will put brass out, from the range, but even that is slim to none.

I even offered up to use my knowledge to set up an area like this in the store. Nope...he don't want it.

Here's the reason and I'll show you why he is so successful.

Reloading supplies and tools are nickel and dime commodities with little profit margin. You can never have a complete inventory so your constantly ordering this and that in small denominations and then you have to call the people up to get their stuff which half the time they don't bother, so here you are, stuck with 181 gr bullets for a 50 caliber that will never sell. On top of it all, you will need to have a full time employee to handle all this. At the end of the month, you may have profited $500 when you make the same money by selling one Colt 901. Make sense?

The same goes for cheap guns. Targetmaster handles no cheap guns, with Remington being the "bottom of the line", if you can call them that. Cheap handguns like Bersa and even imported Ross's and Uberti's have no shelf space at Targetmaster. Cheap guns bring in cheap people, you know, gangsta types so that eliminates that problem at the same time.

The last thing that is needed is hoodie types hanging around to scare off the people who have the money. Same reason why some restaurants have a dress code. Let the animals stay on their side of the tracks and screw up their neighborhoods that they are so famous for.

No matter who you are, as long as your dressed appropriately and behave in a civilized manner, you are welcome. If you come in with your hat on backwards, you are asked to flip it around and you only get one chance at that.

For real, one time a Muslim came in, all dressed up in his weird garb and actually asked which way was East so he could pray. He even had his little mat under his arm. He was showed a place across the street. I suggested to the guy he should pray on the middle of the highway but only seconds before an 80,000 pound tractor trailer was due to pass. I don't work there so I can get away with that comment.

Cash flow, more accurately, heavy cash flow, along with decency, a happy and hassle free shopping experience is the theme at Targetmaster.-------6

Larkbill · Post by **Larkbill** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:47 pm

"At the end of the month, you may have profited $500 when you make the same money by selling one Colt 901. Make sense?"

Don't tell that to Graf and Sons. We count on being able to walk in and buy components from them as needed.

Mossyoak1957 · Post by **Mossyoak1957** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 2:09 pm

fordwannabe wrote:now how far is this place from leesport?????

Tom,
If you go,let me know, I'll go with!

Tom

Ms Boots · Post by **Ms Boots** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 4:14 pm

[quote="Sixgun"]when you shop at Targetmaster, Chadds Ford, Pa., right down the street from the famous Brandywine Battlefield where good ole George W. (The first George W.) plied his trade on the Limeys. Everything from air soft guns to machine guns and everything in between. Yes, of course, I get first dibs on the Winchesters, Colts, Marlins, Smith & Wessons and old model Rugers but lately I have been declining them as I don't anymore room for gun storage. Yea, life can be cruel sometimes. No, I ain't modest and make no excuses.

Anyway, things are back to normal and the ammo business has always been normal at Targetmaster, but only if you bought a gun or used the range. Its now back to buying it by the case, but sadly, only one case per customer. If my buddy Tommy catches you sneaking back in or in some way being sneaky about getting more than your fair share, he will ban you from the store. He don't care who he pee's off as business is so good that for every customer that he loses, there are 20 to take their place.

Like WOW SIX!!! WOW>..... I could be a pretty happy camper there WHOO HOOO!
Drooling.... when you comin for a visit?

Ms Boots · Post by **Ms Boots** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 4:16 pm

Indianagirl wrote:1. Longggggg sighhhhhhhh
2. Wiping the drool from my chin

DITTO!!!! Me TOO!! ROAD TRIP???

Ms Boots · Post by **Ms Boots** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 4:17 pm

Mossyoak1957 wrote:
fordwannabe wrote:now how far is this place from leesport?????
Tom,
If you go,let me know, I'll go with!

Tom

AND DANG!!!! its a long haul from Wyoming!!!!! UGH....

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 7:30 pm

Sad to say the last case of Federal .22 sold today while I was there. The Remington's and the CCI are not being sold by the case and are only for sale for range use.

Now Fordwannbe tells me he wants a case of Federal and is coming down tomorrow to get them. I wonder how this is going to turn out.---6

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 10:08 pm

At first look, I thought the .22 LR was at a decent price, but after calculating it comes up to almost .18 cents a round. I can still find .22 LR local down town for $10 a hundred which equals .10 a round. The other day, I passed on some Remington .22 Thunderbolts for $9 per hundred.

Of course there is always the possibility my math is bad!

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:51 pm

Your math is off 295$ for 5,250 rds is .056 cents. danny

cas · Post by **cas** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 1:15 am

Sixgun wrote:...a few mixed types of Vihtavuori powders.

Of course that is one of the hardest one's to come up with. I know a few people that would drove a long way for a stocking dealer.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:21 am

cas wrote:
Sixgun wrote:...a few mixed types of Vihtavuori powders.
Of course that is one of the hardest one's to come up with. I know a few people that would drove a long way for a stocking dealer.

CAS,
Powders? Hey, this is Pennsylvania where all things labeled "guns and related items" are always in stock. For powders, the place to go is Shydas, in Lebanon, Pa., just a hop off the Pa turnpike. They have an area the size of my 2 car garage that is just for powder. Everything is there in all sizes, from 1 pounders to the 8 pounders. I was there last month and got me an 8 pounder of Herco......THE powder for the 38-40 and 44-40.-----6

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:45 am

Yep, I do stand corrected! Thanks for the help on my fuzzy math Danny.

fordwannabe · Post by **fordwannabe** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:06 pm

Well I had a great day! I went about an hour and a half(with 2 coffee breaks, and one get rid of coffee break) to this little bitty gunshop Sixgun was touting. OK so not so itty bitty, I believe the phrase is OMG. I walked in before Sixgun got there and ammo was everywhere. The racks are way taller than I am and they were stuffed. Pallets of shotgun shells, a pallet of 9mm was looking a little bare but there was one on the floor, a freakin pallet of it. I watched that pallet have less and less and less until it was gone, AH HA gotcha.....nope Robby (who I met later) brought a pallet jack out and hauled the pallet away AH HA gotcha....then three minutes later brought a new pallet of 9mm out. DID I say OMG? They had cases of 40, I mean like 50 cases of 40. They had 45acp like 45 or 50 cases of it, 223 which is unobtainium here right now..oh no more than a dump truck load, I did say OMG right? Then I walked over to the 22lr section, now you have to understand 22 lr at funshops in this area is still being limited to one or two 50 round boxes per person per visit,they had cases and cases on the shelves. 22 long rifle brands I had not seen in a year, all there. I was able to purchase a brick of the Troy Landry 36 grain mini mags I have been searching for, but could only get the one box...OH YEAH AND THE 5250 ROUND CASE OF FEDERALS Your sure I said OMG right??? I was there about 3 hours and I bet I saw them sell 100 guns NO Bull. At the firing range you can rent anything from a SAA clone to several different variations of full autos. Very few used guns that weren't collector grade but it's because they were selling as they came in. In the new gun sales area there was a stack of colt handguns serial number 6 serial number 8, serial number 9 uhuh. I saw a guy bring in a remington bolt 22, sold it to the shop, and as I was leaving someone bought it at the same register as me and walked out the door in front of me. I was truly impressed. I meant to take a picture of the case of ammo I bought and the CCI but I can't find the cable to make my phone send the picture to the computer, but in the next day or two you will see my smiling face next to 5500 rounds of 22 ammo. The best part of the day????? got to spend 2 hours with Six which is always a good way to spend the day. Psst here's a secret though... one of these days I'm gonna get him to tell me the secret to blending in the browned areas on some of my old winchesters...but thats just between us, he's probably not listening. Thanks Six and Mossy ya missed a good one but rest assured I will go back!

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:01 am

Tom,
That sounds like quite a gunshop you were in. I have never heard of any place being so well stocked up....and always has been, from what I'm told.

I told you there was no bs in my post. Oh! BTW, you only saw the "small lots" of ammo. Each brand and type are purchased by Targetmaster by the pallet...no itty bitty boxes or half cases......the pallet. And you know how those those pallets come in? Yes, by the truck...which translates into truckloads. He is working with the state to have a sub rail line built off of the mainline in Philly for direct transport from the factories.

How about that Colt 1911 MARSOC serial number 20 thats in the case......not the civilian version you see on the internet but the real deal one with "U.S. Property" and "USMC" markings. Heck, it was only 65 c-notes.

It was nice seeing you again and Im sure, not the last. We will hook up at the York show sometime in the near future.---------------6

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:35 am

Thats like an open Bank Vault, beer truck or naked Woman, You just gotta stop and enjoy the view. Noticed tho the .22 ammo works to be $29.50 per 500. Stiil if I had the cash I would buy one. Then again probbly buy a few good molds and a bunch of lead. Decisions decisions. I really like the bulk Federal 36gr HP's.

fordwannabe · Post by **fordwannabe** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:32 pm

I just cant stress enough how the chance to buy 22 ammo is the rare thing here. Yes 29.50 a brick is more than we used to pay but have you looked at what is available not much in this area. I saw some segmented 22 cci at one of my favorite shops a month ago $10.00 for 50. He isn't gouging as much as some but the demand is right there. It's bad here. I was thrilled I mean thrilled to get this stuff for that amount. Now ten years ago if you had told me I was gonna buy a case of 22 for $295 I'd a looked at ya funny but it ain't ten years ago and I live in eastern PA. I was and am still happy to have it now if I can find my snowshoes I am planning to try a little of it out on thursday. I am doing my last day of hunting for this season on Friday as squirrel closes on Saturday and I gotta work a 13 hour shift to pay for that ammo. Thanks again Six.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:48 pm

Tom,
I feel bad......there's a lie that I never told you about. (Wait, if I never told you, it can't be a lie)
Anyway, out back, there are miniature ammo factories with names like Federal, CCI, Remington, etc.
I'm running the whole show and I use cast bullets that I make myself from single cavity moulds. Takes up a lot of my time, but the fun is worth it!-----6