Speer sells ammo through two different distribution networks and their dealers can be for either or in some cases both. That is the civilian or commercial distributor and the Law Enforcement distributor. Some are part of both networks i.e. SGA and Ammo to go. And some like midway are part of only the commercial market. Others like Streichers are only LE network. Commercial premium ammunition is sold in 20 rd boxes for Speer and Federal who are both owned and operated by ATAK. LE Distributors get the very same premium ammo in 50 round boxes. All calibers and types of ammo are not available in both networks. +P+ for instance exists, theoretically, only for LE use. Premium hunting ammo for handguns exists only in the commercial market. The distributors service different markets and the price structure is totally different. A 20 rd box of premium Gold Dot or Hydrashok ammo costs nearly as much as a 50 rd box of the same ammunition sold through LE dealers. LE dealers and distributors are not prevented from selling their products on a retail level to civilians if they choose to and many do. Myself and others have recommended on this forum before to try and purchase your ammo through LE distributors and have even linked several on posts so that everyone would be aware and could do that. It's a tremendous cost savings. Remington by the way also uses the dual network distribution method and includes both their Police line of firearms as well as their 50 round boxes of ammo in the LE distribution line. Their commercial variety of the same ammo comes in 25 rd boxes. While their LE line of firearms are supposed to be for LE departments, commercial sellers who have a customer base who wants them can get them by ordering through a LE distributor but the cost to them is higher than they would be if they were included in the commercial line.
There are others who advocate taking their trade to the local retail outlet because they want to see them stay in business.
That's laudable in thought but very expensive in practice. Not only are you paying a larger price for less product but you are paying tax in addition. While you pay shipping on orders done through a LE distributor if he is a large distance away consider the cost. I recently got 1000 rds of Speer 124 Grain Gold Dot from SGA. All in 50 rd boxes and the shipping was $14 for the case. Figuring out that the shipping came to $0.70 per box on that order that means that a box of ammo instead of being $23.50 per box was $24.20. The shipping therefore was less than the tax would have been if I had paid it locally by a considerable margin. My local tax rate is close to 9%. Locally I would have had to pay around $20 for a box of 20 rounds plus the 9% tax. That means I would have paid $21.80 for 20 rds instead of $24.20 for 50 rounds. You figure out which is the better deal. It doesn't take a lot of mental gymnastics to do that.
