Natchez Shooters Supplies

Natchez Shooters Supplies is an online retailer out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, that built its reputation on one thing -- cheap ammunition. They started as a mail-order catalog outfit and moved online like everyone else, but kept the same formula: undercut the big players on price and hope customers put up with everything else.

When ammunition is available and priced right, Natchez often beats MidwayUSA, Brownells, and the sporting goods chains by enough to notice. The catch is a website that feels like 2010 and inventory accuracy that'll test your patience.

You'll find firearms, optics, and accessories in their catalog, but ammunition and reloading components are where they make their money. They stock the usual suspects -- Federal, Winchester, Hornady, CCI -- and when they have what you need, you'll typically save a few bucks per box compared to the polished retailers.

The tradeoff is straightforward. You might wait longer for customer service, deal with inventory hiccups, and navigate a website that makes you appreciate how smooth Amazon really is. For shooters who know exactly what they want and care more about their wallet than the shopping experience, that's often acceptable.

The website will frustrate you. It's slow, the search function is spotty, and the checkout process feels clunky compared to what you're used to elsewhere. But if you can navigate it and find what you need actually in stock, you'll often pay less than anywhere else.

Natchez operates on thin margins and high volume. They're not trying to be Brownells with technical support and slick presentation -- they're trying to move product fast and cheap.

Their inventory system shows items as available when they're backordered or discontinued. You might place an order only to get an email days later saying it's not actually in stock. This happens enough that experienced buyers verify availability before counting on critical orders.

Natchez order fulfillment process showing potential delays

The following inventory and fulfillment issues occur frequently enough to warrant attention:

• •Items showing as available when backordered or discontinued
• •Order confirmation followed by stock unavailability emails days later
• •Drop-shipped items with extended delays and minimal tracking
• •Customer service response times extending multiple days

Customer service ranges from fine to frustrating. When things go smoothly, you won't need to talk to anyone. When they don't, you might wait days for email responses or sit on hold longer than you'd like. The staff knowledge varies -- don't expect product expertise like you'd get from Brownells.

• •Ammunition: This is their bread and butter. The major ammunition manufacturers in their catalog include:

• •Federal - Full line of centerfire and rimfire ammunition
• •Winchester - Popular hunting and target loads
• •Remington - Traditional cartridge selection
• •Hornady - Premium hunting and match ammunition
• •CCI - Reliable rimfire and primers

Popular calibers sell out fast when restocked, but they often have the lowest per-round prices when available.

• •Reloading components: Good selection of powders, primers, bullets, and brass from Hodgdon, IMR, Sierra, Hornady, and others. Again, competitive pricing when in stock, but availability fluctuates with market conditions.

• •Firearms: Standard selection of Glock, Smith & Wesson, Sig, Ruger, Savage, and other major brands. Nothing exotic, but decent availability and competitive pricing on popular models.

• •Optics: Mid-range focus with Vortex, Leupold, Bushnell, Aimpoint, and Trijicon. You'll find deals occasionally, but this isn't their specialty. For high-end glass, EuroOptic or Camera Land NY will serve you better.

• •Accessories: Basic shooting gear -- targets, hearing protection, cleaning supplies, holsters. Gets the job done but won't wow you with selection or expertise.

• •You're buying ammunition in bulk and want the lowest price
• •You know exactly what product you want (no research needed)
• •You're patient enough to handle potential delays or inventory issues
• •Saving $20-50 on an order matters more than shopping convenience

• •You need reliable inventory status for time-sensitive purchases
• •You want technical support or product advice
• •You need guaranteed fast shipping
• •You're buying specialty or high-end optics
• •You prefer retailers with physical stores for returns/exchanges

Drop-shipped orders are where things often go sideways. Items shipping directly from manufacturers can take weeks with minimal tracking updates. If you need something by a specific date, verify it's shipping from Natchez's warehouse, not a third party.

Returns follow standard industry policy, but processing takes longer than competitors. If you're trying something new or unsure about fit/compatibility, buying from a retailer with faster return processing might be worth the price difference.

Natchez serves a specific niche -- price-conscious shooters who prioritize savings over shopping experience.

When they execute well, you'll save meaningful money on ammunition and reloading supplies. When they don't, you'll understand why other retailers charge more.

Their business model makes sense for bulk ammunition purchases where price per round adds up quickly. Buying 1,000 rounds of 9mm or .223 can save you $50+ compared to retail stores, even with shipping. For single boxes or specialty items, the savings often don't justify the potential hassles.

The website and customer service haven't kept pace with competitors, but that's probably intentional. Upgrading infrastructure costs money, and their customers have shown they'll tolerate rough edges for lower prices. Just understand what you're signing up for before hitting submit on that order.

Decision tree for choosing Natchez vs competitors

If you shoot regularly and buy ammunition in bulk, keep Natchez in your rotation for price comparison. For everything else, you'll probably have a better experience with Brownells, MidwayUSA, or Primary Arms -- even if you pay a bit more.