Federal's ammunition subscription program is now underway

As Federal Ammunition celebrates its 100th year in business (founded in 1922 in Anoka, Minnesota), the company is now a couple of months into a brand-new business venture. The online subscription service we originally told you about last summer is now in place for American customers. Officially, it's called Federal Connection.

A new business model

The idea behind Federal's new business model is very simple, at least on the surface. Pay a monthly fee, and Federal will send you a predetermined amount of ammunition through the mail, so you're guaranteed to have an ammunition re-stock every month.

Here in Canada, where ammo counter shelves have often been empty in the past year, this business model makes sense. In the US, where regional shortages are often even worse, this business model might be the only way for some customers to ensure they actually have ammunition on-hand. When well-known American YouTubers have trouble finding ammo, you know the problem is bad. A subscription service is a way to bypass your local retailer's shelves, making sure that Federal itself supplies your ammunition.

Not every US shooter can take advantage of the new business model, as some states have different regulations about Internet ammunition purchasing. Federal's site says "Only available in states where it is legal to order ammunition online."

What's available?

When this service was first announced, Federal talked about plans for rifle ammunition, even suggesting plans to throw in oddball cartridges. It sounded like a Columbia House record deal, or one of those "subscription box" plans, where enthusiasts spend a set amount of money every month to be sent a box of assorted gadgets or toys related to their hobby, only in this case, the random offerings would all be ammunition. Back in July, the CEO of Vista Outdoors, Federal's parent company, said the plan was to offer hunting rounds through this subscription plan.

Now that the plan is unveiled, there's no such ammo available at this point. The site only lists pistol ammunition for now. The Federal Connection says "Initially, shooters can subscribe to some of Federal's most popular American Eagle loads, 115-grain 9mm Luger (AE9DP, $139.99 per month), 180-grain 40 S&W (AE40R1, $151.99 per month) and 200-grain 45 Auto, (AE45A, $169.99 per month)."Of course, that does not rule out the addition of .30-30, etc., in the future. It seems likely that at least some rifle rounds ( .223, .308) will be added, even if not the complete panoply of hunting cartridges on the market.

For now, customers get five boxes of ammo a month, with shipping included in their price. Not much, but better than nothing, and that's what many buyers saw locally available.

What about Canada?

Would a subscription plan make sense in Canada? No doubt some shooters would be interested, but there are two major problems we'd face. First, Canada's supply of ammunition from the US is inconsistent, and the border hassles don't help. Unless an ammo manufacturer was willing to commit to the deal, despite the headaches of cross-border dealing, we won't see it.

The other problem is that currently, very few courier companies are willing to deal with ammunition shipments in Canada. Already, some shooters say they're having trouble accessing ammo through courier because no company will deliver to their location.

Add in the unpredictability of the exchange rate, and this is probably something Canadian shooters won't see, unless an ammo manufacturer or a large retailer is very determined to make it happen.