Ammo cost

cote_b

cote_b

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Though this might be the right price for this.

Im looking into getting into handguns soon. Ive had my RPAL for going on 2 years now and still have no restricteds. Just wondering what handgun ammo cost is like these days. Im looking at a couple affordable handguns around the same price right now and ammo price may be the deciding factor. Not really interested in a .22 at the moment.

Looking at:
38 special
40 S&W
45 auto
9mm luger
.357 mag
7.62x 25 ( cant find any surplus cases anymore)

If someone can give me a ball park idea of how much 50 rounds of factory FMJ costs for each cartrige that would be great. Maybe a rough price to reload 50 rounds of each if you dont mind.
 
If you are new to handgun shooting you really should consider a .22--ammo is so cheap you can afford to practice enough to get competant. 9mm is probably the cheapest centerfire ammo to purchase and is cheap to reload. If you want a revolver--get a .357 so you can use .38 spl as well. Cost of the ammo will be higher--but these are really cheap to reload--especially target loads with lead bullets.

FWIW. 44Bore
 
45acp= 26$/50
I roll my own for 17$/100 :)


i also shoot 38 special but they are factory reloads they cost me 11,50$/50 and 9$/50 when I bring back the brass
 
Check out the Wholesale Sports website.
Go to Hunting and then ammunition.

That should give you a good idea what costs are now.

.38 special and 9mm are the cheapest followed by .40 S&W and then .45ACP.
 
+1 on starting with the .22. I see waaaay too many people at the range, just starting on a 9mm and can't even hit the target. Plus, by the time the fired 100 rnds in a session, they have to pack because they spent enough. With the .22, I can be at the range every weekend, and shoot 300-400 rnds without wallet-worrying.

Having said that, I have researched for the last couple of months the same issues you are now facing and have settled on the .40 S&W.

Why?

- reloading costs are similar
- I can find reloaded ammunition for just $2/box more than 9mm
- .40 can be loaded to minor power factor and should be more pleasant to shoot than full power 9mm (wastold so by IPSC shooters, hope they are right)
- Most .40 chambered pistols allow for a drop in 9mm barrel should I later decide to do so

Good luck!
 
Thanks guys. Whatever cartrige I go with, I will likely be reloading anyhow. I found some nice used handguns in those chamberings for very good prices, actually cheaper than a .22 handgun.
 
9mm can be iffy sometimes for availabilty.

Here in Ottawa during the summer it was almost impossible to find it locally in any
significant quantity or selection.

Get a .22 conversion kit for your 9mm if you want to shoot it without restriction.
or a dedicated 22 as mentioned.

or get a couple of different calibers,

cheapest of the cheap stuff...

9mm is around ~$16 a box.
45 Auto ~$28
.38 Sp ~$21
357 Mag ~$31
380 Auto ~$20
.40 S&W ~$22
.44 Mag ~$42

.223 Rem ~$10 a box of 20
 
cote_b said:
Though this might be the right price for this.

Im looking into getting into handguns soon. Ive had my RPAL for going on 2 years now and still have no restricteds. Just wondering what handgun ammo cost is like these days. Im looking at a couple affordable handguns around the same price right now and ammo price may be the deciding factor. Not really interested in a .22 at the moment.

Looking at:
38 special $26 per 50
40 S&W $22 per 50
45 auto $26 per 50
9mm luger $17 per 50
.357 mag $30 per 50
7.62x 25 ( cant find any surplus cases anymore) no idea, I don't shoot this caliber.

If someone can give me a ball park idea of how much 50 rounds of factory FMJ costs for each cartrige that would be great. Maybe a rough price to reload 50 rounds of each if you dont mind.
Click to expand...

there in bold.
 
For what it's worth, if I were to do it again I would have bought a hand gun that allowed some flexibility with being able to fire different calibers. My first pistol was a Baby Desert Eagle in .40S&W, which was/is an excellent pistol, but when I started shooting a lot more and not reloading, it became really expensive to go to the range. Glocks and Sigs with a .22 conversion gives you the best of both worlds... A training pistol and some firepower to play with when you can afford it. Failing that I'd probably get a good 9mm and a cheap .22 like the Norinco Woodsman and then search out some good bulk ammo deals.
 
Last time I did the math (last years prices) I think I calculated that commerical .40S&W was about $0.37 per round and that I was reloading it for about $0.17 per round (doesn't include cost of brass as I had lots on hand from shooting factory).

I wouldconsider getting a Glock22 in 40S&W, and then get a 9mm conversion & .22 conversion. Getting the .357 for the ability to shoot .38special is also a good combo on the revolver side.

My uncle swears by his .22 for price, but I just don't get the same enjoyment out shooting it.
 
If you are going to reload then really it isn't gonna make any difference. 9mm and .45 are really only pennies apart. Expensive part is brass but you really only buy that a few times a year. The .45 is easier to reload if you have big hands, and you might still be able to find large pistol primers. You will have a real hard time reloading 9mm as there is no small pistol primers available anywhere.
 
My friend is currently set up for reloading 9mm, so i would not have to buy dies or an of that stuff if I go 9mm. We have a significant supply of brass for 9mm and .40 aswell, so I would not have to purchase brass.

John, are you back in stock of all handgun ammunition listed on your site? No 7.62 x 25 surplus in that shipment by any chance?
 
I only have a few K left of sp, so I am starting to look at buying in bulk.... just to make it last....

I checked out prices from Wolf direct for (which they aren't doing anymore, on orders of less than 5K).
9mm - $185 per K plus shipping for 125gr LRN versus $120/K if I reload it myself.
45ACP- $271 per K plush shipping for 230gr LRN versus $170/K if I reload it myself.

Compare that to $345+ for win-clean (per K)...... I really don't mind cleaning my guns all that much!

Cheers!
 
cote_b said:
My friend is currently set up....... significant supply of brass for 9mm and .40 aswell, so I would not have to purchase brass........
Click to expand...

With a friend like that how can you go wrong. Am shooting so much more this year, the trusty single stage RCBS is just a bit too slow. Have friends who have Dillon 550 set-ups for the three calibers I shoot. Usually plan a loading visit to their homes and do a couple of 000 rounds in half-a-day. After that its beer and shooting the sh_t time.
Can understand others advise to shoot .22. Proficiency is paramount. However, from the looks of it, you seem to know firearms. If that is the case, would advise going .40 over 9mm since your access to supplies is plentiful.
Here's an idea of costing (updated from a post made last Sept) to guide in your decision making:
Reloading (.40 S&W) cost:
- Primer $40
- Powder 1 lb. $35
- Brass (free in your case)
- 35 lbs. lead $35 or $125/1000 124 grn. Copper plated heads (CCL)
Reloading cost/1k = $110/1000 w/ lead or $200/1000 w/ copper heads

Cheapest CCL .40 S&W reliable reloads (supplier of local RCMP) I've found in BC are going for $15/50 or $300/1000.
Diff./Savings/1000 = $190 w/ lead or $100 w/ copper. Happy Shooting!!!!
 
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44Bore said:
If you are new to handgun shooting you really should consider a .22--ammo is so cheap you can afford to practice enough to get competant. 9mm is probably the cheapest centerfire ammo to purchase and is cheap to reload. If you want a revolver--get a .357 so you can use .38 spl as well. Cost of the ammo will be higher--but these are really cheap to reload--especially target loads with lead bullets.

FWIW. 44Bore
Click to expand...

I recently got some American Eagle 357 mag (158gr) for $25 a box, which is only a couple bucks more than 38 special. Not sure if that was a misprice (used to >$30) but it had the sticker on and everything. I bought a bunch and promptly went to the range :sniper:
 
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