Cheapest calibers to shoot...?

bigbore14

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What is the cheapest pre-loaded ammo caliber to shoot. I like shooting a lot, I am supposing 22lr, and then 9mm. What would be the top 5 cheapest calibers to buy pre-rolled after those two calibers?
 
Those 2 are about it for cheap. The bigger you go from there the more $$. Next would be .40S&W and then .45ACP which are around $.50/rnd for factory. I reload .45ACP for $.17/rnd
 
Without calling around... you're limited to 3 calibers:

9x19mm
.38spl
.40s&w


Then it jumps for .45acp / .357sig / .357magnum / 10mm Auto (which are loaded like .40S&W)

Then higher still for .44special, .44magnum, etc.
 
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Don't forget .223 if you're considering rifle ammo too. I'm guessing .223 is more than .22lr but less than 9mm (closer to the price of 9mm). Anyway, .22lr, 9mm, 38spec. and .223 are about the least expensive and most commonly/readily available.
 
Don't forget .223 if you're considering rifle ammo too. I'm guessing .223 is more than .22lr but less than 9mm (closer to the price of 9mm). Anyway, .22lr, 9mm, 38spec. and .223 are about the least expensive and most commonly/readily available.
Apart from AR "pistols" and the TC Contender, how many common pistols shoot .223 though?
 
What is the cheapest pre-loaded ammo caliber to shoot. I like shooting a lot, I am supposing 22lr, and then 9mm. What would be the top 5 cheapest calibers to buy pre-rolled after those two calibers?

.22lr or 9mm after that it's worth considering rolling your own.......... ;)

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
Actually .223 is on par with .40S&W in terms of cost last time I checked... and that could have changed. .223 definitely isn't cheap anymore (i.e. less than 9mm cost).
 
Get two guns. A .22 and a 9mm. Shoot two magazines of .22 then a magazine of 9mm. Then back to the .22, etc. Repeat as required until big grin is locked on your face for at least 3 hours..... :D

Seriously, doing this 2:1 switching not only makes your shooting dollar go a HUGE amount further but it helps you work out some of the problems that come from the greater kick of the center fire rounds. When I line up some handguns for a range session there's always a .22 in the mix be the lineup all semis, all revolvers or a mixture. Not only more bang for the buck but you'll soon realize your mistakes and work them out faster shooting a bunch of .22. Meanwhile you've still got the grin making kick of the center fire rounds.

In fact I think it's safe to say that a diet of 2:1 .22lr and .45ACP would still be cheaper than a single caliber diet of 9mm.
 
surplus 7.62x25 might be the cheapest ammo. Not easy to convert modern pistols to that caliber though due to overall cartridge length and you are pretty much confined to ahooting it through TT.

Cast bullets and progressive press are your friends.
 
i just bought a few boxes of 40 and 45 at 20 bucks for both . i didnt look at the price tag til i got home , or i wouldve got more 45s.

sure 22 and 9s are cheap. but a clip of those doesnt give you the thrill that a couple of 44 mag gives you. you could spend 100 bucks on 22 and have a boring day at the range or shoot some fun calibers then leave the range at noon with a smile .depends how you define cheap. to me spending 50 bucks on 22 and get bored to #### is not cheap.
 
22LR and 12ga are the obvious ones, then something like 7.62x39 (as long as cheap-ish milsurp ammo is available), then probably 9mm (I don't own anything in that caliber so rarely buy it unless I'm going to use it in somebody else's gun), then probably something like 38spl (again, don't own any of those and rarely buy ammo in that caliber).
 
Get two guns. A .22 and a 9mm. Shoot two magazines of .22 then a magazine of 9mm. Then back to the .22, etc. Repeat as required until big grin is locked on your face for at least 3 hours..... :D

Seriously, doing this 2:1 switching not only makes your shooting dollar go a HUGE amount further but it helps you work out some of the problems that come from the greater kick of the center fire rounds. When I line up some handguns for a range session there's always a .22 in the mix be the lineup all semis, all revolvers or a mixture. Not only more bang for the buck but you'll soon realize your mistakes and work them out faster shooting a bunch of .22. Meanwhile you've still got the grin making kick of the center fire rounds.

In fact I think it's safe to say that a diet of 2:1 .22lr and .45ACP would still be cheaper than a single caliber diet of 9mm.

I think you posted this in one of my first threads and it stuck with me. I narrowed it down to some kind of ruger mark X and either a glock17 or glock 22. I came across a nice stainless ruger mark3 hunter first, it should be in the mail right now. And now I just need to make up my mind on which of the two I'll pick of the glocks. Both together should make it easier on the pocket book and for a good day.
 
If you are into single action revolvers, you might want to consider Ruger single six that comes with two cylinders 22 LR and 22 WMR, longer and a bit more powerful rimfire that gives you a nice ball of fire from the muzzle. Kodiak Outpost occasionaly carries Heritage Arms single action revolvers in pretty much similar set up as Ruger single six: two cylinders, 22LR and 22WMR. Not sure about the quality of Heritage Arms but I bet it does not measure up to Ruger.
 
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