guns vs. ammo prices is it a factor?

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ScubaD

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So as the title says: guns vs. ammo prices is it a factor?
When shopping for a new gun, does the price of ammo play a role. I would think the answer may change if your new purchase is directed towards hunting vs. just the range.

I am doing some online research and trying to figure out what the next gun is to add my safe (which only has a 10/22 in it right now) and I not much into hunting so for me its putting some brass down range or aiming at some clays.
 
Personally I don't think it matters one bit , just like gas and insurance prices continually rise...and I can assure you I'm not going to give up the convience of driving .....but aslong as I pay taxes , I feel that gives me my only right to belly ache
 
To me, guns are a seed device to sell ammo lol, just like inkjet printers to the ink and disposable shave heads.
still won't stop me picking up a new caliber, just more easy when I already have the caliber in stock.
 
For me its not a consideration. For instance take a 50 BMG, I don't care about the cost of a round because I'm not shooting 200 rounds down the range in a session, so for the few shots I would take in a year I'll just buy the ammo and not worry about. Now this is my senario but everyone's is different. For the guns I do shoot lots I reload to shoot better ammo, I don't save a thing but I feel better about what is consistently going down my barrel.
 
I'm basing my consideration on not only taking a few shots any time I take a rifle out.

I compare an average day with my other rifles.

I could go through 300 5.56 in a few hours. For the same ammo cost on .50 bmg I can only take 20 shots. I know I would shoot it more then 20 times in a few hours... And it adds up quick.

1 shot is the same price as 15 5.56 or 71 .22

Even .308 is 8-9 shots for the price of 1 50 bmg.

I don't see how that can't be a consideration. Maybe I won't shoot 300 in a few hours, but it'd get expensive fast.
 
If I didn't reload, ammo prices would be a factor (although not the only factor). Availability has been a factor for me though.
 
For me it does as much as buying a new vehicule. There's no point having the coolest gun in the world if you can't afford to shoot it.
Also, since I have to drive over an hour to get to the range I like to make the most of my time and shooting 5 rounds isn't worth it, so I always bring cheap caliber to shoot. That's my personal preference.
 
I guess from my standpoint the 50 isn't the rifle I want to shoot 200 times at a sitting nor is my 7mm mag that's why I don't factor it in. The rifle I will do that with is my 223 which now makes it a moot point. Although you can Fire 15 223 for 1 BMG it is not the same experience. Now if want to shoot the 223 more but can't because the large calibre is eating all your money, then yes it would be a cinsideration. I am just saying they are two different things.
 
The price of ammo for Pah's 308 Norma Mag is what got me into reloading years ago.
I've purchased a few awdd chamberings and worry about finding dies.
Scower around, put out WTB and when the dies show up..........................whooooooooopeaaaaa.
New toy to play with.

So no, ammo prices doesn't bother me anymore.
 
if i didn't reload ammo price would be a factor to me. shooting more obscure calibres tend to be pricey in factory loads. my 375H&H and 8 mag are too expensive to shoot a lot if not reloading.
 
If all you have in the safe is a 10/22, you dont reload, and dont see yourself doing so in the immediate future....go down to Walmart and look at the calibers they have in the case. Buy one of those, even rather common...non Walmart calibers can be hard to find at the LGS right now with the ammo crisis.

Thinking that "walmart" calibers would be 223, 308, 30-06, and 300 WM. Maybe 270, 30-30, and 303.
 
Cheap caliber & Availability seem to a common thread. So if one was to make a list of ammo based on these two factors rating them from LOW COST / HIGH AVAILABILITY to HIGH COST / LOW AVAILABILITY what would the list look like (US. prices would be different but I would think the list order would be about the same)
 
Isn't just the price. The availability of ammo, brass and/or components is important too. Your .50 S&W is a classic example of that.
KingScott, you have to vote too. Not just pay for it. snicker.
 
I guess it depends on what you're after-----

"Blending" is always a good idea. .22 is cheap to shoot (well, if you can find the ammo --- the problem seems to be resolving), but if you're a recoil freak, not near as much fun.

Sometimes compromising is a good idea ----- maybe you want to send .44 downrange ----- would you be satisfied with something like 9 mm???

From a handgun point of view, once you leave the .22 and 9 mm arena, unless you're handloading, you're still looking at $0.40/round+ and from what I've heard (I am no expert), handloaders can shave about a dime off that cost, but you still have to consider the costs involved in that hobby ----- and I would imagine it would be frustrating as hell if you were handloading ONLY to save money (since you have to put in the time to reload).
 
How much do you want to shoot this new rifle?

What I mean is, if you are shopping for a "Moose Rifle" you might gag if you check the price of some factory loaded 300 Weatherby ammo - the "cheap stuff" might go 80 bucks a box.

But, if you are only going to fire a couple rounds before the season to check if the scope is "still on" then maybe fire once if you sight a moose, that box of shells might last you 5 or 6 years (I have a box of A-Frames that I bought 12 years back - only go down the spout when I'm moose hunting).

If you are looking for something to "plink" with then perhaps a 223 that can shoot all kinds of "surplus" stuff - your wallet may appreciate it more.

But I reload, so I buy what I want even though some components are still more expensive than others - particularly brass for less common/special calibers.
 
I shoot cheap calibers and learned to reload for the gun I fell in love with, an Enfield.
Usually take all my guns out for a shooting day and end up blowing a few hundred rounds of .22, 7.62x39 and 12 guage and about 40 various handload .303. Shooting on the cheap makes the days of fun last longer but you cant help falling in love with a gun regardless of availability and cost of caliber, just opens up a new hobby..Handloading!!
 
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