"Round" question ?

[midnightpossum]

I have dreams of getting my restricted licsense.. and would love to get a nice handgun (but I know nothing about them at this time)... But before I proceed.. need to know a few things.. Cost of ownership will be the deciding factor....what round-caliber is the least expensive NOT INCLUDEING 22...

 

[justin1628]

9mm would be the most economical other than 22LR.

 

[easyrider604]

In Vancouver, last time I checked a few months ago, you can buy commercial reloads for 9 mm and 40 SW at the same price 14-15 bucks per box of 50. Cheaper if you buy in bulk.

 

[shmelmafinga]

Shooting is not a cheap sport.

Consider how long term and deeply involved in the sport you will become. If you're only going to shoot once-per year, just rent a gun at the range. If you want to shoot 3000 rounds-per week, consider reloading.

If you're new at all of this, ease into it and ask more questions like you just did. Its likely that the cost of ammo will become much less important after you've found your true-love handgun. My cheapest ammo is 22-250 (not on the pistol topic, but relevant nonetheless). It took me years of bargain hunting and reloading to get it that way.

BTW whats wrong with .22? If its practice and basic marksmanship you need, consider air guns or rimfires, then move toward more expensive things as you grow into them.

 

[Boomer]

A .38 Special revolver (or a .357 magnum firing .38 special ammunition) or a 9 mm Luger (Nato, Parabellum, 9X19, etc) pistol is the next cheapest alternative to a rimfire, particularly if you handload. If you haven't considered handloading you should. The cost of getting set up to load for a handgun cartridge is minimal, and I think you could be in business with a used gun in good condition, sufficient reloading equipment to start, and components for 500 rounds for less than $600. I happen to think that learning to shoot a centerfire revolver has advantages over learning with a rimfire handgun, but that point of view is far from universal.

 

[Onagoth]

I reload my 9mm for around $7/box (50)

But the startup costs to reloading can be high and components can be scarce.

 

[BCRider]

The problem is that it's pretty easy to go through 150 to 200 rounds in an afternoon of just casual plinking.

Are you thinking about getting into one of the handgun competitions such as IPSC, IDPA or club level speed steel shooting? What about cowboy action? Practice for such fun filled match shooting will consumn 100 to 150 rounds at a time until you get to where you're fairly decent and can just brush up with 50 or so at a practice session. Shooting in the match will use from 150 to 200 rounds depending in the stages and how often you miss the steel fallers.

If you're after a handgun I really do recomend to get into the competition. Don't worry about actually competing other than with yourself. Just go to have fun and learn to shoot better where you're being timed. It really helps you focus. But more importantly for many of us it provides a different way to enjoy handgun shooting other than just poking holes in paper.

 

[Trigun]

The cost of own a handgun will depends on how you enjoy this sport. you can always less visit starbuck to save up some money for the ammo.

Trigun

 

[Cocked&Locked]

.177 air pistol

in center fire, 9mm or 38 spl. both reload dirt cheap and you can find buckets of brass for free

 

[enefgee]

The stock answer to this question used to be "get a good 357 magnum revolver, shoot 38's in it, when you've shot it enough to be accurate (or you just want a buzz) shoot 357's." It's good advice. 38 is probably the easiest and cheapest calibre to reload (HINT HINT) with the cost of 38 reloads being not too much higher than good quality 22 lr. A decent quality revolver which can be (some would say should be) used and a reasonable quality reloading set up, components etc. can be had for reasonable prices, and will give several lifetimes of service. I put 40,000+ rounds through a Smith Model 10 after loading them on a Lee turret press (I had time, not money) The revolver worked flawlessly and the only evidence that it had a huge round count was the smooth as silk trigger pull when I sold it (I did tell the buyer how many rounds it had through it, he didn't care as the gun was clean, well taken care of and in perfect time). The nice thing about an out of the box revolver is that they are amazingly accurate, and will allow you to become a very precise shooter.

 

[midnightpossum]

Thanks for all the advice.... I shoot rimefire rifles as is... maybe 100-250 rounds a month. The range a shoot at hasnt been very busy at all when I have been there..So I havent had the chance to meet anybody there,who I can converse with... My desire to try handguns is strickly to try another platform in which to enjoy the sport. I do consider If I want to go through all the hassle of getting a restricted license...So I will ask lots of questions and way the pros and cons.