Ammo Prices

R

Rjeezie

New member
I already know this is a relative question, but how would you order prices of ammo from cheapest to most expensive in terms of caliber. (I'm talking about your cheap, range ammo too. Not HD loads.)
.22
.25
.32
.380
.38 special
.357 mag
9mm
.40
.44 mag
.45
.50
 
.22LR
9mm Luger
.25ACP*
.32ACP**
.38Spl
.380ACP***
.40S&W
.45ACP
.357Mag
.44Mag
.50****

Notes:

*Often overpriced on the local market because demand is low. Priced much better via mail order.

**Same pricing note as .25ACP. Also, I presume you are talking about .32ACP since it is more commonplace than .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Mag, .327FedMag, .32-20 WCF, or .32NAA.

***Assuming you are paying normal retail price, not gun-show gouger price. :rolleyes: The supply is still not back to normal in some areas, making it difficult to obtain at retail price.

****Not sure which .50-caliber cartridge you are referring to, but basically all of them are "boutique" cartridges that are very expensive to shoot unless you handload.
 
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In the last 30 –60 days I have noted an increase in the aviability of most calibers of handgun ammo, yet the price has not dropped dramatically in most cases. I did though find lots of 38 special and .357 Magnum ammo at my local Wal-Mart. I stocked up somewhat this morning. 150 rounds of Remington UMC .357, 100 round pack of Remington 38 special + P, and 100 rounds of Winchester 38 special +P. Total cost just a little more than $150.00 OTD. All of the above will be used as range ammo.

I’m still in “ammo” sticker shock, when I first started shooting the best quality 38 special ammo was $4.00 box of 50 .357 Magnum $6.00 box of 50, and Super-Vel was a buck a box extra. To be fair at the same time my entry-level pay was $800.00 a month.
 
I hope this idiotic lead free ammo/environmental tact that the lunatic left is proposing doesn't scare the tin foil hat crown into hoarding more ammo....

especially as the supplies are almost at a level that will force the prices down.
 
Since I reload, I will place them in my order based upon what I have guns for:

9 mm (Brass & bullet heads are plentiful and least expensive)

.45 ACP (easiest to reload)

.380 (Brass, like ammo, is more expensive and harder to get)

.32 (most expensive based upon time to reload since it is a real pain and personally difficult to reload)
 
nce I reload, I will place them in my order based upon what I have guns for...
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FWIW I based my earlier list on the premise that we were talking about average retail prices for commercial ammo.

Regarding your list:

.38Spl is marginally more expensive to handload than 9mm Luger only because the bullets tend to be a little larger. (The cost of commercial component bullets generally increases with weight first and caliber second, although less popular calibers are pricier due to lower demand.)

.357Mag is marginally more expensive than .38Spl because brass costs a bit more, but the cost difference matters little in the long run because case life is almost indefinite. One of the niceties of handloading .38/.357 is that the brass lasts a long time; it's thick and therefore durable, and since it's a revolver caliber, fired cases don't get lost in the weeds (outdoor range), thrown forward of the firing line (indoor range), or chewed up by the extraction cycle. :)

Both are less expensive than .45ACP or .40S&W, which are near-tied.

As lamarw implies, handloading .32ACP (and .25ACP) is a notorious PITA because the case volume is small relative to the volume of the powder charge, making them unforgiving of overcharging or too-deep bullet-seating depth. Although this is a problem with many automatic pistol cartridges, it's greatly magnified with .25ACP and .32ACP because the cartridges and powder charges are so small; what would be an inconsequential error in a larger caliber becomes potentially catastrophic. Many people who handload these cartridges individually weigh every single charge and measure the length of every cartridge, guaranteeing safety but greatly increasing the loading time.
 
Around here it's;

22LR
9mm
.40s&w

Then .25 acp, .32acp, .380 are all MORE money than .40s&w and are on a par with .45acp. Doesn't make much sense, but that's the going rate.

Then the revolver loads are more $ still.
 
.22
.25
.32
.380
.38 special
.357 mag
9mm
.40
.44 mag
.45
.50

Walmart seems to be the best as far as prices right now in my area at least
 
I've recently inherited a WWII M1911A1 (Remington Rand), in mint condition, that was my Grandfather's sidearm during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. Any recommendations on a reliable online source for ammo for this pistol? I'm looking for cheap ammo for target practice purposes. Thanks.
 
Walmart had both 380 and 45 colt in large quantity yesterday!

Disclaimer-- I cannot guarantee they have much left :D
 
Creade: Have you seen the price on the .45 LC ammo at Walmart? Here is West Central Missouri they wanted $36.00 for a box of 25.

It is cheaper for most people to reload this ammo if they shoot a lot (I do). A box of bullets from Missouri Bullet Company is $47.00 if I remember correctly, Primers are free (Friend picks me up 2K a month for storing his guns), brass is re-usable and powder is $19.00 a pound.

Demigod: I ran into a guy yesterday that did not believe the EPA turned down the request to ban ammo. He was buying ammo to save so when the UN came to take our guns, he would still have ammunition.... (Yeah, definitely tin foil!) :confused:

The only factory loaded ammo that I buy is for my personal/home defense guns. (Another discussion/Another thread)
 
If you really enjoy shooting I think .22 is just about the only thing you can call cheap anymore. No matter what I shoot I always take my .22 along to satisfy the amount of shooting I really want to do.
 
Creade: Have you seen the price on the .45 LC ammo at Walmart? Here is West Central Missouri they wanted $36.00 for a box of 25.
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It was 17$ for a box of 25.
I reload .45lc but never hurts to throw a box on the shelf.
 
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