most available and affordable handgun round?

I'd say that .22 lr is by far the most available and the most affordable handgun round.

Reading the other posts, it seems that the implication of the question is "what is the most available and affordable handgun round for self defense?", and for that I'd say 9mm. Decades ago it might have been .38 spl, but times have changed.
 
Milsurp 7.62x25 is currently inexpensive. However, availability might be an issue. You can't buy it at Walmart, and it's not unusual for local gunshops not to carry it or overcharge if they do since it's uncommon.
 
It has to be commodity grade 9mm. 115 grn fmj standard velocity, brass case, can be had for prices ranging between $10 and $15 at discount locations, both B+M stores and on line. Now, what used to be the cheapest handgun ammo, 158 grain .38 special, is running $16 and up.

Right now, at Graf's, an online dealer, you can get $10 steel case wolf in 9mm, or $12 federal 9mm. The lowest price of .38 is $16, the same as a .40 SW.

Graf's has a $5 flat rate shipping charge.

This post is assuming two things, first is that you're talking about centerfire, factory loaded ammunition, second is that you have internet purchasing available. Local stores commonly will have $10-$11 9mm commodity grade ammo once in a while, too.
 
Oh there's a lot more assumptions than that going on, was the reason for my earlier post about choosing the caliber for other reasons.

FMJ 9mm is useless for anything but target, for one thing. 9mm isn't so cheap when you need something useful.
 
9mm FMJ seems to be the favorite here. However you can't use that for anything but target practice. When you start looking for useful bullets, 9mm loses it's advantage.
 
And the obvious answer is . . .

Given the face value of his question and the answer is . . .

22lr

course none of us think that is really what he is after.

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
The cheapest is .22. In center fire that would be 9 mm. I shoot a lot of both. I don't need a very high amount of SD ammo so this is related to range ammo only. Even during the last great ammo shortage I was able to get enough to keep me happy shooting.
 
For a serious defensive caliber (not .22) the 9mm gets my vote. I can find it around here at several different stores and it goes for around $13 a box at regular price.

Everytime I go to buy some .38's, .357's. .40 or .45's and see how much more they are. It makes me wish I would have went the 9mm route.
 
9 mm in centerfire - Federal FMJ at WallMart $9.97 per box.

ksblazer - Exactly why I started reloading in June, have reloaded and fired off over 600 rounds 38 spl/357 since then all for $5.86 per box of 50:D
 
We have fired the Federal and Wolf 9mm for numerous rounds and never had a problem. I am in Georgia and 9mm can still be pretty scarce some days. I bought my husband a Glock .45 for Father's day and it took us a month to find ammo for that.
 
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