Price: .357 Magnum or .45 ACP?

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Hammerhead_6814

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I was looking into buying a 1911 Springfield. Then I saw just what some dealers are charging for .45 ACP. Now I'm not sure. When I found a Ruger GP100 for the same price as the Springfield, I started wondering.

What, IN YOUR AREA, are you paying for .357 Magnum and .45 ACP? The performance of either round is not up to question here. They're so darn similar we may as well call it the .357 ACP and .45 Magnum.

I just need to know what dealers are charging for .357 Magnum these days. If it's lower than the average .45 ACP, then I'll have made up me mind.
 
First off the 45acp and 357 are not even close to the same round. U are comparing apples to oranges. Remember u can shoot 38 special out of the 357 magnum. Much cheaper. 45 in my area is going for about 23 dollars for a box of 50 practice ammo and I havent seen a box of 357 on the shelf for months.
 
Agree. Same here on the .357ammo. None to be found locally. But you can buy cheap lead nosed 38sp ammo here less than $20.
 
I remember seeing .45ACP (230gr FMJ, WWB) and .357 Magnum (125gr JSP, Remington) ammo going for about the same price -- $20/box of 50. When they were in stock, that is. Since I started reloading, I've been somewhat insulated from that, but I do still check in from time to time.
 
What, IN YOUR AREA, are you paying for .357 Magnum and .45 ACP? The performance of either round is not up to question here. They're so darn similar we may as well call it the .357 ACP and .45 Magnum.
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What? Where did you get that idea from?
 
.45 acp and .357 mag ammo in my area - are both around $ 23 - $ 25 for a box of 50 ( MagTech ) .

But picking a gun based on the cost of ammo makes little or no sense to me personally. I understand ammo costs money - so I understand its an issue if you can't afford to practice with the gun - but looking into reloading is a better option in my opinion. If I had to make a recommendation based on ammo cost alone / I guess I would give the nod to the revolver in .357 mag because you can shoot .38spl in it as well.

But if you choose to carry a 1911 in .45 acp / you can get a conversion kit for it so you can shoot .22's in it - or you can carry a 1911 / buy a 2nd 1911 in 9mm ( and shoot the 9mm for practice ) with the same controls as the other gun. Personally, I like shooting a 1911 in 9mm ... and while I'm not a big fan of a 9mm for defense - you can certainly carry a 9mm with 147gr Hydra Shok ammo in it and be in pretty good shape - so maybe a 1911 in 9mm makes for sense for you ?? So I think you have a lot more choices than you may realize.

I own and like a number of revolvers in .357 mag too - but for different reasons ( like the S&W model 19's, 66's and 27's ) ... and they are great guns / but the 1911 is a great gun as well in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 acp in my opinion.
 
I dropped by my local Dick's Sporting Goods today and was surprised to find some ammo to choose from. I bought a box of .45ACP JHP Winchester, 50 rounds, for $32. They had some Wolf .45ACP steel cased ammo, 50 rounds, for just under $20, but the local indoor range won't let me shoot it there. Fair amount of 9mm, along with plenty of .40S&W. Didn't buy or price since I don't yet own either of these cals. 50 rounds of Winchester .38spl +P, FMJ was $25, I bought one box of this for the range. JHP Winchester .38spl +P was $30. Didn't need this as I already have a box of .357 JHP for defensive use.

When the weather is nicer and I can shoot outdoors, the steel and composite cased .45 ammo is a cheaper alternative. The .38spl option is a money saver when just punching holes in targets and cans, it gives you some flexibility with the .357 platform. Have to agree with others that comparing the two cals is apples and lemons, and I wouldn't let the cost of ammo today factor too much if you want to choose one or the other. Or, do like I did and have examples of each in the gun safe.

Later in the day I was at WalMart and checked to see what ammo they had. There were a few boxes of .32 and .17 which I think are the same boxes I have been seeing for the last several weeks. Some .22 CCI Stinger and nothing else.

I'm placing an order at www.ammunitiontogo.com tonight as they seem to have good pricing and availability... I'll post feedback on them when I receive my order.
 
Reload your own my friends, reload!!!

I have three gallons of 45 cases already primed. All I have to do is charge them with powder and seat an inexpensive cast lead bullet in them and I'm in business.
 
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