Where to find best deals on .45cal ammo?

H

handgunfan101

New member
I have noticed that .45acp ammo is pretty high in my area. I tried Walmart and they are always out of the .45acp ammo. I went to my local gunshop and they want 32.89 for 50 rounds. I see it pretty cheap online but its always 20+ for shipping.

Is there any online stores that offer free shipping or any other superstore chain that has it reasonable?
 
Find it cheap online and pony up the bucks for a large order (maybe split with another .45 shooter) so it spreads the shipping cost out over more rounds. Buying in bulk always saves you money in the long run. That gun shop price is criminal!

It looks like you can get a 1000 round case off broker shipped for about $20 a box of 50, if you shop around.
 
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I shoot mostly .45 ACP, 2.23/5.56, and .357 Magnums. I find my best deals at Gunbroker.com but have to buy in 500 or 1000 round lots. Find the deals with free shipping...sweetens the pot. Every once in awhile one can find a smokin' deal at Cheaperthandirt.com but beware, the shipping charges can eat you alive.
 
If you shoot enough to make it worth the effort, consider handloading.

I can load 50 rounds of .45 acp for between $7-8. That is without casting my own bullets; those who do cut that cost by almost 50%. Can you imagine shooting .45 acp for $4/50 rounds?

You can start with a single stage press for a few dollars and work up to a progressive (more money, higher output).

Do a search on handloading to get some more motivation :)
 
Ive always had good luck with ammoman. His prices may seem a little higher at first blush, but it includes shipping, which most of the others add at the last page, and usually bump the price up past his.

What you order is available too, no emails later saying its BO'd, after they charged your card.


Reloading is also a great way to go if you want to shoot more. It wont be any cheaper though. ;)


I'm more interested in finding the BEST 45 ACP ammunition.
Click to expand...
Best how?

Blasting ammo is blasting ammo, unless youre a target shooter. Then reloading is pretty much the best way to go.
 
I have a membership with Sportsmansguide.com and I just 500 rounds of Magtech .45ACP for less that $16 a box with shipping. Check it out... Best ammo prices I've found
 
Local mills farm fleet has blazer brass .45acp 230gr fmj for a little under 17 bucks for a box of 50. That's where I buy mine from. If I need jhp I gotta order blind for best prices.
 
Gun shows. 100 rnd WWB $35-$40 and no shipping
Local Cabela's store, watch for sales.
Wally World.
And the last resort is the ammoengine.com site mentioned.
 
I just got back from Walmart and scored Winchester 230gr .45acp (white box) for 31.99 per 100rd. I wanted the 29.99 (white box) but they didnt have any in stock.

But for only 2 more bucks a box for plinkers not bad (+ made in USA). I got there and they had nothing for .45 acp in stock But the guy said we have our truck in now unloading let me see what we have coming off of it.

He came back with a case (6 -100 count box's) and he said man this is all we are getting for the next 2 weeks so i did a little quick (maybe not the most accurate) math :) and figured to grab 4 box's (400 rounds in all) for 135.00 and this way i will have a bunch saved up for a while because they are adjusting prices now the guy tells me and the 29.99 box's will be going to 34.99 and the 31.99 box's are going to 38.99 soon. That is what he said was going to happen at my local but it isnt a national thing i guess but who knows.
 
Reloading is the correct answer. The .45 ACP round is so easy to reload it becomes a joy. I have one turret press already set-up for the round on my work bench. Everytime I pass by it, I reload five or six rounds as a passing whim. I have military ammo cans full of it.

Just think seven or eight bucks for fifty rounds. It saves you close to twenty bucks on every box. You can pay for a turret press and a set of dies for the price of six or seven boxes of new ammo. ;)
 
High ammo prices is the driving force for me reloading as well. It definitely cuts costs and gets you some nice quiet time alone. I have to buy local because shipping to Alaska is high so I can't take advantage of good buys Outside.
Get a buddy who reloads to help with the set up and answering questions and you can't go wrong.
Just my $.02
 
How long does it take to reload say, 50 rounds? Do you buy new (or once-used) brass somewhere, or do you keep your own from factory ammo shot up at the range?
 
Initially, I purchased once fired brass. Afterwards just scarf-up your fired brass. With my turret press, I suspect I can crank out 50 rounds in less than fifteen minutes. Although, I do not time myself and generally they are done at a more leasurly pase.
 
Once you start reloading, you become a brass scrounger.

Once fired pistol brass is readily available in most of the popular calibers, and is cheaper than buying new brass.

Pistol brass lasts a good long time and can be shot to failure without to much worry. Rifle brass needs a little more care and attention.

Depending on how youre set up to load, and your pace, 50 rounds could be a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Back when we were shooting a couple of cases a week, I had a progressive press until I wore it out and it broke. These days, I use a couple of single stage presses for the 3-500 rounds I usually now shoot a week.

The progressive will give you a loaded round with each pull of the handle when its set up and running right. They are great for a lot of production, but they tend to be complicated and have a lot going on at one time, and are probably better left to someone with some experience.

Single stage presses are slower, but they let you go at your own pace and you have more control. Basically, you do each step separately. I usually tumble the brass when I get home. Size/decap, expand, and prime the next day, and then load the primed cases the next day. Thats about "leisurely" three hours total for 500 rounds.

Buy the right powder, and you can use it for a number of calibers, and buy everything in bulk, and save even more. One pound of 231 might cost you $20, eight pounds, $135. Primers are around $30/1000. Bulk hard cast lead are available at reasonable prices on the web.
 
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