How Much Ammo For a Day at Range?

[W.]

Hello All,
First off I would thank those that make this website as well as all that post here. I have found a wealth of knowledge here that has helped me decide I would like to join the gun community. I live in Texas but ironically have been surrounded by mostly anti gun people all my life. In the coming days I am going to purchase my first firearm, a handgun, and join the local range.

After nearly a year of off and on researching what handguns I would like to own I have decided on a Sig or HK.....pushing more towards the HK, USP .45 to be exact. I also live in the desert so most people with firearms just wonder off into the desert and fire off rounds. I have issues with untold amounts of unseen people firing in whatever direction they feel like so I am going to spend the $90 and join the range.

Now for my question…. How many rounds do you consider enough for a satisfying day at the range? My job allows me a lot of time off (only after periods of working me to death :eek: ) so I am planning on spending some good time at the range.(I edited the following sentence to include the first comma, which I originally forgot to include. ) I figure I am going to spend about a $1000 between handgun, range bag, eyewear, and hearing protection...which I am perfectly fine with....but it occured to me that I am going to have to feed this thing:D

With 9mm ammo running about half the price of .45 ($12 vs $24 per 100rds of range ammo locally) I wanted to see what kind of mess I am going to get into given the caliber? I know I am going to get grief for wanting a more high end handgun and crying about ammo prices, however I want to crunch the numbers over what a given caliber is going to cost me to use.

Please note I did my best to not start a 9mm vs .45 war. My main goal is to buy a quality handgun and become proficient in its usage. Thank you for your time.

W

[.38 Special]

My local range is 15 minutes away, and I tend to shoot the big bores. I generally take 50 to 100 rounds with me, which is enough magnum "fun" for one day. But then, I'm happy to spend a half hour at the range five days a week. If I were going once a week or month or whatever, I'm sure it would be more of an "event", requiring more ammo.

[Chief-7700]

A day at the range for me= 400 to 500 .45ACP and maybe around 100 9mm. However I reload all my ammo!
Easy answer to your question which one should I buy. Buy one .45 and one 9mm simple!
Chief-7700

[MaterDei]

A good range session should consist of at least $100 in real ammunition and 500 rounds of 22lr. If you reload then you should be looking at $100 in real ammo (shooting more rounds :D) and 500 rounds of 22lr.

[TAB]

I find that center fire hand gun ammo, I go down hill after 100 or so rounds in one sesson. So thats about all I normally take. Now if I shoot a couple mags, take a break, I can go about 200 before I see a drop in my preformance. Bad habbits are easy to learn, hard to unlearn.

[AZAndy]

Seems like no matter what handgun I'm shooting, it works out to 125-150 rounds per hour. A standard weekly session for me is 200-400 rounds, depending on how much time I have. I've done as many as 550 in one session, but that's unusual.

Welcome to the Road!

Andy

[Okiecruffler]

Two guns always go with me, the Taurus 745 that goes with at least 100rds, and the Dan Wesson 722 and I always have a brick or two of 22 ammo in the box (No, I don't shoot 500-1000 rds of 22 in one day).
More likely than not I have the 6tcu with me and 100 rds. Then at least one other contender, 218,32-20 or 357 max with 100. Then if I'm feeling manly, the 308 Striker goes with 50 rds or so.

[yakkingallover]

Depends on your mood,conditions and many other factors including how much cash ya got. If I go by myself I will usually only shoot 50-100 rounds of "real" ammo to maintain proficiency. I may shoot a brick or more of .22. Last time I went to the range with my dad we shot 200 rounds of .45 ,100 .38 and about 15 .357 plus nearly 2,000 .22. Sometimes more sometimes less. Keep plenty on hand, take plenty with you and it shouldn't matter. If you leave it at home and wanna shoot more, tough luck, but you can always haul it back home if ya don't shoot it.

[RonE]

I shoot .45, 9mm and .22 hand guns. I usually take a box of .45, two boxes of 9mm (two or three 9mm pistols) and a couple of boxes of .22. So usually 250 rounds. I try to stay proficient with my 1911 GI and try to get better with my 9mm's and try to have fun with my .22's. Sometimes I come home with ammo and sometimes I wish I had brought more with me. I am usually at the range between one and a half and three hours.

[VHinch]

It really depends on what I'm trying to accomplish that day. Working on a specific skill, could be as few as 100-150 rounds. Putting a new gun through ammo testing will be 500+.

[bensdad]

I always bring more than I need. About 100 rds of centerfire for each gun I bring (45 and 9) and eleventy-billion rds of 22 is what I usually use up. If I bring the Saiga twins, I bring 40-100 rds. of .223 and 7.62. I can't bring just one - the other gets jealous and messes up the gun room.

[steelyblue]

I like to shoot half a box of 22lr, 100 rounds of 9mm, and 50 rnds of 45acp. All from 1911 clones. I love that trigger!

[Thumper_6119]

I went to the range this last Saturday, and I took and shot the following:

Took 200 rounds 9mm, shot approx. 150.
Took 120 rounds .50 AE, shot approx 95.
Took 200 rounds .22LR, shot approx 150.
(This is normally what what load out for handguns).


I didn't take our rifles (both .223) but normally we take 300 rounds (and usually shoot most if not all of it).

[Auburn1992]

If I stay for about an hour (normally); I'll bring: (any combination of the following):

150 9mm - shoot about 100
500 .22's - shoot about 250
40 .30-30- shoot about 20-30
20 7mm08- shoot 20
100 12 ga- shoot around 75 to all
25 x54R - shoot that much
50 .410 - shoot anywhere from 25-all

[Quoheleth]

Since my range is 10-15 minutes away from either work or home, I don't pack as much as I used to when it was a 45+ minute drive.

I'll pack along a couple hundred rounds of any combination of 9mm, .38 Special (and a variety there, from hot 125grn +P to mild 148 wadcutters), .357 Magnums, and .45ACPs. Then I'll try to keep at least a couple hundred rounds of .22 handy, too. I might shoot it all; I might not shoot much. Some of it depends on how much talking I do; some of it depends on if I wind up helping some other schlub.

Point is, take what you think you need and adjust as you go. If you think you have enough, pick up one more box. ALWAYS keep an extra bulk pak or brick handy. It's a lot more fun to take live ammo home than run out and wish you had just one more mag to run against that other guy...

Q

[Ltlabner]

I figure I am going to spend about a $1000 between handgun range bag, eyewear, and hearing protection...

I guess I'm really cheap. I can put together a really nice rig of range bag, eyewear and ears for about $300. $1000?

Anyway, I prefer to use at least 500 rounds per range trip for serrious practice. If I'm just goofing around is a different matter. But for serrious drills and practice at least 500 and preferably closer to 800.

[Fishman777]

I don't reload, yet.

50 rounds of .38 special or .357 magnum
25 rounds of .44 magnum
between 50 and 100 rounds of .22lr or .22 magnum

Can't wait to add an autoloader to the collection.

[lee n. field]

How Much Ammo For a Day at Range?

I personally am usually pretty much "shot out" after a couple hundred rounds. I handload the bulk of what I shoot, lately also hand cast the bullets, so cost of commercial ammo is not so much of an issue.

I figure I am going to spend about a $1000 between handgun range bag, eyewear, and hearing protection

:eek: Might want spend part of that on reloading equipment. You can be well set for a fraction of that.

[RPCVYemen]

I personally find that after 100 rounds of center fire pistol, I am not learning any more. I'm really just pulling the trigger to go bang after that. :)

I figure I am going to spend about a $1000 between handgun range bag, eyewear, and hearing protection.

Wow! We travel in different leagues. I think I paid $30 or so for a Midway range bag, and I think I found some electric earmuffs for $200 or so on Optical Planet - but I shot for several years with a non-electronic set of Silencio's that were just fine (and probably better for my ears). In truth, the Midway bag doesn't work a whole lot differently or (better) than an old gym bag.

My suggestion is start with a good set of non-electronic ear muffs (< $50), an old gym bag (free), and some eye protection (< $10), and buy stuff as you discover the need for it. You won't impress anyone, but you won't buy any doo-dads that sit in your garage unused for years.

Put some into a good quality single stage reloader.

You can buy the expensive crap later - if and when you discover a need for it.

Mike

[Goblin]

Get both. Look for good used ones. Shoot at least 100 rds each per session,being sure to take your time and learn!!!

[cmidkiff]

If I'm going to be shooting handguns, I take 200 rounds per handgun, plus a brick or two of .22lr.

If I'm going to be shooting the 'EBR's', I just take loaded mags, usually 8 to 10 per rifle.

If I'm going to be sitting down at the bench, I take 100 rounds per bolt gun.

Most times, I don't really know what I'm going to be doing, so I take all of the above. The one thing I don't want to do is to shoot myself out of ammo before I wanted to stop, or to have someone at the range want to put a few rounds through one of my guns, and not have enough ammo to let them.

Nothing wrong with bringing ammo home, after all!

[The Bushmaster]

My range is outside my back door and 100 feet from my reloading/gun room...I usually take 100 to 200 rounds up with me and If I need more I just go back and get them or reload more as needed...

[W.]

Wow, I just realized how forgetting to type a comma can make a sentence read entirely differently. I meant to say my estimate of $1000 was for the purchase of my first handgun, range bag for that gun, and hearing and eye protection. I apologize that sentence about $1000 should read: handgun, range bag, eyewear, and hearing protection. That makes a bit of difference. I still need to research proper hearing and eye protection but $1000 was just a rough estimate. There are not many gunshops in my city so if I want to buy in town I am at the mercy of supply and demand. Thank you all for the great info and pointing out my punctuation mistake.

Cheers and thanks for the welcome,
W.

[mhillsing23]

I belong to a private outdoor range about 15 minutes from my home. I usually make it there 3-4 times a month. I usually shoot the following...

30-50 9mm from my carry gun
20-50 9mm from my hd gun

200-350 .22 plinking at steel plates

[black_powder_Rob]

100 rounds of 38 special
500 rounds of 22 lr
100 rounds of 22 mag.
40 rounds of 30-30

I usually go about once a month so this keeps me happy for a while.

oh yeah almost forgot 30 caps and balls, and enough powder for the black powder pistol.:)

[Black Majik]

Shooting is getting expensive. I'd dare say we're spending about about $100 each just on ammo each week out our weekly Sunday outings

Range Fee: $14
100 rds Shotgun ammo: $22
100 rds .45 ammo: $30
100 rds 9mm ammo: $19
550 rds .22: $14
100 clays at .12 each = $12

Ammo = $91.58 with tax
$117.58 for a day not including tax.

Ouch. Why did I calculate this... :rolleyes:

[REPOMAN]

Forget the 1,000.00 for bag/eyes/and ears.......

Harbor Freight Tools on internet
to get electronic ears $20.00

Cool looking safety glasses @
Home Depot or Lowes $15.00

Good range bag from Miltech
or Uncle Mikes $65.00

Having $900.00 left to buy
another gun PRICELESS

[kle]

300-500rnds .22LR three times a week (roughly 1000-1500 rounds a week). Cheap wally world stuff ($12ish for a brick of 550).

100rnds 9mm maybe once a month ($20 for WWB, give or take)

100rnds .40S&W maybe once every other month ($24 for WWB, give or take)

[elChupacabra!]

I've been through this myself, and my practices have changed quite a bit.

I started teaching myself to shoot about 3 years ago, and I've only really been shooting handguns for 2 years (I'm only 23, so I could only buy my first handgun 2 years ago, and my parents didn't raise me shooting, so I've had to make do the best I can).

(Also, my first handgun was an HK P2000 in .40S&W, so I can tell you that I think you will be pleased if you get the USP. I also have a Sig FWIW, but I do like the HK better, though that's just my opinion.)

At first, I would bring 250 rounds out with me and try to blaze through all of them to "get better." I found that, with very little shooting experience to start with, I gave myself quite the anticipation reflex quite early by pushing it that hard. It's been a long road to overcome that flinch - snap caps were very helpful, as was dry firing.

What's more, with rising costs of ammo, even 250 rounds of .40S&W has become expensive.

Eventually I spent the $200 and bought a S&W 22A .22LR pistol. That has helped me immensely in developing my basic marksmanship, like sight alignment / sight picture / trigger control, while allowing my to shoot about as much as I want without fatiguing that much, or spending that much money.

These days, when I shoot pistols, I bring only 50-100 rounds with me (regardless of whether it's 9mm, .40S&W, or 45ACP), plus a brick of .22LR ammunition. I "warm up" by shooting several groups with the .22LR, then shoot groups with my defensive handgun, then shoot defensive drills with the defensive gun, and when I run out of centerfire ammunition, if I want to keep going, I'll shoot more drills with the .22LR. Just because it's not full-power ammunition, doesn't mean that it's not useful to practice with, in my opinion.

My approach has become to shoot frequently (at least once a week, if possible) for short durations, so that I don't work against myself by wasting ammunition, developing bad habits, and throwing my money away. Although others may have more skill and / or money than I that could make shooting more rounds in one session a good investment of their time and resources, this works for me (plus I'm only about 20 minutes from my range so it's not hard for me to make it out on a regular basis - I know this may not be the case for many people).

You will have to determine the correct balance of intensity vs. endurance for yourself, but here's just a thought - don't wear yourself out every time you shoot. When you start getting tired, pack it up - after that, your shooting will suffer and you may only ingrain bad habits. As others have said, bad habits are very easy to learn, very hard to unlearn.

One last thing to consider is dry firing - you don't have to shoot a single round, or even leave your house, to get good practice. Spend time drawing your weapon, obtaining a good sight picture, pressing the trigger, reloading, clearing malfunctions, etc. (just remember to UNLOAD THE WEAPON FIRST, and don't dry-fire with a rimfire gun - may break the firing pin, but centerfire guns should be a-ok dry firing with or without snap caps). That's a great way to stretch that training dollar, and it will pay off when you do go to the range to shoot for real.

Whatever you decide, remember to have fun!

[XD-40 Shooter]

I shoot my reloaded handgun ammo, far cheaper than factory.

40 S&W = 60 rounds/week
357 mag = 24 rounds/week
22LR = 60 rounds/week

Rifles :

SKS = 20 rounds/month. I'm trying to really stretch my ammo supply with this one.

30 Carbine = 30 rounds/month, same reason as above.

22 magnum = 25 rounds/month, again, stretching my ammo supply and still being able to shoot.:D

[CountGlockula]

First and foremost, I'd recommend you take an NRA Basic Handgun class. After that, take a self-defense course on handguns. Adding these two notches on your gun proficiency will not only help you to be productive on the range, but also to learn the right way.

Then you can decide for yourself how much ammo you need to bring, because you now have a goal.

[pdowg881]

i do 100 to 150 at each trip. Around 75 of that is through a .22.

[.38 Special]

Worth noting that the free pistol guys -- the ones who shoot slow but hit what they're aiming at -- will go through 60 rounds of .22 in the course of a couple of hours.

Nothing wrong with blazing away -- and necessary, if you're training for IPSC or such -- but if the goal is to learn how to hit the target, round count is irrelevant.

[Floppy_D]

Lord, it varies. If I'm trying out a new load, very little. If I'm taking a new shooter out, lots.

Today it was:
200 7.62x39
500 22
100 40S&W
20 .380
100 44mag
20 44spl
20 44r
50 12g
50 357
I don't normally come near that amount, but my wife's friend was in town, and I had to show her a good time. :D

[possum]

i normaly shoot for!:) 200rds of handgun a week and 100 rifle rds a week. with being in the army i don't get as much range time as i would like but i typically put 10,000rds down range a year. this year after my return from the sandbox, i will be attending 2 training courses in tenneesse and that will be abou 2,000rds in 4 days and then i will follow my normal shedule as planned and i do have a little more money o put toward ammo now so i will probally look at about 12,000-15,000rds this year from july 08 to july 09

[Chris Rhines]

Once a week, 3-400 rounds depending on what skills I'm working on.

- Chris

[lamazza]

I could shoot 1000 rounds at the range if I could afford it.

[RIATAC45]

Usually I take
100 rds 45acp
200 rds 9mm
2-300 rds .38 special
2-500 rds .22lr
per tip

[Snapping Twig]

@ 50 rounds per pistol/rifle.

I may take 2 or 3 firearms and do side-by-side comparisons of specials vs magnums. Big bore works for me.

[The_Shootist]

150 rds 9mm
100 rds .38 spl
100 rds .22

That will keep me happy

Some days in addition to the above

100 rds .357
200 rds 7.62 x 39 for my WASR10, although now that hurricane season is here
maybe 500 rds per session :evil:

[Sport45]

For your first few outings you won't need nearly as much ammo as has been mentioned here. If you haven't shot in a long time (or ever) you'll find your arms/shoulders will get tired pretty fast. A 50-rd box will probably do. After a few months you'll probably be asking about reloading to keep up with your new habit.

Welcome to The High Road!

[evan price]

Last range trip I took 3000 rounds and came back with 300. Took 4 hours to shoot with 4 people helping.

[Mr_Rogers]

+10 0n elChupacabra! except our choice of handguns is reversed. I use a Sig Mosquito as the 22 and a Sig 228 as the bigger caliber.

It's not the number of rounds you burn. It is the value you get from shooting them.

Sure it's fun to make a lot of noise and holes - it even changes the pace and helps you relax during an intense training session. However, never forget, if you are serious about defensive use of a handgun, that the object is to make the first round effective. Rounds after that are a luxury. Train for that first round.

I get through about 50 rounds of a type during accuracy and draw training before I get stale but I am lucky that I can shoot "little and often". I get through a lot more rounds with moving targets working on reaction drills.

[SouthronBoy]

It varies, but I try to take about 200 rounds for each pistol, and about 100 for each rifle.

It's not worth getting them dirty and messing with the cleaning unless you shoot quite a few rounds.

Consider getting a .22 pistol. The fundamentals are the same, and a .22 won't wear you out or empty your wallet.

[Big Boomer]

When I go I usually go for about 6-8 hours

I bring as much as I can fit in for the day.

100-150 rounds 12 gauge
50-75 16 Gauge
25-50 .410

500 22lr
500 45acp
50-100 45 Colt
50-100 357
40 460 s&w mag
40 500 Mag (haven't made it through half of them yet hehe) but I try
50 45 Super
50 460 Rowland

40 30-06
40-270
100 7.62x39


I don't always make it through but this is pretty close. It wears you out big time. Usually 2-4 people I figure the cost in the range of $250-$500

I reload most of them

I just picked up a new 45/70 Cowboy today and did the math on 200 rounds of "cheap" winchester super X and it came to $700! :what:

Looks like I will be reloading that one and not buying any factory ammo. Already picked up dies, just have to order brass, powder, and an assortment of bullets.

I usually go quarterly to the range. With the cost of components skyrocketing it will cost me double to triple to replace that once I shoot it.

I cut down my shooting significantly last time I was out. I now only focus on a couple of calibers to shoot.

[smullen]

For me and the wife, (or just me) we usually take:

300 rnds .45

500 - 1000 rnds .22 LR

2-300 rnds of .223

Sometimes a bit more...

[sammy]

I use to shoot about 250 .45 and 100 .22 but latley things have changed. I found I have been wasting ammo and feeding bad habits. I have taken a different approach and SLOW fire about 150 of .45 and 50 .22 and my groups have shrunk by half. Much more satisfying for me anyway. Stay safe and shoot well!!!!

[10-Ring]

Lately I've been lobbing about 500 rounds down range per session

[aka108]

As little as 100 to up to 300 depending upon what goes out with me.

[S&W620]

Usually about 200 rounds, give or take 50.

[Gunsby_Blazen]

150 rnds of .223
50 rnds of .45 acp
100 rnds of .22lr

Thats typical for me for shooting paper, of course it varies from time to time...
Thats about once a month or so.
As for a range bag, I just use an old duffel bag or a backpack because I cant see spending more money on just another bag when I got tons of em.

[TurboJeff]

It varies for me quite a bit. If I go by myself, during the week at lunch hours, I;ll go in for about an hour and shoot around 100 .45 in my main carry guns, a Glock 30, or 1911. I will sometimes suppliment that with about 50 rounds of .38 spl through the 642 I carry as a pocket BUG.

If I bring the wife along for a weekend outing, it can get much more expensive in a hurry. It's still good, because it's one of the main activities she likes to get out and enjoy with me. When we both go, I tend to bring along many more weapons, including her Sig P250 9mm, a couple of different .357 magnums, where we'll shoot both .38 and a few full magnum loads. We'll also both run a few through both J-frames snubbies. Just alot of fun, together time, and good practice for both of us. When we get home, I get left with the chore of cleaning all of the guns, but it gives me a chance to give them all a good going over.

[SCGirl]

I shoot a 9 and a .32..always take 100 rounds each

[putteral]

I go to the range at least once a week and shoot between 300-400 rounds of various calibers.

[starshooter231]

I normally bring 100-300 45acp & 50-100 38spl & 357. It really depends on where I am going. If I go to the indoor range it is usually 100 45acp & 50 38spl & 357. When I go to the outdoor range It is always more.

[DaleCooper51]

Last range trip, I took an open brick of 22lr and 100 9mm. The unfortunate thing is that I forgot my pistol case at home, so I had ammo but no guns.

[Furncliff]

I fill the range bag til I can't lift it. Then take 100 rounds out and hobble to the truck. If I can't get it up on the tail gate I'll take another 100 rounds out, then look, longingly, back and think about all the fun I'm leaving behind:(

[dispatch55126]

It depends upon what I'm shooting and what I have left in inventory.
22lr - 1 brick minimum
9mm - 300
7.62x39 - 200
7.62x54R - 60 or 90
BP - maybe 15-20 shots with cleaning

[CMAGNUM]

Well The Range I Go To Makes You Use There Ammo So @ 14.00 A Box For 7.62x51 Its A Kind Of Pricey When I Could Use Surplus. But A Trip To The Range Is Better Than Working In The Backyard. I Run About 100 Rounds Each Bolt Action And Semi. Looking To Add A Fal In The Mix To.:)