[DDGator]

I purchased a S&W 625 Mountain Gun in .45 ACP and I love it.

My question is: what is the cheapest way to feed it?

I prefer to use round nose FMJ over lead -- because its not so messy.

I can buy the Win White Box for about $20 for 100 rounds -- not too bad, but I figure I can do better.

Checked with a commercial reloader in Clearwater. Its about $23 per hundred rounds with the brass, and about $16 when I have my own brass.

Any better sources on line -- particularly until I get a good amount of my own brass? Is it relatively easy to order ammo on-line?


And, incidentally, if I invested in a Dillon Press and reloaded my own, at say 1,000 rounds at a time -- about what would that cost per hundred rounds (not including the hardware investment)?

Thanks for any info.

[Gunfyter]

Welcome to the wacky and wonderful world of the .45 ACP shooter. Brass can be purchased at this link: www.popguns.com It's range brass but it's cheap. Your best bet if you want to save a bunch of money which you can then spend on more powder, bullets and primers is to start reloading. I use a Dillon Square Deal B and for the money it can't be beat. With it I can load 200 rounds per hour. Once you get some brass built up, the cost of loads is the powder, primers and bullets. My brother and I shoot a 200 gr SWC which cost around $52 at the local Gander Mtn store. Powder runs around $18 lb and primers are about $18/1000. When you do the amth, a box will cost you just about $4. At a purchased cost of $10 a box, it won't be long until you've gotten back your original investment and then some. Just tell the wife/significant other "Honey look at all of the money that I'm saving" This large savings can then be used to purchase a 1911 in .45 ACP. What better logic is there? If you want any other ??? answered, let me know. :D

[DDGator]

Gunfyter,

Thanks for the link to popguns -- that is pretty cheap.

So, one tact would be to invest $40 (the delivered total cost of 1000 once fired .45 ACP brass) in brass and get them reloaded locally (no shipping) for $8 per box.

Its still about twice the cost of reloading -- but I am still not sure I am ready to make the leap. I don't have a lot of space to work (like the dining room table?) and I don't have a lot of time -- although I think I would probably get a kick out of doing it.

Anyone know of a way to do better via mail than $8 a box delivered?

[Henry Bowman]

Check out Southern Ohio Guns (http://southernohiogun.com/ammunition.html) . Final cost depends on shipping charges.

[Gunfyter]

Be careful of any HAZMAT charges that they might tack on. For that reason alone, I buy all of my powder and primers locall.

[Gunfyter]

Welcome to the wacky and wonderful world of the .45 ACP shooter. Brass can be purchased at this link: www.popguns.com It's range brass but it's cheap. Your best bet if you want to save a bunch of money which you can then spend on more powder, bullets and primers is to start reloading. I use a Dillon Square Deal B and for the money it can't be beat. With it I can load 200 rounds per hour. Once you get some brass built up, the cost of loads is the powder, primers and bullets. My brother and I shoot a 200 gr SWC which cost around $52 at the local Gander Mtn store. Powder runs around $18 lb and primers are about $18/1000. When you do the amth, a box will cost you just about $4. At a purchased cost of $10 a box, it won't be long until you've gotten back your original investment and then some. Just tell the wife/significant other "Honey look at all of the money that I'm saving" This large savings can then be used to purchase a 1911 in .45 ACP. What better logic is there? If you want any other ??? answered, let me know. :D

[Spoonman]

I have been getting Sellier & Bellot .45ACP for $175 per 1,000 round case from Outdoor-Source (www.outdoor-source.com 800-713-1658). They have lots of ammo and charge actual freight for full case ammo orders. They are in Dothan, AL so that might save you a buck (costs me about $8). Really nice, helpful staff on the phone. Cool gun, brother! I've wanted a .45 ACP revolver for a looong time. One day my wants and available cash will converge.

[larryw]

For inexpensive 45 ammo, I don't think Seller and Bellot can be beat. Order up a case and save the brass: great stuff to reload.

What'll it cost to reload that nice S&B brass? (I have S&B brass that's been reloaded 20+ times and its still going strong, 45s are kind to quality brass.)

West Coast Bullets makes a great plated bullet, no lead mess. $75 for 1000 (plus shipping). Plated is good to use for practice/plinking loads because they're relatively inexpensive and clean. I use the load data for lead with these type. http://www.westcoastbullet.com/abtPlate.html

Powder runs about $18/lb. On average, you can load 1400-1500 45 rounds per pound.

Primers will run about $15/thousand.

Add it all up and you're at roughly $100 per thousand. And that thousand is top-quality ammo that you can tune to shoot best in your gun.

[Cawdor]

I shoot Sellier & Bellot. But Natchez has Blazer for $7.80 per box (http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-7002&category=iCat3ABC&maxhits=20&keywords=acc01).

[19112XS]

Georgia Arms sells 500x .45 ACP 230g FMJ in ammo cans for about $100 at gunshows. Feeds good, fairly clean, no shipping.

[Country Boy]

I've ordered from www.cheaperthandirt.com before, but it looks like the prices have gone up for Remington/UMC 230gr FMJ.

I'm not a big fan of Wolf Ammo, but you could look here for500 rounds of 230 gr. .45ACP for $79.20 (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/product.asp?sku=62706&thru=fr&mscssid=N0F8R0Q6XL799M9JHN4N4JDW6NWE7421)

[foghornl]

If you save your brass, there is a commercial reloader near me that has done a good job all the times I have used them:

www.NationalBullet.com

located in Eastlake, Ohio

phone: 440-951-1854

230-Gr FMJ .45ACP $189/1,000 new brass $125/1,000 your brass

[Archer]

You need to consider shipping costs. Ammoman (www.ammoman.com) includes shipping in their prices and I have had many good experiences with them.

On the other hand my Dillon 550B paid for itself in about two months... having about 5K pieces of .45 ACP brass on hand helped in this respect.