[Evergreen]

I have looked and looked, but cannot find this stuff for a reasonable price anywhere. Looks like I will be having to pay 40 cents / round for some CCI Blazer Garbage for plinking. I guess I better make my shots count or use my 22LR is my conceal carry piece, since practicing with .45 will soon be impossible.

Anyone know a place that has the ammo? Should I hold out and wait to see if the .45 ammo will ever be replenished in the stores? I don't reload, I know I am silly not to, just never have gotten into it and don't have tools to do it now. So, I am stuck looking for .45 ammo.

Our Wal-Marts, Bi-Marts and about every other store has been dried out of .45 ammo for long time.. The few that do have it, will ration it to the point wher it isn't even worth the gas money to go drive out and get it.

Iam stuck payhing .60/round for Winchester White Box, .40/round for blazer. Heck, 5 months ago I was payign half this amount. Whats going on?

Should I wait, or just fork out the high cash on gunbroker so I can have something to shoot?

[sheephearder]

The ammo is more available here (Spokane WA) than it was two months ago. I reload and even components have doubled in price. 22s have been hard to find locally but they are starting to show up. Give it some more time before you make any changes, I hope it will get better but who knows. Good luck : Bill

[TexasRedneck]

Well...it's a supply chain issue that appears to be starting to clear - but think about it - you don't want to do anything to help reduce your costs, just complain about someone else not having what you want at a price you want to pay.

Sorry - but that's just life. I jumped back into reloading with both feet shortly after the election because I knew that things were going to go crazy for a while. I'm sitting on a buncha supplies now, not having to participate in the hysteria of ammo or components. Do I like it? No - but with some planning and investment I'm pretty "bulletproof" (sorry - cheap pun! :)) to the angst many are now experiencing. Many of us got spoiled by gun friendly atmospheres, and forgot the lessons learned from the "Clinton experience" (myself included). I sold off my reloading gear, revelled in the ready supply of ammo at low prices.....and almost blew it.
I can tell you this much - I will never ever be without reloading equipment or supplies again - period. No matter how cheap it becomes, I'll forever maintain a base stock of supplies and rotate 'em through - because we cannot predict at what point this might recur.

Lesson learned.......

[Damon555]

My only handgun was a .45 ACP for quite some time.....I have a good bit of ammo stashed away for that, but I'm going to ration it.....I solved the ammo price and availability issues by purchasing a 9 mm....9mm ammo is still expensive but at 1/2 the price of .45 ACP ammo I'll take it.

[Birdmang]

I got 50 count boxes of Aguila(sp?) FMJ .45 last weekend for 18.99. The gun shop also had about 200 boxes of it. I guess it depends on where you live.

[beretta-neo]

Actually, Blazer is not bad stuff. Its clean, and is accurate.

There was a magazine article in one of the handgun mags a couple of months ago. Comparing a lot of the common target ammo.

The brass version of Blazer was the most accurate.

[j21blackjack]

I started reloading myself after 3 months straight with no ammo anywhere in town. Now if I could only find primers :(. I love Blazer Brass, it's all I used to shoot before I started reloading.

[oneounceload]

Have you bothered to look online? Lots of places are getting supplies in regularly - beats driving all over the place. Personally, I would be reloading - you can buy a used single stage press and equipment for the price of a few boxes of ammunition............

[TexasRedneck]

Google primers an' reloading - there's a number of potential sources out there, and it's just a matter of findin' it.

[doc2rn]

I am lucky our locals have tired of not being able to find it and our local Bail Bondsman has stepped up to purchase a liscence to manufacture ammo. Long live Viking One ammo! I will no longer be dependent on wallie world! And after buyin my last 5 boxes at $23.99 I vow never again to be raked over the coals, unless its to support the local shop!

[Mags]

What do you know someone else is sugesting to start reloading to some one who can't find affordable ammo. How the heck is someone going to do that? Posts some links to available primers and reloading bullets if they are so darn plentiful.

[Evergreen]

Ok , can I teach myself to reload or do I need some more experience person to teach me? I don't know anyone who reloads. Is there a book, manual, is it safe for me to try alone? Where can I find good deals on equipment? I won't bother reloading rifle ammo for now, since its available, but handgun ammo is scarce. I gave up my 9mm stuff, because I don't feel comfortable depending on 9mm in life-death situaiton. Yeah, I don't want to get in 45 vs 9mm debate, diffferent strokes for different folks.

ANyhow, I don't think I can get into reloading right away and I need some ammo.. I know some can beat me over the head for not reloading, but that isn't going to make the situation better at this present time.

Yes, I have looked online at every place possible, ATG, Natchez, Able Ammo, Ammoman, Wideners, etc , etc , etc...

Yeah,I think I will go with Blazer Aluminum case if I can find it under $300, but most are selling that stuff for like $400+.

ANyone trust shooting that steel case wolf stuff through their hand guns? For the price, I don't really find it a bargain.. I know steel case is a no-no for an AR, but what about a semi auto pistol, like S&W M&P 45?

[Marlin 45 carbine]

primers particular pistol are scarce this area. so are pistol JHP's.
online cast slugs are good supply but primers is frustrating. I lucked out awhile back at a mom&pop gun shop and got a K of sp mag Feds for 24 $ + tax. I'm in the market for more sp's as I load .380acp, .32acp, .357 mag and 9 para for myself and family and lp's for my .45's.
some fella in Idaho has a good supply of plated and jacketed slugs of evidently good quality at reasonable prices.

[Mags]

+1 for the guy in Idaho Rocky mountain Reloading here is their link.
http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/main.sc;jsessionid=88183B30B30DC686BEC3406BB2FCBE40.qscstrfrnt01

And for the 45 ACP problem look at Georgia Arms remanufactured ammo. Here is their link.
http://georgia-arms.com/index.aspx

Some more advice take it for what you want but only use brass cased ammo so when you do get into reloading you will already have brass available. I taught myself to load I haven't destroyed anything yet so I guess I am doing alright just get a good manual and follow it to the "T".

[TexasRedneck]

I taught myself to reload - but it involved a LOT of research and reading - and very little of it on the 'net, primarily over concern regarding valid and safe information. There's plenty of excellent printed material on reloading that you can trust. A lot of times, asking around and finding who the locals go to for reloading supplies will give you a great local resource for finding local folks that DO reload.
Since you don't say where you're from, how are we supposed to know where to suggest? I am bashin' on you, but I am trying to point out that you make it difficult to help.
And rather than coming in wanting everything handed to you (sorry, but that's the way it reads to me), why not do some reading and research for yourself? For one thing, it'll help you to start recognizing who the *good* information sources are, and who the turkeys are that should be ignored. I spent months searching out supply points - but you want me to just give 'em up because you *want* them. Don't misunderstand me - I've shared sources with others, but it's after some exchanges of information, etc., where I knew they were "real".
I don't fault you for not reloading - it's a personal choice, and a potentially dangerous one. That leaves you at the mercy of various ammo suppliers - and those I can't help with directly. I can tell you that I did an online search, and found 45 ammo in stock at Natchez (among others). That, of course, leads me to think that you didn't look very hard or diligently.
Again - I'm not trying to slam ya, but I do have to question the veracity of your claims when I find product on the very site you claim to have checked for yourself.

http://www.natchezss.com/ammo.cfm?contentID=ammoGroup&ammoGroup=2&searchBy=size&ammoSize=300&startRow=26

[TexasRedneck]

There's a neat li'l trick I use - spread a tarp out at the range. It'll catch the bulk of your brass, plus non-reloaders will often come up an' offer their brass when it becomes obvious what you're doing. Sure beats leanin' over for 30+ minutes!

[Evergreen]

Since you don't say where you're from, how are we supposed to know where to suggest? I am bashin' on you, but I am trying to point out that you make it difficult to help.


I am from the Evergreen state.. SOrry, thought my name gave it a way.. For those who don't know the Evergreen state, that is the one named after our first prez, George Washington.



And rather than coming in wanting everything handed to you (sorry, but that's the way it reads to me), why not do some reading and research for yourself? For one thing, it'll help you to start recognizing who the *good* information sources are, and who the turkeys are that should be ignored. I spent months searching out supply points - but you want me to just give 'em up because you *want* them.
Hell, I am willing to pay for it.. Is that what you call asking for handouts? My long hours of sweat, blood, tears on the job is hardly what I consider asking for a handout. Sorry, I just don't got the time to reload, doesn't mean I am trying to force you to give me some of your stash.


That leaves you at the mercy of various ammo suppliers - and those I can't help with directly. I can tell you that I did an online search, and found 45 ammo in stock at Natchez (among others). That, of course, leads me to think that you didn't look very hard or diligently.

Oh cmon.. I have done plenty of research.. And most places are out of stock, maybe it is you who haven't done research, since you are the slick, studly reloader, why do you need to worry about buying ammo? I envy you and wish I could have been prepared and knowledgable like you. Sorry, some of us suck on this earth and I am one of them. As far as Natchez, screw those prices, I'll stick to gun broker. Check out Able Ammo, and tell me what they have in stock. I'd go with Ammo to Go or Wideners, but both are bone dry. They got some light grain frangible Lawman ammo, but I don't want that and its too spendy for plinking. Thank you....


I guess the original question was: should I buy the overpriced ammo that I could have bought for 1/2 price 6 months ago or should I hold out? Seeing how high 45 ammo is, I think I will stick to plinking with my .44 magnums since it is more fun and it cost me about the same. rofl. Come to think about it, if I can get some deals on .44 special, maybe that would make a dandy plinker.

[TexasRedneck]

Sorry dude - but Washington state is purty big last time I looked - and by not being upfront, it's hard to really answer. Your original comments led me to believe that you had tried Natchez and they didn't have any - not that the price was high.
They ARE high - and so are their components, which is why I'll not do business w/'em now OR in the future, because other vendors are maintaining prices relatively stable, they just run out. At least they're not gouging me as they do so.

As to buying the overpriced ammo....I wouldn't. I'm already seeing (as others are as well) some stocks returning to the stores. Not as much as before, but it's getting there - in part, I'm sure, because the nervous ones have stocked up, and a lot of the folks buying their first guns have 'em and have done w/their initial target shootin'. Buy just what ya need as you need it, and be patient.

[Evergreen]

I'm in Portland/Vancouver area.. If you know some people/places around here that has got plinking-grade 45ACP for a reasonable price please let me know. Please don't say Wal-Mart or Bi-Mart.. The people there are becoming afraid of me like I am some kinda wingnut, for calling them everyday. :uhoh: I just have given up on them.

As for Georgia Arms :(:(:banghead: .. Out of stock, due to lack of components, oh wow I am just so shocked.

[TexasRedneck]

Wahl, ah ain't in yer neck o' the woods, but Cabela's has built a pretty good rep for shipping even the b/o stuff out fairly quickly. They at least give you an ETA on your order, and they generally beat their estimates.

[sidheshooter]

Evergreen,

I'm also in the evergreen state; I'd say both get on the backorder list at Cabella's and keep an eye on the stock at the above mentioned Georgia Arms site. For example, they have 1000 rounds of gold dot (both 185 and 230 in +P loadings) for 510... that's the equivalent of 25 a box of 50 for a serious round that could also be used socially; not half bad, and *really* not bad in this current climate (IMHO).

I payed something more than 20 per box of american eagle 230 ball at the local Mom n' Pop, just to have some to run for fun in the short term. That's all I'll do for the time being; I'm actually considering getting a 9mm again, the .45 is just getting too expensive to shoot as much as I'd like.

[oneounceload]

There's NO such thing as "overpriced" ammo...it may be more than YOU are willing to pay, but if someone else IS willing then so be it - it's called supply and demand in a free market.

If enough people are not willing to pay a certain price, certain things will happen - the maker/seller will lower their price, their competitor will, or someone else will start-up a business to compete and gain market share

[Evergreen]

I payed something more than 20 per box of american eagle 230 ball at the local Mom n' Pop, just to have some to run for fun in the short term. That's all I'll do for the time being; I'm actually considering getting a 9mm again, the .45 is just getting too expensive to shoot as much as I'd like.

I just sold my 9mm and most of my 9mm ammo :(:( Well, I don't regret it.. Whats the point of me practicing with a gun I won't use for self-defense. I just don't trust my life to the 9mm.. Even if I have to pay big bucks for the .45, I'd rather train with that. But, 9mm ammo is hardly much differnet in price than .45.. Even the 9mm gold Dot is almost equivalent in price to the 45 gold dot.. Its just that blazer and the other el ehapo companies


BTW.. Scored 5 boxes of 22LR Federal HP 550 Red box at Wal-Mart today. Paid $15.00/ box.. I got 22LR coming out of my ears now :D I practically had to fight the huge group crowding the ammo case for the ammo. At first the guy at Wal-Mart said he would only sell me 2 since there was big crowd who wanted it.. Somehow or other he ended giving me 5 and shorting some of the other guys.. WHat a nice guy :D The lady at the door who required to see my receipt told me she hoped I wasn't going to do all my practicing on people.. ANother gunphobe.. I told her I really hope I don't... LOL

Now, if only my magic wand can convert the 22LR into 45ACP, my day will be set.

[bearmgc]

Evergreen, you silly man. Reload.

[TexasRedneck]

I understand his dialemma - it's pretty danged expensive ta set up to reload. I lucked out finding a deal on my Dillon 650 used - but even then, each caliber comes up ta nigh-on $300 by the time I'm done (each caliber gets its' own powder measure). Then again, whenever I set up a caliber, I do a minimum run of 3,000 rounds, which means I immediately recoup my costs of the new conversion.
Don't even want to THINK about what I've got tied up in inventory right now - IIRC, I've got 4k 45, 5k 40, 2.5k 380 and 4k 38. Got twice that in primers, an' enough powder to load 'em all......so ah'm set for the rest of the year at least!

[TenDriver]

Just went by the local Wal-Mart. Plenty of 45 there today. Has been sporadic there, and by the looks of it they got a good shipment this morning that hasn't been cleaned out yet.

[Mags]

Evergreen, you silly man. Reload.
Refer to post 11

[bearmgc]

Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot that there are other places outside of Wyoming, that have no primers, that have no bullets, that have no powda', whereas locally in many small towns, known as cities to us in Wyoming, these things can be had reasonably and still regularly, maybe not in great abundance, but reasonable abundance. I'm so very sorry that you do not live in Wyoming.

[TexasRedneck]

I'm so very sorry that you do not live in Wyoming.

Been there....love ridin' through. Live there? Nah, not for me. Then again, yer probably glad fer that............ :D

[bearmgc]

What's one more Texan? Ah.....nevermind. Thanks for stopping in.

[Evergreen]

Ahh.. look at you show-offs.. Your walmart in Alabama , WYoming, Texas all have plenty of ammo, I just must be out of my mind?

How about you all (wait, let me say y'all), come up to our liberal blue states of Oregon and Washington and help supply us poor oppressed gun enthusiasts here in liberalville with some lower cost ammo and supplies.. You will have a name for you written in heaven , I promise..


I just called the local sporting goods store.. ITs 30 min drive. He said he would sell me some taxed .45 ammo at like 1.5 times the cost and he woudl even allow me to buy 2 whole boxes of 50 each.. Yes, every gun store here has ammo rationing, the ones who don't, well they don't have ammo.. Wow, what a great guy, I begged, I pleaded, he change his 2 box policy, he said NOO!.. Yeah, and after the phone call, weeping a little bit, I frantically went back to gunbroker to look at the small supply of overpriced ammo and ponder if I should just pay the tax priced and hate myself later.

[Oldtrader3]

I refuse to reload for autos. I use Winchester White box for practice. It is $0.39 per round if you buy boxes of 100 and is very consistant. Right now, Cabela's has me on backorder until mid-August for Winchester White box. Times are tough. I just shoot my revolvers more because I can get components more easily.

[christcorp]

In the last 2 weeks, I have bought 200 rounds (4 boxes) of Winchester FMJ 45acp for $15 a box. I also bought 250 rounds (5 boxes) of Ultramax RN 45acp for $15 a box. The MOST I have paid for 45acp ammo in the last year is about $23 a box of 50. It's definitely out there. But no matter what the price of ammo; you can still go out and plink, practice, and maintain proficiency without shooting your $30-$50 a box of ammo hand guns. Shoot 22's; Buy and Shoot 9mm Mak or Tokarev. The price of ammo alone would pay for the gun in less than 10 boxes of ammo. Play more with shot guns.

Unfortunately, there are some out there that also continue to maintain the attitude of: "I practice with what I shoot". They are blowing off $30 a box of 20 for self defense ammo. (Sorry, but I have absolutely no sympathy for these shooters). Even when prices were cheap, that's still silly. Anyway; guns are tools and can also be fun. There's plenty of ways to stay proficient as a tool and to have fun without shooting $30-$50 a box ammo.

[Col. Plink]

45acp has been reappearing at the central Texas WalMarts with far greater regularity (if in small quantities) than in the past 6 months. One must be able to visit them regularly to look, I'll admit, but they even get WWB 230grain JHP at times, all at FAR better prices than you'll find anywhere else. I have the ability to visit one or two regularly on the way home and on the way to the range. At $13.50+tax/50 the round price is $.29

That's cheaper than Russian 7.62, cheaper than CMP 30'06. I wish I shot 9mm, but don't and likely won't; Wally sells Blazer9mm for $10/50, less than $.22/round after tax. The influx of BlazerBrass 9mm and 40 S&W has been astounding compared to past months. If only 45 would hit those levels!

[TexasRedneck]

$0.39/round for practice ammo is okay ah guess - be fer me, ah'd rather have that $0.27/round in MY pocket. However, I DO enjoy reloading, and understand it ain't for everyone. Thing is, it's not uncommon for me to go through 200 rounds on a range trip - more if the better half is along. So it's both economics AND pleasure, I guess.
As to practicing with what you shoot, I can understand that. It's one of the reasons it takes me a while to work a load up, because I'm looking for the same impact points from my hand loads as I get from factory loads. Gives me the best of both worlds - cost-efficient practice AND consistent results.
Other than that - to each their own. If someone wants to shoot diamond-crusted loads, that's fine with me - just as long as they don't complain about the costs.;)

[DHJenkins]

Our local Academy got in 2 cases of WWB .45 FMJ & JHP ($14/box) a couple weeks ago.

They have a 5 box limit on each caliber, and it was all gone by lunch.

It sucks, but you need to be able to be at the store when in it opens; they usually have some ammo come in once or twice a week, different makers & calibers.

[nulfisin]

It's a nice way to spend an evening and can save you some money. However, it DOES take time for a less than frequent shooter to get his money back. If you only go through, say, a box of each caliber you shoot every month or two, it's going to take you several years just to get back to even (depending obviously on what you can buy off the shelf).

Personally, the reason I reload is better performance in my cowboy loads and availability -- assuming I can get primers.

[Hammerhead6814]

You can't find .45 ACP for under $23.00 in Kansas City, that's for sure. I've been to every shop on the west-side of the river and the cheapest around is Show-Me-Shooter's with PMC ammunition. It's just standard ball, hollow-points we over thirty a box.

Damn I miss my CZ-82.

[Deanimator]

I guess I better make my shots count or use my 22LR is my conceal carry piece, since practicing with .45 will soon be impossible.
I guess you should have started reloading before there was a panic driven shortage.

I started reloading in 1980 because I thought .45acp practice ammunition was too expensive THEN. Shortages and "panics" weren't even on the radar.

I've got a good 5,000 .38 Special cases and at least 2,000 .45acp, with smaller quantities of everything else in addition. I've got bullets, powder and primers to last me quite a while, probably beyond the panic at my present rate of consumption.

There's a reason why people try to get AHEAD of the curve.

[Landric]

Links to handloading equipment and supplies, all in stock as of this posting:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=423081

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=242098

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=484416

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=119623

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=215517

http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=59&category=5&secondary=13&keywords=

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=7274&dir=278|284|737

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=733&dir=278|283|309

Assuming you have brass, that is just about everything you should need to get started loading your own .45 ACP.

[stonyman65]

I managed to get some WWB .45s about a month ago in Walmart 300 rounds for about $100. about $35 a box of 100. That's all I've found since Osamma took office. I heard that the SD ammo (Hornady TAP, Hydro shock, Black Talons) is all but gone...

[atomd]

I heard that the SD ammo (Hornady TAP, Hydro shock, Black Talons) is all but gone...

Black Talons have been gone for a looooooooong time. :p

I'm out of my 230 LRNs....and almost out of my 230 XTPs. All my best sources are still backlogged by a couple of months or so. My primers are low too. I've been trying to restock for a few months but I think I'm screwed for now.

[bhp9mm]

i got some magtech 230 fmj for $18 a box today thats not that bad of a price

[Guns and more]

I recommend you check a website called ammoengine.com
It will tell you who has ammo online and what the price is.
I find it to be pretty accurate.

Right now, the cheapest is $.37 a round at Georgia Arms.

[Phydeaux642]

As long as we are gradually moving closer to a socialist society, I don't see ammo being plentiful or affordable. I haven't been to the range in eight months because I can't replace my ammo, so, I've basically given up on the sport for the time being. I look at guns and ammo for defensive purposes only these days. I have purchased one gun this year (no-lock 442) and a bit of 7.62x39 before it went way up.

In an area close to me there is a network of guys that keep each other informed by texting when ammo is in at Wally World. They then make a mad dash to the area stores and buy what's available so they can resell it at the gun shows. As long as people are in a panic things will not get much better.

And, for those of you that keep suggesting that everyone reload, that is all but a joke. I bought all of the tools to start but there haven't been primers in my area for months.

[Publius1688]

Price issues with rifle rounds that I like to shoot have led me to begin my reloading education process. However, Blazer isn't a bad range round at all. I've shot their stuff for years---there's nothing wrong with it. It stinks and it's dirty, but so what? You should be cleaning every time anyway, and it's supposed to stink.

[tju1973]

I bought some Monarch .45ACP at Academy last week for $14.50 a box/50--which runs out to $.29 a round-- this was rare lately though, and I have paid from $15.86 ($.32/round) for Blazer Brass up to $20 ($.40/round)for a box of Aguila at the gunshow-- I am fairly well stocked, but I do try to pick a box or 2 up when I find it. I swear Wally World had WWB for $13 and change a couple of weeks ago, but I had already spent my weekly allowance, so I had to pass.. 8*(

[Deanimator]

Cheap AMMUNITION is over.

I thought ammunition cost too much when I bought my first handgun. That's why I started handloading in 1979.

[moooose102]

cheap ammo will not return unil the demand drops signifigantly. and that probably will not happen until Oblama gets ousted out of office. even then, if we get another anti-gun administration, it will not happen. right now, you will probably need to make freinds with a couple of shooters who do reload, and will reload you some ammo at a decent price. just be aware that with the increased demand for components (because of the increased demand for ammo that is not available) has driven the cost of reloading up as well. it has forced me and many others into casting our own bullets to try to save money. but the prices of primers has doubled in the last year, and the limited availability insures that those prices will not come down soon. you can thank all of the voters that voted "for a change" for this situation. things are changing, for the worse! and not just in the shooting industry either!

[scytale_]

WalMart is getting 45 back in. I check on the days I know they are getting shipments.
Picked up 500 rounds at 30 cents per round Winchester brass (value boxs of 100) last week. Been stocking up on 22 also as it shows up. WalMart is one of the few that actually has dropped the prices on some of it's ammo.
I work all over the state, so it is easy to make pitstops and check ammo selection :-)

[sprice]

i don't know what all this ammo shortage fuss is about. i just bought some cheap fmj for $20 per 50 rnds. I can get any ammunition i want for a decent price. They also had just about 1,000 rounds of that particular brand!

[Landric]

Its pretty sad when $20 for 50 rounds of "cheap FMJ" is considered a deal by anyone.

My handloads are costing me about $5/50, perhaps slightly less, and I could drop the price even more if I would just get off my lazy duff and start casting.

[johnny_boy]

hmmm, what are you using to get $5/50? The best I can do is about $6.50/50?

[Landric]

I'm using Missouri Bullet 200 grain RNFPs, Wolf LP primers, and Hodgdon Titegroup powder. I just figured it again using current costs and it was $5.50/50. It was $5/50 last year, so I guess I was a little off. Still, $11/100 is a lot better than $20/50 or $30/100 (if ChiComMart has it in stock).

[m2steven]

I have recently purchased Winchester White Box 45 fmj at walmart for around 15 dollars a box. 2 weeks ago, I bought a box of Winchester for 19.95 at walmart. I really didnt look at the label. When I got to the range - lo and behold it was Hollow Point self protection ammo! It shot as well as the fmj in my S&W 1911.

Today I got Blazer aluminum case for 16.95 at Academy Sports. I think that's reasonable. The Blazer ammo, at least in 45 - is quite good. The quality of the assembly and fit seems to be down a bit for their 9mm aluminum 'brass'...but it shoots well in my guns, including my apparently finicky 709 Slim.

I have found that online 45 ammo is quite expensive. Even the remanufactured stuff is expensive, but it falls into the purchasable category (were it in stock and I could buy enough to offset shipping).

[bearmgc]

You can try Hunting Shack Munitions out of Stevensville, MT, range ammo by the case. Works for me.

[rondog]

Man, I remember a couple years ago, before anybody knew who Barack Obama even was, our local WalMart had so much WWB in 9mm and .45 that they had to set up a table in the aisle to put it all on. And that's no joke! 100pack of .45 was $29.98. Still the same price now, if you can catch them with any.

Think about that....two years ago nobody outside of Illinois had ever heard of Barack Obama, and now he's our President? That's pretty scary.

[NC-Mike]

Think about that....two years ago nobody outside of Illinois had ever heard of Barack Obama, and now he's our President? That's pretty scary.

Not true.

He was an up and comer from day one in stepped into the senate.

He gave the keynote speech at the 04 democrat convention. They were talking him up as a candidate then.

[oneounceload]

Local gun store has CASES of ammunition - ALL kinds.....American Eagle (Federal brand) is being sold at $38.50/box of 50 for 45 acp - might explain why he has so much.....$10/box of 20 for Wolf steel cased .223, again CASES sitting there.....some folks just don't get it

[SharpsDressedMan]

Reload. No matter what you pay for inflated primers, your ammo will be less expensive. Plus, once we get beyond the panic, you will have the opportunity to stock away your NEXT "crisis" supply of primers, components, or ammo. I learned from the "Clinton" scare that supply/demand can affect my ammo availability, and, thus, my shooting. Now I have about 7M-12M of each primer size, and enough ammo already loaded for all my guns to shoot for several years straight before I have to load again. I have been making it a point to load SOMETHING every week, or at least every month, and I guess I have been reloading more than shooting. I have always had the goods to cast bullets, but got lazy for awhile and bought jacketed bullets. I am now casting once a month in the good weather, and hope to accumulate a good quantity of cast bullets before winter so I have something to do indoors. Until I have all my brass loaded, my job will not be done!

[SharpsDressedMan]

Another solution is to get a 1911 pattern gun, get a .22 or 9mm conversion unit/slide, and have a competent gunsmith rework the gun to shoot the combo cartridges (there are peculiarities to smithing the 1911 to accomodate 9mm, .45, and .22 on the same frame). A combo 1911 allows you to practice with cheaper ammo, while using the same frame/trigger feel of your defensive round (.45). In the case of the 9mm, it makes your gun able to shoot another, sometimes less expensive or more available round.

[Shear_stress]

People have been grousing about the cost of factory ammo since the invention of the metallic cartridge. My 1982 copy of Guns Illustrated has a review of the UZI semi-auto carbine which refers to a box of Federal 9mm costing $17.40. That's the equivalent of more than $38 in 2008. In constant dollars, ammo is actually less expensive than it's been in a while. We just got used to a brief period of time when it was really rock bottom.

[tdyoung58]

Why buy .45acp ammo when you can reload for less than .15 cents a round with match grade primers, bullets and powder?

[stonecoldy]

You can have a whole new hobby of tracking down "reasonably priced" ammo and reloading components. Traveling for work, I try to find new places to stop in and find such things. I have really enjoyed that, after holding off shooting more than a box of 50 rounds per caliber (except for .22 LR) at the range and being a little frustrated at my ammo stock.
I really, really like shooting the .45 ACP round, so this is how I modified my shooting habits for now:
Put my .22 caliber conversion kit on my Kimber. Fun to shoot!
Bought a S&W 625 recently, having the moon clips means the brass stays my property.
Anytime I run across Large Pistol primers, I pick up typically 500 or so.
Unless you had the forethought starting years ago with reloading, these are tough times. I ask friends who don't reload for any brass they don't want, even if not in a caliber I own a gun for, mostly for trading for what I do want.
FYI, at most I make a range trip once a month, so I'm pretty conservative, and pretty busy with other things.
I'm a big fan of .22 handguns and rifles, and don't mind using them more right now. My inventory of .22 ammo goes back about 25 years.

[GojuBrian]

I've found it to be challenging and rewarding stalking .45 ammo.

I check the wal-marts almost every day of the week.

I'll tell you this, there is no method to the madness. You CAN'T predict when it will come in. I've found it being shipped in almost every day of the week at one time or another, day or evening.

Just today I checked for a.45 ammo with no luck. I did some shopping and went back before I left. Bingo, they were just opening the boxes,lol, ain't life grand?? ;)

[TexasRedneck]

Hmmm.....guess I got lucky - 4k loaded, 15k primers, 12 lbs powder, 7k bullets (45's) - about the same # of bullets in 40 & 357, only 'bout 4k in 380.

All I knew was when I saw the election results, it was time to stock up. If nothing else, the panic buying was gonna make stuff hard to get for a while!

[RJT CCW]

You just have to keep looking and get lucky every now and then.

I just bought 500 rounds of American Eagle .45 ACP off a fellow forum member for $160.00.

I have also found 45 at my local Wally world (WWB) for normal pricing.

Maybe they do not ship ammo to the left coast..... :what:

[loop]

Reading threads like this makes me feel really good.

I reload my .45 ammo. I've been paying far too much for primers and powder, but it still only comes out to about $50 per 1,000.

Because we are at a north/south and east/west crossroads there are numerous truck stops and, therefore, lots of lead available.

My cost, including sales tax, for .45 ammo is about $3 per box of 50.

I use a Lee Pro progressive press for ammo I shoot a lot. Well, I use a lot of Lee Pro progressive presses for ammo I shoot a lot. I have five reloading stations and they just aren't that expensive or demanding of space.

A loading bench costs about $25 to build. A complete press with dies costs about $200. Four of my stations are dedicated to one caliber. One is for everything else I shoot.

Buy a handful of gas checks and you can have a ball shooting 30/06 with a pistol charge that has no recoil and fills the stew pot with bunnies for about four cents a round.

Doggone it, .45 ammo is costing me at least five cents a round. It's killing me!

I may have to take up water boarding, or is that wind surfing? Maybe snow boarding. I hear it is a lot cheaper...

[Bishop.357]

PMC Bronze makes a halfway decent round,be it .357 or .45,and it goes for about $18 for a box of 50(at least thats what I pay). Forget Wal-Mart,all the chain stores rip you off. Find a good mom and pop place,if you become a regular loyal customer you'er more likely to get better deals then other places.

[NC-Mike]

Reading threads like this makes me feel really good.

I reload my .45 ammo. I've been paying far too much for primers and powder, but it still only comes out to about $50 per 1,000.

Because we are at a north/south and east/west crossroads there are numerous truck stops and, therefore, lots of lead available.

My cost, including sales tax, for .45 ammo is about $3 per box of 50.

I use a Lee Pro progressive press for ammo I shoot a lot. Well, I use a lot of Lee Pro progressive presses for ammo I shoot a lot. I have five reloading stations and they just aren't that expensive or demanding of space.

A loading bench costs about $25 to build. A complete press with dies costs about $200. Four of my stations are dedicated to one caliber. One is for everything else I shoot.

Buy a handful of gas checks and you can have a ball shooting 30/06 with a pistol charge that has no recoil and fills the stew pot with bunnies for about four cents a round.

Doggone it, .45 ammo is costing me at least five cents a round. It's killing me!

I may have to take up water boarding, or is that wind surfing? Maybe snow boarding. I hear it is a lot cheaper...


What it you don't like bunny stew? :barf:

[SeanB23]

I too live in the Portland region. 45 ACP is almost nonexistent at the local stores, but if you are diligent, and happen to stop in when it's there, it can be yours, if you are lucky. Cheapest I've seen is $20 for 50 rounds of white box at Bi-Mart. If they have it, of course.

So these days I always take my Polish Tokarev with me to the gravel pit, no matter what other firearms I bring. I just got into the 1911, but my Toks have accompanied my .357 Model 19, my 9mm, my 9mm Makarov pistols, each and every one of my long guns and my shotguns, for a long time now. Before I had a couple of Tokarevs, I had their inferior cousins, the CZ52s.

I can get surplus 7.62x25 Tokarev delivered to my doorstep for 10-13 cents per round, depending. This is an outrage ! Used to be under seven cents ! I have gone through thousands of rounds of this stuff, and always keep at least 1.5K stowed away no matter what.

Sure, it's not chambered in .45, but the TT-33 is a Browning derived design, and those humongous piles of 7.62 Tok still flooding into our country make great plinking ammo.

Plus, have you ever seen what that stuff does to what it hits ? I've tested it on all kinds of objects, and let me tell you, if I had a choice of what to be shot at with, that would be way, way down on the list.

Sure, it's a little 85 grain pill, but most of that surplus is pushing 1400-1500 fps or more. Read Fairbairn and Sykes "Shooting to Live" for more on the old 7.63 Mauser round the 7.62 Tok is derived from...those Shanghai cops made a point to inform the reader that nothing struck fear into the hearts of their personnel like the mere mention of that round, and that .45 or even larger caliber rounds often surprised them by failing to live up to their expectations.

www.gutterfighting.org/files/shooting_to_live.pdf

That old .30 Mauser round had a really fearsome reputation for shattering bone and inflicting awful wounds. The authors used the word "pulped" to describe what one little round did to a man's arm, which was later amputated.

OK. It's not .45 and it's not a 1911, what is ? But until prices come down, it's the cheapest thing going...

[Oldtrader3]

It is the same here in northwestern Washington. The 2 gun stores that are still in business within 50 miles of here both only have the $30/20 rounds or the really cheap Blazer stuff for the .45 ACP now. I am considering handloading for the 1911. I have some .45 Colt dies that will work and I already load for several other calibers.

The ATF here in the People's Republic of Washington have put the squash on several gun dealer's licenses. I understand that the ATF has reduce the number of FFL's nationally from 30,000 to about 6,000 in the past thirty years. The keep finding excuses to not renew or pull licenses and pretty soon there won't anyplace to buy ammo in the PR of W except WallyWorld.

[ThrottleJockey72]

I've seen a lot of the federal .45 and .40 as well as 9mm around lately. No specific region, everywhere. I just bought a bunch for $15 per 50, that's 30cents per round.