How much ammo should i take to the range?

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I've never had a range tell me "No" on HP's.
I usually shoot 100-150 .38s and 250 .40s. First time I went shooting, I thought 100 rounds of .38 would be enough and had to buy two boxes of wicked overpriced ($18/50) WWB.
 
Generally hollow point ammunition is designed for more rapid expansion or less penetration when it impacts the target. Thus they are commonly used for home protection, some hunting, and of course target practice.

Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) ammo (or "ball ammo") is the cheapest in price and is designed for penetration. The military uses FMJ ammunition.

Wadcutters are primarily designed for target practice although some use them to hunt with as you are frequently shooting a solid hunk of lead whcih gives better penetration. (Yes, even with the flat nose of the bullet.)

Save your empty cases. You may eventually become a reloader or know someone who does. The case is the most expensive part of the loaded round.

Lead is probably the same price as FMJ ammo. The bullet is just a molded hunk of lead. You will see a lot of 38 spl ammo as just a lead bullet. I prefer jacketed ammunition as it tends to lead the barrel of the gun less. Many don't have this issue. Leading vs non-leading ammo is whole 'nother topic discussed from time to time.

I assume you are going to an outdoor range. Be sure to read the rules before shooting there. There are a few simple basic common sense rules to follow. The more people at the range, the more formal the rules are. And the more you have to pay attention. Half the time I go to public outdoor ranges, I'm the only person there.
 
100 rounds will go fairly quick. As a police officer we qualify with 60 rounds and that takes about 15 - 20 minutes to run through with range commands. I would at least take 150 - 200 rounds. More range time. Remember practice does not necessarily make perfect, prefect practice makes perfect. Enjoy.
 
I don't buy a bunch of ammo at a time, either, so I have found Wal-Mart and Academy to be my favorite places to buy locally. Internet prices are great...until you add in shipping, which gets spread out only if you buy quantity. In other words, buying a box of ammo online to save $2 price will probably cost you $5 more than at Wal-Mart, just because of shipping.

That said, for .38s, I'll get the Winchester USA valu-pak. Its adequate for range time. I found some remanufactured stuff at another local store that was about $9 or $10 for 50 rounds. I haven't shot these yet. They're semi-wadcutter (lead) - again, good for targets.

For ..357 practice, I like Blazer's aluminum cased 158 grain stuff. They are HPs, but they are priced very competatively. They're a medium load - not smoking hot, but not powder puff either. I would highly recommend these if you're learning to shoot magnum loads. Price wise, they're around $15 at Academy and Walmart. Academy also has their own brand, "Monarch" that's a bit hotter - no chonograph data to back that up, just "feel" - and right in that price bracket.

At this point, I would also strongly urge you to not spend hard earned money on the high-dollar stuff...the $18/20 round stuff. That's defensive ammo and great stuff, but to just pour downrange...no.

Buy what you can afford, to make your trip worthwhile. NOTHING worse than getting there, having a ball, only to realize you just punched your last hole in paper and you want to go another hour or so.

I try to pic up a box of SOMETHING each time I hit Walmart: .38s, .357s, .45, 9s, or a half-dozen boxes of .22. It spreads out the purchase "pain," but makes a range session worth the trip.

For what it's worth, from one $ consciencous shooter to another...

Quoheleth
 
Cool, well I got pretty much everything im going to need for my first trip. Have the gun, ammo, double hearing protection, eye protection and a cleaning kit.

So you say i dont need to buy targets and I can bring paper plates and things like that? tape targets on them?

How far is a .38/.357s range? 50yrds or so?

I pick up the gun friday maybe tomorrow if i can get to shop fast after work, should i do anything to it before taking it to the range like oil the moving parts, dry fire to smooth out the trigger? I've been told its ok to dry fire larger revolvers or do i need snap caps?

I'm about ready to roll, kinda nervious about doing things wrong at the range since I havnt shot in awhile and i'm going solo. I just hope I can hit the targets good enough that i dont look like a total rookie lol
 
I printed some of those targets from that site 358minus1 posted, can you just bring those or do you need to tape them to something thicker or what? How are the targets fascned to the target post or whatever its called? Sorry this officially turned into the rookie at the range thread lol. Maybe it will help any other newbs like myself in here
 
JP, when I suggested the paper plates I meant for you to use then as is. Go to the store and buy either a box of push pins or a cheap staple gun to tack up your targets onto the backer board. The paper plates have a 12" diameter and the center part is more like a 9" or 10" diameter. If you can hit a 12" plate with all your rounds from 7 yards out the first time you go to the range you are doing very well. You can download targets from the links provided by 358minus1 above too.

Now stop worrying and go have some fun. Remember, safety first followed very closely by FUN!!
 
At least, 1-200 rounds of each handgun caliber, 200 rounds of .308, 500 rounds of .223, 500 rounds of .22LR, 50 rounds of .30-06 for a full day of shooting. You don't have to shoot it all but better to bring then buy at the range
 
IMHO, if you won't get to the range often, make it COUNT. Minimum I would take is 250 rounds, more if you can afford it.

Most pistols can shoot a long distance- however if you are practicing to defend yourself with a pistol, practice at defensive range- which would be in the 20-30 foot range. Most indoor ranges have a marker at the "appropriate" distance, it might be 21, 25, 27, or 30 foot. Depends on the range. Usually there is a "MINIMUM" range under which you may not set your target. Start out right there. If you aren't an experienced shooter you'll just waste ammo and piss yourself off trying to shoot at the long ranges until you learn the gun.
Some indoor ranges have a cardboard target panel you stick your target on to- others do not and standard Xerox paper is thin and can easily fall out of the target holders or wave around in the breeze from the vents. Start saving up cereal boxes and stuff like that, the cardboard is a nice free backer you can use under your print-out targets to add some stiffness to them.

For outdoor ranges I find that the PERFECT target holder are those annoying signs that people stick in the shoulder of off-ramps or in front of intersections. Political signs, advertising signs, etc. I grab them whenever I need some. Great to stick out on the outdoor range and staple targets to. Throw them away when you are done. Disposable and free.

In your range bag I would have:
Ear Plugs (the foam kind you stick in your ears)
Muffs
Shooting glasses (or safety glasses of some kind).
Basic cleaning and lube supplies for pistol
Targets
Sticky tape (Duct, electrical, whatever)
Stapler (I like the large Bostitch types over office staplers)
A few clean rags
Some stick-on Shoot 'n'See mini targets (to practice and REALLY see what you are hitting when you are more familiar)
Chewing gum (Can get dry mouth easy and it's a bad idea to be drinking or eating on the range!)


HAVE FUN!!!

(PS- Last range trip I went on, by myself, I took 5 guns, and 600 rounds of 9mm, 550 rounds of .22, and 200 rounds of .223 & brought very little back except empty brass and a few .22s!)
 
Re: targets

It'll depend on the range's rules. You may be able to take your own; you may have to buy theirs.

At Carter's Country here in Houston, you have to buy theirs and they technically don't want you putting extra sticky dots on their targets. At a buck a pop, you can see why - they probably make pretty good bucks on their targets. But, the guy next to me (last time) took his pencil and colored some dots on his target.

At a private club closer to home, not only do you have to use their targets (but only $.25 - yes, a quarter a page, it's not bad) you have to use their stands - if you are caught with, say clay pidgeon holders, you will be put in time-out. :scrutiny:

So, it depends. I would say take some of your own stuff along. If you can use your own targets - great! You've saved some money. Tuck an extra $5 in your shooting bag, so if you have to buy targets, you can get a few. (Think of it this way...pack your lunch instead of hitting Micky D's on the way home, and you've got the $5.)

BTW: WASH THE HANDS after you shoot and before you eat or drink (or even pick your nose :barf:) ANYTHING!
 
How much ammo to take ? ? ? ?

When you are finished loading the car, and the car springs are NOT groaning under the load, you dont have enough ammo :D:evil::D:evil:

I take a minimum of 200 rounds, no matter if it is .38/.357 or .45ACP.

.22Rimfire............well I have been known to shoot as many as 2 or 3 bricks at a time...as much as 1,500 rounds in one day.
 
I should have bought more ammo from that shop today when i picked up the gun it was way cheaper than walmart. I didn't like his attitude though he wasnt very friendly for a dude i just gave over 500 bucks too. Thanks for the tips I'll probably hit the range tomorrow or saturday. Cant wait
 
Let's just say I take so much I use one of those wheeled suitcases to go to the range with. And if I ever took all my pistols, I would need a bigger suitcase.
 
evan price,

+1 on those annoying signs. We just had a special election for a departing City Council member and there were these signs that appeared overnight urging people to vote for this candidate, or that one. Many disappeared overnight and had cardboard taped over the candidates so I can staple my targets to the backing. BTW, 7.5 Swiss will blow right through the metal wire that consists of the frame (don't ask me how I know this). .30 Carbine only dents it (same thing, don't ask don't tell).

I have 12 more of those, and I tend to grab more of the other "grand opening" or "going out of business" signs that are clustered together 8-12 in a row. They work pretty well overall for targets, but I think I need something that's more permanent (eventually).
 
lol i went through 150 rounds in like an hour, even shot all my 357 ammo i didn't plan to shoot! I'm bringing 200 next time but man it gets expensive and with ammo going up in price its not gonna get better. i spent 50 bucks on ammo for my next trip
 
lol i went through 150 rounds in like an hour, even shot all my 357 ammo i didn't plan to shoot! I'm bringing 200 next time but man it gets expensive and with ammo going up in price its not gonna get better. i spent 50 bucks on ammo for my next trip
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JP from Phoenix,
LOL, I told you back on the first page of this thread you would need 200 to 300 rounds for the trip!! Even though it sounds like a lot of ammo it really isn't when you're having fun.

Two years ago when I started shooting I was able to buy a box of .38 Special ammo (50 rounds) for $7.99 and a box of .357 Magnum ammo for $12.99. Now a box of .38 Special will run me $12.99 and a box of .357 Magnum is $20.99. I'm not talking really good stuff that's meant for SD or hunting, I'm talking about Remington UMC ammo. A few months ago I decided I would have to either start reloading my own ammo or stop shooting. Since not shooting isn't an option I am now reloading my own ammo. I can make a box of 50 .38 Special for $3.32 and a box of FMJ .357 Magnum ammo for $5.50. At those prices I can shoot the 300 to 500 rounds a week I want to shoot. I spent ~ $200 on the setup to reload 38/357 and I have already gotten that money back and more. I have 1,000 rounds on the shelf and can make what I need in a few hours. You might want to look into reloading for your 38/357. It's not that hard since the .38 case is straight unlike most rifle rounds.
 
I'd bring more ammo but man its expensive. I spent over 50 bucks for 200 rounds after my trip for next week. I'll run through that in probably about the same time lol. I might have to look into reloads like ArchAngelCD said, i heard if not properly packed those can be dangerous though
 
the cheapest ive seen out here is 10.99 for a box of 50 magnum. I keep hearing the 17th of sept ammo is gonna go up too. jeez. I thought photography and pro audio were expensive hobbies!
 
^ no that was for 38s PmC and Magnum, I got a box of blazer .357 ammo for 15 bucks though. I dont know whats good and what isnt i just get the best deal since i'm just taking it to the range.
 
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