Best bang for the buck!!

mmmmm.... Okay?

(Are you just asking everyone's favorite overall caliber?)

Of those listed, the 9mm is the clear winner if you are wanting it for defense. Cheaper ammo and a negligible difference in stopping power.

There is a strong case for the 22 as well since it is the cheapest ammo and can be shot and shot and shot for much less than even the 9mm.

Will this be for defense, competition, plinking, fun? That would be a good thing to know when deciding on max utility for a given caliber.

I went with the humble .22lr.

I've shot them for almost 60 years now, and I can't think of one single other round of ammo that has the versatility of the .22. Training, small game hunting, survival, and if need be it can be pressed into service for defense.

Being retired, the better half and I go shooting twice a week in good weather. We burn up a brick of Federal bulk box a week, and on our social security I don't see that happening with any center fire. I met my better half 40 years ago on a pistol range, and she was using a Smith and Wesson model 17 then. She still has the 17, along with an 18, a 317, and two Marlin .22 rifles. Our kids learned to shoot on our .22's, as well as our grandchildren. We've been avid shooters all our lives, and raising three kids on a machinist salary and a reseptionist salary, we would never have been able to do as much shooting as we have done, and continue to do with a center fire. If something goes bump in the night, we'll just grab what we were using just the other day.

For us, the .22 is the best choice!

Carl.

Bang for the Buck

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Lowest cost good Bang = 9mm

Lowest cost Buck = 22lr

For me, the 9mm is clear winner of lowest cost with respectable bang. If I can't/won't carry it for SD then it doesn't meet the Bang requirement. That's my opinion.

For my lifestyle, age, abilities, limitations, and just plain personal preferences, I go with 9mm. Gota bunch of autos and 2 carbines for that round.

Also, though not mentioned, I got some 357 revolvers matched up with a lever action rifle.

And of course every one should have a 22 pistol and revolver coupled with some sort of rifle for inexpensive quality practice time.

Had to go with the .40 to even out the vote for the .380 since both rounds cost the same. I agree that everyone needs a .22.
Mike

you need us to tell you that .22 LR is the cheapest one to shoot? lol

no I know whats the cheapest ammo , whats the cheapest ammo I will carry , bang for the buck is obvious for those who carry a 45 , I dont care how much extra the rounds are , my life in the hands of a 45 is safe!

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Defensively, 45ACP, 9mm, and 40 S&W will all do the job. It comes down to your ability to put the rounds on target.

I dont care how much extra the rounds are

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Hmm. I guess we misunderstood what you meant by "bang for the buck" - a phrase generally meant to mean value for money.

The question is too limited to understand your entire meaning.

I voted for the lowly .22LR. Many of us shoot the larger calibers well due to the time and training ability owed to the .22. The number of human deaths and game attributed to it would also indicate more than a few goals can be achieved with this caliber.

I think .22 is clearly the value leader here, You can put many thousands of rounds through a Mark II, which means more practice time, which in turn leads to proficency.

But, I voted 9mm because a centerfire is more appropriate in terms of self defense, and 9mm seems to be the cheapest centerfire by far.

I have a lot of friends who are of limited means, and/or may like guns, but are not really into guns per say. So you know they will likely buy something to play with and not much else. I always encourage them to go 9mm, since it's cheap to practice with, and then when they get home they can use it as a nightstand gun.

As Implied "best bang for buck"....

I choose 9mm meaning it would fit many rolls, from plinking, hunting,self defense/home defense,reloading,competition shooting,law enforcement,military use,availability world wide, and last but not least on a cost level.....

with "Bang for Buck" being the question asked....It would most definately be the cost wise choice..that delivers the biggest return.

And that is probably more than opinion in a cost analysis sort of way....

For me, 9mm. It is a legit SD round, can be practiced with affordably and you can buy 50 boxes of Federal HST + P for $28. What's not to like in terms of bang for the buck?

Aiko492 said:

For me, 9mm. It is a legit SD round, can be practiced with affordably and you can buy 50 boxes of Federal HST + P for $28. What's not to like in terms of bang for the buck?

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50 boxes of Federal HST +P for $28.00? That's way cheaper than I can load LOL.

my life in the hands of a 45 is safe!

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I just sold all my guns and bought a 45. Thanks for the heads up on the just discovered production of a magic death ray.

Aiko492 said:

For me, 9mm. It is a legit SD round, can be practiced with affordably and you can buy 50 boxes of Federal HST + P for $28. What's not to like in terms of bang for the buck?

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I think Aiko got a little carried away with the keyboard because I just bought some HST 124gr +P but I only got 1 box of 50 for $28. LMAO!!

Must have been 1 round per box and he got 50 boxes of them.
Mike

I actually don't get the question.

OP... are you asking what our favorite round is? the best "overall round" or like ... the cheapest? I guess "I like .45" isn't a lot of clarification for me. 8(

Bush Pilot said:

50 boxes of Federal HST +P for $28.00? That's way cheaper than I can load LOL.

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Ha, I did mean 50 boxes but as in 50 per box 50 boxes for $28 would be wishful thinking.

My nightstand gun is a .45acp.
My carry gun is a 9mm.
This is the best way I can answer your question.

I'd say the FN 5.7 bc if the bad guys stand in a straight line i can take out 3 with one bullet.