Cheap range ammo

[N3rday]

What brands are inexpensive, but fairly good for practice ammo?

I'm in the market for .38 spl, 9mm and .45 acp.
What types am I looking for? i.e. full metal jacket, soft-point (whatever that means), etc.
does anyone know what RNL means?

Can someone please explain soft point, lead point and wadcutter rounds?
Thanks, and any general advice would be appreciated

Merry Christmas, you crazy gvn nvts!

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

S&B, sellier & bellot make halfway decent ammo for an affordable price.

RNL=round nose lead

A softpoint is generally a jacketed bullet with an exposed tip of lead.
A wadcutter is a bullet generally used for target shooting as it cuts a full diameter hole in a paper target.
Never heard of the term lead point.

 

[N3rday]

Sooo...are soft points and wadcutters OK for use?

basically I'm asking what types of ammo to avoid, I'm scrolling around CheaperThanDirt for some .38 spls for my dads S&W 10-5, and some .45 ACP so I can rent the local range's Colt 1911.

Should I avoid lead bullets? I saw some .38 spls going for less than $7 in 148 and 158 gr., but they were lead.

 

[hansolo]

For those calibers, many/most experienced shooters avoid Russian ammo...Wolf is the most commonly badmouthed. Winchester USA(especially in Value Pack)is decent quality and pretty cheap.....Remington UMC is similar and CCI Blazer is a very good value. IMHO. Theser are available at most WalMarts, BTW.

Good Luck!

 

[SteelyDan]

I know I've seen more helpful links than this, but sometimes a picture really is worth 1000 words, and this site will at least be a start in understanding the different types of bullets available:

http://www.remington.com/ammo/pistol_revolver/remp_rammo.htm

If you're just punching paper, JHPs, wadcutters, soft points, pretty much anything, will work. Wadcutter varieties are excellent because they result in the most clearly defined holes in your target. Eventually, you'll want to practice with what you actually intend to use if it ever becomes necessary, which is a subject unto itself. (Is "unto" a word?)

For the use you've described, which I understand to be shooting maybe 200 rounds at a range to try out a couple of guns, I'd save the shipping charge and pick up a few boxes of American Eagle or UMC or S&B at a local sporting goods store, or even a Wal-Mart for that matter. You shouldn't have much trouble finding decent and inexpensive rounds for a .45 and a .38.

The only other thing I should mention is that I'm not familiar with the S&W 10-5, so it might be smart to avoid any +P rated loads (just get the cheaper, regular rounds) because there's a chance they may be too hot for your dad's gun. I'm not saying they are, I haven't a clue, but better safe than sorry.

 

[N3rday]

I've been told the 10-5 dates anywhere from '62 to '80, I don't know how long +P and +p+ rds have been around...

 

[CWatson]

If you want quality ammo at a cheap price go to [www.ammoman.com] all of his prices inclued shipping.CW

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Three good brands for reasonably priced practice ammo are Winchester-USA ("Winchester White Box"), Federal's American Eagle, and Sellier & Bellot.

I bought 500 rounds of of WWB .38 Special 150 grain RNL from MidwayUSA earlier this year and it's almost gone.

I'm almost finished the 300 rounds of S&B 9mm 115 grain FMJ that I got from Cabela's for my BHP.

Back in the mid 1990s I ran a lot of Federal AE 9mm 115 FMJ through my first BHP.

All good stuff.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Winchester Whitey from Walmart, yo. Checkit.

 

[minnesota oldie]

Knock wolf ammo if you want be I have shot thousands of rounds in 9mm and .45 with very few problems. It is dirty, but you need to clean your guns anyway. When you can get case lots or 9mm for less the $4.00 a box and .45 for $6.00 it is hard to beat.

 

[aerod1]

I don't know where you live in Texas but in the Dallas area there are a couple of good factory reloading companies. One is Southwest Ammo, located in downtown Mesquite. The other is Dallas Reloading. I have shot a lot of ammo from both and it all shoots good and consistant. They are both at all of the gun shows in and around Dallas.

Jim Hall

 

[BluesBear]

+P & +P+ ammo won't be the cheapest you'll find. And a Model 10 will handle quite a bit of +P.

Just shoot whatever is cheapest at first. The bargain brands won't strain that Model 10 a bit so shoot all of it you want.

After you get better then worry about trying some +P defense ammo.

 

[Bobarino]

keep in mind that some indoor ranges don't allow the use of lead ammo. better call the place where you will be shooting to find out before you spend a bunch of dollars on ammo you can't use at your local range.

American Eagle has been my favorite practice ammo. its a little more expensive than some of the others but i've never had a problem with it so i stick with it.

Bobby

 

[JeepDriver]

Winchester White Box.

Check out Wal Mart.

$10.96 100 rounds 9mm 115gr FMJ
$10.96 50 rounds 38+p 125 gr JHP
$14.96 100 rounds 40S&W 165 gr FMJ
$19.96 100 Rounds 45ACP 230gr FMJ

No shipping to pay.

Some people complain about how dirty the 9mm is but I've never found that to be a problem. Guns need cleaned after a range session any way.