Is cost a factor in choosing a defense caliber?

[punkndisorderly]

I don't really consider cost related to caliber when choosing a defensive pistol. Generally I choose platform first, then caliber second. None of the common defensive handgun cartridges other than perhaps 10mm and 44 Special are really that expensive. 44 Mag, 500 Mag, 50 AE, etc are crazy expensive, but I wouldn't consider them a defensive cartridge.

I have had the cost of ammo within a caliber influence my ammo choice. For example, I wince when I start calculating how much it would cost to run 200 rounds of say Glasers through my carry gun to check for reliability. As such, I don't carry them.

For rifles, the price gap is a lot wider and I do consider caliber price. All other things being equal, I'd buy a .300 Winmag or .338 Lapua Magnum bolt gun in a heartbeat. Since I don't reload currently, when I look at bolt guns and start figuring how little I would actually be able to shoot them, I go with .308 or .223. It boils down to an amazing gun I'd be able to shoot once a month or a less impressive one that I can shoot every weekend.

 

[Boba Fett]

10mm and 44 Special

Just FYI everyone, the 10mm only came in 50 round boxes on ammunitiontogo.com (at least it did when I looked today),so I didn't feel that it was a fair comparison to the other bulk order groups. As for the 44 Special, I didn't even look at that one.

The cost for the 44 Special would be:
500 rounds of Winchester Cowboy @ $297 = 59 cents/round

I have had the cost of ammo within a caliber influence my ammo choice. For example, I wince when I start calculating how much it would cost to run 200 rounds of say Glasers through my carry gun to check for reliability. As such, I don't carry them.

Just to clarify, I'm not looking at shooting actual defensive ammo for practice. That really does get expensive in just about any caliber. The idea here is that you practice with standard FMJ and would carry a more defensive round.

Probably a good idea though to run a box or two of your defensive stuff just to make sure it runs well/doesn't jam/isn't difficult to handle/etc.

 

[Borch]

In my mind it is definately a factor. What good is a defense gun that you can't afford to practice with or buy ammo for? What are you gonna do throw it at the BG?

 

[johnnylaw53]

I voted yes as I feel one should shoot a lot with what they carry. I have always like the 9mm for other reason then cost but they are quite a bit cheaper so it a win win for me. In the good defense rounds cost is not that much more for .357 sig, .40 or .45 the big factor is range ammo this is where the 9mm beat the others also follow up shots are faster for me with the 9mm two or three fast well place rounds should do the trick almost everytime.

Be safe

 

[Carl N. Brown]

cost of a particular caliber when choosing a home-defense or CCW handgun

OK, a white box of .45 ACP 230 gr FMJ for $39.95 for a hundred (allowing lotsa range practice) is a better buy than a six pack of 10mm Xtreme Wiz-Bang Eyeglazers for $39.95 that are too expensive to allow range time, accuracy or reliablity checks.

 

[Boba Fett]

In my mind it is definately a factor. What good is a defense gun that you can't afford to practice with or buy ammo for?

Buy ammo for? I don't think buying ammo for any standard caliber gun is an issue for most people. If you can't afford a good 20-50 round box of high quality defensive ammo, I doubt you can afford the gun in the first place.


As for practice ammo, for you, the cost difference of standard FMJ 9mm vs. X other caliber is so great that you can't afford to practice with X caliber and have to practice with 9mm? Again, if you look at the math, I just can't see it.

And, do you believe that X caliber is better than 9mm, but you just want to be able to practice more so you go with 9mm?


So far, I'm not convinced that the cost of any standard caliber is enough to keep most people from practicing.

If you believe that X caliber is actually a better round, but go with something else because you believe you will be able to practice more, I'm not convinced that is a wise decision. Not after comparing the actual cost difference.

What are you gonna do throw it at the BG?

Throw it?? Never! I'm going to beat the BG to death with it if by some miracle he's still alive when I run out of bullets.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

I chose "hydra Shock for my" 40 S&W for its speed and 45 ACP for its stopping power. I reload so target rounds come a bit cheaper.

 

[wep45]

defense cost.................you must b jokin, dude

 

[UnTainted]

I use 3 calibers for home defense:

357sig
9mm +P
.40 S&W

Speer gold dot works for me, and it's not too expensive. WWB for range practice, and lawman for the 357.


Ammo is so much more expensive now that I don't care too much about it. I'll buy a few hundred 9mm rounds, 100 .40 or 357 sig and roll to the range knowing when its over, i've got .22lr for hours after.

 

[f4t9r]

I voted yes. Whatever caliber you choose for defense the practice ammo must be cheap enough to allow you to go to the range and stay proficient with your weapon.

Same reason I voted yes

 

[MIgunguy]

No... what's your life worth? What's a $1,000 or $2,000 defensive handgun (plus X-dollars on practice ammo) compared to death, or a $20,000 or more hospital bill if you're shot / stabbed by the bad guy?

 

[KINGMAX]

Personal defense rounds

Personal defense pistols and rounds in this order: #1) .45acp w/SJHP in a GLOCK 21, #2). 357/38 +P silvertips & .38spl SJHP's in a S&W 686-1, #3). 38 +P silvertips / 38 spl SJHP's in my Rossi 582. Those are my choices for my primary carries in my truck.

Bed side is a Boxer/Bullbog with aids and a hefty appitite for BG;s. The door is always unlocked. She is always on duty.

 

[Boba Fett]

Same reason I voted yes

I still don't understand. After looking at the math I presented, I don't see how a few extra bucks would keep anyone from choosing an ammo based on, oh say magazine capacity instead. Or pretty much any other reasonable factor other than cost.

I'm not attacking anyone here for their decision, but people have to provide better arguments for why cost is a factor for them. Because according the the math as I've laid it out, I just can't see why it is.

And just to throw the reloaders a bone, I'm going to say caliber cost is almost a moot point for you guys. From what everyone has said, and you reloader's correct me if I am wrong, when you reload it reduces the costs to such a minimum that you shoot just about any normal caliber you want and not even blink at the costs.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

yea sorry. I meant to type "I chose hydra shock" for the 40 and 45. thats what I keep in my carry guns. and reloads for practice, so no cost doesnt concern me for my defense rounds.