justification of cost

[Bezoar]

ive settled on a handgun, and i figured that 1000 rounds of BASIC cheapest i can find 158 grain lrn 38 special should get me trained on it.

769 for the revolver
409 for that 1000 rounds.

basically 1200 dollars. in one go. Is it not normal to be freaked out at that expenditure? Because i can still see the need for more ammunition..

 

[tnelson31]

Reload to drive the ammo cost down?

Shooting as a hobby (or discipline) will only get more expensive.

 

[blarby]

Even if you only got a lee whack-a-mole loader for one caliber, I could not justify spending 40c a piece for 38 special........ too easy and nearly foolproof to reload for :/

One pound of appropriate powder would likely yield 1200+ loads, call it $30. 1000 primers, call it another $30. Projos ? PRemium plated bullets, $99/ 1000 at RMR.

...

I find about 1500+ pieces of 38 special per summer- almost 1/4 of that already this year, and we aren't into big shootin season yet.

But, to each their own.

 

[dragon813gt]

And you just found out why people reload. It doesn't save me any money. It does allow me to shoot a lot more for the same amount of money. I reload most pistol cartridges for $.03 a round. Did I mention I shoot a lot more for the same amount of money

 

[45_auto]

I reload most pistol cartridges for $.03 a round. Did I mention I shoot a lot more for the same amount of money

Unless someone is giving you free bullets, you should also mention that you spend a whole lot of time scrounging and/or cleaning lead, and casting, sizing, and lubing bullets before you can load them.

 

[Black Knight]

Many years ago I used a Lee Loader to load 900 rounds of ammo for an instructors course. The ammo came out very good. When I got back I loaded about 500 rounds for practice. The Lee Loader is an excellent inexpensive way to get started in handloading. After 30 years and moving up to a single stage loader I still have that Lee Loader.

 

[gamestalker]

Even as a high end reloader, I still get to shoot jacketed for under .20 per round, and it's premium quality. Beats having to search for .40 per round ammunition.

GS

 

[vamo]

Not sure what to make of this post OP has over 1,100 posts on a gun forum.

1000 rounds for training might be overkill if you already kinda know what your doing and just trying a new caliber. In that case it'll last awhile unless you're just in love with that gun and have lots of opportunities to shoot.

If you are a total newbie that 1,000 rounds will probably go a bit further than you think.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Ammo is like gasoline. You don't buy it just once.

 

[22-rimfire]

Ammo costs. What are your training objectives?

 

[MinnesotaFats]

vamo said exactly what i was thinking. wow.

 

[Drail]

1000 rounds for training is NOT overkill, it's almost required if you want to get good with a gun. When I competed and instructed I went through at least 500 rounds a week (sometimes a day). Hope your bullets are not soft lead or you'll be spending some time keeping the bore clean. Everyone should own a Lewis Lead Remover tool. Dragon hit it square on the head - reloading doesn't "save" you money - but you get to shoot a lot more for the money you would have spent on factory junk and have much higher quality ammo. Once you learn reloading you can tailor your loads to anything you need for your gun or shooting preferences. I cannot even begin to imagine being addicted to shooting and not reloading ammo today. When I started I could load a box of 50 for about $2.50. And I would shoot it all up and spend several evenings loading it all back up. Shoot as much as you can and watch your front sight. Repeat until the hot brass burns the cheeks of your butt. You'll get there. And have more fun than most people.

 

[Teachu2]

Gee, think about it - you could buy 200 packs of cigarettes for that same money, and smoke a pack a day for nearly 7 months!

Or buy 80 or so 12-packs.

Or go on several dates, or have a nice weekend getaway.

Or take a college class (maybe).

Or get 120 rolls of quarters.

Or get a new computer.

Or ten years from now, you can still have a nice firearm.

 

[huntsman]

ive settled on a handgun, and i figured that 1000 rounds of BASIC cheapest i can find 158 grain lrn 38 special should get me trained on it.

769 for the revolver
409 for that 1000 rounds.

basically 1200 dollars. in one go. Is it not normal to be freaked out at that expenditure? Because i can still see the need for more ammunition..

It could be worse, the ammo could cost a buck a piece, But yeah it hurts especially if one has limited means.

 

[MinnesotaFats]

1000 rounds may not be overkill but the op wondering if he should be "freaked out about that kind of an expenditure" with 1100+ posts on a gun forum tells me he should by now know this is how the game is played. You spend money, you get to shoot/practice. You reload, you get to shoot/practice more. Easy. If you dont have the budget or are worried then simply hold off until you do.

 

[vamo]

1000 rounds for training is NOT overkill, it's almost required if you want to get good with a gun. When I competed and instructed I went through at least 500 rounds a week (sometimes a day). Hope your bullets are not soft lead or you'll be spending some time keeping the bore clean. Everyone should own a Lewis Lead Remover tool. Dragon hit it square on the head - reloading doesn't "save" you money - but you get to shoot a lot more for the money you would have spent on factory junk and have much higher quality ammo. Once you learn reloading you can tailor your loads to anything you need for your gun or shooting preferences. I cannot even begin to imagine being addicted to shooting and not reloading ammo today. When I started I could load a box of 50 for about $2.50. And I would shoot it all up and spend several evenings loading it all back up. Shoot as much as you can and watch your front sight. Repeat until the hot brass burns the cheeks of your butt. You'll get there. And have more fun than most people.

Sure 1000rds might not be much if you're into serious competition and also a firearms instructor. For a more casual shooter its quite a bit.

 

[J-Bar]

So, how did you figure that 1000 rounds is the magic number to "get you trained on it?" What criteria will tell you that you have reached your goal?

Presumably you already know how to pull a trigger. Dry firing can accomplish a lot. Do you really need to hear a bang to practice draw and presentation, to practice trigger press and sight alignment?

Just curious how you settled on that magic number?

 

[Bezoar]

on posts and magic numbers

first on posts, 1148 posts arent much. some folks on here have 12-20,000. If you think alot, youll post alot.

Magic number,

1. keep hearing over and over again that you need to run 250-350 rounds in the gun just to make sure it functions correctly
2. put 200 rounds through the gun just to make sure the barrel is "broken" in and smoothed out somehow.
1+2 yield up 450-550 rounds
3. keep 2-300 rounds under the bed for a reserve
1+2+3 yield up 850 rounds
4. everything else, get used to the weapons recoil and see how it hits regarding poi/poa.

a k or l frame is quite different from rimfire pistols.

 

[vamo]

Well as far as the post count your post kinda came off as a new gun owner experiencing sticker shock. You've been posting since 06 and have 1,100+ on a forum that exclusively discusses guns and gun related topics. So obviously you aren't new to gun ownership.

I think the numbers are a bit overkill for someone that presumably has quite a bit of handgun experience under their belt. Unless you're planning on getting into serious competition then that's a different beast entirely.

I would also say (some will disagree) that function test and breaking in a revolver requires significantly fewer rounds than a semi auto. Whatever the case have fun going through that stockpile, alot of us on here would love the "chore" of putting that many rounds through a gun.

 

[MinnesotaFats]

Your post is titled justification of cost. You sound like you know of a solid way to get used to a new firearm. So getting back to your first post, justifying the cost of shooting/practice or buying a firearm is different depending on ones priorities. If your "freaked out at that expenditure" then save until your not.

 

[dragon813gt]

Unless someone is giving you free bullets, you should also mention that you spend a whole lot of time scrounging and/or cleaning lead, and casting, sizing, and lubing bullets before you can load them.

That is all irrelevant. We are talking strictly cost, not how I got there. Lead was cleaned a long time ago. And the casting/sizing is at my leisure because I'm ahead of the game. None of this time is figured into cost just like the actual reloading part.

 

[45_auto]

None of this time is figured into cost just like the actual reloading part.

Maybe not by you. Not everyone values their time at zero.

Since you're making claims for super cheap ammo (3 cents per round), it's only fair to point out the trade off (time) that you're making to achieve that price.

 

[Tirod]

Actually, I'm still reeling over the price of a revolver just to shoot .38. Metal framed automatics are cheaper. I see Rugers, Taurus, S&W, Colt, Charter Arms, Rossi, Armscor, and others for half the price on auctions at just one website.

I don't mean to imply revolvers are all the same - but they are just a bullet launching platform same as an auto, it doesn't care what we think it looks like. A gun for half the price would just about save all the ammo costs and net the whole exercise for a lot less. Add the price of a Lee Loader kit and you'd still be under the budget.

Why that specific revolver?

 

[larryh1108]

To justify the cost you have to realize that if you wish to sell the gun in a year or ten, if you bought a nice gun at a decent price, you should get most of your money back. That price point on a revolver should mean a nice piece. The real cost of owning any gun is the cost of the ammo you put thru it unless you beat up your guns. If you have the $1200 and can afford to spend it then enjoy the gun as well as the shooting time you put in it.

 

[oneounceload]

Shooting, no matter what the discipline is not an inexpensive pasttime. I shoot more target shotgun than anything else. Tournament fees, targets fess PLUS ammo adds up quickly over the years. Are there folks who buy a maverick walmart special or a used Rossi and one box of ammo and call it good? Yep, but they aren't SHOOTERS. If you plan on shooting a lot - for any reason - it is going to cost you. Reloading is one way to allow you to shoot more for the same money. Handguns, especially a 38 or 9mm are very easy and inexpensive to reload for and, IMO, worth the effort and time