No handgun yet: guesses on .380/Mak/9mm ammo prices?

[Ignition Override]

Today's visit to our first Academy store resulted in finding their lowest-priced 9mm ammo- still on the shelves - at $30/50 rds. Had hoped to buy a few boxes at much lower prices for a buddy on a tight budget, but bought nothing.

.380 and 9x18 Mak. was much less. How do you view the trends for the lowest prices and availability?

If 9mm does not come down a fair bit in price over the next six months, and you plan on your first handgun using one of these three rds., would you base a first handgun decision on ammo price trends, if you like certain PPK-style guns in all three chamberings?
If there is not another panic for quite a while, is the lowest-priced 9mm expected to be more available in the next year or so?

 

[tarosean]

typically 9mm has been cheaper than 380. No clue about Mak its been 20+yrs since Ive owned one chambered in it.

If I could speculate that well Id be rich... I know not the answer your looking for, but IMO buy what you want and stock up so your not caught with your pants down.

 

[PabloJ]

The choice should be 9x19. I see no reason to pick 9x17 or 9mm Makarov.

 

[jimbeaux82]

(MM ammo prices

I have been finding 9 x 19 (Luger) ammo at Walmart (Brassmax) for $13.99/50 380 (Brassmax) for $14.99/50 and 9 x 18 ammo (Makarov) at Academy for $10.99/50.

Prices almost back to pre-crisis levels

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Until this shortage clears I have been buying all my ammo on line. Well, I have purchased several boxes of S&B .32 aCP at a local Scheels because the price was $19 a box/50 rounds and it is the ammo I wanted.

They have 9mm in various offerings but almost all of it is premium defense ammo (not much general shooting or target loads) and ridiculously expensive. I just purchased 2 boxes of Fiocchi 115 grain 9mm hardball for $13 a box. Added a couple of boxes of .45 at $19 a box and a couple .32 ACP at $19 a box and paid shipping at $12 delivered to me.

Got what I wanted (not what they had on the shelves) and paid about half what it runs locally. In some locations here the ammo is coming back into supply but it is spotty in availability and expensive.

FindMeAmmo.com is my best friend!

VooDoo

 

[PabloJ]

I have been finding 9 x 19 (Luger) ammo at Walmart (Brassmax) for $13.99/50 380 (Brassmax) for $14.99/50 and 9 x 18 ammo (Makarov) at Academy for $10.99/50.

Prices almost back to pre-crisis levels

When one compares prices of Russian iron cased 9x19 vs 9x18 the prices are about the same. Due to paranoid people most places on line have none to offer for sale.

 

[jrdolall]

If things get back to normal then 9mm will be your best bet. It is priced better than 380 and should be available at any store you walk into be it Walmart, Academy or and other store with ammo. The 9x18 is generally not as readily available but easy to find at decent prices online.
This is assuming things get back to normal of course. Whatever "normal" is.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Not being a smart aleck, but reloading is the sure way to control your prices on any caliber and you can reload a ton of small pistol cartridges with a pound of powder.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I reload .380, 9x18 and 9mm (9x19), so ammo cost and availability means little to me.

But if I were to buy a gun based on the ammo I would choose the 9mm.

If for no other reason than if you did get into reloading (and you should) 9mm brass is cheap and plentiful.

 

[Dean1818]

I would say be careful of 9mak

The prices continue to rise vs 9mm

In many cases, its more than 9mm


It used to be 50 - 70% of 9mm

What will it look like in 5 years?

 

[mgmorden]

I would say be careful of 9mak

The prices continue to rise vs 9mm

In many cases, its more than 9mm


It used to be 50 - 70% of 9mm

What will it look like in 5 years?

Also, reloading either is cheaper than factory, but 9mm Mak bullets cost a bit more.

Long term, your best bet is 9mm Luger for price. Tends to be the cheapest factory ammo and very cheap to reload.

 

[longknife12]

Sheesh, about 60 days ago, I paid $13.40 for 9mm at Wally world! Bought all they would let me have.
Dan

 

[Pilot]

9MM (9x19) will be the least expensive, and there are lots of newer compact pistols chambered for it if your intent is to carry.

 

[wally]

Not being a smart aleck, but reloading is the sure way to control your prices on any caliber and you can reload a ton of small pistol cartridges with a pound of powder.

Dose of reality. A pound of powder will load ~500-2500 rounds depending on the powder, caliber, and bullet chosen. A pound of Unique loads about 1150 230gr .45ACP or about 2000 147gr 9mm or about 750 158gr .357 magnums.

Sad fact is bullets, primers, and powder have often been more difficult to find than ammo during the shortage.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Long term the components have not been a problem. I had a good supply of powder, primers, and bullets before the run started and I added to what I had when I found components available at a reasonable price during the hysteria. I expect that within a few years components supply will return to a more normal level or disappear completely. Either way I believe reloading is still an entertaining and economical way to control the cost of practice.