What centerfire cartridge is the least expensive in bulk?

[jaktok]

I am interested in doing a LOT of shooting this summer. The area is large enough to shoot a rifle for 200 meters.

What is the least expensive cartridge to shoot. I will have a 22lr of course and want a centerfire handgun and a centerfire rifle to shoot.

Cost of the ammo is the most important issue as I can trade into any gun I want.

 

[ARTiger]

9mm Luger . . . by far. $13-$15 for 100 at most WalMarts.

 

[chris in va]

7.62 x54R is pretty darn cheap right now. Forget 308. 39 is coming down a hair, but slowly.

If you're gonna do a ton of shooting, get an intermediate cartridge, otherwise your shoulder might need replacement.

EDIT: I paid $70 for two 440rd tins of 54R at the last gun show. There's no way I'm shooting up all that ammo any time soon.

 

[stormspotter]

What centerfire cartridge

My choice would be 9mm and 223/5.56.

 

[SoCalShooter]

.38spec is pretty inexpensive.

 

[BADUNAME13]

5.45x39 or 7.62x54

 

[Geno]

7.62X54R costs $140.00 for 1,200 rounds. That pretty good.

 

[rugerdude]

You want a 9mm carbine! About 130 bucks per thousand of cheap brown bear.

The monarch stuff it 7 bucks per 50 too.

Uhm, 5.45x39mm is pretty cheap too. Look on AIM surplus for it.

7.62x54r is the cheapest, but you can't buy surplus ammo in a sporting goods store, or at wal-mart.

 

[jaktok]

I am willing to buy in bulk at gun shows or online.

Who are the best suppliers?

 

[CA357]

9mm is pretty cheap and you can buy some pretty nice pistols and carbines to shoot it from. Because of your pistol/rifle mindset, you may want to consider .357 even though it costs more than 9mm. You can shoot .38's in .357 guns, and .38 special is about the same price as 9mm. This way, if you want more power, shoot some .357's instead.
There's quite a few choices for pistols and for a long gun, you can pick up something like a Marlin 1894 Lever Action in .357. A good shooter can work a lever gun pretty much as fast as a semi-automatic.
I'm just trying to give you some options here. I think you get much more bang for the buck with .357. Whatever you decide, enjoy yourself.

 

[Gifted]

Do you want to go all the way out to 200, or is that just the limit? I don't know how well 9mm will do at that range. Probably put a hole in paper, but not much more. I'd go with one of the intermediate rifle cartridges.

 

[possum]

5.45 and 9mm.

 

[quatin]

5.45x39

Don't you pretty much have to buy an AK if you want to shoot that?

 

[strat81]

9x19, 7.62x39, 5.45x39. Get the cheap russian stuff. Check www.aimsurplus.com, www.midwayusa.com, and www.johnsvtgunshop.com.

Oh, and it might be worth asking your local gunshop if they can match internet prices if you buy a case or 4.

 

[rritter]

Get a CZ-52 pistol for $140 or so, and a 1,224-round can of 7.62x25 for $110. That's a high-velocity, flat-shooting pistol round so you can exercise your skills out to longer distances.