Where to Get Cheap Target Ammo
- Thread starter hoji
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Wheelgunslinger...
I'm not sure where the price point would tip the balance for me, but i suppose it could be getting closer with the current round of price increases. However, everyone is paying higher prices these days, for everything from factory loads to re-loading components, so i imagine any difference will stay the same on a % basis.
Until just recently, I've been able to get plenty of factory 9mm for an average of 8 cents a round, and i have quite a bit of it stacked away. Reloading may be in the same price range, maybe even slightly less, but one does not save enough money to interest me in it.
I should also state that i do not shoot anywhere near 1K rounds per month on anything approaching a regular basis like Hoji does, so perhaps in the long run it could work to his advantage, but it's highly unlikely that it's going to save him the fortune that a lot of reloaders seem to claim.
I'm not sure where the price point would tip the balance for me, but i suppose it could be getting closer with the current round of price increases. However, everyone is paying higher prices these days, for everything from factory loads to re-loading components, so i imagine any difference will stay the same on a % basis.
Until just recently, I've been able to get plenty of factory 9mm for an average of 8 cents a round, and i have quite a bit of it stacked away. Reloading may be in the same price range, maybe even slightly less, but one does not save enough money to interest me in it.
I should also state that i do not shoot anywhere near 1K rounds per month on anything approaching a regular basis like Hoji does, so perhaps in the long run it could work to his advantage, but it's highly unlikely that it's going to save him the fortune that a lot of reloaders seem to claim.
It is not that you couldn't save "some" money reloading 9mm.To match Wall mart prices you would have to buy large bulk ammounts of powder,primers ,and bullets. The real deal breaker for most folks is the time spent actually doing the reloading (not to mention the time on your hands and knees at the range scrapeing up your brass!) Some guys find some enjoyment in it (good for them)but although I am set up equipment wise for all my calibers, just knowing I can save more $ reloading one 20rd box of 45-70 than a 1000rds of 9mm makes up my mind. I have a couple thousand pieces of 9mm clean brass tucked away just in case,but I totally enjoy squirting win white box and wolf all over my range with no thought as to where it is going.
I reload most everything else except carry ammo (legal thing!) but 9mm,.380 7.62X39 ,.25acp,and most of my 5.56 blasting ammo comes fron somebodys factory. That would be a big factory with a known name,only custom reloads I consider is Black Hills.
I reload most everything else except carry ammo (legal thing!) but 9mm,.380 7.62X39 ,.25acp,and most of my 5.56 blasting ammo comes fron somebodys factory. That would be a big factory with a known name,only custom reloads I consider is Black Hills.
Nhsport...
I hear 'ya there. I have often thought that the heavy-duty or exotic calibers that are expensive, hard to find, or both, would be one good argument in favor of reloading. My answer to that has always been to keep my selection of guns in the most commonly available & least expensive calibers.
30/30 & 12Ga. are on sale almost all the time and at good prices, bordering on dirt cheap, every hunting season. I simply wait every year for the pre & post-season sales and stock up. The local retailers sometimes have blow-the-doors-out specials on 9mm, .38 & .357 during this time of year too, and i am not above taking full advantage of them, just like they try to do to all of us the rest of the time.
Presuming dry conditions the stuff doesn't go bad sitting on a shelf, and if the deals are good enough i will often buy enough to last several years every fall. The shelves it sits on do need to be expanded or reinforced every so often though.
I hear 'ya there. I have often thought that the heavy-duty or exotic calibers that are expensive, hard to find, or both, would be one good argument in favor of reloading. My answer to that has always been to keep my selection of guns in the most commonly available & least expensive calibers.
30/30 & 12Ga. are on sale almost all the time and at good prices, bordering on dirt cheap, every hunting season. I simply wait every year for the pre & post-season sales and stock up. The local retailers sometimes have blow-the-doors-out specials on 9mm, .38 & .357 during this time of year too, and i am not above taking full advantage of them, just like they try to do to all of us the rest of the time.
Presuming dry conditions the stuff doesn't go bad sitting on a shelf, and if the deals are good enough i will often buy enough to last several years every fall. The shelves it sits on do need to be expanded or reinforced every so often though.
Z
zeke1312
Guest
Hoji:
Whatever you do, don't go to that "evil Wal*Mart".
Thanks for shopping with us and have a nice day!
Whatever you do, don't go to that "evil Wal*Mart".
Thanks for shopping with us and have a nice day!
Sam Adams
Member
Reloading 9mm is not a very profitable thing to do - by itself. However, if you've already got the press and related equipment, the only extra cost involved is the dies. Those generally cost around $20-$25, depending on where you get them, and cheaper if you get them used. By the way, it takes way longer to make this work if you've got to buy the brass - and I'll assume that anyone who's going to reload 9s already has a bunch of it.
For me, the costs are approximately as follows, per 100 (and it helps to buy in quantities of 1,000): 115 grain FMJs will cost in the range of $4.50-$5.00. The powder will cost about $1.00-$1.50, and the primers will cost something like $2.00. Thus, excluding brass and your labor, the cost to reload 100 rounds of 9mm is $7.50-$8.50. Let's use the mid-point of $8.00, and assume that you're saving $1.25/100. No, that's not a lot at all - but if you appreciate the non-quantifiable benefits of reloading (quiet time, relaxation, etc.), then the time spent doing this is well spent. Strictly from a cost perspective, saving $1.25/100 will pay you back for your dies in well under 2,000 rounds, and after that you help to pay off your press, scale, calipers, etc.
I reload 9s because I like reloading them, and I like the idea of being able to make my own ammo for every caliber that I own (except .22LR, but everyone should have a few thousand of those) in the event of a disaster. The cost savings and the accuracy benefits of reloading really apply in spades to other calibers (mainly rifles for me, though also for .45s and some defensive .38 rounds as well).
For me, the costs are approximately as follows, per 100 (and it helps to buy in quantities of 1,000): 115 grain FMJs will cost in the range of $4.50-$5.00. The powder will cost about $1.00-$1.50, and the primers will cost something like $2.00. Thus, excluding brass and your labor, the cost to reload 100 rounds of 9mm is $7.50-$8.50. Let's use the mid-point of $8.00, and assume that you're saving $1.25/100. No, that's not a lot at all - but if you appreciate the non-quantifiable benefits of reloading (quiet time, relaxation, etc.), then the time spent doing this is well spent. Strictly from a cost perspective, saving $1.25/100 will pay you back for your dies in well under 2,000 rounds, and after that you help to pay off your press, scale, calipers, etc.
I reload 9s because I like reloading them, and I like the idea of being able to make my own ammo for every caliber that I own (except .22LR, but everyone should have a few thousand of those) in the event of a disaster. The cost savings and the accuracy benefits of reloading really apply in spades to other calibers (mainly rifles for me, though also for .45s and some defensive .38 rounds as well).
If your gonna use wally world, look for the value packs/ 100 rds 11.22. Also try cheap as dirt for good price on better quality ammo
Here it is 11.98 but at 4.63 for a box of 50, why would I spend the extra 2 bucks and change to get the "value pack" ? And CTD wants 7 bucks for the same ammo.
I go through on average 10-15000 rounds of duty caliber per year.
And about twice that in .22.
As an instructor, I feel obligated to be at the absolute top of my game all the time. As one who carries a firearm in the public{ whether at work, or off duty} I have an even greater obligation to the public to be as proficient with my gun{s} as I am with my truck.
I do some reloading, just not for my Glocks. The only KBs seem to be with reloaded ammo. Something about case support.
The gun show here in Austin does not want gun owners to shop there{ By posting 30.06} and when I did go, not really any deals.
Here it is 11.98 but at 4.63 for a box of 50, why would I spend the extra 2 bucks and change to get the "value pack"
? And CTD wants 7 bucks for the same ammo.I go through on average 10-15000 rounds of duty caliber per year.
And about twice that in .22.
As an instructor, I feel obligated to be at the absolute top of my game all the time. As one who carries a firearm in the public{ whether at work, or off duty} I have an even greater obligation to the public to be as proficient with my gun{s} as I am with my truck.
I do some reloading, just not for my Glocks. The only KBs seem to be with reloaded ammo. Something about case support.
The gun show here in Austin does not want gun owners to shop there{ By posting 30.06} and when I did go, not really any deals.
Looks like your per 50 box price at WW is a little out of date... take advantage of it at the counter while you can!
Around here, it's about $6.60 give or take for 50 115gr. FMJ 9mm via Winchester and $11.98 for the 100-pack. Definitely climbing but still attractive comparatively speaking.
Around here, it's about $6.60 give or take for 50 115gr. FMJ 9mm via Winchester and $11.98 for the 100-pack. Definitely climbing but still attractive comparatively speaking.
davidkalger
Member
Wally world is always cheaper - because
No gun store can ever beat wal-mart in ammo prices due to quantity i work at a gunstore/ gunrange and our prices will never beat wal-marts they will beat us in prices but never quality they order 100-150 pallets of ammo at a time and sell it over a period of 2-3 years u ever checked the lot numbers on your boxes of ammo somea are 2-3 years old
No gun store can ever beat wal-mart in ammo prices due to quantity i work at a gunstore/ gunrange and our prices will never beat wal-marts they will beat us in prices but never quality they order 100-150 pallets of ammo at a time and sell it over a period of 2-3 years u ever checked the lot numbers on your boxes of ammo somea are 2-3 years old
kmtirish
Member
ammo
natchez shooters supply is good and cheaperthandirt.com is also
natchez shooters supply is good and cheaperthandirt.com is also
Mr. Beretta
Member
Gents
The price of ammo is "going thru the roof". When I find a great deal, I buy as much as I can afford. Stored right, it will never go bad and it's never going to get any cheaper. My humble two-bits!
The price of ammo is "going thru the roof". When I find a great deal, I buy as much as I can afford. Stored right, it will never go bad and it's never going to get any cheaper. My humble two-bits!
Wal Mart is now 7.25 per box as of a couple of months ago. I knew it was too good to last, but I was able to get almost a year's worth of ammo before they realized the price error.
Now I shop at Academy{5.64 per box} and have a clean conscience.
The ammo was the only reason I went to wal- Mart.
Now I shop at Academy{5.64 per box} and have a clean conscience.
The ammo was the only reason I went to wal- Mart.
redneck2
Member
I have a full reloading set-up, but I still wouldn't reload 9mm if I could buy it for $5.00. As noted, the worst thing is scrounging the brass.
Anybody have to figure in freight?? I'd think that freight on loaded ammo would be a deal breaker, but I never mail order ammo, so I don't know.
I have a G20 and definitely reload for it
Now, for the guys that shun more "exotic" calibers and stick with the plain Jane ones, I can shoot my .44 mag, 10mm, or 45LC for the same price (actually maybe a little cheaper) than a 9mm with factory ammo.
Depends on how you look at it. I can reload for 20-30 minutes, shoot all day (well, however long it takes to burn up 200-250 rounds) with match grade stuff, and shoot about any caliber I want.
Whatever floats your boat.
Anybody have to figure in freight?? I'd think that freight on loaded ammo would be a deal breaker, but I never mail order ammo, so I don't know.
I have a G20 and definitely reload for it
Now, for the guys that shun more "exotic" calibers and stick with the plain Jane ones, I can shoot my .44 mag, 10mm, or 45LC for the same price (actually maybe a little cheaper) than a 9mm with factory ammo.
Depends on how you look at it. I can reload for 20-30 minutes, shoot all day (well, however long it takes to burn up 200-250 rounds) with match grade stuff, and shoot about any caliber I want.
Whatever floats your boat.
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