W.E.G.
Member
Yes!
Buy a couple Glock 17's and then start looking into something in 32-20.
Buy a couple Glock 17's and then start looking into something in 32-20.
Would you let ammo availability influence your purchase choice?
- Thread starter LibertySympathizer
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LibertySympathizer
Member
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- Sep 9, 2009
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Thanks for all the correct responses.
David E
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How much does shipping cost, each way ?
The merits of reloading depend on how much you shoot. And how much you shoot would dictate what reloading equipment you buy. I may be able to get by with a Lee Loader (mallet sold separately) for my .32 S&W Long, but not for the .38/.357, 9mm, .40 or .45 acp where I easily shoot 1000's of rds.
I use a Dillon 650, which takes about 5 minutes to load 100 rds. 5 minutes here, 5 there and before I know it, I have a couple 1000 rds loaded up.
Nushif
Member
I am trying to talk my wife into a full sized 9mm instead of her .380 for the exact reason of Ammo availability.
So would I let availability let me influence in my choice? Sure as hell. Unless of course you're looking for a collector's piece you never expect to shoot.
So would I let availability let me influence in my choice? Sure as hell. Unless of course you're looking for a collector's piece you never expect to shoot.
mljdeckard
Member
18 months ago, I would have said nonsense. Not so sure anymore.
Guy de Loimbard
Member
Never have, probably never will. Started pistol shooting with a 9x18 and now among other calibers have a .38 Super, .45 Colt, and a .357 (locally, cheap blasting .357 cannot be found - only $30/25rd self defense ammo, and crappy .38 ammo). Only thing that holds me back at times is primer availability.
Leafy Cronmer
Member
Well my mind set is that a gun I don't shoot is worth a lot less to me than a gun I do shoot. And the one reason that keeps me from shooting above all others is cost of ammunition, So I regularly choose a gun with ammo availability and price of ammo in mind.
Shadow 7D
Member
If you don't reload, then yes, it's a major factor.
Why would you buy something that you cannot easily find ammo to shoot, I mean how bout a widely 44, basically a cut down .308 case, awesome gun, but there is no ammo for it.
Why would you buy something that you cannot easily find ammo to shoot, I mean how bout a widely 44, basically a cut down .308 case, awesome gun, but there is no ammo for it.
Shadow 7D
Member
double post
christcorp
Member
If you only ship back 50 pieces of brass, then that would be silly. However, I order ammo at 500 rounds at a time. 500 pieces of brass isn't that expensive to ship. Actually, I put it in a large padded envelope. It only costs about $7 to ship. Which means about $0.75 additionally for each box of ammo that I am buying. So that's about $7.10 per box of 9mm and about $9 for 45acp.
huntsman
Member
The strange thing about this ammo shortage is that it varies from store to store state to state and region to region, not mention caliber by caliber.
My advice to you is buy what is available locally and continue to buy as much as you can and after you’ve shot enough to familiarize yourself with the new gun, build an ammo surplus then start looking for reloading equipment.
I don’t believe things will ever get back to “normal” so riding it out isn’t an option.
colorado_handgunner
Member
One of the reasons i shoot .40 instead of 9mm. .40 is much easier to find where i live.
Well today I let ammo availability dictate my new handgun purchase in terms of caliber. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=513367
In my area I can find lots of .40 but 9mm is hit and miss and I haven't seen any .45 in 6 weeks. Because the XDm in .40 can have a 9mm barrel conversion dropped in I went that caliber. Now, if for some reason 9mm is more available or is cheaper to shoot in the future I can go that route.
In my area I can find lots of .40 but 9mm is hit and miss and I haven't seen any .45 in 6 weeks. Because the XDm in .40 can have a 9mm barrel conversion dropped in I went that caliber. Now, if for some reason 9mm is more available or is cheaper to shoot in the future I can go that route.
rainbowbob
Member
Ouch! What will they think of next?
I finally found what I was looking for - 158 grain .38 spl that makes IDPA power floor - by mail-order at a decent price. I couldn't find it at ANY price in the gun shops. I'll probably never buy it any other way.
May I ask where?
woad_yurt
Member
.380 pistols are virtually useless nowadays; I wouldn't buy any now.
Loyalist Dave
Member
It depends on the purpose of the gun for me. For self defense applications I went with .45 acp, which I reload with a Dillon, and 9mm and .357 for availability. When I wanted revolvers for CAS, I went with .45 Colt as I like the old round. IF I was going with availability of ammo, I would've gone .38/.357.
LD
LD
nitetrane98
Member
I'm actually trying to cover all the bases. I can reload for every caliber gun I own. I've got all the standard calibers covered. I'm currently looking for a 9mm MAK, a 32acp and maybe even a .25acp. I've had to buy a lot of factory amo lately to replenish brass supplies. I want to be able to shoot whatever is available. Walmart ammo supply is getting better but still spotty. If I want to go shooting, instead of asking for a specific round, I can ask, "What do you have?" I've got a gun for it.
Sheepdog1968
Member
I don't think things are going to be as dire as you make them out to be in CA, where I live as well. When I go to the gunshows, all the common calibers have been there for sale over the last six months. A year ago, you just couldn't find some calibers. You can solve any temporary fluctuations in availability by buying a one or two year supply of ammo. Yes, I'm serious. I know several people who did that to avoid being caught without calibers they like to shoot.
Also, when you go to the range, you could buy range ammo, if available so as to not dip into your supply.
I have made some purchases based on the cost of the ammo caliber. For example, I own a 9 mm that duplicates my 45 ACP. The cost savings between calibers and the rounds I've shot have essentially paid off the purchase of the 9 mm.
At this point, most of my friends and I who've been shooting for 20+ years own enough different calibers so that we would never have to worry if one specific caliber were out of stock.
Also keep in mind that you can still purchase rifle and shotgun cartridges through the mail after the CA law takes effect. A rifle or shotgun is a better weapon IMO for home defense. I'd buy either a rifle or a shotgun first before I get a pistol. Also, as you find pistol ammo, you can start to buy that now in the cartridge you want in anticipation of eventually getting the pistol.
Also, when you go to the range, you could buy range ammo, if available so as to not dip into your supply.
I have made some purchases based on the cost of the ammo caliber. For example, I own a 9 mm that duplicates my 45 ACP. The cost savings between calibers and the rounds I've shot have essentially paid off the purchase of the 9 mm.
At this point, most of my friends and I who've been shooting for 20+ years own enough different calibers so that we would never have to worry if one specific caliber were out of stock.
Also keep in mind that you can still purchase rifle and shotgun cartridges through the mail after the CA law takes effect. A rifle or shotgun is a better weapon IMO for home defense. I'd buy either a rifle or a shotgun first before I get a pistol. Also, as you find pistol ammo, you can start to buy that now in the cartridge you want in anticipation of eventually getting the pistol.
Sheepdog1968
Member
One other thought, thought I prefer a 45 ACP as a back up to a long arm, I would feel fine with a 40, 9, 38, 357 as well. I think shot placement is much more important the caliber selection. There have been some times when situations have been such where all I have had was a 22 LR available. Not my first choice but better than nothing.
ol' scratch
Member
It is very important to me.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
For a cartridge that is normally commonly available but happens to be in short supply at a given time, it would not bother me. Unless it were strictly for a collector's piece (perhaps a moot point, since I shoot all my firearms), I would not buy one chambered for an obsolete or oddball cartridge.
MattTheHat
Member
Not important to me at all. In fact, I'd say as a reloader, I look forward to the chance to add a cartridge I'm not already loading to my reloading kit.
It's funny that people mention components being as hard to find as ammo. I just don't see this as being the case. I buy my components at shows, and the supply always seems to be there.
I gotto go. Need to go order some 9x18 dies.
-Matt
It's funny that people mention components being as hard to find as ammo. I just don't see this as being the case. I buy my components at shows, and the supply always seems to be there.
I gotto go. Need to go order some 9x18 dies.
-Matt
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