Nice collection KENNYF! Do you get to go to
the range often?
Big Bad Bear - Who's Afraid
haoli25 wrote:
Even a brick of .22 is getting steep!
I have always loaded my own stuff but most ranges won't allow reloads anymore so I'm screwed there as well. Too many expensive hobbies!
I hear you! The price of ammo has skyrocketed, particularly since the election. I shoot a lot of comabt/self defense stuff and in a normal shooting day we go thru 500+ rounds. That used to cost ~$85-100. Now it's $200. Plus the training is $125/day. I can't do it like I used to!A hobby of mine too, Bear. I got lucky on the
Model 500, I traded two Colt Model 1911's for it
at a gun show. It's still too expensive to shoot
though.
It's expensive enough to shoot my 45's, 40's, and
9mm's. For cheap target practice I have a Browning
Buck Mark, Ruger MK III, etc.
Even a brick of .22 is getting steep!
I have always loaded my own stuff but most ranges won't allow reloads anymore so I'm screwed there as well. Too many expensive hobbies!
I can still handle the 22's. I buy them online for
$16.50 for 550 rounds. I can buy 100 round box of
Winchester 9mm for $26.80. The 45's are a straight
50 cents a shot. You can't even find .380 ammo any
longer at any price.
I never got into trying my hand at re-loads. I figured
I would have to get up to 15,000 rounds a year for
each caliber to make it worth buying the equipment.
$16.50 for 550 rounds. I can buy 100 round box of
Winchester 9mm for $26.80. The 45's are a straight
50 cents a shot. You can't even find .380 ammo any
longer at any price.
I never got into trying my hand at re-loads. I figured
I would have to get up to 15,000 rounds a year for
each caliber to make it worth buying the equipment.
kennyf wrote:
A factory loaded .500Mag load with a 350gr bullet can top out over 3,000 ft-lbs!! That means the bear gets hit with over 3 times the energy of a .44 at the only expense of a slightly heavy revolver (I'm not counting the cost of the ammo when you are confronted by an angry mama bear!)!
If I was hunting or hiking in Alaska I'd be packing a Model 500! This debate BTW has dominated several handgun forums since the introduction of the Model 500 in 2003.
That's true but I know a couple Alaskan guides and they all say even a .44Mag isn't enough against the big bears. By comparison a relatively hot factory loaded .44mag with a 240 gr. bullet generates about 970 ft-lbs of kinetic energy.Ya know, not too much walks away from a shot from a .44 Mag., but man, they sure are fatiguing on the shooter.
A factory loaded .500Mag load with a 350gr bullet can top out over 3,000 ft-lbs!! That means the bear gets hit with over 3 times the energy of a .44 at the only expense of a slightly heavy revolver (I'm not counting the cost of the ammo when you are confronted by an angry mama bear!)!
If I was hunting or hiking in Alaska I'd be packing a Model 500! This debate BTW has dominated several handgun forums since the introduction of the Model 500 in 2003.
haoli25 wrote:
The main cost is the brass because the military is sucking it all up. I've got tons of brass and I take good care of it(not using max loads) so that's free. It's the only way to go if you shoot a lot and the range will let you use it.
Plus relaoding is really fun. On a rainy Saturday crank out a few boxes. It's pretty mindless once you get the system down. If you get into it, get a progressive for handgun loads. A single stroke is fine for rifle ammo but is way too slow for cranking out handgun ammo.
As you point out it depends on how much you shoot. I've got a progressive RCBS press and I can crank out ammo for about $5/box (.40 or 9mm). I used to figure I'd save 50% reloading but it's way more now. I don't think it would take 15,000 rounds to justify, especially over time. The caliber dies are only about $30.I can still handle the 22's. I buy them online for
$16.50 for 550 rounds. I can buy 100 round box of
Winchester 9mm for $26.80. The 45's are a straight
50 cents a shot. You can't even find .380 ammo any
longer at any price.
I never got into trying my hand at re-loads. I figured
I would have to get up to 15,000 rounds a year for
each caliber to make it worth buying the equipment.
The main cost is the brass because the military is sucking it all up. I've got tons of brass and I take good care of it(not using max loads) so that's free. It's the only way to go if you shoot a lot and the range will let you use it.
Plus relaoding is really fun. On a rainy Saturday crank out a few boxes. It's pretty mindless once you get the system down. If you get into it, get a progressive for handgun loads. A single stroke is fine for rifle ammo but is way too slow for cranking out handgun ammo.