Relative cost of ammo

[Hotboy]

Over the past month or so, I have been considering a purchase of a revolver in .357...here's my recent comparison thread asking for comments:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1105414

For me, the attraction of .357 was that I could also shoot .38 in the same gun to practice grip, pull, sight picture, etc. at a lower cost for ammo.

But I checked several ammo sources and right now, it seems that prices for bargain ammo are roughly in this ball park, per round:

.357 - 35 cents
.38 special - 25 cents
.45 ACP - 30 cents

I'm not sure why, but for some reason I thought that .357 was cheaper than .45 ACP. Since I own a 1911 and I stock plenty of .45 ACP ammo, I'm starting to think that I would be better off buying a .45 revolver like a S&W 625, which would make bringing ammo on range trips much simpler.

What am I missing? Is it just the coolness factor of the .357 and its law enforcement history? Would the ability to shoot .38s mean that I can practice longer (shoot more rounds) without pounding my hands to putty?

I am sorry to say that I am not a gun collector...I think guns are beautiful and awesome and fun, but I have other hobbies I choose to spend my time and money on and I don't want to buy a .357 "just to have it."

I don't mean this thread to invite reviews about various .45 revolvers...I'm just looking to answer the question "why should I buy a .357 instead of a .45 revolver?"

Thanks for your considered opinions.

[Preacher84]

Over the past month or so, I have been considering a purchase of a revolver in .357...here's my recent comparison thread asking for comments:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1105414

For me, the attraction of .357 was that I could also shoot .38 in the same gun to practice grip, pull, sight picture, etc. at a lower cost for ammo.

But I checked several ammo sources and right now, it seems that prices for bargain ammo are roughly in this ball park, per round:

.357 - 35 cents
.38 special - 25 cents
.45 ACP - 30 cents

I'm not sure why, but for some reason I thought that .357 was cheaper than .45 ACP. Since I own a 1911 and I stock plenty of .45 ACP ammo, I'm starting to think that I would be better off buying a .45 revolver like a S&W 625, which would make bringing ammo on range trips much simpler.

What am I missing? Is it just the coolness factor of the .357 and its law enforcement history? Would the ability to shoot .38s mean that I can practice longer (shoot more rounds) without pounding my hands to putty?

I am sorry to say that I am not a gun collector...I think guns are beautiful and awesome and fun, but I have other hobbies I choose to spend my time and money on and I don't want to buy a .357 "just to have it."

I don't mean this thread to invite reviews about various .45 revolvers...I'm just looking to answer the question "why should I buy a .357 instead of a .45 revolver?"

Thanks for your considered opinions.

Boom. .26c per round.

Freedom Munitions is my go to place for mass amounts of ammo. I buy everything from them and run it through all of my guns. I swear by them. Every week they have "Flash sales" off their ammo, which usually results in additional savings of 5% off the ammo and FREE shipping. Usually it is the cost of shipping that kicks the CPR up, but with free shipping, you can never go wrong. Also, they have a brass turn in program, so save all your brass. It depends on the type of brass, but it averages $2.10 per pound. If you are sitting on a ton of brass, I would send it to them and buy a ton of ammo at the same time. I have 39lbs of brass I am about to send in to do a massive order, and I could not be more excited! Christmas come early!

Watch the video on how the manufacture their ammo.

https://www.freedommunitions.com/category-s/1831.htm

[fritztkatt]

Because if you want to shoot 45acp you should buy a semi...

I get wanting to only have to stock one caliber, but a revolver is a revolver. To me, using a 45acp revolver is like putting a chevy motor in a ford... you just don't do it!

[Fishslayer]

Touch off a full house .357 Magnum indoors & you'll know why a lot of us keep the bedside wheelgun loaded with .38SP +P.

For me the .357s are just a hoot to shoot at the range. Noise, fire, semi brutal recoil... good fun! Not to mention that the triggers on the older S&W wheelguns are sweet.

No reason in the world not to go .45ACP in a wheelgun. If ammo commonality with your 1911s is an issue then it's a no brainer.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Why should you buy a.357?

They're fun to shoot, they go boom really loud, and they look cool.

You're gonna pay for ammo anyway, and with most of the .357s you can also shoot .38 special, which of on sale and with free shipping you can get it for a decent price.

[himurax13]

Also, they have a brass turn in program, so save all your brass. It depends on the type of brass, but it averages $2.10 per pound. If you are sitting on a ton of brass, I would send it to them and buy a ton of ammo at the same time. I have 39lbs of brass I am about to send in to do a massive order, and I could not be more excited! Christmas come early!

I will give you $2.50 per pound, just sayin.

[pdoggeth]

Have you considered reloading, you can cut those ammo costs in half...

But yeah, 357 magnum is one of my favourite rounds.

[shakyshoot]

I think even if you don't reload, the wide variety of the "experience" you can get with 38 Special and 357 is a plus. Even for basic range ammo, there's a huge difference between light .38 range ammo like UMC 130 gr and hotter .357 like PMC or Herter's 158 grain. It's almost like having 2 guns in one. Whereas a .45 is pretty much a .45, unless you're shooting expensive +P SD ammo. Unless you're dead set on having as few calibers as possible, I don't thing you'll regret adding a .357. I like having a choice of calibers when I hit the range. If I ever can't find ammo for one gun, I might have ammo for this other gun.

[lastinline]

Because if you want to shoot 45acp you should buy a semi...

I get wanting to only have to stock one caliber, but a revolver is a revolver. To me, using a 45acp revolver is like putting a chevy motor in a ford... you just don't do it!

To each his own. I have been using various revolvers in both .357/38 & .45 ACP for over thirty years, and love the .45 ACP in wheel guns. I also own a number of .357 auto pistols, and a few of the older S&W .38 autoloaders, so caliber choice is not limited to any particular action type.
Botton line is, if you want one, do it. Now, before you get too old, or the legislature takes the option away. You only live once.

[rsrocket1]

Cast and reload and you are down to about 6-10 cents a round even with the increasing costs of powder and lead.
3 cents per primer
1 - 2 cents for powder
2-4 cents for 158g lead @ $1-$2/# ($1 is quite do-able, free is even better but becoming more rare)
Even if you get reamed and pay commercial prices of 10 cents per bullet, your costs are $0.15/shot

Just save your brass. Used 38 special brass is cheap also and with low to mid range loads, the brass lasts a long time.

[silas3d]

I'd get the 357. I tried to keep my ammo common for a while (22lr, 45acp, and 45lc); then got a great deal on a used 44 magnum...

+1 on saving your brass - even if you don't reload you can always mail a bunch of it in to Freedom as part of their brass credit program.

[TKM]

It doesn't matter what you get. The gun is the cheap part.

I got rid of all of my 357s though, they really amped up my tinnitus.

[RR.44]

Definitely need to get into reloading, more options available to you.

[Hotboy]

Have you considered reloading, you can cut those ammo costs in half...

Definitely need to get into reloading, more options available to you.

Yes, I realize that, but as I said at the top...

I have other hobbies I choose to spend my time and money on...

I don't smoke my own meats, I don't change my own oil, I don't make my own beer, and I don't reload...:-)

I got rid of all of my 357s though, they really amped up my tinnitus.

Touch off a full house .357 Magnum indoors & you'll know why a lot of us keep the bedside wheelgun loaded with .38SP +P.

This may be the most compelling reason...if I have a HD need, a wheelgun loaded with .38s might be the difference between hearing loss or not...

[rm1911]

I don't smoke my own meats, I don't change my own oil, I don't make my own beer, and I don't reload...:-).

There are many reasons to reload and money is but a smaller one. The analogy doesn't hold here for one reason. Nobody, well at least not yet, has proposed limits on smoked meat, oil changes, or beer. Next time there's a panic, and notice I said next time not if there's a, you'll see why many of us reload. Of course I've been for 25 years so maybe my perspective is skewed.

As for ammo, there are lots of remanufactured ammo sources and relatively cheap. Best to shoot cast bullets, even if they're lighter loads, in the 357 brass. You'll appreciate this once you try to clean the lead ring from inside the cylinder. (Said from experience !!).