Ammo prices at gun shows?

[thumperfbc]

Howdy guys,

I'm heading to the Fresno Gun Show this saturday and am wondering what prices will be like for range type .45acp ammo? I've got nothing on hand buy my defense rounds and would like to purchase at least 500 rounds, if not 1000 of basic, cheap range ammo for my sig. What should I expect?

Anybody else going to the Fresno show?

[Greg Beck]

Buy the factory loads. Here's the score with gun show reloads. Two squibs that plugged the barrel of the 586. A blown off extracter on the Sig. I've been told this is a common problem with gun show reloads. Read the caution from Accurate Powder [arms].

[Guest]

forget the gun show reloads. natchezss.com has a great sale on remington umc. shipping is not that much. at the gun show you will pay tax if you buy from the big vendors and you will have to carry it back to your car. if you are just going to buy ammo or beef jerky you should save the entrance fee stay at home and order of the net. it will cost the same and come right to your door.

[bear]

I've used a quite a few boxes of "gun show reloads" without incident. This is both MiWall, and also a couple of other reloaders.

The only squib I ever had was one I made myself.
Nowadays I buy mostly components and assemble them myself. Huge savings at the gun show on powder, it's like $10 a pound less than a gun shop.

But for calibers I don't shoot much, the show often is either close to, or the same as internet sale prices. Since they often charge sales tax at the show, and shipping on the internet the prices are pretty close. Shipping is almost always more than tax though, I've found the prices pretty good at the shows for factory ammo.

I go to lots of shows, even if I don't buy anything it's still interesting, and a good way to see what's new, or run across old stuff. Since most of the pistols I like are not on "the list", it's a good place to spot guns you can't buy otherwise.

[bwiese]

I generally don't buy reloads, but will consider quality reloads for revolvers only (38/357, 45LC, 45Colt, 44/44Mag) for general shooting.

I do like Maine Cartridge Co. reloads.

Autoloader ammo for 40, 9mm, 45ACP is cheap enough that I'd rather have 100% confidence. Plus, w/reports of KaBooms in autos w/case webs not fully supported, I think I'll play it safe.

I'd consider buying 308 match reloads in bulk for loads that mimic Fed Gold Medal Match 168gr ammo. May pick up a batch from Darryl of Reno next time I'm at a good show (or Big Reno Show).

I won't buy 223 reloads. Too close to price of new bulk ammo.

I generally buy from MiWall, their prices are good even w/sales tax. (Many gunshow vendors do not like MiWall because MiWall sells to end users at about the same price as they do to dealers.)


Bill Wiese
San Jose

[DNA]

I've also put several thousand rounds of reloads through my guns without incident. I've used Miwall reloads and highly recommend them.

I've had more buggered rounds from factory boxes than the reloads from Miwall.

Dan

[jnojr]

I've generally had good luck with Miwall ammo. Except their 9mm and my SIG P226 do not get along at all... I don't know if the SIG has an extra-strong recoil spring, but the Miwall just doesn't work the slide all the way.

[m1afan]

I just picked up 1000 rounds of Wolf 45 at the Ventura show 2 weeks ago which my Kimber doesn't mind. It went for $65 per 500 or $125 for 1000 and it was also from MiWall. I like buying from gun shows rather than having it shipped because I pick up cleaning supplies/targets/spare parts for a lot cheaper even if there is an entrance fee of $8. My range out here sells target for 75 cents each. I get 20 targets for $5 at the show.

[bwiese]

Originally posted by jnojr:
I've generally had good luck with Miwall ammo. Except their 9mm and my SIG P226 do not get along at all... I don't know if the SIG has an extra-strong recoil spring, but the Miwall just doesn't work the slide all the way.

By any chance might you have the wrong P226 recoil spring? P226s are available in 40S&W and 357Sig as well as orig 9mm versions. I could see this causing problems.

What brand/type of 9mm ammo was this causing your Sig problems? Were these new rounds (brand-name or bulk?) or MiWall reloads?

I had problems with anemic 9mm ammo too (PMC brand) when I had a Colt AR15 9mm conversion unit that had cycling issues. Kept thinking it was the gun, 'til I tried some IMI 115gr and 124gr and black tip carbine loads. All cycled fine; PMC 9mm was just anemic.


Bill Wiese
San Jose

[Guest]

I will not buy gun show ammo. I got a case home last year and found half the stuff had some corrosion telling me the dealer did not have a proper storage facility.

One of the local stores here, L A Guns, http://www.laguns.com/ gives me 20% off on all ammo if I buy five boxes or more of it, which brings Federal American Eagle 45 down to about $10 a box.

The range that I use, LAX http://www.laxrange.com/ also gives me quantity deals, so I would suggest you check with your local dealer to see what kind of break they offer if you buy more than one box. You just might be surprised.

[Technical Ted]

The only .223 reloads I'm willing to shoot in my personal firearms are my own, or "remanufactured" ammo from Black Hill Ammunition.

I know other shooters who'll go through 500 rd ammo cans of Miwall reloads in a day or weekend and they've never had any complaints. The stuff is a good deal, but my only issue is that they use recycled range brass with mixed headstamps--not exactly conducive to consistency from round to round.

Miwall also sells their own line of ammo assembled from new components--technically not reloaded. Haven't looked into it thoroughly enough to find out what manufacturers components they use.

Originally posted by ShorePaul:
I will not buy gun show ammo. I got a case home last year and found half the stuff had some corrosion telling me the dealer did not have a proper storage facility.

Just another indication of your naivete

Most of the factory loaded ammo I've fired in my firearms over the last seven years, some 10,000 rounds, has been purchased from Miwall at gunshows. I've purchased smaller lots from smaller dealers, but only after I've inspected it.

[Technical Ted]

FWIW low cost sources for ammo can be found on the internet. http://www.ammoman.com is a popular vendor. http://www.outdoormarksman.com is another. Actually ODM is affiliated with Miwall Corp and their prices generally reflect the prices you'll pay at gunshows--without the shipping.

FYI Miwall is scheduled to be at the Fresno show.

[C.G.]

Originally posted by jnojr:
I've generally had good luck with Miwall ammo. Except their 9mm and my SIG P226 do not get along at all... I don't know if the SIG has an extra-strong recoil spring, but the Miwall just doesn't work the slide all the way.

I've had no problem with Miwall 9mm in either 115 or 124 in my Beretta 92 Brigadier, but it did seem to have a little more kick (maybe it is +P).

[bwiese]

Originally posted by Technical Ted:
The only .223 reloads I'm willing to shoot in my personal firearms are my own, or "remanufactured" ammo from Black Hill Ammunition.

I know other shooters who'll go through 500 rd ammo cans of Miwall reloads in a day or weekend and they've never had any complaints. The stuff is a good deal, but my only issue is that they use recycled range brass with mixed headstamps--not exactly conducive to consistency from round to round.

If I knew reloads (other than revolver ammo) were indeed true guaranteed 'once-fired-brass' I might be more amenable to reloads. Probably varies with vendor. But I am esp paranoid about 40S&W (case web issues in Glocks, H&Ks) and 223 (high primers in autoloaders.

I would trust Black Hills remans on once-fired brass though.


Bill Wiese
San Jose

[Technical Ted]

Originally posted by bwiese:
If I knew reloads (other than revolver ammo) were indeed true guaranteed 'once-fired-brass' I might be more amenable to reloads. Probably varies with vendor. But I am esp paranoid about 40S&W (case web issues in Glocks, H&Ks) and 223 (high primers in autoloaders.

That's why I only shoot my own reloads(using a single stage press--takes longer than a progressive, but handling the cases individually lets me inspect each and every one).

So far I haven't had any issues with my 40 S&W reloads in my P99, but then I only reload them once.

I would trust Black Hills remans on once-fired brass though.

It's good stuff, but pricey.