ammo discussion - the fun vs. money factor

[559luke]

I'm going to be buying my first handgun in the near future. I'm currently leaning towards a .40 S&W. I'm also considering a 9mm due to lower ammo cost.

I currently own a M&P 15-22 and an old Remington semi-auto 12 gauge. I love the M&P15-22 and I'm glad a bought it, but it does not give the same satisfaction as the 12 gauge. A typical range trip with the 22 consumes several hundred rounds, while a few dozen 12 gauge shells is usually enough to quell the shooting bug for another week or two. I'm wondering if I buy a 9mm instead of the .40 (or.45) i'll just end us shooting 3 boxes instead of 2 negating the savings of the cheaper ammo. Of course there's more to it that ammo cost, but it's a fun discussion. Do any of you find yourselves shooting more rounds of 9 than 40 or 45 to have the same amount of fun.

[THE NEW GUY]

Nothing wrong with 9mm. You will have more fun shooting an endless supply of 9mm, or look at the empty boxes of 45. LOL

[RedFord150]

9mm and .40S&W are not that far apart in the way they feel. I cannot imagine you would shoot more 9mm just because you perceive the recoil is more manageable.
I have owned both 9mm and .40S&W. For range/target and General HD use, buy the 9mm and some really good HD ammo.
Good luck.

[alex45auto]

If you can't decide, buy both. There's alot being posted here in CG for both calibers.

[Quinc]

I have a .45, and the next handgun will be a 9mm because of ammo costs. 9mm is much easier to find and a hell of alot cheaper.

[Shenaniguns]

Ballistically they are nearly identical with premium ammo, so why pay up to 25% more to practice?

[Rock6.3]

I reload, thus I can shoot more for the same money.

[Shenaniguns]

I reload, thus I can shoot more for the same money.

I also prefer the recoil characteristics of 9mm personally.

[XDRoX]

I reload, thus I can shoot more for the same money.

I also prefer the recoil characteristics of 9mm personally.

Same here. I reload as well and can I can afford to shoot anything a lot. I choose to shoot 9mm. It's my favorite ammo. I'm the wrong guy to ask though because I don't care for the 40 and probably never will.

Modern 9mm is practically just as effective as 40.

I think I own guns in 11 different calibers. But 40 isn't one of them.

[boomboomPistolero]

I'm guessing your like me; you like guns with a big bang. I too have a 12ga., also a 45acp but due to ammo cost I'm hopping to get a 9mm in the near future.

[M. D. Van Norman]

[aca72]

Go with the classics...

22LR
9mm
45 ACP

[Whiterabbit]

reload. i do NOT consider ammo cost as a firearm selection criteria, unless it's something extreme. Like $4 a round, or $2 per unfired brass. To make it cheap, the cash outlay for the press and dies is chump change compared to the ability to manufacture my own ammunition.

This is the biased opinion from a self-described "maker" who maintains his own shop (garage) and loves art, engineering, and all of the hand made.

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I have a buddy who cares for none of these things, and is wealthy enough to also not care about ammo cost for a firearm purchase. Two equally good perspectives IMO.

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What is a copout IMO is to reject your #1 gun on your shortlist for your #3 because of ammo cost. IMO no compromises.

[den888]

I own 9mm, .40 and .45. 9mm is the cheapest and all are fun to shoot.

[Fern]

What about a Sig w/ a .22 lr rimfire conversion kit for the range.