Even if you reload it's comparatively expensive because of the bullet weight, the bullet generally being the expensive part of the equation unless you cast. And even so, 180-240 grains burns up your lead a lot faster than 110-158.
With my giant horde of 5.5 cent 9mm plated bullets, I load a box of really good quality 9mm optimized for my use and guns for just under $5. I do save more on the revolver cartridges, but am happy being able to shoot twice as much 9 on a given budget.
I wasn't saying you should, just that 44 still costs significantly more if you reload, and that reloading can save significantly even in the worst case.
Yep, seems at times less than .22 rimfire..HA.HA...
Not really. My cheapest cast bullets for plinking/practice are $35 for .358" or $49 for .430", per 500. The difference amounts to $1.40 per 50rds. If all you care about is making noise and holes in paper, then it might be a factor. If you actually use it as a field cartridge, the difference in cost is easily superseded by the difference in capability. The .357 needs velocity to be effective and with that velocity comes pressure and an ear-splitting crack. The .44 doesn't and works very well under 1000fps. The .357 has a definite ceiling when it comes to bullet weight and capability. The .41, although to a lesser extent, suffers from the same malady. Not enough diameter and case capacity to utilize very heavy bullets. The .44, .45, .475 and .500 all have the diameter and case capacity to propel bullets with sectional density in the .270 range to a meaningful velocity of 1200-1300fps. That makes for a very broad operating range that fully eclipses anything the .357 is capable of. As with anything else, it all hinges in the intended purpose.
That would invite the question - what part of your linking/practice benefits from the extra power and expenditure? My cheapest .357 plated bullets are less than 6 cents per, and that is a significant savings if we are going to phrase the remarks in the context of plinking/practice components.
You may have missed my post above where I stated the .44 mag is only a great deal if you need or desire the extra power. The implication was it is a great deal if you do. But regardless of your actual use of the guns and how you rate their merits, 44 costs more, even at the reloading bench.
So are you going to give me one for my 243rd birthday?Every jarhead needs at least one .44 Mag! That's why I have several.
