The $ Cost of Self Defense.

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dom1104

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Gun: 1911 - $700

Ammo: .45 ACP - .50 cents a round = $900 per year

Ammo per month - 150 rounds

----

Gun: Glock 19 - $399

Ammo: 9mm - .30 cents per round = $540 per year

Ammo per month - 150 rounds

-----

Ruger LCP - $279

Ammo: 380 ACP - 40 cents per round = $720 per year

Ammo per month - 150 rounds

------------------------


Ruger LCP Ammo Cost over 40 years = $28800
Glock 19 Ammo cost over 40 years = $ 21600
1911 Ammo cost over 40 years = $36000

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CONCLUSION.


I need to buy the nicest reloading setup I can get my hands on. :)
 
Whats funny is that ammo is by far and away the highest cost. Even a minimal amount like 150 rounds a month.

You could have the worlds nicest 9mm, not even sure what that would be, and be money ahead vs a more expensive round.


I shoot more like 300 rounds a month so the numbers would be $72000 for the .45, $43500 for the 9, and $57600 for the .380.

YIKES.

Also it occurs to me a lot of money could be saved by having a gun that can shoot lead bullets, or going with the cheapest bullet possible. Humm.
 
LOL. If all I ever shot was 300 rounds of Blazer .45 Colt, I would have spent $112000 over 40 year, or enough to buy a small house.

Yikes.

I just convinced myself to get a progressive press.
 
I just bought another XD in .45 largely to reload for...I have 2 XD9's an I just don't have any interest in loading for that round...so now I have one I'll load for...and oddly the .45 will be cheaper cause I'll shoot it a little less round wise but more often -and load LOTS of OT 200gr SWC's! over 5 grains of unique! (plus I already have everything from my 1911 days- including SWC's and HP's brass and powder...so I needed something to load for .45 anyway) Was going to build up a new 1911 and said "ehhh" will get to that later...the parallel platform that shared holsters and feel with my other CCW's was too good to pass up on.

It's just money!...it's only good for spendin anyway!
 
I remember when 9mm was 5 bucks a box of 50 in the mid 90s. so lesse... doubling in cost every 15 years....
 
im not sure many guns are going to last 40 years being carried everyday.

also, need to incorporate replacement parts, magazines etc.

nice analysis tho.
 
Those who are saying "I need to get a press", do yourselves a MAJOR favor and just go do it. With the way I like to purchase guns, I simply couldn't afford to shoot if I didn't roll my own. Plus, I think it's kind of fun.

Pick a press, get the dies for your most used cartridge and don't look back.


-Matt
 
OR - just a different angle - you could invest the thousands of hours into a different career or getting better at your current career or even a second job and make more money than you'll save by reloading...

Not starting a war, just a different angle.

Calculate how many HOURS you spend reloading, researching, etc... for most people it's enough to sustain a new career earning more money.

Conversely it's a hobby for most reloaders so it'd different than a job.

OR - spend time in the gym to exercise and stay healthier. OR spend time cooking and eathing healthier to live a longer and more productive life without heart/knee/back surgeries that cost tens of thousands of dollars in the long run.

To each their own, just another angle.
 
Actual self-defense has different costs. The cost of preparing for self-defense is quite nominal for the potential reward of saving your own life and the lives of your family, and as a bonus you get to play with guns! :D
 
The $ Cost of Self Defense.
Click to expand...

is well worth it.

CONCLUSION.


I need to buy the nicest reloading setup I can get my hands on.
Click to expand...

I disagree (because the cost of equipment) by focusing in on 1 caliber and buying ammo wisely I don't see why you can't shoot without reloading, especially if your focus is truly self defense.
 
dom1104 said:
Gun: 1911 - $700

Ammo: .45 ACP - .50 cents a round = $900 per year

Ammo per month - 150 rounds

----

Gun: Glock 19 - $399

Ammo: 9mm - .30 cents per round = $540 per year

Ammo per month - 150 rounds

-----

Ruger LCP - $279

Ammo: 380 ACP - 40 cents per round = $720 per year

Ammo per month - 150 rounds

------------------------


Ruger LCP Ammo Cost over 40 years = $28800
Glock 19 Ammo cost over 40 years = $ 21600
1911 Ammo cost over 40 years = $36000

------------------------


CONCLUSION.


I need to buy the nicest reloading setup I can get my hands on. :)
Click to expand...
Liability insurance...

or

Defense attornery @ $350/hr. multiplied by a few hundred hours

Have you checked your home insurance policy? Everyone talks about home defense, but home insurance does not cover intentional acts resulting in injury.
 
Ok I obviously should have titled this "The cost of maintaining a minimum amount of proficiency with a defense handgun / Ammo Cost over a long period of time".

Sorry :)

What was funny is that the cost of the gun is almost nil in the long run. the ammo it eats is the big factor in affordability.

So to me that says, go hog wild on some darned nice guns :)
 
CONCLUSION.

I need to buy the nicest reloading setup I can get my hands on.
Click to expand...
True, but you should have done that a couple years ago when reloading components were inexpensive and plentiful, but better late than never.


For instance, in this day of scarce ammo and high prices, like yesterday, I just fill up a Zip Lock bag with .380 ammo and shoot my new SIG P238 until I get tired of shooting.

I fill a bunch of AR magazines and "waste" hundreds of .223 reloads shooting at cans and clay birds, with no thought whatsoever of the cost (about $2.50 a box).

I hand a new shooter a Kimber 45 or S&W 38 and a pocket full of ammo and tell them,
"Have fun. There's more ammo on the table when you run out".


No doubt about it, getting into reloading (1961), after I bought my first 38 S&W and GI 1911, was one of the smartest things I've done in my life.:)
 
Wow M2, that is .. just impressive.

I wonder why the price on components has gone so high. Other than general inflation and the ruination of the US economy that is.

I draw the line at casting my own, no thank you to lead poisioning, seems like you are risking your life to save a few more dollars.

But wow. Impressive.
 
yea and that doesnt even count my hobby of shooting or my competition shooting or plinking... ah crap im broke
 
...the cost of the gun is almost nil in the long run. the ammo it eats is the big factor in affordability.
Click to expand...

This is one of the most understated facts in our community. The cost of the (SD/HD) gun should be one of the least important variables factored into the choice. IMHO, too many shooters start out with a price and try and fit a gun into that box. YMMV
 
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