Would you let ammo availability influence your purchase choice?

[GRIZ22]

I don't think it's exactly what you mean but when I bought a SAA clone I bought a 357. Didn't want to stock another caliber. I know it should be in 45 LC but I'm happy with it.

 

[orionengnr]

That is why reloading was invented.

www.dillonprecision.com

 

[evan price]

Sure it would influence me.

I already reload a bunch of stuff. If I change to something else, I gotta get a bullet mold, dies, shell holder, brass, etc. Most of my guns have never fired a round of factory ammo in their life.

I love 6.5x55 swede mausers. But the components are expensive, especially the brass. I've found hundreds of 8mm Mauser brass for my Turks. I've found maybe FOUR 6.5x55 cases in 5 years.

I'm actually thinking about getting a .32 Long simply because I already have dies, brass, and a bullet mold.

I've got lots of dies I don't own a gun to match. But you never know, and when I sell something is usually when I need it.

 

[Tenacious B]

I'm thinking of getting a hand gun and it is certainly a big factor. I gun that I can't afford to shoot or can't find ammo for is not very useful.

 

[razorback2003]

If you don't want to reload, it is good to get a common round. I can see your situation being a pain where you will have to go to the gunstore to buy ammo in California...so you might want to stick to 38 Special, 357 Mag, 9mm, 40, 45ACP. I surprisingly am seeing quite a big of 357 SIG practice ammo at Wal Mart stores in the Memphis area, but I think that is because the TN Highway Patrol issues that. Some weeks 9mm ball will be on the shelves at Wally World and sometimes it won't and then 45 will be on the shelves...and then won't. It can be a hit or miss trying a few different Wal Mart stores and/or Bass Pro for practice ammo. I'm saving brass for when I start reloading 45 ACP and 38 Special.

 

[BoKnows]

I've considered this same question when I chose my first firearm, what caliber should I get?

Most of us soon recognize that there's no real answer except one...get them all!

My inventory of handgun calibers are: .22lr, 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, and .45ACP.

Long Gun Calibers: .22lr, 5.56 or .223, 7mm Rem Mag, 12 gauge

Honestly, if I were to only choose one round, it would be up in the air between .40 S&W and .45ACP. .40 S&W being a better all around caliber while .45ACP is a perfect man stopper.

 

[jonboynumba1]

some cailbers just seem more inately worth reloading for. For me in automatics .45 is worth reloading for...while I might still daily carry factory ammo and shoot a good amount of ball when I find it cheap....45 is worth reloading. I don't even have dies for my 9mm's yet (I guess I need to get some though just because I can) I'd generally say stay 9mm or .45 unless you are or are thinking about becoming LE then look at .40 possibly I've owned many guns in all of those calibers (Incidently 10mm would be another caliber worth reloading to my mind! like .45 you can really taylor loads to your needs in different areas (ie: my .45 loads are: light plinking/target 200gr SWC load with little recoil, 230gr deffensive/or ball load and 200gr "hot as I'd want it" in a given gun woods walking load (last 2 with Hornady XTP's ) All three feel a little different shooting them and all have been taylored to my likes for a given purpose (all are also loaded with Unique which makes life simple) I doubt I'd have that range with my 9mm probably just load a good HP as hot as I feel is safe and warranted. In .40 that corbon 135gr JHP would be all but my target load anyway so it's more like 9mm in my book I guess.

Then if all you can find is ball...I'd be glad to have the .45! yet with quallity JHP ammo I've never fely undergunned with my 9mm (well...maybe in the woods a few times...we have hogs now on our club...there isn't really a "too much gun" choice for a big feral hog! I have felt a little silly off with my 9mm....dang I'm glad I have a .45 again suddenly! I put a 1200+ pound cow down with a 200gr JHP to the head once...I shot twice just to be humane...the second shot was wasted though.

 

[Wayne G]

Yes, I sold a .380 ACP because I got tired of no ammo availability and the price was too high when it was.

I bought a 9mm versus a .40 S&W or .45 ACP because of ammo availability and price.

 

[CoRoMo]

Lack of available ammo has already influenced a few purchases in my house; no longer interested in .380 pistols now and I'm glad I never ended up with one. I'm having a hard enough time finding good defense 9mm ammo to swap out the old stuff that's been sitting in my EDC.