LOL but wait there is more… dont forget Ammoland for the hot deals. and the app AmmoSeek real time search engine of all ammo, price, and shipping.
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I yearn for the day I can identify as a VA resident! I would enjoy shooting my SSG 3000 on that rare 100yd indoor range.
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If you’re looking for specific brands in 9mm, CCI Blazer Brass (specifically brass because they also have non-brass cases) as mentioned above is a good cheap option.
For just a little bit more though I like American Eagle (made by Federal), Speer Lawman, and Fiochi in 9mm. Compared to CCI their ammo seems a little cleaner and doesn’t expel as much smoke or flash. It’s not a big difference, but for $5-10 per case its worth it to me. YMMV
All three of those brands also have weights in 115, 124, and 147 so it potentially can match up with whatever your carry ammo is. Altho for training/range use I pretty much just stick with 124gr.
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WOW! Lots of great suggestions everyone!
Welcome to the Community @Michael71, @Bret1, and @Joel3. Glad to have you all here!
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Download AmmoSeek. It’s an Ammo bot that will search the internet for the lowest Ammo prices. Good luck!
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I guess I’m a little different than some. I always choose good ammunition from the gun shop(s). Nothing that’s going to mess up the internals. I buy locally and my reasoning is that if you’re going to buy from wholesalers online which I agree are saving you a little bit but the continued ordering of wholesale ammunition well eventually your local gun shop owner are going to go out of business because they can’t stay open because of lack of sales, and most gun shops also have a nice range and that goes away also.
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I say build all the ammo you want.
We spend an inordinate amount of time trying to understand our guns but very little time understanding our ammo. There is not a factory product on the shelf that cannot be duplicated on the reloading bench for a significant savings even if the initial set up cost is pricey (it’s really not).
Cheers,
Craig6
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The Best I can do now is Walmart. I am not in a free State anymore, I have to get a back ground check every time I purchase ammo and it’s illegal here in California to order on line but it is still legal to order on line for reloading materials. I may start getting into reloading, I am thinking about it anyway.
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Not in California anymore but my hubby was teaching our granddaughter to reload today. Dillon press, dies in your favorite caliber, components, a reloading book with recipes, and get yourself a mentor who’s done it before. It’s not difficult, it preserves your autonomy in the short run, and its cheaper in the long run.
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@Zee, I have been considering reloading for some time but have a couple concerns. One is dedicating climate controlled space for it;there’s really no room in the house. My other concern is cost/benefit ratio. I only shoot .22lr, which isn’t feasible to reload, 9mm Luger, and a very small amount of 380 auto. How much would I have to shoot to pay out the investment and begin seeing savings? Just wondering if you’ve ever run the numbers.
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@David38 my hubby says about $0.12 to $0.14 a bang for .45 cal if you’re paying for brass ($6 to $7 per box of 50), or about $0.08 to $0.10 if you reload brass you already have ($4 to $5 per 50).
9mm and .40 are a bit less, and 380 probably comparable.
Carbide dies are about $70 a caliber, steel about half that. With adapters and conversion kits, about $100 a caliber.
Dillon 550c press with most of the accessories and one caliber set of dies is about $500
Primer sorting trays, extra primer pickup tubes, precision scale, calipers, bullet puller, and other accessories… up to you how much to spend.
Having a media tumbler and a separator drum to clean up brass is also nice.
You’ll need a reloading book or two for recipes.
So… basically it depends on how much you shoot.
We have a press setup for pistol, one for rifle, one for shotgun.
Also, we carry factory loads for EDC, and use reloads for practice and training,
Other things… like a case loader or molds to cast your own bullets… well, like anything, it depends on your volume and your level of interest
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Thanks, @Zee, that’s about what my own research came to. Best I can figure, to acquire all the tooling and supplies, then construct a reasonable work space, I’ll have somewhere around $1500-$2000 invested.
Figuring the current price of a factory ammo that I like and attributing the savings to paying out the initial investment, I figure I’d have to load around 20,000 rounds to break even. Even if I go to the range more often and increase the number of rounds per visit, it would take five years to hit that break even point.
Once again I come to the conclusion that I just don’t shoot enough to make reloading pay. Maybe if I shot a more expensive caliber or used more rifle ammo it would make more sense.
Regards.
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Thanks Zee, for that helpful info…I have been checking out, how to reload on YouTube. I understand that I would need a special dye for reloading ammo for Glocks because of the Glock bulge. Hicko45 and GunGuysTV recommend starting with with a simple machine, reloading one bullet at a time.
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@David38 … aside from cost, it’s a lot about independence. Especially if you’re behind “enemy lines”, ammo purchase wise.
@Walter3 we use the same die set for brass fired through my glock and my ruger and my canik… no special die for the glock bulge.
A single station is a less expensive way to start, and it will get you intimate with the craft of reloading. But its slow and more variable round-to-round, I think. If you start with something like the 550c you will never need another press unless you also do shot shells. It is really good to find someone local who can help you get set up the first time or two. You’ll find the progressive presses are quite fast after you get the setup and component load up done.
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Two more things…
If you really need to economize on equipment cost, my hubby says look at Lee Loaders. You’re doing the work by hand, but you can get a fairly consistent load if you use a lee and an automatic powder measure.
On the glock bulge, my hubby uses the RCBS dies because they are full length (handle the bulge) and he says they are just the premier dies available for reloading. Bulge or no bulge, he uses the RCBS.
When you buy dies, make sure they are compatible with your press.
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@David38 Getting into reloading is not nearly as expensive as $1500+. I started with a Lee Turret Press 30 years ago and still use it today. Albeit it is tired with more than 250,000 rounds made on it. I also have a Dillon 650XL that sits in the corner. IMHO while the Dillon is a great piece of kit I cannot recommend it to someone just starting out. When you are learning you want to be in control of each step until your comfort level is increased.
Lee makes some very good equipment for a very reasonable price, between a turret press, powder through expander die with the powder disk kit and the Lee Auto Prime tool, you would be well on your way. I do recommend the carbide dies as it eliminates having to lube pistol cases (major PITA). A good scale and a good tumbler are worth their added expense. I would also not hook up the "auto index feature of the Turret Press. I leave mine in “Semi-Auto” and do my reloading in stages. I de-prime and resize all the brass at once and then take the can to my comfy chair and prime brass with the auto prime while watching the idiot box (TV). Toss it back in the can and I, at my leisure, can go back and powder/bell and seat. Poof! = Ammo. The whole mess doesn’t take up a lot of room and if you mount the press to a platform (cutting board comes to mind) it is mobile and store able. By buying smart your ROI is achieved more quickly.
Cheers,
Craig6
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Thanks, @Craig6. Something to think about.
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Bumping this topic since I’m betting I’m not the only one who needs ammo for a new Christmas gun 
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Best prices I have been able to find. Free shipping on bulk orders. Yearly Prime Membership gives a small discount and allows for free shipping on everything.
A lot of stuff is out of stock at the moment due to the current panic but you can sign up to receive emails or text messages for whatever ammo you are waiting for them to restock.
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