45 cal. Ammo - Sources of Bulk Ammo for Practice?
 

Hi, I'm thinking of getting my 1st 45 cal. pistol but the cost of ammo is going to be doubled (i.e. 0.45-.50/round) than my 9mm ammo, which costs about 0.22/round. I mainly buy the Value Pack Remington UMC 250 rounds from Walmart. The same package is availabe for 40 S&W but not for 45 ACP.

Can you share some sources of reliable and inexpensive 45 ammo in bulk package? I'll buy them for practice at the range. For personal defense, I'll get higher quality defensive ammo.

Thanks.

There may be some deals on the 'net.
Check AmmoEngine: .45 ACP, Instock For Sale Premium & Discount Ammunition, Ammo Deals
(don't forget to figure in shipping)

I've used Georgia Arms .44 mag ammo, and liked it just fine.

Reloading an option???
 

The cost of Walmart ammo vs reloading.
Reloading is easy, far cheaper than off the shelf ammo, even the cheap Russian stuff, can be tailored made to what you need and it does not cost much to pack away primers, powder and bullets for the rainy day we all hope never arrives.

Handloading Cost Calculator
This site is simple input your costs for primer, powder, cases (if first time reload after ist reload, they are free) and bullets.
Unique cost 18.00 a pound, and in 9mm, 3.6 grains per round will give you well over a 1000 rounds, actually around 1400 or more.
Primers run 15 to 22 a 1000 @ Wideners.
9mm 146 grain lead RN bullets costs 190.00 for 3000 @ Wideners

Cases for .45 run 33.00 for 285 free shipping from;
Once-Fired-Brass
9mm runs 150.00 for 5600
.40 SW runs 105.00 for 4200

A Lee Turret press will go for 120.00 along with a set of dies at 34.00
Single stage press for 25.00, slow but works well.

Just a thought for having a LOT of ammo.

Hi, thanks for the info. It seems reloading is the way to go. Maybe I can save the expensed brass case for reloading.

How many times can a brass case by resued for reloading? How do press the primer on the bottom? Do you need to remove the old primer first?

Are there any good sites for reloading? Thanks.

Check this thread... http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f30/45-acp-bulk-ammo-40969/

I've just been buying the WWB 100 packs at Wally World for about $34.

IIRC, my RCBS Rock Chucker Master Kit (or something like that) cost about $225 - $250 when I got it 10 years ago. It is a starter kit. In addition you'll need .45 dies (about $50) And a reloading book from whatever manufacture bullet you decided to use.

The book will tell you the basics, and walk you through depriming the old brass, etc.

I can't remember how many times brass is considered safe to reload I have only done a little reloading so it hasn't been an issue. I think it's in the neighborhood of 6-10 times for riffle ammo, maybe more for the straight wall .45 acp. I guess there's some heating techniques that will allow you to get more like 20 reloads.

Learning to reload
 

Lee has a pretty good set of videos showing most aspects of reloading.
Lee Precision: Help Videos

I don't have the time to reload the amount of ammo I go through in a range session. When I have time to devote to gun stuff I rather go shoot. For me the UMC 250 pack is cost effective and I buy them from WalMarts. I don't know why your WalMarts does not carry it. I buy them a few at a time (also 9mm and .40S&W) when I'm in the store and come home and dump them into 50 cal ammo cans. I keep a few of those in all three caibers topped off an any given point.