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Seeking advice on that first handgun or next weapon purchase? Ask AW!

Swanee

Cereal Killer
pilot
None
Contributor
Has anyone seen any decent prices on target practice .45 acp lately? Everything locally is either out of stock or ridiculously priced (more than a dollar a round....).

Definitely going online ammo shopping for the first time here.
 

sevenhelmet

Low calorie attack from the Heartland
pilot
Has anyone seen any decent prices on target practice .45 acp lately? Everything locally is either out of stock or ridiculously priced (more than a dollar a round....).

Definitely going online ammo shopping for the first time here.

No, and I haven't in a while. 9mm is so much cheaper that I haven't shot my .45 in about a decade or so, and have considered divesting in the caliber entirely.
 

Swanee

Cereal Killer
pilot
None
Contributor
No, and I haven't in a while. 9mm is so much cheaper that I haven't shot my .45 in about a decade or so, and have considered divesting in the caliber entirely.

I'm left with only one .45, the squadron got custom Kimber 1911s with our patches and all on them. It's a nice piece, largely ceremonial. I just wish it were cheaper to shoot.

Feels wrong to own a gun that just sits in the closet with a lock on it forever and never gets used.

Perhaps I'll get a plaque to mount it on the wall.
 

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
I'm left with only one .45, the squadron got custom Kimber 1911s with our patches and all on them. It's a nice piece, largely ceremonial. I just wish it were cheaper to shoot.

Feels wrong to own a gun that just sits in the closet with a lock on it forever and never gets used.

Perhaps I'll get a plaque to mount it on the wall.
.45 ACP is a very easy and straightforward cartridge to reload. Perhaps an excellent entry into the world of reloading? The powders for .45 are the same type as shotgun, there are excellent choices of hard cast bullets from various manufacturers and primers are relatively easy to find now. A simple turret press would work just fine.

Purchase a case of excellent Norma 230gr ball as a way to build up your brass supply after you shoot it!


And scour your local outdoor ranges for .45 brass as well.

Just a suggestion.
 

Griz882

Frightening children with the Griz-O-Copter!
pilot
Contributor
Sorry to hear you've had multiple break-ins.
When I first moved to the DC area…nice, newer apartment built next to a criminal enclave. We didn’t stay long.

I will also submit that if caliber *really* didn't matter for effectiveness, the military would issue .22LR sidearms since they're cheaper. That they don't says a lot about the relative merits of something bigger.
Keep in mind that I am thinking of home defense only. Combat is something entirely different. I hardly think the .22 is the “be all” pistol round of choice. At home I’d be shooting maybe 20 feet down a hallway or less at a doorway/window. In combat you need more range and knock-down fire power so you are clearly on target (see what I did there😉) about that.
 

jarhead

UAL CA; retired hinge
pilot
How do you like the Walther?
I have a P22. Got it to teach the ole lady how to shoot. Don't really care too much for it though. Mine is super particular about the ammo it likes. Seems to run ok on CCI mini-mag .22lr ammo but it won't cycle for shit with most other ammo I've tried.
 

sevenhelmet

Low calorie attack from the Heartland
pilot
Swanee check out Ammoseek.com I use them all the time to find deals on line
Second this. Retail prices are insane. I usually only buy test ammo locally, and once I’ve settled on the winner, buy online, in enough bulk to amortize shipping to something reasonable. AmmoSeek helps locate the best shipping rates too.
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
I'm a big fan of SG Ammo. Price is shipped (plus tax), quick shipping, double-packaged, and he's pretty up front in telling you he (meaning the distributors) is about to increase prices.
 

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
9mm is the vast majority of production - hence lower costs. 45 and 40 are relatively marginal calibers - especially in the action shooting sports (USPSA, Steel Challenge, IDPA, etc) - and why these larger cartridges are almost double in price. 9mm has taken over everything - from law enforcement to every competition discipline.

But @Swanee I would encourage you to shoot your Kimber - I have a Kimber Custom II in .45 ACP that has over 35,000 rounds through it - and it functions flawlessly (with Wilson Combat 47D magazines). USPSA and Steel Challenge are great activities for your pistol and there are dedicated divisions for the "single stack". Find a good open top belt holster and you are good to go.
 

Hair Warrior

Well-Known Member
Contributor
Last time I bought ammo I got 9mm for roughly $0.25/rd and 5.56 for $0.33/rd, including shipping. I’m a snob so I only buy US made, brass, no remans. I know we’ll probably never see those prices again but if we do, I’ll scoop up another bulk buy.
 

johnboyA6E

Well-Known Member
None
anyone here ever modify a 1911?

I'm close to buying a Springfield Armory Mil Spec 1911, but I'm a lefty and would like to have an ambi thumb safety

It looks like a fairly straight forward change, but I don't have the right type of files etc to do it myself. Also, even though I am a DIY first type guy - modifying a 1911 is something I'd rather outsource.

I've never dealt with a gunsmith, is this a small job? ~100 in labor? looks like about a $60 part

thanks,
 

Griz882

Frightening children with the Griz-O-Copter!
pilot
Contributor
anyone here ever modify a 1911?

I'm close to buying a Springfield Armory Mil Spec 1911, but I'm a lefty and would like to have an ambi thumb safety

It looks like a fairly straight forward change, but I don't have the right type of files etc to do it myself. Also, even though I am a DIY first type guy - modifying a 1911 is something I'd rather outsource.

I've never dealt with a gunsmith, is this a small job? ~100 in labor? looks like about a $60 part

thanks,
This is a small job that a decent gunsmith can complete while you are standing there (assuming you have the new switch on hand). I’m all for the classics and love my 1911 above any and all 9mm types.
 

johnboyA6E

Well-Known Member
None
Thanks for the info

Yeah, I’m with you - I love the look and feel of the old style 1911s

There are other makes/models that have lots of other features but I like the ones closest to the originals

I really like the Tisas new issue that is a copy of the Remington Rand 1911, but not legal here in MA….

I like my Sig 320 but just not the same as a 1911
 
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