We were on the phone the other day with one of our distributors and were told that ammo is going up again. It wasn’t that long ago that a day of shooting could be done for under $20, if you were shooting 9mm. Now that is jeopardy. Let me give you a few options that will help you continue to enjoy shooting.
1. Shoot plenty of 22lr. You can have a great time and still get in good practice sessions with 22lr. In the Articles Section I mentioned that everyone needs to start with a 22lr pistol and rifle. You can also buy conversion kits for Glocks, Berettas, 1911’s and AR-15’s.
2. Buy a 9mm pistol. If you aren’t really enthusiastic about the 22lr the 9mm will be the cheapest to shoot in a major caliber.
3. Buy an AK variant. The 7.62×39 round is still one of the cheapest ammos available for rifle shooting.
4. Start reloading. For rifle you can get an RCBS Rock Chucker press or an automated press for pistol from Dillon or Hornady. You will quickly recoup the cost of the press if you are a high volume shooter. You can estimate that you will save about 1/2 the cost of a box of ammo by reloading. Reloading is not hard if you are patient and pay attention to detail. In truth it is a great way to pass the winter months when shooting is difficult because of weather.
5. Don’t like any of these options? Buy an Airsoft gun. These replicas shoot semi-auto with a propellant called green gas. We have seen an increase in Airsoft sales to our Law Enforcement contracts. They love the realism and find them great for training in areas where simunitions or paint balls are not feasible.