.22 LR Ammo

[GasGuzzler]

For me, 9mm and .357 use the same primer and have the same projectile cost yet 9mm uses less of a cheaper and easier to find powder so it's cheaper than .357....and still more than the .22 I have.

[Archer]

Have you heard, 38/357 is the new .22 cal. If you reload, that is, it's cheaper.

Well as of last weekend...
Wally World prices on .38 SP Winnie White Box was $40/100.
Price on Federal AmEagle .357 was $34/50.

About three weeks ago I scored 3 boxes of Winchester 333 count .22LR for around $18/box.

I'm not certain what my reload cost for .38/.357 is.
Not sure what I paid for my last load of components, and I've got stuff on hand I haven't loaded that's been here near 20 years, but Xtreme is selling 158 gr FPs for about $47/500 or if you buy them on special and you add in shipping say maybe a dime a shot. Add $.03 per shot for primers and around $.025 a shot for .38 powder or $.05 a shot for .357s and you come out about $.18 or $.16 per shot. That's $7.75 to $9 per 50 for plinking ammo with zero allowance for your time. (So figure $77.50 to $90 per 500 ct case or 'brick')

Run the same numbers with Hornady XTPs and your price rises $.08+ per shot since the bullets, on sale from Midway are running $18/100 (plus shipping figure $.20 each) or $12.75 to $14 per 50 loaded still no labor charges.

The most expensive I've seen .22 LR on the rack is around $60 per 500 (and I won't touch them at that price).

So not quite .22 LR.

[NavyDoc76-80]

Yes, I would say Archer that your component cost's is even somewhat conservative, so yeah it ain't no 22, but I think the stigma is for me anyway how cheap it once was not that long ago. Now it's 2,3 even four times as much for a brick. Do I need it that bad? No. I did flinch once, thinking I better buy some (hoard) just in case. But I took inventory, and still had a new brick plus other small 50 round boxes. I haven't shot my 22 rifle in ages , and my .22 BH only a few times in the last three years. So for now I'll leave it on the shelf for you guys.

[Ohio3Wheels]

and some of those bricks are only 300 rounds these days.

Make smoke,

[GasGuzzler]

Yeah. Not really a brick when it's just a bulk box of shells. The 325 Federal Automatch is good stuff but it's not a brick.

I don't know anyone that can load 9mm or .38S for four cents if equipment cost, etc. is factored. Sure, .22 is 10 cents per round on average if you had to buy some right now, but if you have some already at lower prices, it's still cheaper. You can't say that for centerfire even if your press, bullets (or lead, melter, mold, etc.) plus primers and powder is 40 years old.

[NavyDoc76-80]

This is coincidental for sure, but i just read on another forum, where this fellow in the northern plains part of the country purchased, back in late october, two bricks of federal 22lr hollow points, 520 count each, for less then thirty bucks a piece. You just never know, he didnt state what store etc he got these in but i guess its a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

[GasGuzzler]

I can see that. For a while I had info that was at least 79% accurate on Walmart. When more and more people got the source as well and I had to get there before 06:00, I quite that <fill in the blank>.

The source then soon died.