Need Opinions on How to Reduce Shooting Costs but Still Practice Effectively

Hey everyone, I currently have four handguns. I have:

CZ 75 SP-01 9mm (current main target gun)
FNH FNX 45 (home defense handgun)
IWI/Magnum Research Baby Eagle II (backup hd handgun)
Springfield XD 45C (daily carry gun)

But as you all know, having 3 .45s is not cheap to shoot. The 9 ammo is reasonable to me but I'd like to get another target gun that is ideally more similar to my carry gun (the XD) than the CZ, both in weight and trigger pull. I'm thinking about getting a XD9 to help me practice with a gun similar to my carry gun but cheaper to shoot. My other option is just to get a .22 (or the .22 conversion kit for my CZ), which would obviously be the cheapest to shoot. Which do you guys think would be the most beneficial? I'm leaning more towards the XD9 but with how cheap .22 ammo is, I'm definitely not sold on abandoning that for the XD9.

Ever think about reloading!! That's how I found it to tbe most cost effective! I can shoot pretty much as much as I want without breaking the bank! Oh, yea... it's a really good hobby too!
Just one man's $.02!!

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Originally Posted by MoMan

Ever think about reloading!! That's how I found it to tbe most cost effective! I can shoot pretty much as much as I want without breaking the bank! Oh, yea... it's a really good hobby too!
Just one man's $.02!!

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I've definitely thought about that, but isn't the up-front start up cost quite high?

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Originally Posted by hof8231

I've definitely thought about that, but isn't the up-front start up cost quite high?

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If I read your post correctly, you're considering buying a XD9 to compliment your current carry gun. That $500 (or whatever they are) would easily get you into reloading. I just bought a Lee Classic Turret press along with all of the necessities, and I've spent about $350 (not including brass, primers, powder, projectiles.) It can be done cheaper; I spent a little more to buy local and on a better scale. A single stage press is even cheaper than that, but it depends on how much you shoot as to what press you'll want. As best I can figure, I can make lead .45's for about 1/2 the cost of FMJ factory loads.

Start up to reload is not much more than a decent handgun, and it pays for itself quickly. Think about this, a XD9 is $450, Kadet adapter is $350, and a kadet is $600, you spend that money and you are still in the same place. If you go to Cabela's (not the cheapest place to buy) for example and lay down $430 you can walk away w/a Hornady L-N-L progressive press (what I use). Now you add maybe a couple of hundred to that and you are making 250 .45's for what you were paying for 50 cheap Win white box cartridges. I can't say that I enjoy reloading as much as shooting, but there is no way I could shoot as much as I do w/o reloading. My cost for .45 is @$4.50/50. Like I said, I don't enjoy reloading. Very boring and monotonous. I guess you could say I tolerate it. There are more advantages than just the savings in money. I don't have to go buy ammo, well I still buy .22 to shoot w/my son, just have to order components every few months. Never have to go on a quest for ammo because the store I am @ is out of the ammo I need. I can tailor my loads to my preference instead of having to settle w/what's on the shelves. My reloads are way cleaner than most commercial target loads. The best one, I did not know this going in, my reloads are more accurate than most commercial ammo. I can knock out 3-400 cartridges in @1hr once I am set up, and that's @ a relaxed rate. I put it off for years and had an older gentleman sell me on doing it with basically this same discussion while we were standing in line to buy ammo (he was there for .22's). I am so glad I ran into him and he took the time to educate me.

I'll definitely look into it.

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Originally Posted by factoryrat

My cost for .45 is @$4.50/50.

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Are you casting your own bullets?

Really....cheapest I've heard is about 15 cents a piece.....

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Originally Posted by jdeere9750

Are you casting your own bullets?

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I do not cast. I buy bullets from MO Bullet Co. I'm running $.08/bullet $.026/primer + $.01/load of powder. Last time I broke it down I thought it was $4.50, but adding it up now I am coming in at $5.50. So I guess I was wrong. I don't know why I was thinking $4.50 :smt102. Math makes my brains hurt! I do know my cost will increase next time I have to buy powder. Last time I bought AA#5 I was able to buy it at $75/8lbs jug. I wish I would have bought more, because I think it's going for $130/8lbs jug now. So, unless I can come up w/another good deal on powder I may be at $.15 soon as opposed to $.11 now. That will take me up to $7.50 I think.

200Gr LRNFP from Missouri Bullet Co. $80/1000 + $13.00 Shipping plus 1 pound Accurate #2 or equiv. $25 max with tax. plus $30 for primers equals $148 total per 1000. That is less than I have seen 9MM available for. 9MM can be loaded for at least $20.00/1000 less than the 45.

If you don't have used cases they are usualy available for around $100 per 1000 from Brassmanm. Our pres has caused them to be in short supply though. 45 Brass will last almost forever, 15 to 20 cycles or more making it's cost insignificant over the long haul. You certainly don't have to have 1000 cases it is just convienient to build 1000 at a time.

If you shop selectively you may get it done for less.

If shooting a lot you will pay for the equipment in as little as 2500 to 3000 rounds.

Get the Kadet kit for your CZ. Same weight and feel, just less recoil. Shoot 22LR all day for cheap. The Kadet kit will pay for itself in a few months if you shoot a lot. I love mine. Very reliable as long as you run the stock mainspring.