Does the price of ammo impact your choice of a rifle caliber

[Phil Giordano]

Well, sure price by itself is not n.one argument in choosing a caliber or another, but someones are becoming ridiculously expensive, and that is an aspect to keep in some consideration. Here in Europe, Norma is selling 300wby at 175eu per box (20 rounds), for example. My Sauer really likes that load, but...c'mon...
The cost will limit diffusion, few cartridges will be purchased, so few will be produced. Rising the bar even more.
As said, cost by itself is not a priority, but there should be a limit.

 

[DmacD]

If the rifle speaks to me in some way, nostalgia, rarity, craftsmanship, or just plain lust for what crosses my path, I have purchased it in the past. Then, the search is on for components or a deal on the factory ammo that is required to feed it. For me, the search for these components is part of the process, and I enjoy it. Keeping an old classic alive, or learning about a new calibre and it's quirks appeals to me.
Now, I do have more disposable income than I used to. If you had asked this question 30 years ago, I would not have answered in the same way. I also prefer a single malt Scotch now as opposed to the cheapest beer around, if you know what I mean?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Ammunition availability is a bigger concern for me, than ammunition price (although it obviously isn’t very practical to buy something like a .700 Nitro Express which costs $125 per round). My two centerfire rifles are chambered in:
.375 Holland & Holland Magnum
7x57mm Mauser

I picked these two calibers, because over the years… I learnt that ammunition for these two calibers (along with the .30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester) are ALWAYS being manufactured by SOMEBODY in the world regardless of how high or low demand for sporting rifle ammunition is at any given time (depending upon unforeseen world events).

When I began hunting big game in the early 1970s (going on my life’s first African Safari to Kenya in 1974)… the world was undergoing a “Dark Ages” of sort for big game hunting. India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, Indonesia, Thailand & Malaysia had all banned big game hunting (or at least imposed severe restrictions upon most forms of big game hunting). As a result, demand for large bore calibers which were predominantly employed on big game found exclusively in these areas… had also waned considerably. Up until 1969, five companies were known to produce large bore sporting ammunition:
- Kynoch in Great Britain (who produced the widest variety of sporting rifle calibers in big bores)
- DWM in Germany (who produced ammunition for the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum, 10.75x68mm Mauser and .404 Jeffery)
- Winchester in the United States (who produced ammunition for the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum)
- Remington in the United States (who produced ammunition for the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum)
-Weatherby in the United States (who produced ammunition for the .378 Weatherby Magnum and .460 Weatherby Magnum)

In 1969, Kynoch ceased manufacture of all center fire ammunition and DWM closed down (although RWS would eventually step in to replace DWM in 1973). And Weatherby was… well, Weatherby. Only Winchester & Remington remained. Ammunition for the .458 Winchester Magnum was extremely problematic back in those days. So that essentially left most of us (esp. those who didn’t hand load) with the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.

Ever since the outbreak of the Chinese Virus in 2019, there has been a worldwide shortage of ammunition for many big bore calibers. In recent years, events such as the Russia-Ukraine War have also contributed to shortages. But the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is one caliber for which someone or another is ALWAYS producing ammunition. The European Union ban on lead rifle (and shotgun) ammunition confirmed for 2027… will also most likely lead to European ammunition companies ceasing manufacture of lead cored ammunition (including for big bore rifles). But I am confident that somebody or the other WILL keep producing .375 Holland & Holland Magnum ammunition no matter what.

I dream of owning a .505 Gibbs and/or a .600 Nitro Express someday. But the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is the one caliber which I know that I am never letting go of.

 

[5shot]

I like to shoot, a lot. Economics always plays a part for me, since disposable income isn’t so easily accessible for me.

 

[Firebird]

Doesn’t influence what caliber I buy as much as how much/how often I go shooting.
I do load my own which also influences these and other life altering decisions

 

[skydiver386]

I do t worry about price much. I reload.. so for me its availability of components..

Exactly. With reloading, where there's a will there's a way.

 

[Rellik]

Many have said that the ammo is the cheapest part of the hunt and they are exactly correct. I have been in the gun and ammo industry for over 40 years, working for retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. It still amazes me when I see hunters who drive a $100K hunting rig with a $15K 4-wheeler in the back, complain about the cost of their $30 ammo.
With a bit of diligence and a willingness to spend a few bucks, you can find ammo for almost anything. Handloading is always an option once you find cases. I have a safe full of rifles and 2 of my favorites are both 300 H&Hs. I shoot them both a lot, and the brass doesn't last forever. I leave for my first African hunt in 8 days, and although I have many suitable rifles, I am taking my 42 year old Remington 700 Classic in 300 H&H. When I booked almost a year ago, I began searching for brass to replenish my supply. I was able to pick up a 100 rounds of new Remington and 100 rounds of new Norma via Gunbroker and gun shows and I probably paid an average of $2.50 a piece for them. I am always on the lookout for more because it assures me that I will always be able to use my favorite rifles. But that's part of the hobby, and I don't know any worthwhile hobby that is cheap if you get fully immersed in it.

 

[analog_peninsula]

I keep a couple rifles around in calibers that had availability during the Covid ammo crisis as an insurance policy. I also have a modest stockpile of inexpensive but perfectly serviceable ammo that’s sufficient to keep me hunting for the rest of my life should production cease for whatever reason. I own a fair amount of more exotic gear, and I prefer to use it if possible, but I try not to let availability or cost influence my decisions. Within the bounds of reason, of course. I’m not sure my wife sees things quite the same way that I do though…

 

[Throwback]

No. In fact, hell no.
I do have all kinds of calibers though, including cheap, very available calibers as well as expensive, not off the shelf stuff. Last time I ordered some 500/465NE for my double about 3 years ago it cost me approximately $17 a round. A whole different world than buying some 30.06 off the shelf at Academy, etc...

 

[buffybr]

No, I only shoot my reloads. I've shot hundreds of rounds through my 7mm RM, .300 Wby and .375 RUM, used them on 13 international or Alaskan hunts, and have never shot a factory round through those rifles.

 

[Andrew62]

My main 2 hunting calibers are .308 and .375H&H for a reason!

 

[jpr9954]

Let me change up the question a bit. Assuming you reload or have a friend who reloads for you, do you check to see if components and dies are available before you purchase a rifle in a less than common caliber?

In my collection I have rifles in .250-3000 Savage, .300 Savage, .256 Newton, .308 Norma Mag, .358 Norma Mag, and .257 Roberts AI. I will freely admit that I only started looking for components and ammo after I bought these rifles.

The Savages (both bolt and Savage 99s) I've had for years because I collect curios and relics. The .256 Newton came from P.O. Ackley's workshop and I was lucky to find both dies and a 100 pieces of new Jamison brass for it. The Norma Mags I finally found brass from Raven Rocks and loaded ammo on Gunbroker. The .257 Roberts AI was easy to find dies but just plain .257 Roberts brass is not so easy anymore.

I do cruise auctions especially on Hibid and Proxibid for both brass and ammo.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

If the rifle speaks to me in some way, nostalgia, rarity, craftsmanship, or just plain lust for what crosses my path, I have purchased it in the past. Then, the search is on for components or a deal on the factory ammo that is required to feed it. For me, the search for these components is part of the process, and I enjoy it. Keeping an old classic alive, or learning about a new calibre and it's quirks appeals to me.
Now, I do have more disposable income than I used to. If you had asked this question 30 years ago, I would not have answered in the same way. I also prefer a single malt Scotch now as opposed to the cheapest beer around, if you know what I mean?

The search is part of the fun.

 

[BGHNTR416]

I will take in to consideration the availability of components or even the difficulty of "making" the ammo as in having a lot of steps to make the brass from a different cartridge. This usually affects the asking price. A nice custom rifle will usually have a lower price if it is in an odd ball caliber or wildcat.
I am building a 318 WR right now and bullets are very scarce. I will just have to be patient.

 

[JimP]

Let me change up the question a bit. Assuming you reload or have a friend who reloads for you, do you check to see if components and dies are available before you purchase a rifle in a less than common caliber?

In my collection I have rifles in .250-3000 Savage, .300 Savage, .256 Newton, .308 Norma Mag, .358 Norma Mag, and .257 Roberts AI. I will freely admit that I only started looking for components and ammo after I bought these rifles.

The Savages (both bolt and Savage 99s) I've had for years because I collect curios and relics. The .256 Newton came from P.O. Ackley's workshop and I was lucky to find both dies and a 100 pieces of new Jamison brass for it. The Norma Mags I finally found brass from Raven Rocks and loaded ammo on Gunbroker. The .257 Roberts AI was easy to find dies but just plain .257 Roberts brass is not so easy anymore.

I do cruise auctions especially on Hibid and Proxibid for both brass and ammo.

What you mentioned is some of the fun in picking up a oddball cartridge or caliber.

At one time I loaded for 3 different wildcats, none of the brass was available with their head stamp and even now the one that I load for doesn't have any factory brass.

On dies, I haven't done much searching for different ones but at one time you could send dimensions to RCBS and they would custom manufacture ones for you. So you could have any wildcat cartridge that your mind could dream up.

Cases, you just need to find the parent case and if they are available purchase a number of them. You may need to purchase a couple different sets of dies but you can eventually get to the case that you want. I shoot a 7-30 Waters out of a TC Contender pistol, I only have 20 cases with the proper head stamp. All the rest are made out of the parent case of a 30-30 Winchester. I also load for a 30-30 Winchester but it is easy not to get them mixed up since you can tell the difference in cases and with the loaded cartridge the 7-30 Waters has a pointed bullet instead of a round or flat nose. Much the same with my 357 Herrett, this is also based on a 30-30 Winchester case that is shortened, the neck expanded and the shoulder blow out.

In the end where there is a will there is a way.

 

[Northern Shooter]

For me, factory ammo availability is more of a consideration.

I have no problem plinking with $10 cartridges as long as I can find them in stock (416 Rigby, 458 WM, 470 NE).

Finding something like factory 505 Gibbs or 500 Jeffery is near impossible here so there is less appeal.

 

[Odinsraven]

I have no idea shoot 470NE 404J and 505 Gibbs - I purchase Kynoch from the factory - I live on ramen noodles - it is a life choice -I have learned to love them - please don't mention this subject AGAIN

 

[yhc]

Ammo price? No.
Ready availability of components? Yes.

I would not consider purchasing certain caliber firearms if ammo or components are not readily available in that particular caliber.

 

[5shot]

No. In fact, hell no.
I do have all kinds of calibers though, including cheap, very available calibers as well as expensive, not off the shelf stuff. Last time I ordered some 500/465NE for my double about 3 years ago it cost me approximately $17 a round. A whole different world than buying some 30.06 off the shelf at Academy, etc...

If you’re shooting a double, I can’t imagine cost plays a roll ; )

 

[MS 9x56]

I reload so if I do shoot factory ammo it is only to harvest the brass.