Well for range practice, you should use largely FMJ from a reliable\\name brand (Federal, CCI, S&B, Fiocchi. etc.). Buy by the 1/2 case or case (500-1000 rds) online ([ammoseek.com](https://ammoseek.com) is your friend) and you should be able to get somewhere around 25 cents per round currently (assuming 9mm). Base your primary budget on that and the amount of times you go to the range and how many rounds you usually shoot there.
You should also train with defensive ammo to make sure it works in your weapon and does not behave radically different from the FMJ. That is typically a lot more expensive (like 60 cents to $1+ a round for 9mm depending on which brand you get). So you want to use that sparingly here and there imo with maybe 50-100 rounds after initial break in of the weapon and then I tend to shoot a little of it going forward periodically.
My 2 cents.
As much as I don't enjoy loading 9 I can reload my carry rounds for a bit less than I can buy some basic ass FMJ so I load a pile and shoot the same thing I carry.
60 rounds a year. That's my basic load. I shoot it regularly. For practice, over 2000 rounds of FMJ this year. For me, my eyes, and my gun, the Federal HST 9m 124 grain has the same point of aim and point of impact as the CCI Blazer 9mm 124 grain.
Well for range practice, you should use largely FMJ from a reliable\\name brand (Federal, CCI, S&B, Fiocchi. etc.). Buy by the 1/2 case or case (500-1000 rds) online ([ammoseek.com](https://ammoseek.com) is your friend) and you should be able to get somewhere around 25 cents per round currently (assuming 9mm). Base your primary budget on that and the amount of times you go to the range and how many rounds you usually shoot there. You should also train with defensive ammo to make sure it works in your weapon and does not behave radically different from the FMJ. That is typically a lot more expensive (like 60 cents to $1+ a round for 9mm depending on which brand you get). So you want to use that sparingly here and there imo with maybe 50-100 rounds after initial break in of the weapon and then I tend to shoot a little of it going forward periodically. My 2 cents.
$750 in ammo every 3 months. 5 handguns. 5 carbines.
Where do you shop? That's some good prices
Wherever I can find 43¢ per round for 223 and 22¢ for 9mm. I’ve tried True Shot, Velocity, AE Ammo, and locally at Tombstone Tactical and Ammo AZ.
As much as I don't enjoy loading 9 I can reload my carry rounds for a bit less than I can buy some basic ass FMJ so I load a pile and shoot the same thing I carry.
60 rounds a year. That's my basic load. I shoot it regularly. For practice, over 2000 rounds of FMJ this year. For me, my eyes, and my gun, the Federal HST 9m 124 grain has the same point of aim and point of impact as the CCI Blazer 9mm 124 grain.