Need Advice - buying my first handgun ....

[ttabs]

Howdy all - new member here. I've been thinking of buying a handgun for a variety of reasons and the XD's sure look great. I have no idea what caliber to get. Yesterday, I looked at both the .40 SC and the .45.

Because I have no experience with either caliber, I figured I'd go with what ever caliber ammo was the least expensive. Then I'd buy the gun and shoot several thousand rounds through it.

I checked out several websites for bulk buys and it seems I'm going to have to pay about 27 cents per round - regardless of caliber.

So, I'd like to throw this one out there. Can anyone help me with good deals on bulk buys of ammo? Here are some of the sites I've checked out so far:

The Armory: 45 ACP Ammo,ammunition, Remington, Winchester, Corbon, S&B, PMC, Aguila, Wolf,

45 ACP Ammunition - Discount Rifle & Pistol Ammo for Sale - Able Ammo

AMMOMAN.COM

Can I reload .40 and .45 caliber cartridges? (I've got all the reloading stuff). Anyone recommend this or is it not worth the hassle.

And - what caliber do you recommend generally... and why?

Thanks for your response.

Tom

[rgeliske]

First what kind of ammo are you talking about Range ammo or defensive ammo? Range ammo is usually much cheaper than defensive ammo and often Blazer Brass and Winchester White Box ammo from your local WalMart is just as cheap as any place you will find on line. One thing you need to understand is that you do not want to use range FMJ (Full Metal Jacketed) ammo for self defense because you run the risk of over penetration. Which means the bullet can pass through the intended target and strike an innocent bystander. When comparing prices on range ammo there is no question that the 9mm is far cheaper to shoot than any other caliber except the 22, which bring me to reloading. Reloading can definitely reduce the price of shooting but personally I find that is not worth it to me to reload 9mm ammo. When it comes to 40S&W and 45ACP however, I can reload them for less that the cost of 9mm ammo. In addition reloading allows you to create custom loads for your guns.

For a first gun I would recommend you bu a 22 to get yourself familiar with shooting a hand gun. Though if you are going to only have one gun and plan on a lot of range time and reloading then my choice would be the XD45 Compact because it does everything well. It is the caliber all other calibers are compared to for stopping power. It is as easy to conceal as a Sub Compact and yet with full size magazines works well as a range gun or competition. If you were able to have more than one gun I would add a 9mm and forget about reloading. You can practice with the 9mm while using the Compact for defense.

For cheap ammunition try Cheaper Than Dirt Cheaper Than Dirt - America's Ultimate Sports Discounter

Natchez Natchez Shooters Supplies

Midway MidwayUSA — Shooting Supplies, Reloading, Gunsmithing, Ammunition, Gun Parts & Rifle Scopes

[PolsVoice]

Originally Posted by ttabs

Because I have no experience with either caliber, I figured I'd go with what ever caliber ammo was the least expensive.

If you're concerned about price go with the 9mm. Either way, I keep hearing rumors that Advantage Arms should have a .22 conversion kit out by Christmas. But take that with a salt lick.

[cove702]

Some XD45 reviews

Springfield XD .45 ACP

Springfield XD 45 ACP

Springfield XD .45 ACP Compact

[deliverator]

You can read all you want about the merits of each caliber, but the best way to decide is to try each one out for yourself. Go to a range and rent guns in 9, 40, and 45 (or whatever else interests you). They might have XDs, but they'll definitely have Glocks, which are pretty similar to what an XD will shoot like. Buy a box of 50 rounds each and just experiment. The big 3 calibers in hollowpoint cause roughly the same amount of damage, but there's a big difference in recoil between each, so shoot whatever you feel comfortable with.

[mhillsing23]

If you are going on price alone then get the 9mm if you shoot well with it. Each caliber definitely has its own feel, so you may find that paying more for 40/45 is worth it to you if you like the way it performs. Just remember, the biggest caliber is worth squat if you can't hit the target with it.

[Joeywhat]

If you're willing to reload go for the .45. That's what I plan to do...I have a ton of free time, and my dad has all the reloading equipment...it will save you a few bones, and reloading range ammo should be pretty cheap. I don't think I would reload any SD rounds, however. At least not until I was awesome at it.

[FLSTFI Dave]

Shoot the 9mm, the 40 cal and the 45. The pick the biggest one you can comfortably shoot accurately....

[lee n. field]

Because I have no experience with either caliber, I figured I'd go with what ever caliber ammo was the least expensive. Then I'd buy the gun and shoot several thousand rounds through it.

I checked out several websites for bulk buys and it seems I'm going to have to pay about 27 cents per round - regardless of caliber.

.40 Tends to be less expensive.

Can I reload .40 and .45 caliber cartridges? (I've got all the reloading stuff). Anyone recommend this or is it not worth the hassle.

Both can be reloaded. .45 is a very forgiving cartridge to reload. .40 load data always has warnings -- the margins for error are much less on .40.

And - what caliber do you recommend generally... and why?

Pick one. Buy it. How big are your hands? .45 ACP handguns have more girth than .40 (though not by much in the XD).

[Knight-SG7]

But remember, using reloads will void SA's warrenty.