Why is 9x18 ammo so inexpensive?

[Michigan Joe]

OK, if the Russians can make 9x18's for $10.00 a box, why can't they, or anyone else, make inexpensive .45's?  Or is the component cost the reason for the disparity?

For example, it's not worth it to reload
9x18's, yet it is worth it to reload .45's.

What am I missing?

Joe

[BigK]

I'd have to agree. Steel cases instead of brass, very light bullet weight, and cheap powder must be the reason. Imagine how cheap it'd be if the added cost of shipping it half way around the world wasn't added in to the price we pay.

Back when you could by Brown Bear for $7.99 + shipping, that's all I shot. Now that it's a couple of bucks higher, I reload my own instead. I can reload a box of 50 of them for $6.26 w/ Berry's bullets, Winchester primers, Win 231 powder, and cutting down Luger cases to fit.

[Michigan Joe]

I am new to the use of Brown Bear ammo.  Is it reliable? All that I have used has worked 100% OK.  Has anyone had any problems with it?

Joe

[CoalTrain73]

I haven't shot a lot of the Brown Bear, but I have shot the mess out of the Silver Bear.  Both hollow point and FMJ.  I have only had one feeding issue with the SB and that was when I first got my 82.  I just hand polished the feeding ramp, and it has ate everything I've feed it since.

[danwdooley]

I haven't shot a lot of the Brown Bear, but I have shot the mess out of the Silver Bear.  Both hollow point and FMJ.  I have only had one feeding issue with the SB and that was when I first got my 82.  I just hand polished the feeding ramp, and it has ate everything I've feed it since.

CoalTrain, would you mind elaborating a little on the method you used to polish the feed ramp?  I'm preparing to do a complete strip and refinish of my 82 and polishing a few key areas is on my list of things to do while it's apart.  I'm not sure of the specifics though so I'm looking for tips and suggestions.

Thanks,

[armed hiker]

I have fired out of two cz82's

silver bear hp
brown bear
fiocchi
S&B
wolf military classic
wolf
American eagle

My only issue was a FTE (eject) with the American eagle... go figure.
Everything else has worked like a champ.

[MilfordBauer]

Dan  I polish the ramps with a rechargable dremel, on low speed, with felt wheel with polish.  It will make them shine like chrome.  My  electric dremel seems to tear up the felt wheels too much. 

[Twmaster]

The brown bear/silver bear ammo is so cheap partly because the components they use are super cheap. Steel cases, steel jacketing on the bullets etc.

The last time I tried to buy brass cased ammo for my PA-63 it was $28 a box of 50!

So now, like mentioned previously, I handload. I score 400 round ball boolits for $20 and I cut down 9MM Luger cases. Cheap as cheap gets.

The other thing to think about is just how dirty the cheapo Russian ammo is. I have a few boxes of Silver Bear in my bunker and every time I shoot it my FEG is disgustingly filthy. Also some claim the steel cases are bad for the pistol. And lastly, many indoor ranges prohibit steel jacket ammo.

Back to your original question. You'd think as hot as 45 ACP sells they Ruskies would be all over that market...

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Back to your original question. You'd think as hot as 45 ACP sells they Ruskies would be all over that market...

I thought they were.
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=TLTA452300

[jameslovesjammie]

Back to your original question. You'd think as hot as 45 ACP sells they Ruskies would be all over that market...

What alot of people don't realize is that the .45 ACP is a very American cartridge.  Outside the U.S., it doesn't have NEAR the popularity it does here.  Plus, everything about the cartridge takes up nearly twice the resources of, say the 9mm.  Twice the brass in the case, twice the lead in the bullet, more powder, even a bigger primer (most of the time).

[Michigan Joe]

Well, it looks like the prices are starting to make sense to me. Did not realize that .45's were twice the component weight. With shotshells, 12 ga. are cheap, regardless of cost. They probably make 100 times more 12 ga than 20, however. So not a good comparison.

Thanks for info.

Joe

[jameslovesjammie]

Yup.  Supply and demand are a big part of it.  That is why a box of 20 .32 S&W Long cartridges is $15 and 50 9mm cost the same.  They will make less money on the 9mm, but will make the money twenty times faster with the 9mm.  The .32 long uses less powder, a smaller bullet, and roughly the same amount of brass, yet costs almost three times as much.

[1SOW]

With decreased demand, there follows a  decreased supply.  When the supply drops, prices tend to go up. 
9mm may have the largest supply & demand on earth.  As said, 45ACP (LC, et al) don't have the same demand world-wide as they do here.

.380 was extremely expensive to shoot,  but may be getting cheaper as the "pocket-gun" market increases demand.  380 cases used to be really scarce as range pick-ups, but now they are a pain to sort from 9mm.  Demand and supply are increasing.

[BigK]

With decreased demand, there follows a  decreased supply.  When the supply drops, prices tend to go up. 
9mm may have the largest supply & demand on earth.  As said, 45ACP (LC, et al) don't have the same demand world-wide as they do here.

.380 was extremely expensive to shoot,  but may be getting cheaper as the "pocket-gun" market increases demand.  380 cases used to be really scarce as range pick-ups, but now they are a pain to sort from 9mm.  Demand and supply are increasing.

I agree 100% with what 1SOW is saying. When I was looking for a pocket pistol, .380 ammo was hard to find in stock and when you did, they gouged you on the price due to lack of supply. Some places were even limiting you to 2 boxes of 50, when they got a shipment in.

So, I chose a .32acp instead and had no trouble finding ammo in stock and cheaper. As soon as the ammo companies got their production ramped up, the .380s were everywhere and cheaper than .32acp. It took about a year and a half to get there though.

With Makarov ammo I don't think there'll ever be enough demand here to drop prices on the good stuff. The Russians may have the cheap Mak ammo market cornered for good.

[jameslovesjammie]

380 cases used to be really scarce as range pick-ups, but now they are a pain to sort from 9mm. 

Boy, isn't that the truth.