ARRRRGH! Ammo shortage drives me to consider getting a .25.

**Wounded Ronin** · Posted On: 4/27/2009 11:21pm

OK, I have not been able to get .45 ACP for my Ruger P97DC. I had been considering getting an expensive .45, such as a high end 1911, or a HK 45, for participating in competitions, but now it seems like wherever I go there is no .45 ACP, and this ammo shortage is really getting to me.

Next month I'd been hoping to participate in a Las Vegas Steel steel shooting competition, and I was going to buy like 5 magazines for my P97, a belt, and lots of ammo. But right now I don't have enough .45 ACP to compete, and when I went ammo shopping on Sunday I stopped by a Big 5 and two Wal Marts and their shelves were all bare, so I feel extremely frustrated.

The only pistol cartridges that seem to consistiently be in stock are .32 and .25, because nobody shoots those.

But damn, if that is the only ammo I can consistiently get, it is enough to make me consider getting a .25 for competitions.

Am I just being crazy and silly in my frustration, or does that idea have merit?

What I'd really need would be a big .25 with a full length barrel and decent sights for competition. As opposed to a dinky concealable little handgun which wouldn't give me the accuracy (read, "sight resolution") I need. (I suppose I could always practice with the .25 with the goal of attaining uncanny accuracy with it.) Are there any big .25s? Maybe something by Beretta?

**Mtripp** · Posted On: 4/28/2009 7:00am

Have you tried going around local stores and bulk ordering? I get .45 hardball for most prastice I do by the case. Shotgun News will have the info for you.

Now, I haven't bought any in a while, so that may be dry too.

**Phrost** · Posted On: 4/28/2009 8:29am

7.62x25 is apparently still cheap. Get a Tokarev.

**Planktime** · Posted On: 4/28/2009 12:57pm

Originally Posted by Phrost

7.62x25 is apparently still cheap. Get a Tokarev.

Yep this is a good answer. I have one in 9mm and I love it. I even wrote a tread about it.

Gun cost $75
Reloading dies 28.00
Free brass (picked up myself.)
I use the same cast bullets for my .38 sp 115 gr round nose.
gets to be pretty cheap in the long run for a lot of fun.

PT

**autospike** · Posted On: 4/28/2009 1:20pm

Will they let you shoot a .25 or .32 at that competition?

I think it will be hard finding a .25 or .32 with the sights, trigger, capacity, and ergonomics that you want.

You mentioned buying a new gun - a 1911. If you had a 1911 (or a Glock, SIG, etc.), I would suggest you get a .22 conversion for it. .22 is cheap, still readily available (at least here) and trigger time is trigger time. It will let you practice cheap and save up to buy the more expensive .45 (when you can find it). A good dry-fire program is also something to consider.

**Wounded Ronin** · Posted On: 4/28/2009 6:18pm

Originally Posted by Phrost

7.62x25 is apparently still cheap. Get a Tokarev.

This thought had also crossed my mind. Do you have any recommendations as to which tokarev to buy?

**Wounded Ronin** · Posted On: 4/28/2009 6:19pm

Originally Posted by autospike

Will they let you shoot a .25 or .32 at that competition?

I think it will be hard finding a .25 or .32 with the sights, trigger, capacity, and ergonomics that you want.

You mentioned buying a new gun - a 1911. If you had a 1911 (or a Glock, SIG, etc.), I would suggest you get a .22 conversion for it. .22 is cheap, still readily available (at least here) and trigger time is trigger time. It will let you practice cheap and save up to buy the more expensive .45 (when you can find it). A good dry-fire program is also something to consider.

With the steel shooting you can shoot just about anything, although it would affect what category you compete in.

I cannot get any .22LR either! The shelves are bare because that is actually a widely used caliber.

**moli** · Posted On: 4/28/2009 6:58pm

Just bought a XD in 9mm* and the guy at the shop apologized because he had no ammo. I'm hoping the range will have some when I go there this weekend.

*Its a tactical model, with the 5 inch barrel and "earth tone" frame.

**Wounded Ronin** · Posted On: 4/28/2009 7:22pm

Well, because of this thread, and because I always secretly wanted a Tokarev, I went ahead and got myself a Romanian Tokarev, 900 rounds of Norinco ammunition, and 10 mags, all for around $500. What a deal!

**IMightBeWrong** · Posted On: 4/28/2009 8:47pm

I like the Romanian Toks myself. I haven't had too much ammo trouble, though. Just gotta keep checking in the right places. I've still got 100 rounds of American Eagle brass from my last .45 outing. I'm also really enjoying the ease in which I can find .40 for my Glock 23.