The Most and Least Expensive Handguns to Shoot

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24/7 Wall St. Insights

• Gun owners should be familiar and comfortable with their firearm -- but regular practice with live ammunition can be expensive
• Certain handgun calibers make for a far more affordable day at the range than others
• Also : 2 Dividend Legends To Hold Forever

Public interest in gun ownership and shooting sports has surged in recent years. In both 2021 and 2022, the number of licensed hunters in the U.S. topped 15.9 million for the first time in over three decades. Additionally, data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives show that approximately 38.3 million firearms were manufactured domestically between 2020 and 2022 -- nearly one million more than were made in the entire first decade of the 2000s.

With demand for firearms and participation in hunting at historic highs, related areas of the economy are reporting rapid growth. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, America's arms and ammunition industry directly and indirectly generated nearly $90.1 billion in 2023 -- up from $80.7 billion in 2022 and $70.5 billion in 2021.

But, as millions of American sports men and women already know, shooting can be an expensive hobby. Beyond the initial investment in a firearm, which can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, every pull of the trigger comes with additional costs. For those who want to enjoy shooting sports without breaking the bank, a day at the range or in the field can be far more affordable with certain calibers.

Using data from Southern Defense , an ammunition price tracking website, 24/7 Wall St. identified the price of 19 different handgun calibers and ranked them by price per round, from lowest to highest. It is important to note that ammo prices can vary by brand, cartridge characteristics, retailer, and geographic area. The prices on this list represent the lowest available as of mid-August 2024. Supplemental data on cartridge ballistics and common usages are from Sportsman's Warehouse and other firearm reference tables. It is important to note that ballistics performance can vary by the type of ammunition used, firearm barrel length, and environmental factors.

Among the handgun calibers on this list, prices range from as low as $0.04 per round to well over $1.00. The cheapest handgun round by a wide margin is the .22 Long Rifle, or .22 LR. Unlike most other cartridges, the .22 LR is rimfire round, which are much cheaper to manufacture than centerfire ammunition, partially because they are relatively low pressure and can use thin-walled cartridge casings.

While affordable, .22 LR ammunition is far less capable than other common handgun rounds, and largely limited to target shooting and small game and varmint hunting. Meanwhile, more expensive ammunition on this list tend to be powerful, high-caliber rounds suited to self-defense hunting larger game. Notably, many of these rounds deliver a heavy recoil that many shooters may find uncomfortable. (Here is a look at the most powerful handguns .)

The best-selling handguns in the U.S. are chambered for 9mm rounds. Due to the popularity of 9mm firearms, ammunition manufacturers have expanded their production capacity to meet demand. Partially as a result, 9mm ammunition is relatively inexpensive. Not only a best-seller on the consumer market, 9mm firearms are also used by the U.S. military and police departments across the country. (Here is a look at the standard issue police sidearms in America's 10 biggest cities .)

Why It Matters

Firearm sales have hit all-time highs in the U.S. in recent years. Those in the market for a new firearm have many considerations to weigh when choosing a gun -- including intended usage, and long-term ownership costs. Whether keeping a firearm for personal protection, hunting, or recreational shooting, handgun owners need to be familiar with their weapon — and regular practice at the range is far more expensive with some handgun calibers than others.

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