I just noticed something. Magnum Research is based out of Minneapolis. How in the world can a city that hosts such a fine gun brand be so anti-gun?

They are actually in Fridley, as I remember on university and 70-something. I went there in person many years ago to get a catalog. The receptionist behind the bulletproof glass didn’t quite know what to do, but I did get my catalog!

It's too bad they don't sell direct to the public in Minnesota, or even indirect through a local FFL at a discount.

It'd be purely a toy, but I'd really love a bright nickel Desert Eagle in .44 Magnum. I've shot one before and it was, well, a blast.

But the prices always seem to add up to two new guns of more utilitarian orientation.

Even the Ammunition (around a $1.00 per round) is expensive. It is hard to justify spending the money for my wife and I to go shooting at a local range with our 9mms.

Have you considered reloading? My cost per box of 50 is only a buck or two- couple pennies per round for powder and primer, I cast my own bullets. Plus, it's a fun hobby. Not sure how many reload for 9mm, that ammo is relatively inexpensive, but it's worth it for bigger calibers or more expensive, unique ones. In my opinion.

I have been thinking about it, I even bought a reloading book to read about it. Its just that I don't have the room at the moment and I get a tad worried about doing it wrong.

I usually buy remington in the 250 round boxes, it works out to less than 12 cents a round.

You don't need a lot of room, and it's quite safe if you are a careful person- I think most people who chose to carry a gun for self defense are pretty careful types.

I've been re-loading for awhile and I don't believe that it saves you any money. Simply because you shoot twice the ammo.

I hear ya there!

But my cost per round is a fraction of what I'd have to pay for storebought.

Well, when I get the computer room cleaned up I see if I can get the reloading equiptment costs past my wife.

I did the math, and I need to reload about 9 cases of 10mm (vs. buying Blazer aluminum) to pay back my investment in reloading equipment, so I think it does pay back pretty quickly for odd or expensive calibers (.44 Mag, etc).

But 45 Auto? That'd be 44 cases of Blazer I'd have to reload. Even if I shot a case a month, it'd take nearly 4 years to pay off, plus eat about 250 hours of my time.

The payoffs are about half as quick again for brass cased ammo.

I can't see a percentage in casting your own bullets, though, as there's a ton of places to buy cast lead bullets and you don't have to inhale lead to do it.