It all sounds cheap by today's standards but wages were a lot lower then also, so factory ammo was still relatively expensive. I could reload for about a buck a box with jacketed bullets which sure beat $6-8 a box.
You don't have to be all that old to remember ammo at a better price. Before 2008 a box of 9mm ammo was usually ~$6 a box and you can get a case on sale for $49.50. (500 rounds Remington UMC)@ArchAngelCD Have you bought ammo in the past couple of years...9mm for under 10 a box us usually pretty decent...I suppose i'm not old enough to remember when ammo was ridiculously cheap.