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Bottles from bars?
One other point that I don't believe was mentioned, get dark bottles! This is really not a problem with most beers (except Corona), but sunlight WILL damage beer. So be sure you have brown bottles, or at least keep what bottles you have in a dark area during carbonation and aging.
If your local bar will sell or give them to you I can think of no reason why you should not considre using them. As stated by other, if you brush and wash them until you can not see any 'residue' (ready dark solid looking stuff) in the bottom you will most likely be OK. Just sanitize with something like 5 star or another 'fill and dump' sanitizer just before bottling and all should be well.
I don't have them anymore since we moved, but I used to have a few cases of dark brown Canadian "quarts" that had originally contained Molson and Labatt beer.
I'd use them again if I could find them now.
I ended up buying 2 cases of 22 oz bottles from the LHBS. While we were there, I was looking at the kegging kit they have & told hubby next time I need bottles I'll just take those.
How about local country clubs. I live in a po dunk town in Ohio and that is the only place in town that serves beer thats not in twist offs.
I just buy Six Packs of my favorite craft brew (Sam Adams) being that I'm not always fully stocked with home brew anyway, and they are the type that need a bottle opener so I go with that. I'm up to a few cases and after I remove the labels and clean them, viola!
I mean, if you are going to exert an effort to acquire bottles, you might as well get some pay off for you efforts...
Okay I realize this thread was deader than dirt, BUT I am brand spanking new to home brewing and wanted to share my experience.
I live in Michigan where we have a bottle deposit, so most soda and beer bottles get returned to the store. I stopped at three different beer stores today and was able to score 160 bottles for $16.00 (10cent deposit x 160 = $16.00)
Most of these are Bells and Sam adams bottles which are of course a long neck confiuration bottle. I have some others that are oddballs but most the same. Now all I have to do is clean them... (I have read about it in the forum so I won't make the dish soap mistake.)
My LBS charges 9.99 for a case of standard 12oz bottles so I saved roughly 45.00 on bottles. I'm not exactly on a budget, but the way I look at it I saved near enough to buy a wort chiller:)
It's a good deal, but see if you can get the 22oz bottles too. You will wash, fill, cap, and clean half as many bottles, and lose less beer when you pour.
Besides, who ever drank one 12oz bottle of homebrew. Well, only if it's bad. 
Brewski wrote:
It's a good deal, but see if you can get the 22oz bottles too. You will wash, fill, cap, and clean half as many bottles, and lose less beer when you pour.
Besides, who ever drank one 12oz bottle of homebrew. Well, only if it's bad.
It's still good to have the 12ozer's on hand.....less beer to give away when letting a friend have one 
Personally, I like to fill a couple 12 ouncers when I bottle. I use them as testers. I open one at 1 week, another at 2 weeks and so on. I'd rather choke down one twelver of bitter brew than 22 ounces. Plus, I'd rather drink the majority of my beer when it has properly aged.