So I have a couple of revolvers that I cannot get out to shoot because there is no 38 special ammo out there. At least for practice. I can pay out the Wazoo for hollow points / carry ammo, but I would prefer not to. Is anyone else struggling with the same thing?
March 28, 2022, 04:15 PM
92fstech
It was bad around here for a while, but I'm starting to see it show up again, particularly defensive ammo but I've also seen cowboy loads and some light jacketed stuff lately. Prices are still not great, but not as outrageous as they were 6 months ago.
If component supply ever recovers, you might think about reloading for the .38/.357. It's an easy one to start on, revolvers won't lose your brass, and factory ammo is expensive enough that you'll actually save a good deal of money loading for it.
March 28, 2022, 04:16 PM
fiasconva
There are several online sites where you can find target ammo for your 38. It's fairly expensive but not nearly as much as carry ammo. I was looking for some and went to ammoseek.com. It's a site that tells you which suppliers have ammo and what the prices are. They are listed in order of price. Give it a try if you want. I was surprised at how much 38 special is out there.
"Even if the world were perfect it wouldn't be." ... Yogi Berra
March 28, 2022, 04:35 PM
Excam_Man
Ammo Inc is available here at $28 per 50
March 28, 2022, 04:46 PM
Patrick-SP2022
I recently bought two or three boxes of Winchester 38 special at the nearby academy sports. $27 or $28 per box of 50 rounds. Kind of expensive but I had none and wanted to get acquainted with my revolvers again.
March 28, 2022, 06:33 PM
divil
.38 fmj was well over $35 locally last year when and if it was available. Now I think I spotted closer to $30 and more than 1 brand. Still way more than I would pay for blasting ammo. I am hand loading all of my .38 practice ammo these days.
March 28, 2022, 09:00 PM
fritz
quote:
Originally posted by bcjwriter: So I have a couple of revolvers that I cannot get out to shoot because there is no 38 special ammo out there.
386 items for 38 special on the search. 100 items per page. I did a quick review of the first page only -- every item I saw was FMJ or round nose or similar. Yep, looks like there's nothing out there.
March 28, 2022, 11:08 PM
LoboGunLeather
I started reloading ammunition in 1972, then started casting my own bullets in 1973. First caliber I worked with was .38 Special (young cop, my duty gun and off-duty piece).
Last time I remember buying factory .38 Special ammunition was about 1986 or so. Federal +P 158SWC-HP for duty use.
Still shooting .38 Special. Probably 5000 cases or so, about 2500 rounds loaded and in the ammo locker for range use. Still salvaging lead from several sources. Looks like about 2000 cases now sized, primed, case mouths expanded for seating bullets, all I have to do is charge with powder and seat bullets (which I have ready to go also).
Using home-made cast bullets from salvaged wheel weights and printers lead I used to figure about $0.68 per 50-round box of practice ammo. Today, still using pre-panic supplies of primers and powder, I figure my costs at about $3.00 per box.
Yeah, I'm bragging a little bit. But my point is that if you aren't reloading your own ammo you will always be at the mercy of the marketplace. The set-up costs are minimal, and you will recover those expenses within the first 1000 rounds or so.
My equipment (press, dies, powder scale, powder measure, etc) has paid for itself a hundred times over the years. While other people dull their minds on prime-time TV I spend an hour here, and a few hours there, processing brass, casting bullets, and I always have all the ammo I need or want.
I'm an old guy. I have 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandkids now. None of them seem to know that ammo can be bought in stores. They all send their brass to Grampa's house when they need more.
Enjoy your day!
Retired holster maker. Retired police chief. Formerly Sergeant, US Army Airborne Infantry, Pathfinders
Lobo has the right idea. 38 Special is one of the easiest calibers to reload. Single stage press, dies, components, scale for powder measuring and a .38 ammo gauge and away you go. Problem today of course is primers; most everything else should be obtainable. A plus is that it doesn’t take much more to add the capability to make .357 magnum ammo too.
March 29, 2022, 03:51 PM
jhe888
I still have a bunch of .357 that I loaded, but I have noticed how expensive .38 and .357 had been.
The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything.
April 01, 2022, 04:17 PM
redlickranch
Academy here has .38 Spec, but no .357.
I found 30-30, 45-70, and 243 at Walmart last week, but couldn't get anyone to open the stupid case.
Local shop here KY Gun Co had pallets of primers last Saturday for $99 a brick not sure if they ship.
NRA Life Member
April 01, 2022, 06:46 PM
nickmur
Local Dunhams and Bass Pro have plenty of .357 but no .38. I reload and have a boatload of .38's loaded. Picked up some .357 personal defense loads.
Nick nick_mur
April 02, 2022, 08:27 AM
bcjwriter
Yeah here inCA we have to buy ammo at a store. So I’m struggling to find it on shelves.
I think the reloading route is the way to go.
April 07, 2022, 09:17 AM
caribouhunter
SGAmmo has been getting rounds from time to time. Inventory ebbs and flows. Worth a check every once in a while.
April 16, 2022, 08:44 PM
well1147
Big .38/.357 Revolver fan I have 8 or so green ammo cans full of assorted rounds found some with 8.50 price tags on them
April 17, 2022, 01:00 PM
CD228
Targetsports usa and Top gun Supply have had .38 in stock.
May 14, 2022, 02:38 PM
captain127
I agree with lobo, also been reloading for decades, more 38’s than probably anything else, one of the calibers you save the most on reloading versus using factory. Pre panic basic 38 plinking loads like 158 lead round nose were around $20 even buying cast bullets my pre panic price to reload a box was under $5, so could reload four times as much ammo for the same cost. I have drained my once ample primer supply and will be happy to restock primers some day when they drop below $60 per thousand
May 14, 2022, 05:42 PM
Flash-LB
quote:
Originally posted by LoboGunLeather: I started reloading ammunition in 1972, then started casting my own bullets in 1973. First caliber I worked with was .38 Special (young cop, my duty gun and off-duty piece).
Last time I remember buying factory .38 Special ammunition was about 1986 or so. Federal +P 158SWC-HP for duty use.
Still shooting .38 Special. Probably 5000 cases or so, about 2500 rounds loaded and in the ammo locker for range use. Still salvaging lead from several sources. Looks like about 2000 cases now sized, primed, case mouths expanded for seating bullets, all I have to do is charge with powder and seat bullets (which I have ready to go also).
Using home-made cast bullets from salvaged wheel weights and printers lead I used to figure about $0.68 per 50-round box of practice ammo. Today, still using pre-panic supplies of primers and powder, I figure my costs at about $3.00 per box.
Yeah, I'm bragging a little bit. But my point is that if you aren't reloading your own ammo you will always be at the mercy of the marketplace. The set-up costs are minimal, and you will recover those expenses within the first 1000 rounds or so.
My equipment (press, dies, powder scale, powder measure, etc) has paid for itself a hundred times over the years. While other people dull their minds on prime-time TV I spend an hour here, and a few hours there, processing brass, casting bullets, and I always have all the ammo I need or want.
I'm an old guy. I have 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandkids now. None of them seem to know that ammo can be bought in stores. They all send their brass to Grampa's house when they need more.
Enjoy your day!
I guess I'll brag a little too. My Dad started me reloading in 1955 and casting bullets too, as components were hard to find in those days, kind of like today.
And even if you reload, you can be at the mercy of the marketplace if you don't stock up. I saw the writing on the wall when the first primer shortage happened back when Slick Willie got elected the first time and I stocked up on everything so I can ignore the marketplace.
quote:
Originally posted by bcjwriter: Yeah here inCA we have to buy ammo at a store. So I’m struggling to find it on shelves.
I think the reloading route is the way to go.
Sooner or later the idiots running Kali are going to go after reloading I'm sure. They're just unaware it exists right now or they would've already gone after it.This message has been edited. Last edited by: Flash-LB,