It's possible to buy thousand round cases of .38 Special ammo online, but the prices I've seen need to include a tube of KY jelly. I have found some for lower prices but from websites that I've never heard of and that look scammy. Why would some new startup retailer have bulk ammo cheaper than the big established places? Then there's the "Allow 8-14 days to process your order." In other words, it's not actually in stock.

Anyway, has anyone found a reliable place to buy bulk quantities of .38 Special, preferably jacketed, at prices that normal people can afford?

And for the reloaders, please don't fill up this thread with, "Well, I reload, so..." You will one day run out of primers and be in the same boat.

I have seen some from large ammo vendors at gun shows. It is now dropping to close to $1 per round for .38 special reloads.

I don't think they have it at the moment, but for a month or so recently, Target Sports advertised Federal lead round nose standard 158 grain .38 Special for under $30.00 per box of fifty; don't know the case price. They also had a jacketed Remington .38 Special load (130 grain?) for about the same price or a little more. You might check their website periodically.

It sure ain't like it was 4 or 5 yrs ago........

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

Right now they only have a Remington bulk pack for $.65/round. That's a little rich for my blood. This has been going on for so long now that I'm questioning if it's just how things are going to be, now. 9mm is plentiful and the price is not as nauseating as other calibers, but I don't think other calibers are being made in the quantities they used to be.

And since .22LR is available and reasonably priced, I'm stacking it high and deep while I can.

Norma shooting has 38 special back in stock for $24.99 per 50 with free shipping if order over $150.

Can you share a link for the Norma shooting special? Thanks!

Be careful dealing with NORMA ammo.I placed an order today,2 hours later I received an email that my order was on hold as FRAUDULANT TRANSACTION. I called by bank charge has already be approved.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Check out Mountain City Supply in Castle Rock, CO. They have bulk .38 Special for $22 bucks per 50.

I posted a link before and got dinged, so you can search it yourself. I've shot it and it is good stuff.

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Rule of law, not a man.

Just checked and they are out of stock again. Not unusual, just checkback periodically. Sometimes it's even on sale. Here is the link.

.38 Special - Norma Shooting

Locally, lately I Haven’t seen much 38 Special.
It seems to be a Phantom missing Round.
I see 9mm, 22LR , 380, 40 and others but no 38.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Thanks for the tip! I just ordered five boxes each of .38 and .380 to give them a try. Very reasonable prices, BY TODAY's STANDARDS!

Just went to ammoseek.com and saw that ammoshoponline.com has Norma 158 gr available. Free shipping for any order over $200.00 Hope this helps.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

If anyone has a Runnings store nearby they’ve had quite a bit of 158gr federal in both 38 & 357

I am 75, if I load 1,000 rounds per year, I will never run out of primers.


And for the reloaders, please don't fill up this thread with, "Well, I reload, so..." You will one day run out of primers and be in the same boat. [/QUOTE]

There is a metric boatload of 158gr LRN available right now. Ammoseek does good work insuring those who list it have it - but check shipping costs and timing.

Freedom munitions had some jacketed round nose at a pretty good price with flat rate shipping today.

Miwall Corp has a good price right now. 100 rounds in an ammo can. It’s their remanufactured ammo. Brass case, 158 grain TMJ for $41.75. I’ve shot it a few times and it’s good, reliable ammo. Might want to order some up. I did. It’s in stock. Shipping is about 4-6 days out according to their website.

The gun show last weekend had 38 spl 158 grain hip standard velocity 50 round box's for $20 no limit , pallets of it. 40s&w 165 gran jhp 50 rnd box also $20. 9mm 115 fly was 15. So ammo is on a come back.

Gosh, I just bought a box of Blazer Brass for $30 at a gunshow, then a box of 100 Aguila for $50. I guess I better shop around more, but .38spl. is absent in our stores and the gunshows seem like the only source right now.

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Kevin in Oregon

Maybe your bank does not approve of people purchasing certain things.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

My thinking is that the few dollars you think you over paid will not break or make you and the really best part is that you have ammo. Larry

I can't tell you enough how you need to start reloading if you're worried about ammo prices.

"not being able to find primers" is a cop out. You will find small pistol primers WAAAAAAAY before you'll find the exact loaded rounds at a "reasonable price" you're looking for.

The "give a man a fish" answer here is keep looking online and keep using the KY jelly (and keep complaining about it online).

The "teach a man to fish" answer here is get yourself a Dillon Square Deal B in 38 Special and never look back. You'll have gobs of cheap ammo anytime you want and you'll have paid for your equipment in short order, ESPECIALLY with today's ammo prices.

I have been looking, and I have NOT found SPP available. I know others have, but I have not. So it's not a cop out.

They are there, and when you find them you can buy 5 or 10 thousand of them.

Which do you think you'll find first, the raw materials, or the finished product? And which do you think would be cheaper?

I just looked on Gunbroker right now and you can buy 1000 spp's for 169.99 with "buy now." That's insane, but even at that price, it's cheaper than buying loaded, jacketed 38 special ammo! By far.

This is just supply chain 101. Wouldn't you rather have the ability to make your own for 40% of what you can buy them online for? Then you're less dependent on ammo companies and more resistant to market fluctuations like this?

Just found 6000 primers 2 days ago..3000 SPPs and 3000 SRPs...70 bucks per 1000..Bit high priced but not a KY price. Could have bought a few more of the SRPs but don't really need 'em...Rem 7 1/2s. . SPPs were Win. I was amazed to find them No large primers at all

I just went to the Dulles Gun Show in Chantilly, VA. I buy my reloads from Georgia Arms (I have been buying my ammo from them for over 20 years). I found that they have quality products are very reasonable prices. I paid $160 for 250 rounds (158 gr/semi-wadcutter/factory loaded). They do on line orders, too.

Funny thing about non-handloaders, when ammo and supplies were cheap those who hand loaded still handloaded, and we were told that ammo is cheap WHY reload? But now that the ammo and handloading supply has gotten small the argument is changed, why hand load its too expensive and components are hard to find..The forest is an actual gathering of trees folks, not just the one your looking to pass under..and planning ahead will keep you in the shade. But don't stand in the sun and criticize those who are sitting in the shade. Oh and the recouping startup costs thing is moot also, go shoot 500rounds that you buy this weekend..you spent three times what the setup costed when the getting was good for hand loading equipment.. You can still get it used today and be ahead in a few months of shooting. But wait another decade and get back on the whipped horse about all the reasons not to handload..the story will be the same except the losses will be incredibly higher.

I have literally gathered 9mm brass off the ground at the range while this conversation was going on among the people watching me.
I've been shooting 9 mm steadily through this drought just like normal.

I have been pleased with bulk purchases of 9mm and 45 ACP from madisonguns.com.

But they aren't showing any bulk .38 spc now.

I made a single purchase from bulkammo.com a few months ago, and it worked fine. I'd deal with them again. They do list several bulk 38 spc loads. Can't say if their prices for it are any good or not.

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I've still got it made.

Ito am a reloader. I have to say I am guilty of saying loading ammo such as 9mm was just not worth it to me. And I will also say that statement was the truth. I have loaded it at times. The thing I said not worth it was not for me. I've loaded about every caliber and gauge I have ever shot. It wasn't worth loading 25 auto but I did. Even through this shortage I have not loaded any 9mm...and probably won't. I did not say ever though. I seem to have acquired 3 or 4 9s in the last year or 3. I shoot them. The fact is loading 9mm was not practical for me. I bought a beaucoup of 9mm ammo before things got crazy for under 7 dollars a box some under 6 dollars...and about 40 boxes of 38 special for 7.50 a box. All good jacketed ammo. So it wasn't worth loading either. Last week I purchased 1500 9mm jacketed bullets 1000 rounds of once fired 9mm brass, a couple pounds of powder good for the 9 + a 1000 Federal small pistol primers. Paid 200 bucks for it all so about 8+ or - dollars a box to load em. May even re-sell the whole lot.. but I have the Dillon 750 set up for 44 sp. I probably have enough cases and bullets to load another couple thousand 9s. Probably won't though. Just not worth my time. Right now! Just because you feel it is imperative to load something doesn't mean it is to someone else. You are right, however. If they don't or won't reload something they can't get...they shouldn't complain. And again some people just shouldn't try to run a reloading press

Ammoseek lists sellers of ammo and they do a good job of policing the listing. I’ve bought thousands of rounds from vendors listing on Ammoseek and every purchase has been within the terms, including shipping time.

A quick look at Ammoseek shows a bunch of options for bulk 38spl ammo from $0.39/round.

There is a search feature which allows you to include or exclude terms, including, for example, FMJ or a manufacturer.

If you see ammo you are interested just double check that vendor’s terms, including shipping costs and times.

Buddy of mine just traded a knock off 97 Win for cash and a ton of primers(1000 of every one) and about 10 pounds of good powder. He’s bringing some powder to gun show today to sell, will see if it sells. Primers, powder and loaded ammo is still high around here( JAX).
I’ll keep casting, sizing ,lubing and reloading my own as I have since the late 70’s.

This is another reason to reload that many overlook. Let's assume that prices were the same (Even though they are not). Another benefit is AVAILABILITY. If you shoot factory ammo you always have to wait to find what is available. If you reload, you can usually make much larger quantities so that availability becomes less of an issue.

What if you sight your 357 mag in for a load consisting of 158gr. JSPs, but you can only find 125 gr. factory loads, or no loads at all?

And you can insulate yourself even further if you cast your own bullets. If I always had to wait to find factory ammo in the specs I wanted, I'd be waiting a very long time!

The OP asked y'all not to start with the reloading schtick. Some people . . . .

I find the price differential between reloading and buying isn't enough to justify reloading.

. . . but I do save my brass.

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I've still got it made.

You can buy direct from Federal and CCI.

$99 order gets you free shipping.

Just looked at Federal, American Eagle 50 round boxes are $36.99 per
box and is in stock.

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Who are? "They"

I'm not sure what person in their right mind would pay $740 dollars per thousand for 38 Special when you can reload it for $250 or less for the same lot.

Holy ****.

Earlier in the thread someone mentioned Mountain City Supply. About a year ago I stumbled on them, and had gotten three 50 count bags of their "private reserve" all new 38 special to see how it was. I fired about 100 rounds of it or so with no issues. Lately all they have is "white label" remanufactured. I ordered 3 bags, and only 25 rounds into the first bag I got a squib that lodged tightly between the cylinder and the forcing cone. The gunsmith at the shop/range was able to push it back into the casing enough to open the cylinder. He told me a customer gun blew the barrel not long ago with a mountain city squib, and he's seen a lot of issues with their ammo. He made the statement as he handed me back my revolver "this is too nice a gun to risk with garbage ammo." I "donated" my other bags of remanufactured to him to dispose of as he wished.

Also, their shipping can literally take months (my experiencewith four separate orders over the last year), but the website says weeks, and they charge your card the moment you order.

Oh for the good old days. I used to buy .38 spl reloads for $3.50 a box with brass trade in. That's $11 in today's money.

Yesterday I found some Norma .38 at a good price from a small store in Traverse City, MI. I was skeptical so I passed. There’s a store in Iowa called Battlehawk Armory that showed cheap prices, but online reviews of the store made it sound scammy. I guess I’ll wait it out.

Did you check ammoseek.com ?

Yes, that’s where I found the Michigan place. Lots of very expensive ammo out there, though.

Labor Day weekend sale@ abguns.com might help. Moderator, if this is improper to link, kindly delete with my apology.

It just hurts to pay over $20 for a box of 38 Spl.

That’s the place, I just didn’t know if they were legit.

well as I saif...bought 28 boxes of jacketed HP 38s and 357 for 7.50 a box before the shortage really hit. Have shot a bout 1/2 the 38s..none of the 357 yet. I have plenty of presses to load with but haven't. Recently got a Dillon SDB set up for 38 sp(cheep). Got 1000s of brass and lead bullets(jacketed too) that I am going to load up probably next week. Afterwards gonna sell that machine(I've loaded a few and small footprint machine for me) and probably pay for it and all the cost of the reloads. With all the old powders bullets and even a 1000 or so very cheap primers...under a penny each... it will be cheaper than 22s to shoot. I know I will eventually run out of components...maybe...but reloading components will hopefully become readily available again and I will restock at the new prices...but it will STILL be cheaper than factory ammo. So a suggestion. Doesn't matter what kind of press you may use...heck I've even used a Lee Loader. Learn to reload. Most never regret doing so

Try these people:

Pistol Ammo Archives - TRUE SHOT GUN CLUB

MORTE 38 Special 125gr NEW Jacketed Soft Point Ammo – 50 round box – Lohman Arms

I started reloading in 1971, and casting boolits in 1975. At first it was a way to shoot centerfire cheaper than rimfire, but then it turned out to be a fun hobby.

After a few crises I leaned to stock up. I have NEVER run out of any component. And I shoot all the time, with no scale back of rounds just to conserve.

I will probably need to buy primers in about 2 years, but other than that I have lifetime everything.

Once again, for me its not because of cost or availability, its simply FUN.