I came in procession of a J frame 357 not long ago and I have some 357 ammo and some 38 FMJ but no 38 self-defense ammo. At my age I do not want to shoot 357 in a j frame. I can find 9mm ammo as long as I pay the price. Midway has 6 different types of 9mm but no 38. Looking on line I find no 38 anywhere at any price. Must be some out there but I am having no luck. I guess I could wait for Midway to get some because I live close enough to go pick it up and avoid shipping charges.
38 special ammo
- Thread starter grover99
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
retrieverhunter
Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2011
- Messages
- 39
- Reaction score
- 45
You might try Freedom Munitions. I haven't been to their site in a while, but they make good 38 ammo.
No LGS?
You don't have any LGSs near you? If any have a chance of getting a shipment make some store crawls a couple times a week while you are waiting to see if something shows up online.
You don't have any LGSs near you? If any have a chance of getting a shipment make some store crawls a couple times a week while you are waiting to see if something shows up online.
Any 38 +P 125 up to the "FBI" load will work out of a 357 magnum for a light SD load, if you can handle them.
My minimum SD load in my J frame is now the Federal 130 HST that has the best stats and lowest recoil for a man stopper, if you can find it.
Good hunting.
My minimum SD load in my J frame is now the Federal 130 HST that has the best stats and lowest recoil for a man stopper, if you can find it.
Good hunting.
jjmIII_Ruger
Member
This is good advice. BB makes good stuff. Honestly, it was never cheap, but worth it for carry.
Oddly my LGS only has defense 38. I need range 38!
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
defense ammo
i was at a gun show before the ammo crunch started THIS time. there was an elderly gent who had retired and started his own ammo production business in our area. as usual i bought some 38 practice ammo and some 357.
i asked " when do you think you'll have some more Defense ammo for 38 special. he shushed me and leaned in close as not to be heard by others. sellers and buyers and said. 38 special has been defending ammo for 100 years before all the hollow fancy this or that were a thing.
great sales pitch as i bought some more of his standard lead round nose 158 gr.. they are much more pleasant to shoot in a J frame than any of the fancy ammo and i'm guessing he had a really good point.
krs/kenny
i was at a gun show before the ammo crunch started THIS time. there was an elderly gent who had retired and started his own ammo production business in our area. as usual i bought some 38 practice ammo and some 357.
i asked " when do you think you'll have some more Defense ammo for 38 special. he shushed me and leaned in close as not to be heard by others. sellers and buyers and said. 38 special has been defending ammo for 100 years before all the hollow fancy this or that were a thing.
great sales pitch as i bought some more of his standard lead round nose 158 gr.. they are much more pleasant to shoot in a J frame than any of the fancy ammo and i'm guessing he had a really good point.
krs/kenny
J. R. WEEMS
Member
38's
Havent bought any 38 special in years. Was getting down to a box and a half so Memorial Day Weekend, due to the lousy weather we stayed home. I ended up loading some 2000 rounds. Should do me for some time.
Havent bought any 38 special in years. Was getting down to a box and a half so Memorial Day Weekend, due to the lousy weather we stayed home. I ended up loading some 2000 rounds. Should do me for some time.
So the old 38 Special 158 grain swaged lead round nose bullet is a proven defense round with a 100 year history? Well, I'd say it's better than nothing, but it did not earn the nickname "widow maker" in the LEO community for nothing. A semi-wadcutter or full wadcutter is likely more effective than a round nose bullet. These days, if you can find it, Federal 130 grain HST, Remington 125 grain Golden Saber, or Speer 135 grain Short Barrel ammo would be among my first choices. After that, boutique ammo like Buffalo Bore.
Wise man grover99 to pass on .357 in a J frame.
gwpercle
Member
Load up with the FMJ 38 specials ... they will perferate the hide of bad guys just as well as a cast bullet or JHP load .
It will hold you over untill you can get some super dooper high tech SD ammo .
My J-frame is loaded with 160 grain Target Wadcutter loads ...why ?
I shoot them accuratly and fast and I have them . A wadcutter hits hard and 38 cal slugs out of a 38 Special revolver have killed more than one person at inside the house distances .
Gary
It will hold you over untill you can get some super dooper high tech SD ammo .
My J-frame is loaded with 160 grain Target Wadcutter loads ...why ?
I shoot them accuratly and fast and I have them . A wadcutter hits hard and 38 cal slugs out of a 38 Special revolver have killed more than one person at inside the house distances .
Gary
Expensive, but available. .38 Special 100gr. Maximum Expansion(R) Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo
THE PILGRIM
Member
Know that feeling!
I usually have 38 +P in mine.
All 38 around here has been scarce!
I also prefer the Regular Brand Named Jacketed Hollow points.
Not that I dislike the Big Solids!
And I will use the Full Jackets if that is all I got.
I usually have 38 +P in mine.
All 38 around here has been scarce!
I also prefer the Regular Brand Named Jacketed Hollow points.
Not that I dislike the Big Solids!
And I will use the Full Jackets if that is all I got.
Attachments
Last edited:
Federal has some range ammo.
Buy American Eagle Handgun for USD 36.99 | Federal Ammunition
Buy American Eagle Handgun for USD 36.99 | Federal Ammunition
Underwood has some
150 grain hard cast wad cutters.
150 grain hard cast wad cutters.
cherrypointmarine
Member
Try georgia-arms.com . They have a couple of different loads for sale . They both remanufacture and make new ammo , the new ammo comes in starling cases . I've been using their ammo for more than 20 years , never a burp .
MTC(SS)Ret
US Veteran
I agree you can find 38 Special using ammo seek. FMJ starts at about .60/round, defensive stuff at 1.50/round.
Speed Gold Dot +P 125gr HP was $125 for a box of 50.
Last edited:
RNL was our issue round till the mid 70's. The only criticism I heard about it was penetration of auto sheet metal. Otherwise, it seemed to do OK from what I heard at that time, I never heard of the term 'widow maker' until the internet came along.
Similar threads
