I have a M60 pro that I received in a trade and been trying to find some HP 38 special for the last several months. See some now and then but the price is impossible. I have 357 but don't want to shoot it in that gun because of arthritis in my hands. See plenty of 9mm and 223 at a price that while high I can live with. Have all of the manufactures gone to producing 9mm and 223 because it is popular and sells well. Must be thousands of 38s out there but revolvers are becoming a poor step child in the gun business.
No 38 special?
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Ammoseek
Keep an eye on ammoseek:
38 Special Ammo | Bulk 38 Special Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com 2021
Looks like about .60/round plus shipping is the bottom at the moment.
Keep an eye on ammoseek:
38 Special Ammo | Bulk 38 Special Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com 2021
Looks like about .60/round plus shipping is the bottom at the moment.
It is because they are so behind on military rounds which are a big source of income for them. They are going to prioritize the "NATO" rounds like 9mm and 5.56 because that is what butters their bread so to speak. Trust me I feel your pain as a .357 magnum guy, my luck is no better than yours with .38 special.
Eight years ago I could load 148 gr target ammo at around .21 cents each.
Today it might come out to around .44 cents each or a box of 50 at $23,
depending on material cost at these times, if you load.
I would hate to have to buy 38 ammo, right now.
Today it might come out to around .44 cents each or a box of 50 at $23,
depending on material cost at these times, if you load.
I would hate to have to buy 38 ammo, right now.
cmj8591
Member
I saw an article that said that they have a 2 year backlog on NATO orders. That's why we are seeing 9mm, 223 and 308 and other calibers are scarce. They have the tooling set up to produce for NATO and that's what is ending up on the shelves.
I guess this is on topic since the question is about ammo cost ... how do you get to .44/round loading your own with wadcutters?
150 grains of lead would be about .03 if you had to buy lead, the powder about 1 to 2 cents for a target load and maybe a dime for the primer. So maybe .15/round with cast bullets. Even buying cast bullets should keep it under .25/round.
Just curious, really. JHPs are running about .30 for the bullet, if a person were inclined to that sort of sacrilege.
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riverrat38
US Veteran
I am down to a cylinder full of Federal 130gr HST micro for each of my 2 J frame carry guns. It's just reloads for practice at the range.
I also have 12 rounds of Buffalo Bore 158gr plus P Outdoorsman in strips for reloads, so I am all set!
73,
Rick
I also have 12 rounds of Buffalo Bore 158gr plus P Outdoorsman in strips for reloads, so I am all set!
73,
Rick
0.25 a round is what I'm at with jacketed bullets, lead is around 0.16, and I've had the components less than a year.
But, yuck having to buy factory stuff.
I know it sucks, but if you need it bad, Gunbroker, has tons of .38 special.
Bite the bullet (no pun intended ) and pay the price.
Bite the bullet (no pun intended ) and pay the price.
I can find .38 fairly regularly. Not at a good price, but I can find it. Not so with .357 Mag. Can't find it anywhere in town. Haven't been able to since at least the first of the year, when I started looking. Around here at least, most stores keep some ammo behind the counter, so that if someone buy a gun, they have ammo for it. If you've already bought your gun, you're out of luck. I never owned a .357 until this year. Now I own 3. And I have a total of 50 .357 rounds. I've actually seen .38S&W and .32 Long on the shelf, but no .357. .357 Sig is available. So is my .224 Valkyrie rifle ammo. Apparently the trick is not to shoot the popular ammo.
DWalt
Member
So long as I have components, I don't concern myself about ammunition availability and prices. And I already have more .22 ammo than I will ever shoot.
Around here, .38 Special seems to be one of the last cartridges to come back. Almost none available in the retail stores or LGS's . . .
STORMINORMAN
Member
What am I gonna' do with those 1,800 hardcast Hi-tec coated .358 bullets I bought last month...?
ANSWER: Look for about 1,800 primers!
Cheers!
ANSWER: Look for about 1,800 primers!
Cheers!
heeter3
Member
On line, Freedom munitions and SGA ammo have some.Freedoms cheapest are reloads at about $28 or$29 for a box of 50 while SGA s cheapest are about 70 cents a round.
I recently came in possession of a Smith and Wesson 38/44. I have some .38 Special ammo, but was looking specifically for some .38 +P+. Checked into the local sporting goods store and their reply was, "We haven't been able to get any .38 Special ammo for the last 18 months!" Go figure.
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Been on the road to Va. to see son. Have stopped in couple Academy Sports, Palmetto State , Sportsman Warehouse and several gun shops. Only places that had 38 Spl were the gun shops at $100/50!! Did stop in 67 Hardware, bought the grandsons a nice Case. In Roanoke now and will hit some of my old haunts. Not holding my breath on any ammo.
That's why I have a Sig P229 in .40 with a spare .357 SIG barrel, and a 1911a2 in 10mm. I scored 4 boxes of jacketed round nose .40 for $18 a box of 50 this summer at my LGS.
But now I have a Ruger GP-100 in .357. Nothing to be found locally. I did get most of a box of .38 SPL and another of JSP .357 Magnum from my step dad though.
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STORMINORMAN
Member
Better think about reloading if you are serious about that +P+ concept: it is not that hard and you'll save enough to operate after about your 1st 250 rounds...
Brass, an appropriate powder and bullets are not the problem: small pistol primers are.
I'd look for small pistol magnum and small rifle primers as well.
Cheers!
As I've posted before, gotta check the garage sales. Always ask carefully: "Any sporting goods, hunting, fishing stuff?" Many careful folks will not openly display shooting items, ammo, etc. If people start with "jewelry store" prices, ask how much for ALL the ammo. That should get the prices down, and even if you don't have a certain caliber firearm, someone else does!
Kaaskop49
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Kaaskop49
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