Why I Dumped My .38 $pecial.

[Paul in Nevada]

Sorry to be the doom-sayer but I just cant shake the feeling this time and really dont see any hope on the horizon...

You have expressed my feelings exactly.
I will add on one more bit of pessimism. The ammo companies don't need us. They aren't our friends. They are planning for the day when shooting becomes a niche sport. They have all the LE and military contracts they need to remain profitable forever. It doesn't help us that they have been consolidated into a relatively small number of companies. They don't need to compete for our dollars any more. They only need to target that sweet spot where the majority of the commercial market will still purchase their product. The ammunition companies know that a time is coming when gun control laws will make shooting only available to the privileged elite and organized sporting clubs. What they lose on volume they will make up in price. Meanwhile, their bread and butter customer will always be the government.

 

[Kevin_nj]

I'm pretty well stocked on calibers for what I've owned before the most recent scarcity and high prices set in. But, I've just bought my first guns chambered in .38 Special & .380 ACP. So, I'm paying premium now. I do have reloading equipment, so I may get what I need for those calibers as well.

 

[BillBro]

Paul, Im glad you didnt mind my little rant in your thread, and youre right about the ammo companies. The people running those companies or who own those companies arr just like the people in politics in my estimation. Theyre about as much like us as any other elitist. Sorry folks but its a rare bird who isnt effected by riches. They have very little in common with us.

 

[brucev]

Re: Prices. First time I ever bought .38 Special ammo, I paid $5.00 for a little white box of reloaded wadcutters. Then bought a $8.00 box of Hornady Frontier .30 Special ammo. Lee Loader, some wadcutter bullets, a pound of Unique and several decks of primers and I was reloading! Now, 43 years later ... Bang! Bang! It just goes on! Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

Palmettostatearmory.com has some good ammo prices.

38 Special 158 gr ball from Armscor $22.99 box of 50. I bought a box haven't fired any yet.

38 Special 132 gr ball from PMC $21.99 box of 50.

Geoff
Who notes you have to watch your prices and competition and shipping costs and additional charges, and support your local sources and small gun shops, etc.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have both 38 and 9mm guns.

I don't loose cases with the 38 &357 revolver, while with the 9mm
there is a chance in the field that I miss a few or if I go to certain ranges, cases are a done deal when they hit the floor.

I feel the cost equals out in the end.

 

[AJ]

I don't loose cases with the 38 &357 revolver, while with the 9mm
there is a chance in the field that I miss a few or if I go to certain ranges, cases are a done deal when they hit the floor.

Our range lets us keep our own brass. Folks that don't reload usually offer their brass when they find out you reload and are picking up brass.

The other day, I found a few 10MM cases and icked them up. A range officer asked if I had a 10MM (he knows I reload), told him yes. He came back in a couple of minutes and gave me a pound coffee can full of 10MM once fired brass. I said thank you very much!!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The last time I remember buying .38 Special ammo was early 1980s, I needed some for duty use.

Reloading for 51 years, started with .38 Special. Casting for 50 years, started with .38 Special. Back in the day I figured $0.68 for a box of 50. My current stocks were loaded with pre-panic supplies, so about $3.00 per box.

Last reloading cycle included 2000 rounds of .38 Special, about 900 left in the ammo locker. Another 2000 cases are ready to load (sized, primed, mouth expanded, all it takes is powder and bullets which I have on hand). Probably 10,000 or more empties on hand, saved up over the years and mostly free to me.

Similar stockpiles in .357, 9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP, .44 Special, and a couple of others I like to use regularly. Lower quantities of the less common calibers.

I suppose I was a bit more prepared than most folks.

 

[smithman 10]

Yes .38 Special and .357 are not cheap

But if you are a revolver person and have fired a few hundred rounds over the years with your revolvers you don't need to have hundreds of rounds on hand.

You don't really need to touch off dozens of rounds weekly to maintain proficiency. Try a little dry-fire (be extra safe, of course). If it's recreation you want, shoot your .22 revolver. Don't have a .22? Shame on you.

Now of course I am a geezer and have probably enough components to load .38 or .357 to last til I kick the bucket. If I was 30 I'd be more concerned.

As stated, it is simply supply and demand. Folks shoot way more 9mm as opposed to any revolver round. Manufacturers are in business to supply what is demanded, that's just the way it is.

If there were to be a resurgence in the sale of revolvers (probably not too likely), the price for .38/.357 would gradually come down.

One can only hope, as a simple, safe, easy to operate and less prone to jamming, etc. revolver, say a Model 10 or a 640, 642, 442 IMHO better serves most folks as a self defense gun than ANY semi-auto.

Or this Model 60 which I have posted a zillion times.It will be the last handgun I part with. Maybe I can smuggle it into the nursing home in my depends when the time comes!

 

[smoothshooter]

I’ve always been a big fan of the .38/.357. It is IMHO one of the most versatile rounds ever produced.Until this most recent ammo/firearm crisis, I’ve always believed that the .38 was so common that you would always be able to find it anywhere; and at a reasonable price. Not so long ago, you could walk into any backwoods hardware store or mercantile and it was almost certain that you could find .38 Special in some iteration, even if it was Lead Round Nose.

Today’s ammo situation has proven me wrong. Was just checking ammo prices at Runnings. Federal American Eagle.38 Spcl FMJ, $58/50. Federal American Eagle .45 ACP FMJ, $34/50. Almost makes me want to buy a big bore!

I know that “these things shall pass”, but I think these crises shall become more cyclical and frequent . For the foreseeable future, it’s 9mm/.380 for me.

.38 Special ammo has never been very common in the Ozarks in most my lifetime, and I am old.
Quite a few older people have them in their dresser drawers, but they don’t shoot them.

 

[max503]

In today's climate it seems anything and everything gun related is a seller's market.

 

[Doug M.]

How many of you have a 5-1300$ cell phone... how much powder would that have bought? primers?

*
Or golf clubs, or a boat, both of which are huge money sinks with no real value.

 

[Nevada Ed]

*
Or golf clubs, or a boat, both of which are huge money sinks with no real value.

A good golfer that knows how to play the game..........
will be money ahead , when he retires, the game.

Some just go out to chase the "Ball" around the course.

A boat Guide, is in the same "Boat" !!

 

[rockquarry]

How many of you have a 5-1300$ cell phone... how much powder would that have bought? primers?

That may be a good analogy to some but not to others. I have a pretty minimal cell phone and don't know what it cost. I don't have it handy much of the time and seldom use it. A cell phone just isn't very important to me.

Many have no interest in handloading; it's of no importance to them. That's easy to understand and no cause for criticism.

Some reloaders only reload to save money. They have no interest in load development or making good quality ammunition that is also accurate. Mediocre accuracy and reliable (and hopefully safe) ammunition that fires every time is adequate.

Some non-reloaders probably still consider reloaded ammunition as being inferior to factory ammo. Regrettably, a true statement in many instances.

If handloading isn't a hobby in itself for the person doing it, that person will never come close to realizing the full spectrum of handloading. If one can't produce ammunition that is at least of the same quality or better than that produced by the big manufacturers, that person has considerable learning and experimentation ahead.

A big factor is accuracy. A good handloader should be able to easily exceed the accuracy level of commercial ammunition for his gun or guns about 98% of the time.

If the interest and enthusiasm isn't there, it isn't there. Handloading isn't for everyone.

 

[rockquarry]

its not at all about the fun of reloading. Its about a cost perspective.

People will rightfully complain about the price of primers, but yet are too eager to overlook the cost of what they actually pay day to day.

"Fun of reloading vs. cost perspective" was covered in the post you're referencing.

 

[GypsmJim]

*
Or golf clubs, or a boat, both of which are huge money sinks with no real value.

Whenever I get stressed I go make some noise and blast off a box or 2. When I'm REALLY stressed I go for a boatride, anchor on the sandbar and watch the pretty girls in bikinis.

Please replace "no real value" above with "the utmost value". I know a few geezers that would respond the same when talking about golf, which they do 3 times a week.

As for the $1300 cell phone, that's just a joke. Mine cost $100 and I simply can do all the stuff the other one does. I even have an app tied to my boat that gives me mpg data in real time.

 

[smithra_66]

I’ve always been a big fan of the .38/.357. It is IMHO one of the most versatile rounds ever produced.Until this most recent ammo/firearm crisis, I’ve always believed that the .38 was so common that you would always be able to find it anywhere; and at a reasonable price. Not so long ago, you could walk into any backwoods hardware store or mercantile and it was almost certain that you could find .38 Special in some iteration, even if it was Lead Round Nose.

Today’s ammo situation has proven me wrong. Was just checking ammo prices at Runnings. Federal American Eagle.38 Spcl FMJ, $58/50. Federal American Eagle .45 ACP FMJ, $34/50. Almost makes me want to buy a big bore!

I know that “these things shall pass”, but I think these crises shall become more cyclical and frequent . For the foreseeable future, it’s 9mm/.380 for me.

You absolutely need to start reloading.

 

[smithra_66]

The last time I remember buying .38 Special ammo was early 1980s, I needed some for duty use.

Reloading for 51 years, started with .38 Special. Casting for 50 years, started with .38 Special. Back in the day I figured $0.68 for a box of 50. My current stocks were loaded with pre-panic supplies, so about $3.00 per box.

Last reloading cycle included 2000 rounds of .38 Special, about 900 left in the ammo locker. Another 2000 cases are ready to load (sized, primed, mouth expanded, all it takes is powder and bullets which I have on hand). Probably 10,000 or more empties on hand, saved up over the years and mostly free to me.

Similar stockpiles in .357, 9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP, .44 Special, and a couple of others I like to use regularly. Lower quantities of the less common calibers.

I suppose I was a bit more prepared than most folks.

Exactly. With the nominal cost of equipment amortized over years and years, it's shocking to me that anyone pays factory ammo prices.

It's like a brake job nowadays. 4 wheels with rotors will cost you $800-$1200 depending on location.

You can get it done yourself for $350-$400.

That's a similar ratio for reloading vs. buying factory, and reloading ammunition is a lot less labor intensive than changing your own brakes!

 

[Doug M.]

Depends on the value of your time, or how YOU value it.

 

[sigp220.45]

I’ve reloaded off and on since I was a kid. It was strictly for economic reasons. I have to come to the conclusion I really dislike reloading.

I’ll keep my gear for a while. Maybe one of my kids or nephews/nieces will want to give it a try. As for me - nope. Its too boring and I can afford ammo.

My shooting buddy actually likes reloading, so it works for him.