New Federal Ammo for Old 38s

[Norton 750]

Stumbled across these at my local gunshop. Federal Lead Semi Wadcutter Hollow Points, 158 grain so they shoot point of aim with older Smiths, that are not Plus P rated. However, if you look at the rated velocity, it is dang close to the old classic Police Load. With modern powders they are knocking on traditional +P loads at standard pressures. I bought a couple hundred rounds to try them out.

Gents, buy these. We need to make sure the sales are strong enough for Federal to keep them in the line. I know they are not as cheap as handloads, but I won't carry handloads in my defensive guns. These appear to be the right answer for those of us that love wheelguns but don't want to beat them to death with +P loads.

 

[brucev]

Looks like a real good load. What not to like about a soft 158 gr. LSWCHP in a .38 Special? Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Norton 750]

And one more thing. Is $37.50 too much? I don't know...or care. My local gunshop endures me coming in once a week just to look around and see what they have. Catch up with old friends. Sometimes I buy a gun, and I never try and haggle on the sticker. Same with ammo. Because he has overhead. Counter help, the building, the shop dog...all these things cost money. Buy something at least every other time you go, even if it is just another AR magazine you throw on the pile. If we don't spend, they can't stay open. Please. End of rant.

 

[Green Frog]

Thanks for letting us know about these. I wouldn't be in the market at that price, but if I could find a box or two at $10/box or so less for use in my little old Baby Chiefs Special I'd be very interested. Meanwhile, I'll stick with my dwindling supply of old factory stuff to carry for social work and shoot HBWCs or SWCs in reloads for range time.

Froggie

 

[Norton 750]

Ten dollars a box? That is the price I paid just out of college in 1987. If you can still get name brand ammo at that box price in your area I will take off work next week and hop into my 1973 Corvette for a road trip!!!!! I hate it that ammo has gone up so much...but that is the world we live in now.

 

[stansdds]

Ammo other than 9x19mm and 5.56mm NATO is expensive these days. Revolver ammo is even more expensive. Sadly, $38 for a 50 round box of 38 Special hollow point ammo is actually a very good price in today's market.

 

[ralph7]

And one more thing.
Is $37.50 too much? I don't know...or care. My local gunshop endures me coming in once a week just to look around and see what they have. Catch up with old friends. Sometimes I buy a gun, and I never try and haggle on the sticker. Same with ammo. Because he has overhead. Counter help, the building, the shop dog...all these things cost money. Buy something at least every other time you go, even if it is just another AR magazine you throw on the pile. If we don't spend, they can't stay open. Please. End of rant.

Yes, it galls me that the ammo companies are attempting to do this to us. You can't make me believe the components they buy to make these cost double what the 9mm components cost, yet the price is double.

 

[Chuck24]

Ten dollars a box? That is the price I paid just out of college in 1987. If you can still get name brand ammo at that box price in your area I will take off work next week and hop into my 1973 Corvette for a road trip!!!!! I hate it that ammo has gone up so much...but that is the world we live in now.

The vette doesn't have a trunk, I'm taking my pickup.

 

[murphydog]

Ten dollars a box? That is the price I paid just out of college in 1987. If you can still get name brand ammo at that box price in your area I will take off work next week and hop into my 1973 Corvette for a road trip!!!!! I hate it that ammo has gone up so much...but that is the world we live in now.

Froggie wrote "ten dollars a box or so 'less'...

 

[Valmet]

Sounds like a load I'll buy a few hundred of- and I've always liked Federal brass.

 

[pharmer]

And one more thing. Is $37.50 too much? I don't know...or care..........

$750 for a case of 20 boxes is too much. $37.50/box 50 every payday don't hurt a bit. Joe

 

[fiasconva]

That is about the same price Bass Pro charges for American Eagle 158gr LRN. It's getting harder and harder to find inexpensive ammo in this area. Online is starting to be the only option. I'll have to check with ammoseek.com to what their prices are like.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Ten dollars a box? That is the price I paid just out of college in 1987. If you can still get name brand ammo at that box price in your area I will take off work next week and hop into my 1973 Corvette for a road trip!!!!! I hate it that ammo has gone up so much...but that is the world we live in now.

My LGS has 158 LRN for $37 a box of 50. The 158 LSWCHP is at a great price, JMHO.

I am a reloader so I load the Speer 158 LSWCHP over 3.5 grains of Bullseye powder.

 

[Empe]

That is about the same price Bass Pro charges for American Eagle 158gr LRN. It's getting harder and harder to find inexpensive ammo in this area. Online is starting to be the only option. I'll have to check with ammoseek.com to what their prices are like.

I haven't purchased ammo from a brick & mortar store in quite a while . There aren't any very close to me . On line purchases for me pretty much all the time ... better selection and prices .
Also when it comes to handgun cartridges at least reloading seems to be pretty much the way to go and it doesn't really have to cost a lot to get started. I began reloading about a year ago for both .45ACP and .38 Special . Using my own brass I can reload either round for about .25 cents each . That's $12.00 - $13.00 / 50 rounds.
It's really the only way I can afford to shoot either caliber .

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Ten dollars a box? That is the price I paid just out of college in 1987. If you can still get name brand ammo at that box price in your area I will take off work next week and hop into my 1973 Corvette for a road trip!!!!! I hate it that ammo has gone up so much...but that is the world we live in now.

$10 a box for premium 38 Special was what the Police Academy Pro Shop charged in 1987.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I haven't purchased ammo from a brick & mortar store in quite a while .

I began reloading about a year ago for both .45ACP and .38 Special . Using my own brass I can reload either round for about .25 cents each . That's $12.00 - $13.00 / 50 rounds.
It's really the only way I can afford to shoot either caliber .

When I started reloading 40+ years ago, my first two calibers were 45 ACP and 38 Special. Today those two calibers are still my most loaded.

Yesterday I got a pound of W231 and 1000 CCI SPP. I am using the X-Treme 125 plated FP for 38 Special. My cost is 25 cents a round or $12.50 / 50 rounds. Thank you for sharing.

 

[MTC(SS)Ret]

Found a few online retailers on ammoseek with prices around $25, no idea about the shipping charges though.

 

[GypsmJim]

And one more thing. Is $37.50 too much? I don't know...or care.

Wholly Mackerel. I guess so.

I load my own for $2.50 a box, with component prices at the level when they said "pandemic".

Even at today's component prices, it's only $7.50. Maybe $10.00 if you don't have the initiative to cast boolits.

We all are getting screwed. Just bend over and take it like a man. It's the voting public that has caused our pain. The enemy be us.

 

[WR Moore]

It's darn near impossible to find defensive revolver ammo in central Virginia.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Ballistics are probably from a 4" vented barrel, and unless they changed the lead formulation from the previous +P variant, I suspect expansion will be challenged, especially from a snub platform.