.38 ammo prices!

[rwsmith]

Oh man.....

While it's certainly gone up, I don't find it prohibitively expensive. I buy a few boxes from time to time but .38 Spl is one of the cartridges that I still reload pretty consistently.

...I couldn't afford to shoot if I didn't reload. I like to shoot around 100 rounds of three or four varying calibers in a range trip.

 

[pharmer]

I can afford to shoot and don't reload. Since the .357 mag is same price i'm buying it instead. this Hungarian is top quality @ $.40/rd. Joe
New Republic Training and Range 38 Special Ammo 158 Gr FMJ FP - Ammo Deals

 

[djohns6]

I reload for all the hand guns I have.
Not a problem for me....

Well , that was quick . Post #2 .

 

[AlHunt]

Well , that was quick . Post #2 .

Like night follows day, one of us reloaders will pipe up when someone mentions the high cost of ammo. For us, "going shooting" is a trivial expense, followed by a few hours of our other hobby, ammo making.

Having ammo is like food and water. Being without is unthinkable. Others will see it differently.

 

[LVSteve]

Well , that was quick . Post #2 .

Indeed. There many of us (most?) who have no interest in reloading, or even if we did lack a safe space to do it. The "I reload" posts just clutter up the thread when the OP is just looking for suggestions on obtaining factory ammo at a better price. Now he/she has to do a lot more sorting of the wheat from the chaff.

 

[pabicyclist]

I buy in case lots and get it for around $20+tax a box (free shipping)

 

[djohns6]

Indeed. There many of us (most?) who have no interest in reloading, or even if we did lack a safe space to do it. The "I reload" posts just clutter up the thread when the OP is just looking for suggestions on obtaining factory ammo at a better price. Now he/she has to do a lot more sorting of the wheat from the chaff.

It's not going to change ..

 

[USBP SW]

Most shooters, reloaders included, have a shooting budget. The reloaders shoot more for the same amount of money. I have always preferred revolvers because I never come up short on brass, whether you reload or exchange the brass for loaded ammo (do they even still do that?), and stooping to pick up the empties is becoming more difficult with each passing year.

 

[Model19man]

I was reloading when I decided $19 was too much for 357 Magnum. It's been 45 years or so - I bought powder when the President was named Reagan.

I had to buy more primers recently, that was pretty expensive but not like buying ammo.

 

[glenwolde]

Indeed. There many of us (most?) who have no interest in reloading, or even if we did lack a safe space to do it. The "I reload" posts just clutter up the thread when the OP is just looking for suggestions on obtaining factory ammo at a better price. Now he/she has to do a lot more sorting of the wheat from the chaff.

Actually the OP is just making a statement about how he's dealt with the cost of revolver ammo. He doesn't ask for guidance or suggestions on anything. Maybe there should be no replies since there was no question or request.

Some deal with the cost pressures by reloading. It's a fair option. You don't need a lot of room, or even a bench. I have a complete kit that will reload .38 Special that fits in a plastic ammo can. I take it in the RV.

The .38 Special is a most forgiving cartridge to reload. It's really not difficult. But yes while we may come off as proselytizing, it's really intended as encouragement.

 

[Dave Lively]

The .38 Special is a most forgiving cartridge to reload. It's really not difficult. But yes while we may come off as proselytizing, it's really intended as encouragement.

As a recovering reloader I have been on both sides of this. Ammo is expensive and most of us try to limit expenses by some combination of shooting less, choosing inexpensive calibers, buying in bulk or reloading. I reloaded for 25 years before I quit about 15 years ago. While I was a reloader I too made a few "Sure am glad I reload!" posts online.

It was only after I quit I started to see why some people get tired of the chorus of I reload posts dominating threads about ammo costs. I find it easy to skip over the reloading posts so it doesn't really bother me. But there is a fine line between encouragement and proselytizing and some of you are getting really close to that line if not stepping over it.

Reloading is a good way to shoot more for the same money if you like reloading. I really liked reloading for many years until I didn't. There is nothing wrong with responses pointing out the very real advantages of reloading. But it isn't the answer for everyone.

I once posted a poll asking "Do you reload" in the GlockTalk ammo forum and it got moved to the reloading section. That seemed odd to me so a few months later I posted a similar poll in this forum and the same thing happened. In both cases two different moderators on two different forums decided asking people if they reload was a reloading question that belonged in the reloading forum, not the ammo forum. The point being the ammo forum is for talking about ammo, not reloading.

 

[scooter123]

People are buying more and more ammo every day.we are hedging because we have no clue if the local, city, state or federal governments will stop or limit civilian sales. That and the ban on Russian ammo and the increase of federal aid to other countries. Ammo companies have upped production but most of the runs are for popular rifle and pistol cartridges. 9mm, .40 S&aw is 10mm and .45 ACP. That leaves less time to produce revolver cartridges. Rifle shooters are facing the problem. 5.56 x 45 and 7.62 x 51, .300 Blackout etc. are being made but try and find .45-70. There are only so many ammo plants and we shoot a lot here. Plus we horde a lot as well because we are unsure if we can get more. Hand loaders are looking at massive increases and shortages in powder, new brass, projectiles and primers. Even black power shooters are feeling the pinch. The last U.S. company to make black powder went out of business a few years ago so again it's usually Swiss powder coming in and percussion caps are crazy expensive too.

You are just a bit behind the times on your information. For example the former Goex plant that was operated by Hodgdon had been completely rebuilt and is back in operation with many added Safety measures. It seems that Black Powder is a critical component for 155mm Artillery Shells and the US government didn't like our being dependent on a Swiss supplier.

Concerning Powder prices and Shortages, we have all found alternates. While nobody likes the prices a small positive is the Vihtavouri now has a price structure that is a bit BELOW Hodgdon and Alliant and they make some fantastic powders. A favorite of mine is 3N37. It has zero position sensitivity, meters wonderfully, and it's a bit of magic for 9mm or 38 caliber ammunition in terms of produced velocity.

The biggest issue for handloaders today is Primers. If it's a US brand primer it's stupid expensive and very difficult to find. The good news that Alternate choices from Europe and South America are becoming available at somewhat reasonable prices. Cheddite has become the GOTO primer for Shot Shells since Covid and there are indications that Federal and Winchester has lost that particular market, perhaps permanently. The only way for Federal and Winchester to recover the Shot Shell market would be with a major drop in prices at the retail level to match Cheddite and a much higher level of availability.

 

[djohns6]

.

I once posted a poll asking "Do you reload" in the GlockTalk ammo forum and it got moved to the reloading section. That seemed odd to me so a few months later I posted a similar poll in this forum and the same thing happened. In both cases two different moderators on two different forums decided asking people if they reload was a reloading question that belonged in the reloading forum, not the ammo forum. The point being the ammo forum is for talking about ammo, not reloading.

Preach it . brother . It won't change anything , but it needs to be said ..

 

[deputydon]

I am like STCM. Only factory ammo I buy are .22's. Everything else is homemade. I actually enjoy producing my own ammo in my shop with some country music. YMMV

-don

 

[djohns6]

It's times like this that I wish I was a Mod . I'd go scorched Earth on this thread ..

 

[soFlaNative]

It's times like this that I wish I was a Mod . I'd go scorched Earth on this thread ..

Plenty of time and space for the contrarians who don't like NFL football, haven't watched TV since Rawhide left the air and never heard of Taylor Swift.

 

[glenwolde]

As a recovering reloader I have been on both sides of this. Ammo is expensive and most of us try to limit expenses by some combination of shooting less, choosing inexpensive calibers, buying in bulk or reloading. I reloaded for 25 years before I quit about 15 years ago. While I was a reloader I too made a few "Sure am glad I reload!" posts online.

It was only after I quit I started to see why some people get tired of the chorus of I reload posts dominating threads about ammo costs. I find it easy to skip over the reloading posts so it doesn't really bother me. But there is a fine line between encouragement and proselytizing and some of you are getting really close to that line if not stepping over it.

Reloading is a good way to shoot more for the same money if you like reloading. I really liked reloading for many years until I didn't. There is nothing wrong with responses pointing out the very real advantages of reloading. But it isn't the answer for everyone.

I once posted a poll asking "Do you reload" in the GlockTalk ammo forum and it got moved to the reloading section. That seemed odd to me so a few months later I posted a similar poll in this forum and the same thing happened. In both cases two different moderators on two different forums decided asking people if they reload was a reloading question that belonged in the reloading forum, not the ammo forum. The point being the ammo forum is for talking about ammo, not reloading.

Point taken.

But now that I've thought it over thoroughly sometimes the "I reload" posts are not so much proselytizing as they are taking a position of moral superiority.

Even within the reloaders, the "I have 10,000# of metal I got free and I bought all my components in 1964" posts are rather nauseating. Not to mention irrelevant.

From a personal position I will endeavour to not comment on reloading in the ammo forum. Because you are right. I'm sure it's annoying to many and really does belong in the reloading forum.

 

[Dave Lively]

Point taken.
Even within the reloaders, the "I have 10,000# of metal I got free and I bought all my components in 1964" posts are rather nauseating. Not to mention irrelevant.

Same goes for the "I stocked up before the pandemic" posts in the ammo forum. I might be guilty of a couple of posts like that but am going to avoid making more.

 

[Spur]

Same goes for the "I stocked up before the pandemic" posts in the ammo forum. I might be guilty of a couple of posts like that but am going to avoid making more.

I try not to brag about stocking up back in the day; however, having said that, the reason I ended up stocking up when I did was from reading posts back in the mid- 2000s where those who had learned that lesson already posted about it.

 

[tom2]

I mentioned before that I saved all my revolver cases and reload. But I am reloading with pre-panic large bulk purchases of lead bullets and existing stash of powder. Some jacketed bullets that are at the old prices from years ago too. But I would not call the cost of reloading negligible for anyone getting started now. Last winter I bought another thousand pistol primers just so I could have a safety cushion of supply in case. The price was painful but not near peak I had seen before. The cost of new components and loading machinery for a beginner now is pretty profound for those of us that got started many years ago. Sure you probably can save some money as you use the same cases over and over but it is still substantial. And good luck finding some components, you might have to settle for subs or different loads than you wanted.