.38 Special ammo getting hard to find?

[trikster]

I don't know if any of you have heard this or not, but at two different LGS I heard that .38 Spcl ammo, especially brass, is getting harder to find. I did some online checking and I don't know if maybe I am seeing things but it does appear that places that sell reloads are charging just a bit more and their stock levels aren't as high. Anyone else seeing or heard this? I would hate to see .38 Special go by the wayside like .38 S&W ammo...

Tell me I am hallucinating...

 

[Dragon88]

You are hallucinating. 38 Special ain't going nowhere.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I'm not finding .38 special ammo hard to find. In fact, after an hour on the Dillon I have 500 more loaded rounds than I did earlier tonight.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I just got a case of PMC 132gr FMJ. I think it's still the same price per box as it was the last time I ordered it in January, maybe $1 more. Some of the premium JHP loads may have gone up in price (I haven't priced them in a while...I still have several boxes of Speer SBGDHP left, as well as adequate supplies of BB and Nyclad ammo). I wouldn't call them hard to find, though.

 

[trikster]

Then I wonder what the shops supplier are smoking? If it was just one shop I would think nothing of it, but 2?! They are both mom & pop type places specifically with reloads... Only thing I can think of is that both shops buy from different reloading companies who get used brass from law enforcement agencies in Southern California. Maybe they are fasing it out? I don't know, but it was a weird conversation to overhear.

 

[1jimmy]

bass pro, dicks sport goods and the ammo source all have plenty

 

[max]

I could understand that revolver brass from police agencies might be drying up as most have gone to autoloaders. However, there are tons of 38 special brass floating around.

 

[Mphstiger1981]

The local Wally World has plenty of WWB in both FMJ and the JHP. I think I paid $16.99 for a box of 50 FMJ back a few weeks ago, but they had more ammo on the shelf than I've seen in a long time.

 

[Hunt200]

I have seen it all over the place and at good prices. Not that I buy it since I cast my own and handload them.

 

[Vartarg]

Answer

1) Reload

2) Don't believe half the BS you hear from folks at ANY LGS!

3) If you're still discouraged, send your .38 Special revolvers to me, and I'll keep them loaded and hot!

 

[H Richard]

The only truth to this is LGS specifically getting reloads made with previously fired brass. Since the government and most all police departments no longer use .38's the once fired brass is getting harder to find. That's why reloaders such as Black Hills are using virgin brass instead of previously fired brass. There is no shortage of 38 specials, one of the most frequently fired pistol rounds.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

The only time it is in short supply around me is when the local ranges have a defensive pistol or concealed carry class. A lot of people favor j-frames or something similar and buy up the ammo for their classes. The .38 special is very popular and won't be going anywhere.

 

[Wheel Fan]

The only thing I've noticed is a lot of it's on sale. End of summer? Who knows.

Thanks for reminding me, time to pick up a box or two

 

[southchatham]

My local shop has 38 for the same price as 9mm. No problems here. The 38's are special buys he's been getting, but works for me.

The moral of my post is that if he can buy pallets of 38 for a good price, their is no shortage.

 

[snubbiefan]

It would simply be un-American not to own at least one 38-special. I see and find the ammo under every bush everywhere I go. Just save your brass and get one of those Lee "beat-n-bang" re-loaders and you will have ammo forever.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

It would simply be un-American not to own at least one 38-special. I see and find the ammo under every bush everywhere I go. Just save your brass and get one of those Lee "beat-n-bang" re-loaders and you will have ammo forever.

I see no shortage of .38 ammo or brass. As a matter of fact I shoot an average of 2X weekly and pick up at least 50 to 80 brass casings each week. And you can often buy SD ammo on sale, i.e. Cabelas recently sold Winchester PDX ammo for $ 14.99, free shipping for orders over $ 150.00. This same ammo normally sells for $ 19.99 to $ 24.99.

 

[remat457]

Well, it sure isn't as cheap to shoot as it used to be...and 357mag has gotten even worse.

 

[daveh75]

It would simply be un-American not to own at least one 38-special. I see and find the ammo under every bush everywhere I go. Just save your brass and get one of those Lee "beat-n-bang" re-loaders and you will have ammo forever.

Beat and bang works for .44 as well.....

 

[nawilson]

Standard pressure FMJ and +P JHP are pretty easy to find. LRN, lead WC, and. Lead SWC can be a bit of a challenge. With all the J frames being manufactured and sold, I think we will keep seeing 38 Special for the near future.

 

[mrsig]

There is certainly no shortage of .38 spl in Tampa.