.38spl Ammo Scarce?

[jimmyj]

In my part of the world .38spl ammo has become scarce.
Other handgun calibers seen to be very available, .25acp, .32acp, .357mag,9mm, .40S&W, .44mag, and .45acp.
However .38spl SCARCE!
How is it else where?
Jimmy

 

[zainyD]

You can find .38spl at most of the gun stores, but it's expensive. I almost never see it at Wal-Mart. I started reloading this round earlier this year so there's no shortage for me.

 

[pete950]

Try on line at ammunitiontogo.com they have a lot of it and you don't have to leave the house to find it. Oh and prices are good to!

Pete

 

[max]

My local shop has 38, but no 357 for over 6 months.

 

[Erich]

Man, I can't remember the last time that I bought .38 Special ammo. First caliber I handloaded . . .

 

[Smithhound]

Try down here in Cleveland at VOW 423-478-0080, or come down to Chattanooga to Sportsmans Warehouse on Hwy 153 & Lee Hwy. they usually have plenty.
RD

 

[flop-shank]

Man, I can't remember the last time that I bought .38 Special ammo. First caliber I handloaded . . .

......and a very easy one.

 

[22bond]

Not as scare as before at Walmart which seems to be getting them at least once or twice a month.

There are even Rem 357 Mag just sitting for weeks.

 

[Andy Griffith]

The only .38 Special +P round that I find that is scarce is the Remington version of the old 158gr. LSWCHP. Where is it?

I have plenty of everything else...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Luckily I no longer need to buy .38 Special ammo but I do know there's hardly any around my way for a very long time now. When my local dealer gets some in it's usually 130gr Remington UMC or 158gr LRN ammo and the price is too high...

 

[lebomm]

I, too, reload .38 Spl. and have just buckets of brass and bullets, so I've not bought any commercially offered ammo for years. However, at the last gun show I attended, it was common for folks to be asking $10-15/box for bagged RELOADS. Factory ammo exceeding $30/box of 50.
How do these guys sleep at night?

Larry

 

[slowburninsteve]

.38 Special is the new .380. It is hard to find and overpriced. Walmart here in Virginia hasn't gotten any in over a month now. Gander Mountain has a couple of boxes of Remington 158 grain +P LSWHP for $50/box of 50 Yikkkkkesssss!!!!!!!
Steve

 

[Jack Flash]

There are just so many revolvers out there chambered for .38 Special. Could anybody come up with a reasonably accurate estimate? Millions?

If it was just S&Ws, Colts, and Rugers, that would be one thing. But then there are all the "lesser" American makers, Taurus, Rossi, the Spanish knock-offs, etc, etc.

When people started to worry about legislation or bans, then looked at grandpa's old revolver with half a box of ammo the old guy bought back in the '60s ... well, there's your shortage.

 

[palmetto99]

I can still find .38 spl, but the price has gone up and can't find it at the big box stores. I started reloading a couple of months ago for that reason. Since LE,s went to semi-auto's, have the ammo companies cut back on the .38 spl?

 

[Crabtree]

@jimmyj

The Dick's sporting goods store at the Cedar Bluff exit off I40 has had .38 and .357 the last few times I have been in there. They should have it....because it was too expensive to sell! $20+ for the .38 and .357 was $30+ if memory serves. You might call them to verify.

I started reloading about 6 months ago specifically because I couldn't find .38 locally last year. I don't think reloading saves you very much money, but the fact is....if I want to shoot at least I can find the ammo to do it. And frankly I enjoy sitting in the basement and messing around with the reloading stuff. win win for me.

You ever shoot at Gunny's?

 

[22bond]

Local gun shop just put WWB 38spl 100ct on sale today - 30% off which makes it about $1.5 cheaper than Walmart.

And they have a lot too.

 

[ddixie884]

My local WM has a lot of .38spl in 130grfmj wwb 100's and Rem 50rnd boxes. No takers, for now.

 

[Erich]

I mentioned this thread to the gun guy at Wal-Mart yesterday (he's a real gun guy ) and he told me that he's been finding .38 Spl as difficult to get as .380. FWIW . . .

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

I got plenty as I load my own. Can't say that I've even looked at it in a store for years.

 

[ExplorerOne]

Shelves are filling up here in SE WA, 38+P is not challenging to find here.