Feeding our S&W Revolvers

[HarrishMasher]

We all know ammo is very expensive these days. Revolver calibers in particular.

When you shoot every week it goes really fast too. I can easily shoot 200 rounds of 38spl a week, often more.

The last couple of days I have come across some outstanding deals on ammo with free shipping.

Until 12/15 Freedom Munitions has free shipping, .38spl for as low as $0.24 per round. $120 for 500 rounds delivered. You just don't see .38spl at that price very often anymore. And their ammo is absolutely excellent. New or Remanufactured.

Yesterday Cabela's had a promotion where you spend $100, you get $20 off + Free Shipping. I placed a lot of $100 orders yesterday at Cabela's. For my ARs I placed several orders for Federal 5.56 XM193. 320 rounds for $83 delivered. Cheapest I have seen Federal XM193 for in years.

Today Cabela's is doing spend $49, you get $10 off + free shipping. CODE "RMN49". You just have to place a bunch of separate $50 orders to maximize the savings.

When you see these deals you have to jump on them, sometimes they only run for the day and stuff sells out quick.

I go to "slickguns.com" once a day and click on the link with all the deals for the last 24 hours. I also monitor gunbot.net for all the calibers I shoot. The last two days I have seen the best deals in years in ammo.

Moderator, sorry if this is in the wrong place, just trying to help my fellow shooting enthusiasts out.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Well done and we thank you!

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Thanks!

I tend to use slickguns.com on occasion, but have not lately because not being able to shoot much.

 

[HarrishMasher]

Thanks!

I tend to use slickguns.com on occasion, but have not lately because not being able to shoot much.

Is everything ok?

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

Thanks for the heads up. I ordered 500 rounds of 38 special @$12.00 a box. It has been a long time since I have seen prices like that. Wish I could buy more right now.

 

[Peak53]

Wow! Methinks some people need to take up reloading and cut your ammo prices in half! I couldn't afford to shoot at those prices

 

[CWH44300]

Wow! Methinks some people need to take up reloading and cut your ammo prices in half! I couldn't afford to shoot at those prices

Your dead on, that one.

I couldn't afford to shoot factory stuff when center fire rifle ammo was 6 bucks a box, magnum handgun ammo at 12 bucks was way out of my means.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Is everything ok?

Yeah, finials and work are just keeping me busy. Thanks for checking though.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Wow! Methinks some people need to take up reloading and cut your ammo prices in half! I couldn't afford to shoot at those prices

I have access to a single stage press, just don't have much free time.

 

[Glockster]

Good news....

Supply is finally catching up with demand again!

 

[Andyd]

It is good to see prices and availability getting back to normal after such a long dry season.

I am casting my own bullets and reload since thirty years but components have also sharply increased in price, so I have a training plan now and practice certain parts with an airguns additionally.

 

[Neumann]

Reloading is the way to go for centerfire handguns.

If you're just starting out, then a single station press is the best choice. You'll never outgrow that first press, but if time is limited, you should consider a progressive press. It's not big deal to turn out 400 rounds an hour, once it's set up for that caliber. With quick change kits, it takes about 20 minutes to change to a new caliber, maybe less.

Hard cast bullets cost 1/3rd that of jacketed bullets, and work just as well. I load for .357 Mag and .44 Mag, among others, and get no leading with loads near the maximum. The bullet can have any shape with a revolver, but RN or RNFP bullets feed well in pistols too.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

Wow! Methinks some people need to take up reloading and cut your ammo prices in half! I couldn't afford to shoot at those prices

Your dead on, that one.

I couldn't afford to shoot factory stuff when center fire rifle ammo was 6 bucks a box, magnum handgun ammo at 12 bucks was way out of my means.

Are you saying that $12 a box is expensive compared to reloading? A pal of mine has lead me to believe that rising prices for powder, primer and brass that there is little to be gained by reloading.

Approximately what does it cost to produce a box of 50 158grain 38 special, not counting the equipment needed?

 

[arjay]

Maybe $5 for 38s,45 acp and 357.$8 for 44 magnum.
Edit: Using cast bullets.

 

[ArkieVol]

Approximately what does it cost to produce a box of 50 158 grain 38 special, not counting the equipment needed?

158g Lead $6; Hornady 158g XTP $11.50; Speer 125g Gold Dot $14.50.

(Retail for 50 rounds of 125g Speer Gold Dot ammo: $57.50)

 

[rwsmith]

My answer is always......

Reloading, reloading, reloading.....

As much as you are shooting you are a great candidate.

You wont be in a sling when ammo prices go up and ammo gets scarce again.

 

[Jamesatrange]

If you can find ammo cheap buy it. I suggest saving your brass for the day you consider reloading. Brass is one of the reusable expenses. I had an old timer tell me reloading doesn't save you money it allows you to shoot more often for less money. He is right because there is an investment if you buy quality tools, but they usually last a lifetime and allow me to shoot and not cringe every time I pull the trigger thinking I just spent too much for that. Lol Time is another factor and only you can personally decide on what your time is worth etc. Again if you can find inexpensive quality ammo buy it as you can't go wrong, but it may inflate again and reloading is a wonderful alternative.

 

[snowman]

A pal of mine has lead me to believe that rising prices for powder, primer and brass that there is little to be gained by reloading.

Approximately what does it cost to produce a box of 50 158grain 38 special, not counting the equipment needed?

Sir,

I'm afraid your friend has MISlead you(not purposely, I'm sure). I've been reloading .357s & .44s for around 11 years. I load .357s right now for around .15 each, and that's with jacketed bullets. A year and a half ago I taught some friends to shoot, using their M64. To do this I had to buy some .38s nearby -I think they were 135gr. fmj, for $27 a box(50rd) -more than .50 per round. This thread tells me they can be had for less, but not in these parts. Even taking advantage of the deals listed by the OP I would still pay more.

I will continue to load my own.

Regards,
Andy

 

[DonD]

Don't know if I was late or what. Midway limited my order to one box of 325 rds of Federal Automatch .22LR. Not worth the shipping costs as I'm OK stock wise on .22LR. Tried to buy 4 boxes, refused. Don

 

[CWH44300]

Are you saying that $12 a box is expensive compared to reloading? A pal of mine has lead me to believe that rising prices for powder, primer and brass that there is little to be gained by reloading.

Approximately what does it cost to produce a box of 50 158grain 38 special, not counting the equipment needed?

I just got set up to load 357.
I'm loading 158 swc at 1050 fps, for 7 dollars a box. This per box price includes a 57 dollar set of dies, the next thousand rounds will be considerably lower.
Here's a photo of my bench, right now. The turret press is set up for 44magnums with sizerer, belling, 3 different seating dies and a separate crimp die. Something like this is not needed to handload anything but its nice if you do a lot of different loads for one caliber. All of my ammo was loaded on the old rockchucker for years(press at left) the press on the right is a newer larger rockchucker, that is used for full length magnum rifle loads.
Hand loading is a great hobby on its own but it is mandatory for the high volume or precision long range shooters.

Chris