Funny box of .38 Spl at the range

[Clark B]

Went to the range last weekend and was running low on .38 Spl, so I decided to buy a box. Being that I was just wanting plinking quality ammo I told the clerk I wanted a box of the cheaspest .38 ammo they had. The cheapest was Lapua 158gr LRN. All 50 rounds went bang, but it was about the smokiest stuff I've fired outside of black powder. My friend I was shooting with knows I reload and that I reload BP cartridges as well and asked if I was playing around with BP reloads. Accuracy was so-so, always figured Lapua was better ammo than that. Oh well, the brass should be great.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm wondering if you were sold some "gun shop reloads" instead of factory ammo. Lapua ammo is very accurate and I doubt it's smokey. Maybe some reloads with Trail Boss.

 

[Mack]

The words Lapua and cheap do not compute. Pictures would be nice do you still have the box and was it all Lapua brass? Lapua has a very limited product line, currently they only produce .32 and 9 mm ammo and brass they may have made .38 in the past but I doubt they would have used a lead bullet so most likely reloads. To give you an idea Midway has their 9 mm brass priced at $43.99 per 100.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

The smoke may have been from the lube.

 

[jlanecole]

I bought some Lapua .38 Special, 158gr LRN a year or so ago that came in a sealed, metal canister, made of zinc, I think. The individual boxes are very thin plastic, white, with blue writing. I've gotten medium accuracy from them, and they are a little dirty, but like you said, I'll be left with the fine, Lapua brass. The ammo itself was under $10 per 50, as I recall.

Found a link from Stephen Camp where he discusses the Lapua Ammunition I have, in brief.

New Page 4

 

[Clark B]

Yes, very thin sealed plastic box, with blue and white label. Smokey and less than outstanding accuracy.

I can say for certain that the range does not sell reloads, unless they are marked as so. They have always been quite honest in that regard.

 

[chief38]

I think that Model520Fan might have a point! I recently purchased 10,000 assorted .38 and .45 bullets from a manufacturer and their hardness, shape, consistency, & quality is all OK - but when you fire them (especially indoors), you need a Typhoon to clear the smoke! I am using the same powders I always have (W231, Titegroup, Universal) so I am thinking it is the LUBE that is smoking. His prices are substantially less than others, so I am thinking maybe he skimped on the lube. NOT that it means much, but his lube is a different color than the Meister Bullet's I used to use. Meister's prices have gone through the ceiling, so that is why I was looking for another less expensive alternative.


Chief38