OP
I would want a .40 strong enough to always cycle a Sig 226 but as light as possible.
How worthwhile is it to save my .38 and .357 brass?
- Thread starter bushmaster1313
- Start date
novalty
Member
You could always trade someone for 40 S&W cases. As mentioned by fyimo, you can load cases light for plinking. You might have to replace your recoil spring with a lighter one, but with reloading you can "have it your way." Instead of buying a box of factory ammo off the shelf, if you can find one on the shelf. With gas at $3.50+ it gets pretty expensive to drive around looking for ammo.
That's the beauty of reloading. With a little trial and error you could find the exact point where reliability and recoil meet for not just "a Sig 226" but for your Sig 226!
magsherman
Member
I just sold my last 9mm last weekend. Gonna stick with the wheel guns because you can at least (for now) still buy .38 and .357.
johnjohn
Member
NEVER throw away once fired brass.
oberon
Member
Used to be just like tossin' a handful of dimes.
Now it's just like tossin' an handful of quarters.
I have brass that I have loaded dozens of times.
Rudi Z
Member
Save it
Reloading .38 and .357 saves money.
My cost per bullet is 12.1 cents a round for 38s and 12.4 cents for .357 magnum (just a little more powder)
Brass=Free
Bullets= 500 Speer Lead SWC-HP 40.99 = 8.2 cents a head
Primers= 1000 small pistol primers at 26.99= 2.7 cents a head.
Powder= $18.99 for a 1lb of Unique (7000 grains=.27 cents per grain) .38 with 4.4 grains = 1.2 cents
One reloaded round is therefore= 12.1 cents per round or $6.05 per box of 50. That is better than 18-24 dollars!
Reloading .38 and .357 saves money.
My cost per bullet is 12.1 cents a round for 38s and 12.4 cents for .357 magnum (just a little more powder)
Brass=Free
Bullets= 500 Speer Lead SWC-HP 40.99 = 8.2 cents a head
Primers= 1000 small pistol primers at 26.99= 2.7 cents a head.
Powder= $18.99 for a 1lb of Unique (7000 grains=.27 cents per grain) .38 with 4.4 grains = 1.2 cents
One reloaded round is therefore= 12.1 cents per round or $6.05 per box of 50. That is better than 18-24 dollars!
BobC357
Member
It is weird how different areas have different supply and demand. Around here, .357 Mag and 38 Spl haven't been seen in almost a year and, if you can find it, it will cost around $50/box of 50 -- $1/round! 9mm are readily available at the gun shows and many sporting goods stores.
Thankfully, I've got a lot of 357 brass or I'd be out of .357 ammo.
Last edited:
Rudi Z
Member
Save it
Reloading .38 and .357 saves money.
My cost per bullet is 12.1 cents a round for 38s and 12.4 cents for .357 magnum (just a little more powder)
Brass=Free
Bullets= 500 Speer Lead SWC-HP 40.99 = 8.2 cents a head
Primers= 1000 small pistol primers at 26.99= 2.7 cents a head.
Powder= $18.99 for a 1lb of Unique (7000 grains=.27 cents per grain) .38 with 4.4 grains = 1.2 cents
One reloaded round is therefore= 12.1 cents per round or $6.05 per box of 50. That is better than 18-24 dollars!
Reloading .38 and .357 saves money.
My cost per bullet is 12.1 cents a round for 38s and 12.4 cents for .357 magnum (just a little more powder)
Brass=Free
Bullets= 500 Speer Lead SWC-HP 40.99 = 8.2 cents a head
Primers= 1000 small pistol primers at 26.99= 2.7 cents a head.
Powder= $18.99 for a 1lb of Unique (7000 grains=.27 cents per grain) .38 with 4.4 grains = 1.2 cents
One reloaded round is therefore= 12.1 cents per round or $6.05 per box of 50. That is better than 18-24 dollars!
David LaPell
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2008
- Messages
- 5,541
- Reaction score
- 6,781
About three or four years ago I would go to my local range where I was a member and spend a whole morning picking up every piece of brass that I could except for digging up .22. Instead of selling it for scrap, I ran it through my tumbler, bagged it by caliber and put it out on the table at the local gun show where I helped a buddy of mine. I never took any of it home, no matter the caliber. I know one weekend I sold all that brass for $200, which was nothing more than .30-06, .270, .45 ACP, 9mm and some other oddball rounds (I actually found a whole box worth of .257 Weatherby Magnum spent brass lying on the bench where it was left). All that for about five hours of collecting and a few hours of tumbling. If you don't reload it, then you can always resell it.
bamacisa
Member
If you don't save them, you are throwing money away. If you don't reload, you can sell or trade them.
Infidel_319
Member
I'm in DESPERATE need of .357 brass. Pm me and lets make a deal.
pdg45acp
Member
Save the brass and sell it on the S&W forum.
silentflyer
Member
With the recent ammo crunch,all that brass I kept for 30+ years has been ral nice to have.
When I go to the outdoor "range" in my area my first task is to scout the shooting area for any brass left by previous shooters. It's like a bunch of shiny dimes laying around! I pick up all the brass cases regardless if I reload for that caliber. I got about 200 .40 S&W cases that I'll trade off when I get a bit more...
You may want to consider getting into reloading. There are more reasons to do so now than ever before.
If you really don't want to get into reloading, can you find a buddy who does?
Loading ammunition is a science, not an art form. Find a reloading buddy who does it entirely by the book. If he even mentions having loaded a hot load for himself or any one else, find a new reloading buddy.
Last edited:
I've saved brass I've picked up for years. Even stuff I don't have a firearm for. Managed to have some calibers the other guys wanted & traded them for what I wanted. Have about 30 cigar boxes full. Maybe more.
Infidel_319
Member
Btw, I was serious, just making sure you knew that 
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I can do a little better on prices where I live. I can load 158gr LSWC .38 Special ammo for only 10 cents each, $5.11 for a box of 50. A few years ago I hardly spent $3.50 a box.
