Why I Dumped My .38 $pecial.

[otis24]

I’ve always been a big fan of the .38/.357. It is IMHO one of the most versatile rounds ever produced.Until this most recent ammo/firearm crisis, I’ve always believed that the .38 was so common that you would always be able to find it anywhere; and at a reasonable price. Not so long ago, you could walk into any backwoods hardware store or mercantile and it was almost certain that you could find .38 Special in some iteration, even if it was Lead Round Nose.

Today’s ammo situation has proven me wrong. Was just checking ammo prices at Runnings. Federal American Eagle.38 Spcl FMJ, $58/50. Federal American Eagle .45 ACP FMJ, $34/50. Almost makes me want to buy a big bore!

I know that “these things shall pass”, but I think these crises shall become more cyclical and frequent . For the foreseeable future, it’s 9mm/.380 for me.

 

[jeeps]

Reloading only option cheap with hard cast bullets.

 

[ACP230]

I haven't bought commercial .38 Special loads for quite a while.
Have a pile of reloads on hand though.

 

[RWPBR]

I’ve always been a big fan of the .38/.357. It is IMHO one of the most versatile rounds ever produced.Until this most recent ammo/firearm crisis, I’ve always believed that the .38 was so common that you would always be able to find it anywhere; and at a reasonable price. Not so long ago, you could walk into any backwoods hardware store or mercantile and it was almost certain that you could find .38 Special in some iteration, even if it was Lead Round Nose.

Today’s ammo situation has proven me wrong. Was just checking ammo prices at Runnings. Federal American Eagle.38 Spcl FMJ, $58/50. Federal American Eagle .45 ACP FMJ, $34/50. Almost makes me want to buy a big bore!

I know that “these things shall pass”, but I think these crises shall become more cyclical and frequent . For the foreseeable future, it’s 9mm/.380 for me.

sgammo.com

50 Round Box - 38 Special Lead SWC 158 Grain Prvi Partizan Ammo PPH38SS50 Round Box - 38 Special Lead SWC 158 Grain Prvi Partizan Ammo PPH38SS50 Round Box - 38 Special Lead SWC 158 Grain Prvi Partizan Ammo PPH38SS

$24.95

Its out there cheap, you just have to look.

 

[malph]

It's a tough time to be a wheel gunner if you don't reload.

 

[Beemerguy53]

It's all about supply and demand, regardless of caliber. Right now, 9mm is plentiful, and .38 Special is in short supply, so the price on the former comes down, and the price on the latter goes up.

The inflation we're experiencing right now isn't helping matters, of course, but eventually things will settle down...

(Every time a discussion like this comes up, whether the subject is ammo, gasoline, groceries, or any other commodity, I think back to the writings of geniuses like Milton Friedman and Thomas Sowell, and their explanations of how supply and demand works. Some of that stuff -- well, okay, most of it -- is pretty dry, but it's very informative.)

 

[Beemerguy53]

...Its out there cheap, you just have to look.

This is the best site I've found to search ammo prices.

Best Ammo for Finding Ammunition 2022 - Guns Mags Reloading | AmmoSeek.com

 

[HughD1]

I bought ten boxes of Fiocchi range ammo for $23.78 a box. Supposed to arrive Monday. These days I take my Model 17 and Model 18 every other trip to the range to lower the cost of my habit.

Hugh


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ralph7]

sgammo.com

50 Round Box - 38 Special Lead SWC 158 Grain Prvi Partizan Ammo PPH38SS50 Round Box - 38 Special Lead SWC 158 Grain Prvi Partizan Ammo PPH38SS50 Round Box - 38 Special Lead SWC 158 Grain Prvi Partizan Ammo PPH38SS

$24.95

Its out there cheap, you just have to look.

Not only is 50 cents a round not cheap, but after shipping it's gonna put you in high dollar country.

 

[sigp220.45]

These guys are in my town so I don’t have to pay shipping, but they sometimes have free shipping deals. Its good range ammo.

Mountain City Supplies. I’d post a link but I got dinged last time.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Yes those are some very high prices for a box of 50.

You better hold on to something, before you look up the price of a box of 50,

357 Magnum ammo !!

Let along how much they want for brass cases.

 

[malph]

I bought ten boxes of Fiocchi range ammo for $23.78 a box. Supposed to arrive Monday. These days I take my Model 17 and Model 18 every other trip to the range to lower the cost of my habit.

Hugh


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm shooting my 617 more than ever these days.

 

[RWPBR]

Not only is 50 cents a round not cheap, but after shipping it's gonna put you in high dollar country.

50 cents a round is very competitive and heck of a lot cheaper than the $58/50 that OP posted.
SGAMMO is free shipping over $200 and $12 flat rate under $200.

It could be free with free shipping and some people would still complain about the color of the box it was shipped in

 

[kbm6893]

Before the madness of 2020, .38 Special WWB at Walmart was $25 for a box of 50. .38 is unsustainable unless you reload.

 

[IronSkillet]

Yes times have changed.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Your basic stash should have been established in...
1994
or
1999
2001
2007
2013
2016
2020

just saying!

 

[otis24]

I like owning a caliber that is readily available. Stocking up thousands of rounds is just not financially feasible for some of us.

 

[SWFan27]

Your basic stash should have been established in...
1994
or
1999
2007
2012
2016
2020

just saying!

When I bought my first revolver in 2020 due to all the craziness going on, I was shocked to find out how thin the available supply of guns and ammo was at the time. Thankfully my LGS had a new S&W Model 66-8, four inch barrel 357 Mag/38 Special in stock. It cost more than I had planned to spend but worth every penny.

I have since bought thousands of rounds mostly online and normally look for great deals. 357 Mag and 38 Special ammo has become much more available recently and prices are dropping. I kind of paid the high price tax early on for getting into the game so late. I have a couple 357 Mag S&W's now.

 

[Greyman50]

Reason I cast close to 500 assorted projectiles today, not to hot. Plan on casting more next week, then few days sizing them and be ready to reload.

 

[Billylee]

Check ‘Ammo Seek’, numerous offerings under 25.00 per fifty, some under 20.00. Things are looking better all the time.