Why I Dumped My .38 $pecial.

[Mike SC Hunter]

You sir are correct. Wish there were more with your philosophy. Seriously. if you were not into reloading before this mess and starting out getting set up to reload it can be expensive, Some of us bought components years ago and are surviving on them. Nowadays, the present cost of components, equipment and your time makes just buying store bought ammo attractive to many.

....X2.......The last few years of "humps & bumps" haven't really affected my shooting at all.

 

[djohns6]

I was in a local gun shop this morning . I saw a 100 rd box of .38 spcl target ammo for $75 .

 

[AJ]

I was in a local gun shop this morning . I saw a 100 rd box of .38 spcl target ammo for $75 .

What was it? Vintage .38 Special 148 grain HBWC? Have seen some stupid prices on that.

 

[Jimmyjones]

I've lucked out. My LGS accepts partial box ammo from purchases and consignment guns. He used to just dump it in a box on the counter and charge $.30 a round.
I usually buy out of the box if I can find any of my calibers, after sorting through the box. Last week, after counting out 63 rounds of .38 and 41 rounds of .357Sig I said Ross, if you know it's one of my calibers, just leave it in the $$% box, saves me counting and I'll know what it is without researching the headstamp.

Today when I went by, he slapped a box of .38 Blazer LRN on the counter and said there's only 83 rounds in it, I said great, saves me counting, thanks.
He only charges me a quarter a round because I've done so much business there over the years. Great way to acquire range ammo.

 

[tws3boys]

I've gone the other way. Instead of dumping my 38spl I dumped my 9mm auto. At least to a point. I do shoot it now and then.
A couple years ago the range I go to came up with a new rule.
All shots must be no less than one second apart.
After 5 rounds fired there must be at least a 15 second pause.
With a recommendation that you only load 5 rounds at a time.
At first I didn't like it. But as time went on I began to like it.
First, the range I go to charges $10 per hour. I was shooting 100 rounds per hour +-. At ammo prices then I was spending +- $60 per hour.
With the new rule I found myself actually using less than half the ammo I did before.
Second, I found myself getting better at putting rounds on target.
That 15 seconds was giving me time to look and think about what I was doing. Most times after 5 rounds I would take more than the 15 seconds to think and see what I was doing wrong And right.
I finally realized that dumping rounds down range was doing me more harm than good.
I've had my 642-1 for around 20 years. But, mostly it just sat there in the safe because I never gave it a real chance. After all, it's only 5 rounds. I decided to try it out again. I was shooting only 5 rounds at a time anyway.
8 months later. My 9mm auto now sits where my 642 sat for years. My 642 in my pocket and saving money even though 38spl cost more per box.
And, I've gotten pretty dang good with it "with a lot of work". More confident in myself and gun.

 

[MetalMan]

I've been shooting for over 50 years now and enjoy plinking as much as the next guy but, as I only own S&W J's and K's and one Kimber .45 ACP pistol, I will also admit to becoming more judicious with my ammo during trips to the range.

As tws3boys has commented above, I also tend to be more focused on the mechanics of my shooting. While I admit to being enticed by the siren call of the Sig P365, I take comfort in knowing that I am more than capable with my current EDC (640-1Pro) and its intended purpose of saving my life.

 

[rosewood]

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.

The Nazis are taking over slowly but surely..

If you reload, the 38 is still one of the cheapest rounds to load for.

Rosewood

 

[Skeet 028]

Retail 38s are about 25-30 bucks here...yep 9s are cheaper but the 38 is more versatile and easy to load....and your brass doesn't go flying everywhere

 

[AJ]

Retail 38s are about 25-30 bucks here...yep 9s are cheaper but the 38 is more versatile and easy to load....and your brass doesn't go flying everywhere

Not the same, but bought a box of S&W .32 Long yesterday. Cost me $30.00 and I got a discount, regular price was $40.00 + tax.

 

[glenwolde]

I've gone the other way. Instead of dumping my 38spl I dumped my 9mm auto. At least to a point. I do shoot it now and then.
A couple years ago the range I go to came up with a new rule.
All shots must be no less than one second apart.
After 5 rounds fired there must be at least a 15 second pause.
With a recommendation that you only load 5 rounds at a time.
At first I didn't like it. But as time went on I began to like it.
First, the range I go to charges $10 per hour. I was shooting 100 rounds per hour +-. At ammo prices then I was spending +- $60 per hour.
With the new rule I found myself actually using less than half the ammo I did before.
Second, I found myself getting better at putting rounds on target.
That 15 seconds was giving me time to look and think about what I was doing. Most times after 5 rounds I would take more than the 15 seconds to think and see what I was doing wrong And right.
I finally realized that dumping rounds down range was doing me more harm than good.
I've had my 642-1 for around 20 years. But, mostly it just sat there in the safe because I never gave it a real chance. After all, it's only 5 rounds. I decided to try it out again. I was shooting only 5 rounds at a time anyway.
8 months later. My 9mm auto now sits where my 642 sat for years. My 642 in my pocket and saving money even though 38spl cost more per box.
And, I've gotten pretty dang good with it "with a lot of work". More confident in myself and gun.

Those are some unusual rules. But that is basically the way I've been shooting for 40 years.

I load 5 at a time because the rows in the ammo box have 5. I shoot 5 rounds, 5 times at each target, or 25 rounds per target. Shoot 4 targets, 100 rounds. It's pretty easy to come up with the percentage hit rate in your head by counting the misses. If you shoot more or less it's still easy enough to come up with the hit percentage for comparison. If you always use the same target then you can now answer the question "How good a shot are you?".

Another tip: When your percentage plateaus move the target out further, or make it smaller, and start over. I tend to plateau around 95%. Though now my eyes are starting to give me trouble so I may be done.

 

[BSA1]

I've gone the other way. Instead of dumping my 38spl I dumped my 9mm auto. At least to a point. I do shoot it now and then.
A couple years ago the range I go to came up with a new rule.
All shots must be no less than one second apart.
After 5 rounds fired there must be at least a 15 second pause.
With a recommendation that you only load 5 rounds at a time.
At first I didn't like it. But as time went on I began to like it…

With the new rule I found myself actually using less than half the ammo I did before…

Second, I found myself getting better at putting rounds on target.
That 15 seconds was giving me time to look and think about what I was doing. Most times after 5 rounds I would take more than the 15 seconds to think and see what I was doing wrong And right.
I finally realized that dumping rounds down range was doing me more harm than good.

If you really want to slow down your shooting, use less ammunition and improve your focus on accuracy get a blackpowder revolver

I am serious.

As blackpowder revolvers are slower to reload you will shoot fewer rounds in a hour saving you ammunition.

Modern blackpowder revolvers are well made and capable of as good of accuracy as your 9mm.

The small sights forces you to really focus on the sight alignment. Some bp revolvers come with larger, adjustable sights that are easy to see.

Another big reason is they are simply fun to shoot. So many shooters are so wrapped up trying to train for self-defense they have forgot that shooting is a enjoyable sport.

The first time you fire five rounds of blackpowder I can almost guarantee you will shut the firing line down as all of the others stop, listen for the boom and watch the cloud of smoke roll downrange in surprise as most of them have never seen a blackpowder firearm shot.

Oh the big grin on your face after shooting is just a fringe benefit of enjoying yourself.

 

[raljr1]

One club I belonged had a 5 shot rule. No matter the gun or capacity, loading and shooting only 5 rounds was the rule. You could shoot them as fast as you liked, IF, all rounds were on the target.

Never had an issue with that.

I bought my reloading equipment years ago and only started loading about 4 years back. I can reload 9mm for about $13 a box with 10 cent primers. ...I have a few thousand cases, so I am good there.

I have about 1000 rds of loaded 38s so I am ok there too.

I see ammo prices at a couple big bax stores coming closer to reasonable these days.

Like any sport or hobby, if you want to play, you pay....Been to an NFL game lately? Tickets for 4 would cover about 6 months of weekly shooting.

 

[AJ]

My shooting partner and I shoot three days a week. Two of rifle and one of handgun. I rarely shoot more than 50 rounds a day on the rifle range....end up talking to folks, helping them out and just enjoying being on a range. When I shoot pistol, I generally shoot less than 100 rounds and most of that is .22 LR. Again talking, helping, and enjoying....... Many years ago I shot on the average of 1000 rounds of .45ACP a week, Uncle Sugar was supplying the ammo at the time. Now my right hand is paying for it.

 

[AJ]

I've gone the other way. Instead of dumping my 38spl I dumped my 9mm auto. At least to a point. I do shoot it now and then.
A couple years ago the range I go to came up with a new rule.
All shots must be no less than one second apart.
After 5 rounds fired there must be at least a 15 second pause.
With a recommendation that you only load 5 rounds at a time.
At first I didn't like it. But as time went on I began to like it.
First, the range I go to charges $10 per hour. I was shooting 100 rounds per hour +-. At ammo prices then I was spending +- $60 per hour.
With the new rule I found myself actually using less than half the ammo I did before.
Second, I found myself getting better at putting rounds on target.
That 15 seconds was giving me time to look and think about what I was doing. Most times after 5 rounds I would take more than the 15 seconds to think and see what I was doing wrong And right.
I finally realized that dumping rounds down range was doing me more harm than good.
I've had my 642-1 for around 20 years. But, mostly it just sat there in the safe because I never gave it a real chance. After all, it's only 5 rounds. I decided to try it out again. I was shooting only 5 rounds at a time anyway.
8 months later. My 9mm auto now sits where my 642 sat for years. My 642 in my pocket and saving money even though 38spl cost more per box.
And, I've gotten pretty dang good with it "with a lot of work". More confident in myself and gun.

When I shot for qualification in the Corps, our slow fire portion of fire was 10 shots in a 10 minute time limit. Eventually, learned to take my time and use all the time. Wanted the last round going downrange as the Range Officer called "Cease Fire".

 

[malph]

I shoot my 38spc revolvers less than I used to but I still shoot them.


I have no plans to sell any of them.

 

[rosewood]

My latest purchase was a Bond Arms .357/38 special roughneck. I just load 2 in it.

Out of the last few firearms I have bought, 3 were 357 and or 38 and only 1 9mm and it was because it was a unpassable deal.

I also find fondling the 581, 67, 60 or Bond Arms are more enjoyable while watching TV over any semi 9mm.

Rosewood

 

[Magnum_PI]

As some others have stated, I recommend shopping "online" for ammo.

The big box stores (looking at you Bass Pro) have crazy high prices compared to online companies.

Find a seller who also doesn't nickel and dime on shipping and has a "flat rate" for shipping.

I've used grabagun.com with success as well as sgammo.com. Both also ship relatively fast.

I will ONLY buy in person if I have a specific need or I find a great deal or can't wait for shipping.

I will add, I sold off my 9mms and have gone exclusively back to 357/38. So I feel the squeeze, and that's my best recommendation on saving money on ammo is shop online and shop around.

 

[djohns6]

It was Winchester 158 gr FMJ

 

[glenwolde]

If you really want to slow down your shooting, use less ammunition and improve your focus on accuracy get a blackpowder revolver

I am serious.

As blackpowder revolvers are slower to reload you will shoot fewer rounds in a hour saving you ammunition.

Modern blackpowder revolvers are well made and capable of as good of accuracy as your 9mm.

The small sights forces you to really focus on the sight alignment. Some bp revolvers come with larger, adjustable sights that are easy to see.

Another big reason is they are simply fun to shoot. So many shooters are so wrapped up trying to train for self-defense they have forgot that shooting is a enjoyable sport.

The first time you fire five rounds of blackpowder I can almost guarantee you will shut the firing line down as all of the others stop, listen for the boom and watch the cloud of smoke roll downrange in surprise as most of them have never seen a blackpowder firearm shot.

Oh the big grin on your face after shooting is just a fringe benefit of enjoying yourself.

...or a single shot like a TC Contender...that'll slow you down,

 

[paplinker]

I shoot 38 special semi wadcutter quite a bit. At this time I am unable to reload but hope to take it up once I have the secure space.

Federal white box 158 grain (my favorite)can be tricky to find so I have a couple business cards of ammo guys that I check in from time to time for availability.

Its my opinion after this election a large tax on ammo by the box will be coming. Much like they do with cigarettes.

I think ammo prices will be greatly changing. I hope I'm wrong.