[Malachor]

hello everybody

i've been shooting my dad's glock 23 for a while now and i enjoy it. the ammo seems to me to be reasonable ($15 for winchester 180gr white box) i think for just dorkin' around. so to the point, i've been set on getting a 686 for quite a while now and i was close to purchasing.... that was until i finally looked at ammo costs for the first time. am i just not looking at the right places or is their not much difference between .38 specials and .357 mags? and how come it seems so high? i figured it wouldn't be as cheap as shooting the .40s&w, but i didn't think i would be seeing $20-40 on nearly every box i've seen and not so much on the low end of that scale.

what prices do you guys pay for factory target ammo comparable to the winchester white boxes? i don't want to buy bulk no-name ammo, i'd rather buy name brand stuff like winchester or federal.

also, what grain and style of bullet do you use? their is a lot more options it seems like FMJ, JHP, LRN, etc.

thanks, for whatever help you can provide me.

[W.E.G.]

Check Dicks's Sporting goods if you have one in your area.

$13/box

http://www.shoplocal.com/state+college-pa-cl2-100136+150106-dt-dicks-sporting-goods.fp

[ArchAngelCD]

Two years ago you could buy a box of .357 Magnums for today's price of .38 Specials. It's sickening what they are doing to shooters. They forced me into reloading. I can load 50 rounds of .38 Special for $3.32 and 50 rounds of SJFP .357 Magnum for $5.59. That surely beats $12.99 for a box of .38 Special and $20.99 for a box of .357 Magnum Remington UMC ammo. (on sale by the case)

[MCgunner]

Cost me less than 2 dollars a 50 round box for cast loads. Lead is free at the range. Have to buy gas checks for the .357, 14 a box of 1000. All I pay for is primers and powder. Occasionally, I buy brass.

[PotatoJudge]

Consider Magtech ammo if you can get it at a good price. I get it for about $13-14 for 357. Reloading is the way to go, if you feel up to it.

[wnycollector]

Fiocchi and S&B are ~$13-15/box at the sportsmansguide.com. If you use one of their $10 off coupons and keep you order to $99...you end up paying $2.99 for shipping;)

[mainebear]

Like Archangel and MCgunner put forth, if you want to shoot a lot reloading is the way to go. If you buy a single stage press and accessories used, say on ebay, you can recoup your investment very very quickly.

You not only will shoot a lot more, its more enjoyable because 1. You will get better the more you shoot, and 2. You will enjoy it more because you know your not breaking the bank every time you go to the range. Just something to consider for the long term. Happy shooting

[vanilla_gorilla]

I have to agree about reloading. My reloading setup cost well under $150, and I saved that much in the first 4 months, shooting 400-500 .45ACP a month. With .38 or .357 the savings is nearly the same. I buy cast lead bullets and powder and primers, and when I need brass, I go buy some factory ammo and shoot it up.

[Agent Entropy]

+1 for reloading, and +1 for Dick's.

I just got my reloading setup, and when I took into account the cost of new bullets and brass, I decided it made more sense to buy loaded ammo and reuse the brass from that than to buy all new brass.

If you buy 10 or more boxes of .38, it's 11.99/box. there's also a coupon floating around good for half off ammo through october 13th.

[Will Learn]

Yeah, +1 for dick's sporting goods. I bought a case(500rds) of 9mm the other day and it rang up to $8.75, went back and grabbed 2 more. 1500 rds for $26.25, gotta love it. My shocks are going out on my car now, damn karma.

[Jeff F]

Wal Mart can be your friend. Remington and WWB at about the best prices unless you can find a sale elsewhere.

[shooter429]

Especially good for .357. You will spend some money up front, but don't let that dissuade you. If you have even a few hand tools, you can make your own bench. Then pick up one of the "all in one" starter kits from RCBS found here http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=646599&t=11082005

Or Hornady
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=749997&t=11082005

I have had both and think they are both great.

All you need after that is a good set of carbide dies

http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=1&Categoryid=8233&categorystring=9315***731***702***8345***

Brass, bullets, powder and primers (which might be less locally). Read the manual front to back BEFORE you start loading.

I look at it as an investment, which will allow you to shoot a lot more for the same dollar, plus you will be able to customize your ammo as you go.

Shooter429

[gandog56]

Two years ago you could buy a box of .357 Magnums for today's price of .38 Specials. It's sickening what they are doing to shooters. They forced me into reloading. I can load 50 rounds of .38 Special for $3.32 and 50 rounds of SJFP .357 Magnum for $5.59. That surely beats $12.99 for a box of .38 Special and $20.99 for a box of .357 Magnum Remington UMC ammo. (on sale by the case)

Sound like you were "FORCED" into a good thing, then.:cool:

[PointOneSeven]

For decent stuff off the shelf, hitting the bigger sporting good stores is the local option. If you're going to be shooting a lot, ordering a year's supply online can make a Midwayusa or other online website purchase worth the hazmat fees and shipping. I'm going to put together an order with my tax return this year.


For .38, I love the full 158 grainers. Lighter bullets don't do it for me unless it's ccw ammo. Not a fan of lead round nose. I prefer a wadcutter or SWC in lead. Copper-plated or jacketed I can deal with round nose or flat point. Just a personal thing. My favorite is the +P Remington UMC's with the semi-jacketed hollow point. I think it was going for about $23 for a box of 100, but it's been a year since my last batch.