FBI/ Chicago 38 +p load hard to find locally

Most 38 spls being sold these days are j frames. So the typical bullet weight has dropped to 130 grains.

Lucky gunner has it but minimum amount is 1000 rounds. Out of stock on small boxes. Click here https://www.luckygunner.com/38-special-p-158-gr-lswchp-federal-le-50-rounds#related

gotboostvr said:

Back when I first started loading pistol ammo the ONLY pistol powder I could find was a 8lbs jug of RedDot for $90. I snapped it and then realized SPP were nonexistent.

I had to work up a load using SRP as I thankfully had a large stockpile. I don't remember how low of a charge it was but it was definitely "cautious". Barely made a pop shooting it up later in a 6" 686..

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I'm just guessing and please correct me if I'm wrong but after working up the SRP loads I'm betting you didn't wind up much different in your powder charge than with a standard SPP.
I say this because a couple of years ago, I would up loading a batch of 148gr HBWC with 2.8gr Bullseye. The last 100 mistakenly got loaded with CCI SRP instead of SPP. I asked around and most everyone I talked to said with such a low velocity round I would be ok and actually ran into an old shooting buddy who told me that now days he loads all of his .32 and .38 with SRP. Seems he ran into a huge surplus buy and bought around 50k. I didn't see one bit of change with the SRP loads. The chronograph showed on average about 20-25 fps difference. I was planning on testing some SRP on mid range loads with Universal but never did.

Eddietruett said:

I'm just guessing and please correct me if I'm wrong but after working up the SRP loads I'm betting you didn't wind up much different in your powder charge than with a standard SPP.

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Actually it didn't. Not due to safety concerns, just because I really liked how low recoil/ noise the load was. Once I squirreled away some SPP I started to play in "normal" charge weights.

Midway has Winchester , but it is expensive $40 plus shipping .

I've also been looking for some locally but I haven't seen it on shelves in Illinois and Indiana in several years. I believe the Remington version is actually out of production.

If you search around on Google you'll find several interesting threads on the S&W forum in which members chronographed modern FBI loads from the big three makers and found that they are all 50-100 FPS slower than those of the old days. Also there are the unimpressive Lucky Gunner tests mentioned above. It may be that this factory loading isn't what it used to be.

I do handload a replica of the FBI load using the Speer 158gr LSWCHP and it shoots very satisfactorily, but I don't want to rely on handloads for defense if I can avoid it.

Get a Brownells EDGE membership and get free shipping for a year. Works like Amazon prime without the movies!

Midway has Winchester as does Ammo to Go and several others. Wait for free shipping and order then.

MAKster said:

Most 38 spls being sold these days are j frames. So the typical bullet weight has dropped to 130 grains.

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I had not thought of that, MAKster. That's a good point.

I have also noticed that in my area, 148 grain mid range wadcutter is hard to find. LGS just don't have it. People don't shoot that way anymore, I guess.

Monac said:

I have also noticed that in my area, 148 grain mid range wadcutter is hard to find. LGS just don't have it. People don't shoot that way anymore, I guess.

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OR people shooting bullseye target overwhelmingly load their own ammunition.

Why should I pay retail prices when I can get BETTER ammunition for LESS?

Slamfire said:

That's why God created reloading presses. So you could roll your own.

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,
Yep, My total costs to reload this round is still just under $5.50 a box . I push the 38s hard as they are used in my .357s. They pack quite a wallop. they chrono at over 1000 fps. I can afford to shoot a heck of a lot, and a mix of 400 plus rounds in not an unusual range session for me. Couldn't do that with factory ammo. Been reloading since 1971 and love it, not just the shooting but the relaxing at the loading bench!

Seems to me I have seen somewhere comparisons of the Winchester, Remington, and Federal 158 gr. LSWCHP ammo. Might have been in one of Evan Marshall's books...I can't recall the titles now; it's been years since I read them. The Remington and Winchester seemed to be more effective than the Federal. I think I saw that Lucky Gunner sells some, and LAX Ammo as well as SG Ammo offers it. Prices are not as high as in your friendly, neighborhood LGS, and shipping removes the difference, but, at least you have the ammo!

If you load, 5.5 gr. Unique is pleasant to shoot, with 150-158gr. SWC, and the velocity from a 4" barrel is ~ 850 fps. My edc ammo is Remington Golden Saber or Speer 135gr. Short Barrel, but The new (?) Federal 130 gr. HST (?) With the large hollowpoint looks very interesting! Good luck!

AIM surplus has some Federal FBI loads at a good price.



https://aimsurplus.com/federal-38-s...-18743313&mc_cid=54a2ca34ee&mc_eid=4aecc069df

That is a darn good price. I have plenty but might have to buy some at that price!