Availability of .38 spl 158 lswchp?

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TexAg

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Are the "boutique" manufactures (Buffao Bore, double tap, etc.) the only ones currently offering the old "FBI load"? I can't seem to find any even "out of stock", instead it's discontinued or not available or something. Where is the Remington, Federal or Winchester? Just another part of the ammo shortage?
 
They certainly won't be found with the big manufacturers. Most companies have gone over to JHP designs as they perform in their intended role better. I just ordered a whole pile of LSWC (not HP though) to load on my own.
 
I believe the OP is looking for commercially loaded ammo, rather than components.
 
It could be that the load is falling out of favor, since a great number of indoor ranges especially, ban any ammunition that has exposed lead in the bullet.

A couple of years ago, I special-ordered a couple of boxes of Remington, and it was $45/box. OUCH!!
 
The Magtech is either out of stock, back order Ok or out and and back order not ok. It seems that's the story, hardly anything is available. To me, this is the standby snubbie load. There seems to be plenty of LRN, so I'm not sure it's a range driven thing. Not sure if there is that much demand or if they are just not making it. I ordered the Double Tap.
 
they are making the components but because of the current situation, they just want to make jhp for .38s because they can use the same bullets in their 357s. And because the jhps have a bigger retail price because we think they are sooo much better.

if you sell a 20 round box of 110 grain jhp in 38 or 357 for 30.00 and normally sell a box of 100 158 lswchp for 30.00 your stupid to sell loaded 158s regardless of how much youll sell.
 
Where is the Remington, Federal or Winchester? Just another part of the ammo shortage?
While limited manufacturing capacity plays into it, it is really a matter of supply and demand.

The "FBI" load's main market was for the snubbies and that is shrinking for two reasons:
1. Small 9mms have replaced many J-frames
2. The LSWCHP has real competition from the Speer 135gr Gold Dot that was designed specifically for the 1.785" J-frame barrels
 
Secondary market only huh? It's hard to see which one is winning the competition when neither is available.
 
One of the reasons I carry my snub less and less is 158 lswchp and Speer gold dots are more rare than a cheap box of 22lr.
 
Unless we win big come this election, don't expect it to come back into stock anytime soon. 9mm is still moving like hotcakes and until the demand side for 9mm relaxes, we won't see anything happening for .38 special or .357 really. Only foreign made .357 magnum is affordable if it is range stock stuff. I've almost all but given up on .44 magnum except for reloading and it's hard to enjoy a caliber as much when you have to reload every round for it (yet I still pickup 9mm casings by the fist full because one day I'm sure that will be really unaffordable).

There are more and more new shooters but the bubble has started to burst on guns and ammo is next but the ammo side is not bursting as quickly as we'd like and the scalpers are still holding on tight as they can with their continued purchases and it doesn't help any that Walmart relaxed their 3 box limit (I wish that was their policy all the time).
 
With my circa 1982 S&W Model 37, I don't shoot +P ammo even though it may be safe. Right now I'm shooting standard pressure 110 grain Remington HTP (The box reads High Terminal Performance, but they look just like the old SJHPs to me.) .38 Specials which are readily available at Academy, at least recently. I'm looking for more of the Speer Short-Barrel 135 grain +P loads for my other .38s
 
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