.38 special for S&W 19
- Thread starter DWH
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
Before I started to reload I used Remington 130 gr UMC FMJ rounds or Winchester 130 gr FMJ White Box ammo. Both are good for practice and plinking and are on the lower end of the price range. (not that any ammo is cheap anymore)
Sunray
Member
People can give you all the sites on the net, but cannot tell you what ammo will shoot well out of your revolver. If you're not reloading you need to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your revolver will shoot well. However, any 148 grain cast bullet ammo will shoot reasonably well. The downside is if you buy off the net, the shipping will eat up any cost saving.
MCgunner
Member
I had a 19 that wouldn't group even Remington HBWC less than 3", just won't do it. I sold it. I had a Security Six that wasn't much better, traded it. I had a Rossi 971 that was a little better, neat size for carry afield, but had some firing pin problems with it, traded it. I have a Taurus 66 now that will group WCs into 1" or less at 25 yards, I'm happy. Now, any .38 will function in a .357 gun, but not all guns will group them worth a toot. If 3" groups at 25 is dandy for you, well, you're okay. About any wadcutter load will do that. Me, I wanted to be able to hit a rabbits head at 25 if I did my part. My 4" .357 is an outdoor revolver. I care more about what Magnums will do and I ain't so finicky about accuracy in self defense guns. My SP101 snubby groups about 3" at 25 and that's plenty fine for self defense. More importantly, it seems to do really well off hand for shootability.
The cheapest ammo will likely be 130 ball, the most accurate I've ever fired factory loads is the Remington HBWC. Out of my M10 Smith heavy barrel chucked in a ransom rest, it'll shoot five shots into a ragged hole at 25. I've won a few revolver shoots with that combination.
The cheapest ammo will likely be 130 ball, the most accurate I've ever fired factory loads is the Remington HBWC. Out of my M10 Smith heavy barrel chucked in a ransom rest, it'll shoot five shots into a ragged hole at 25. I've won a few revolver shoots with that combination.
jaybar
Member
Good ammo on line
If you are going to buy ammo on line buy lots of it at one time to amortize the shipping cost per box. J&G sales has a good deal going right now in Winchester match 148gr WC for $7.50/box if you buy 20 boxes or more cost per box including shipping is about $9/box http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/ammo-for-handguns/38-special/p/38-special-winchester-super-match-lwc%2C-50-round-boxes-/cPath/25_32/products_id/1616 Another good source for ammo is Roze Distribution. rozedist.com They sell remanufactured and new ammo using ZERO bullets. If you buy 500 rounds or more the shipping is free. Their 148gr SWC remanufactured (reloaded) stuff will cost about $8.50/box shipped. Its good stuff.
If you are going to buy ammo on line buy lots of it at one time to amortize the shipping cost per box. J&G sales has a good deal going right now in Winchester match 148gr WC for $7.50/box if you buy 20 boxes or more cost per box including shipping is about $9/box http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/ammo-for-handguns/38-special/p/38-special-winchester-super-match-lwc%2C-50-round-boxes-/cPath/25_32/products_id/1616 Another good source for ammo is Roze Distribution. rozedist.com They sell remanufactured and new ammo using ZERO bullets. If you buy 500 rounds or more the shipping is free. Their 148gr SWC remanufactured (reloaded) stuff will cost about $8.50/box shipped. Its good stuff.
MCgunner
Member
148 WC Lee mold, 2.7 grains bullseye, under 2 bucks a box.
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