Answer me this......

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J

Just One Shot

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How much does a box of 38 Special ammo cost where you live? Around here I've seen it over $20.00 a box. ($22.95 & up).

I wouldn't mind getting a .357 wheel gun to play with and practicing with the .38 ammo but I can shoot both my 9mm and my .40 semi autos cheaper.

Shoot, I even stocked up on .380 when it was on sale for $12.99 bx. a few months back and I was paying less for 50 rd. bxs. of .45 ACP before I parted with my XD .45 Service about 2 months ago.

So....... what's it cost where you live.

P.S. I know reloading is the cheapest way to go when you can get the supplies but I don't have time for that part of the hobby yet so please, lets keep it on topic with the pricing.
 
That's an average price to pay for 38 Special around my area. I know more than several people who would be glad to pay that for 380 ammo if thet could just find some. It seems more and more people are getting their CCW permits and buying up all those 380 autos on the market plus all the ammo. :confused:
 
i feel your pain. i can almost always shoot my .40 for less than my .38. around here .38 special usually runs 17-$20. i have been able to find blazer on occasion for about $15 but that is the lowest i have found. .357s run between 22-$28.
 
Wideners has Prvi Partizan (brass) 158 gr. LRN for $13.90 for 50 and Blazer (aluminum) 158 gr. LRN for $14.60. No sales tax (except TN) and shipping is about $10.00 for four (4) boxes, bringing the total to about $17.00 per box.

Grafs has the Blazer aluminum above for $15.59 with a flat shipping and handling of $4.50 regardless of amount ordered, so also about $17.00 if purchasing four (4) boxes.

Unless you live somewhere that prohibits shipping ammo, I recommend shopping online.

I really like ammoengine.com
 
When Wally World has it in stock, which is rare, it is $30 for 100 rounds of Winchester white box. Same cost as 45. I picked up a box of reloads at a gun show for $100 for 500 rounds.
 
Well, when I can actually find it, it isn't cheap. A friend and I got lucky last week though and found boxes of of cheap Remington 38spl+p hollow points at Sportsman's Warehouse for $17 for a box of 50. Next on the list of reloading dies to buy is 38spl/357mag.
 
My choice defensive ammo in .38spl is Federal 125gr Nyclad HP's. Those are $20 for a 20 round box locally. For practice il use any FMJ, LRN or cheap JHP I can find, but I really like American Eagle 130gr FMJ for $16 a 50 round box. One popular shop in Orlando wanted $35 for a box of 50 158gr SWC, and another one wanted $46 for a partial box of 50 target full wadcutters (yes thats right, partial, as in there were only 45 or 46 in the box...).

So im trying to get into reloading.
 
P.S. I know reloading is the cheapest way to go when you can get the supplies but I don't have time for that part of the hobby yet....
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Well, it only takes me 5 minutes to load 100 rds, but I don't know how valuable your time is. But I save time by not looking for .38 ammo, not to mention money. I've not seen but a couple boxes of .38 ammo since November 2009 at Walmart.

But related to reloading, you can save money by buying reloaded ammo. (make sure it's done by reputable company) Save the brass, send it back and get a discount on the next batch. This requires some planning on your part, if bought online, but you might find a similar deal at the larger gunshops.
 
-How much does a box of 38 Special ammo cost where you live?
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I don't buy factory ammo, except Wal Mart 550 bulk pack 22. However I do take note what ammo Wal Mart has when I'm buying the 22's.
I can't recall seeing any .38 since the shortage began.
I suspect if there was any available WM would be selling it at about $11/50 like the 9mm (that they have been getting).
 
Well, it only takes me 5 minutes to load 100 rds, but I don't know how valuable your time is. But I save time by not looking for .38 ammo, not to mention money
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Yeah, takes a lot less time to fire up the progressive than to run around town to all the gun shops and discount stores. :D Besides, I always know I have my pet loads, don't have to buy 130 grain FMJ or something just because that's all they have.

Last factory .38 I bought was a dozen years back, got some Federal Hydrashock on a whim just figuring I'd try it. Inaccurate as hell, but at least I got some brass out of the deal. :rolleyes:
 
BTW, www.ammunitiontogo.com . They'll have it if anyone does most of the time and their pricing ain't bad and shipping is fast. I got some 9x18 Mak hollow point from there a few weeks ago. That stuff is cheap and I can't seem to find Mak hollow point bullets in stock for reloading. Besides, I'd as soon shoot the Monarch stuff, seems like decent stuff and it's accurate.

Yep, they're in stock on most .38. Just checked.
 
38spcl-25 for a box of 50
380acp-20bucks will get you 50
reloading is a REAL HASSLE because compoents are almost non existant in my area. I have taken to getting most of my stuff off GB. Paying a little more but not getting scammed by paying with money orders
 
If you do not reload , the next cheapest way ...

would be reloaded ammo from Mastercast or Georgia arms . If you have saved your brass and send it to them , it is even cheaper providing you buy it by the case or several cases at a time.
 
I know you said you do not have time for reloading...

but I have been reloading for 47 years and if you like shooting a lot you will find the time. How much time does it take to look for the best bargains or go to gunshops or gun shows for it. I can reload a lot of ammo in that amount of time and tailor the loads to suit my needs. And it only cost about $5.00 to $6.00 a box.
 
I don't go to look for ammo unless I'm at the location for something else and when I find it at a good price I stock up.

I have accumulated over 1000 rds. of 9mm & .40 cal. and 800 rds. of .380 by doing it this way (not to mention the 12 ga. and .22lr) so my time invested is minimal.

I don't currently own a .357/38 revolver and at the prices the ammo goes for, I probably never will.

The prices you quoted doesn't account for the investment for the equipment and supplies. So what kind of investment does it take to get set up initially and how many rounds would it take before I actually started saving money?
 
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$16 per box of 50 at Wal Mart and local range (w/ 10% member discount).

$18+ on average for LRN, FMJ, & wadcutter loads at pawn shops and the like. Defensive loads usually run 25-50% more.

Everyone always talks about saving money by shooting "inexpensive, light-recoiling .38 special loads" in .357 Magnum revolvers, but I ain't seeing it. A box of .357 Magnum is only a few dollars more at the range.

I load my own for $5.42 per box.
 
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