Best place for bulk 158 Grain .38 special

[FirearmsInPhoenix]

I'm looking for a good place to buy BULK 158 Grain .38 Special FMJ +P.

It's for practice. I use 158 Grain +P LSWCHP for carry.

The +P is fairly important. Just in case I ever need to use it for a social situation, I at least want adequate penetration and I'd like to simulate the recoil of my carry round as closely as possible. FMJ is preferable for easier cleaning after practice.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[GRIZ22]

If you chronograph 158 gr loads you will find there is little difference between standard and +P rounds and usually very little in perceived recoil. As far as cleaning goes leading is easier to clean than copper fouling. Lead bullets will put a lot less wear on the barrel than jacketed. Yeah, your barrel will probably last a gazillion rounds of jacketed ammo and 3 gazillion of lead but lead does wear less.

My opinion, others will differ.

 

[FirearmsInPhoenix]

So, in your opinion will standard velocity 158 grain loads penetrate just was well as +P 158 Grain .38 special rounds?

 

[jfh]

For a practice or carry resource, check out Georgia Arms. They make a Rem 38S12 38+P clone (as reloads) that sells, IIRC, for about $11.00 / 50.

And, if you reload, you can build a "replica" reload for about 13 cents a round, using the Speer 158 LSWC-HP bullet--or any 158LSWC--and about 5.9 gr. of AA#5--the 38+P max amount.

The 13 cents a round, BTW, includes a nominal 2.5-cent per round case amortization.

Jim H.

 

[Low Budget Shooter]

Dear FIP,

I don't know the answer to your original question, but if you will allow me, I'd like to make a couple of suggestions.

There is no need to practice with +P in order to shoot +P if push ever comes to shove. I think most revolver shooters practice with regular rounds, then load for self-defense with the hotter stuff.

As far as lead versus FMJ ammo, 158-grain .38 special bullets, even +P rounds, generally do not reach the velocity to foul the barrel with lead.

As for penetration, the main reason for loading .38 special to +P is not for penetration, but for expansion of hollow-point bullets. Heavy .38 special bullets tend to penetrate very well.

Just one more thing---the price difference between +P and regular rounds may be quite a bit, which means you will be able to afford lots more practice if your practice ammo is regular pressure stuff rather than +P.

To summarize, I think your self-defense round choice is excellent, but I think that for practice ammo, which would also serve as your back-up self-defense ammo, you will do well to find the least expensive bulk ammo you can, in 158-grain lead semi-wadcutter.

I hope this advice helps. If not, well, it was at least worth what you paid for it!

LBS

 

[The_Shootist]

+1 to the GA Arms plug. I practice with their "FBI" load type loading and keep BB standard pressure 158 gr SWCHP in my 642.

Only problem is I bet GA Arms is pretty backed up now,

 

[jaydubya]

Check www.mastercast.net. I have fired more than 6,000 of their reloads, mostly .38sp and largely hardcast 158gr LWC, with no problems. Their prices are excellent, their product reliable, their service prompt. If you really want to save money, send them your spent brass (same caliber and quantity) in exchange. And do it via USPS Priority Mail. I send them a thousand cases that way for nine bucks and change. Any other way I know of costs more than twenty.

Cordially, Jack

 

[GRIZ22]

So, in your opinion will standard velocity 158 grain loads penetrate just was well as +P 158 Grain .38 special rounds?

Practically, there isn't a lot of difference between them. A standard velocity round nose lead bullet will probably penetrate further that a +P hollowpoint if the hollowpoint works like it's supposed to.

 

[skoro]

I'd agree with the Georgia Arms recommendation. I've shot a LOT of their 38 Spl ammo. It's dirty, but reliable and consistent as well as low priced.