Cheap Revolver Ammo

[Billy Sparks]

I have recently found out that I like to shoot revolvers in IDPA. What I need to know is some sources for purchasing 38spc. ammo in bulk for a good price. I prefer FMJ bullets. Before my revolver awakening I was shootting 9mm and purchasing loads of ammo from Natchez[sp] for about ~$120/thousand.

 

[Preacherman]

Cheapest .38 Special practice ammo I know of is still from Natchez - product code CC3522, Blazer .38 Special 158gr. LRN, $5.95 per box. They also have the Blazer 125gr. JHP, product code CC3514, for $8.79 per box.

 

[Billy Sparks]

I forgot to say in my other post I was looking for something other than
Blazer. The aluminum cases of Blazer sometimes don't clear the cylinder as well as brass or other types of cases.

 

[Dave R]

If you ever decide to "roll your own", you can get the price down to around $3/50 pretty easy. Can get lower than that if you buy components in bulk.

 

[bountyhunter]

Sellier and Bellott 158 gr FMJ is very good ammo for .38. A lot of places sell it sometimes as cheap as about $120/case. Check Proload.com and see if they have it. Natchez sells it, don't recall the price. Ammunitionstore.com may also carry it.

The lead ammo is cheaper but it's not woorth the trouble of cleaning that mess. They also put a lube on the lead that smokes when it fires.

 

[RWK]

Natchez, Cheaper than Dirt, Ammoman, Georgia Arms . . . check all and get the best CURRENT price; Ammoman's service is very hard to beat.

 

[Thirties]

Look for a deal on Aguila 158grain FMJ in .38spl. Very accurate in my guns.

But there's nothing cheaper nor better than loading your own.

 

[Arub]

Save your brass, or better yet, give it to me.

Approximate cost of reloading:
Primer: $0.015 per round
Powder: $0.010 per round, assuming approx. 4 grains/casing
Bullet: $0.060 per round, 158grain jacketed

Total: $0.085 per round = $4.25/box

You can get into reloading for approx. $100 more or less if you don't absolutely have to have a Dillon or other elaborate stuff. Time is free and you get to get away from the television for awhile.

Caution: reloading is addictive! You'll be loading thousands of rounds, whether or not you shoot them. May even to start loading for calibers you don't own.

 

[ChristopherG]

Not to butt in, Arub, but where can I get 158 gr FMJ for 6 cents? Best I've found is Plated round-nose bullets from Rainier or WestCoast bullets for around a nickel apiece, shipped.

Oh, and Billy? Reloading is really the thing to do, especially for revolvers.

 

[Arub]

Christopher:

My last order at MidwayUSA was for 158grain SJHPs (I said jacketed, didn't mean to mislead anyone into thinking FMJs, maybe should have been more specific and said SJHPs) at $57.43 per 1000. Stock number was 478452. FMJs are pretty close to the same price. I usually order 2000 bullets (2 calibers @1000 each) to minimize shipping.

Give MidWay a try, if you haven't already been there. Their prices on .40S&W and .45 auto are as good as, or better, than anyone's, at least for JHPs and FMJs for those two calibers.

edit:
Just back from testing the link (surprisingly, for me, it works!). The price is still good on the Remington 158grain SJHPs. They also have Winchester SJHPs for $55.85/1000 (stock#698089) and Winchester JSPs for $51.57/1000 (stock#785123). Hope this helps.

About time for me to get another order off.

 

[HSMITH]

Even $55 per K is not a great price. I have bought many thousands at $42-45 per K. Watch the sale flyers and keep looking.

Here is an everyday price of $47 SHIPPED TO YOUR DOOR . They are good bullets too.

 

[Dave R]

ChristopherG and Arub, I can find Lazer-Cast plated lead bullets retail at 3.6 cents ea. at several local shops ($18/500), if you don't need jacketed.

 

[James Bondrock]

How about Speer Lawman, 158-grain TMJ +P?

 

[Arub]

HSMITH: I prefer jacketed, just a personal preference. I know a lot of folks shoot a lot of plated bullets without a problem, but I still go with the jacketed. $0.75 a box is not enough savings for me to switch.

Besides, where I'm at, in Lower Alabama, the only gun shop that has any real supply of reloading stuff sells even cast for $10.00/100, plated a little more and jacketed/semi-jacketed for about $20. What little the other shops have are priced the same.

 

[ChristopherG]

Arub--Yup, they know me well at Midway (or at least they know my Visa well). Good prices and reasonable shipping (for good sized orders).

DaveR--that's a good price; I didn't know laser-cast did plated bullets. Sure don't see any of them out North Carolina way.

HSmith--Roze are fine bullets at excellent prices, and I've bought many of them. But, I suspect like Billy, the bullet shape is important to me; for speedloading, I want a round point, which Roze (regrettably) doesn't offer in Jacketed. Their swaged LRN works pretty well, and loads just as slick as a greased thingamagig, but (like all lead) is a bit messy.

Overall, it's a bit perplexing how hard it is to find the bullet Billy's asking about: just a round nosed .38 FMJ. Only place I know to get an honest, jacketed .38 RN is Montana Gold--but they're seventy-something per thousand. The plated RN work as a fine substitute, with a little careful handling (don't overcrimp!) and at non-magnum velocities.

If what Billy is looking for--basically a Walmart value-pack of .38 FMJ ammo--existed, I might never have started reloading. So, I guess it's a good thing after all.

 

[Arub]

Going back to Billy's original post, you can usually pick up some .38spl, FMJ by Sellier and Bellot at most gun shows for about $8.00 - $8.75/box, at least down here. Winchester USAs are about the same price at WalMart, if I remember right.

 

[Arub]

ChristopherG:

The jacketed round nose may give you what you want. It has a genuine copper jacket up through the crimp area and only copper rides the barrel. The nose is a lead round nose, unjacketed. The SJHP is the same configuration except for the hole in the nose.

 

[HSMITH]

Arub, the link I provided IS for jacketed bullets and not plated, JHP bullets to be precise. Location means little when the price is shipped.

I guess it did not sink in that you guys are gamers and are looking for FMJ to reduce load times. I much prefer the JHP configuration, I find them typically more accurate than all but a true wadcutter. A tight speedloader (Safariland Comp III line I like) helps negate bullet shape also. Game ON!!!

 

[Arub]

HS:

OK, your price is shipped and for 125grain JHPs. Sorry I missed that. Thought it was for plated. Thanks.

Their 158grain JHPs and FMJs are about $55/1000.

I recognize the brand, but am a little leary of anyone doing business that does not have a 'contact us' link. Also, bullet diameters are not listed. Their .45caliber info doesn't state .451, .452, .454 or what the diameter is. They will have to dress up their site some for me to want to purchase from them.

 

[HSMITH]

Give them a call, nice folks and sure to help you out. If they went full boat on website and advertising and so on the bullet prices would probably reflect it............

 

[JNewell]

For the gentleman looking for .38 FMJ, I've sent a lot of PMC 135 gr loads downrange with not a single bobble (which is definitely not my experience with PMC 9x19). This load is a relatively clean load to shoot -- if you can get it at a reasonable price, it's worth a try.

 

[444]

I know this won't help you, but I shoot revolvers for almost nothing. Really. I cast bullets from free wheelweights. I bought over 60 pounds of powder along with 13k primers and some other stuff for $200. Result: ammo that honestly costs almost nothing.

Casting, and loading the ammo is a lot of fun to me.

 

[Billy Sparks]

The only problem with reloading is that I don't have the space and the time currently. One day I do want to start reloading but right now I can't. I'll have to do some more checking. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[Poohgyrr]

I can understand time & room. But when you get the opportunity, just looking at Midway, their portable stand, Lee Pro 1000, a case cleaner, and some ammo boxes wouldn't take up much room at all. And the more you shoot, the more you can save by handloading. Best.

 

[mikey357]

...check w/Natchez Shooter's Supply...currently, they have two or three choices in .38 Special FMJ factory ammo for seven dollars a box or a lil' less...Federal "American Eagle" and the S&B, I think....mikey357