Feeding my revolvers...~cheap reloads for .38 special
- Thread starter Nathanael_Greene
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PJSprog
Member
I know it's not what you say you're looking for, but most here are correct. You'll never feed your revolvers (or any firearms) as inexpensively as you will if you load your own. It's become one of my favorite aspects of shooting. If you think you like shooting now, you won't believe the satisfaction you'll get from shooting your own handloads.
I have had nothing but good experiences with Georgia arms in terms of cost and the quality of their reloads. I have shot several thousand of their .38 loads and a few hundred of their .357 gold dot loads.
The .38 loads put nice round holes in paper.
The .357 loads put nice holes in deer.
-Jake
The .38 loads put nice round holes in paper.
The .357 loads put nice holes in deer.
-Jake
Zeke/PA
Member
I thoroughly agree of course about the .38 Special Cartridge.
EASY to reload for, components being available ,and for some reason, the cartridge is no longer popular EXCEPT in certain circles.
I have in my arsenal almost 2 thousand rounds of once fired .38 Special Brass, picked up at various times after a shoot at my club.
Truthfully, the .38 Special, in spite of it's longevity is still great cartridge ESPECIALLY in the Home Defense venue!
To add to your comment, my Dillon Square D is set up to reload the..38 Special cartridge so that I can shoot till my hearts content!
Lee loaders
The original Lee loaders are fine to prove that one can reload ammo and it works. Then sell the lee loader to the next new-be and get a press. OR simply by pass the Lee loader all together! The simple lee C frame press works for handgun cartridges. 38 special is one of the easiest cartridges to load for.
The original Lee loaders are fine to prove that one can reload ammo and it works. Then sell the lee loader to the next new-be and get a press. OR simply by pass the Lee loader all together! The simple lee C frame press works for handgun cartridges. 38 special is one of the easiest cartridges to load for.
I've purchased the components to start reloading for myself. Couple of reasons:
I really didn't enjoy being at the mercy of the last ammo shortage;
The price of reloaded ammo, once defraying the cost of initial setup is remarkably low;
I had a near-disaster with some gun-show reloads. Came close to some really bad damage to my hand, wrist and arm, and damaged my H&K P7M13 - a gun that doesn't damage easily. All was repaired and in perfect shape.
I WILL buy popular/branded factory ammo but not something in a bag at a gun show. And I hope to avoid it all fairly soon.
B
I really didn't enjoy being at the mercy of the last ammo shortage;
The price of reloaded ammo, once defraying the cost of initial setup is remarkably low;
I had a near-disaster with some gun-show reloads. Came close to some really bad damage to my hand, wrist and arm, and damaged my H&K P7M13 - a gun that doesn't damage easily. All was repaired and in perfect shape.
I WILL buy popular/branded factory ammo but not something in a bag at a gun show. And I hope to avoid it all fairly soon.
B
Stony
Member
Mesquite Rodeo arena has a gun show going today and tomorrow. 7 bucks to get in and no parking fee. Southwest ammo is set up there and they have all kinds of ammo. They have a good reputation for their reloads if that is what you are after and have some of the best prices around the area for powder and primers too if you need any.
Sniderman
Member
.38 Special...
That's the caliber that got into "rolling my own" back in the late Sixties!
Lee Loader, (Whack-A-Mole) would let you turn out a few hundred round in your spare time at very little expense, and without committing to a dedicated reloading bench/area of your home. (I.E. you can do it on the Kitchen table.)
THIS, http://leeprecision.com/images/P/90253.jpg
Components are (relatively) cheap/available and you may even be able to get in touch with a local Good Guy reloader that can spare some of what you can't find.
1lb. of Unique, (flaming dirt) will make about 2000 rounds of .38 Wadcutters.
.38 Wadcutters, quick search found them at $37.50 for 500 pcs.
Primers, are now about $3.00/$4.00 per hundred.
Brass, Once fired brass seems to go for about $40.00 per 500 ($.08 Ea.)
I haven't been short on ammunition in thirty years and the Lee (Whack-Mole)
Loader is what I started with.... 
http://leeprecision.com/images/P/90253.jpg
That's the caliber that got into "rolling my own" back in the late Sixties!
Lee Loader, (Whack-A-Mole) would let you turn out a few hundred round in your spare time at very little expense, and without committing to a dedicated reloading bench/area of your home. (I.E. you can do it on the Kitchen table.)
THIS, http://leeprecision.com/images/P/90253.jpg
Components are (relatively) cheap/available and you may even be able to get in touch with a local Good Guy reloader that can spare some of what you can't find.
1lb. of Unique, (flaming dirt) will make about 2000 rounds of .38 Wadcutters.
.38 Wadcutters, quick search found them at $37.50 for 500 pcs.
Primers, are now about $3.00/$4.00 per hundred.
Brass, Once fired brass seems to go for about $40.00 per 500 ($.08 Ea.)
I haven't been short on ammunition in thirty years and the Lee (Whack-Mole)
Loader is what I started with.... http://leeprecision.com/images/P/90253.jpg
Dudedog
Contributing Member
2 Lee kits
You can get a Lee single stage kit for about $130
and the Turrent kit for about $230
Add Lee dies about $30
More expensive but much faster than the little Lee loader.
You can get a Lee single stage kit for about $130
and the Turrent kit for about $230
Add Lee dies about $30
More expensive but much faster than the little Lee loader.
Kernel
Member
The Lee Reloader Single Stage Press is in stock at Midway for $28.49. Perfect for the .38 Spl. Some dies and a set of dippers, is all you need.
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franzas
Member
There's a guy in Buda that sells reloads. PBR Ammo.
Don't get them. They're crap. Every round I shot felt like it had a different charge. Would never buy again.
Don't get them. They're crap. Every round I shot felt like it had a different charge. Would never buy again.
huge topic! There are many things you need to know before buying reloads at a Gun Show. You don't know the guy or who even did the work, how careful.Less he was and exactlly what type of bullets you'll get.
There are a few very reputable "reload sellers" at the shows, they have their own tables, multiple calibers and of course a business card to contact them should you have questions, Yea it could all be phoney but the "real: guys put a pretty good front up! I have bought like this and have beenpleased with reasonable costs.
I much prefer to buy from friends and pay a little extra and even help out if I can to learn more!
In reloading it is possible to make mistakes but it's best to have at least 2 people check powder levels and make spot inspections.
I stick with 158 gr bullets, nothing tricky.
It's still chancy because mistakes caaan happen. it's best to spot check all of the proces!
ZVP
There are a few very reputable "reload sellers" at the shows, they have their own tables, multiple calibers and of course a business card to contact them should you have questions, Yea it could all be phoney but the "real: guys put a pretty good front up! I have bought like this and have beenpleased with reasonable costs.
I much prefer to buy from friends and pay a little extra and even help out if I can to learn more!
In reloading it is possible to make mistakes but it's best to have at least 2 people check powder levels and make spot inspections.
I stick with 158 gr bullets, nothing tricky.
It's still chancy because mistakes caaan happen. it's best to spot check all of the proces!
ZVP
sappyg
Member
+1 on rolling your own.
It's a good pass time.
There is no magic dark art to it. It's simple as long as you can follow directions.
Saves you money. So, you can shoot more. WINING!
A box of reloaded 38 is costing me about $6.50 to load. 22 lr (the cheap stuff) is trying to go for $6 around here. No thanks. I've ran across a lot of bad 22 ammo lately. At least my loads go bang every time. Plus, it's easier to load 38's than find 22 sometimes.
Go for it.
It's a good pass time.
There is no magic dark art to it. It's simple as long as you can follow directions.
Saves you money. So, you can shoot more. WINING!
A box of reloaded 38 is costing me about $6.50 to load. 22 lr (the cheap stuff) is trying to go for $6 around here. No thanks. I've ran across a lot of bad 22 ammo lately. At least my loads go bang every time. Plus, it's easier to load 38's than find 22 sometimes.
Go for it.
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