Why my Walmart never has .38spl ammo.
- Thread starter Elvishead
- Start date
I am curious how much you spend just driving to and from Walmart. It might be more cost effective to buy a couple of boxes from a local gun shop ... one trip to Walmart without success eliminates any price difference it seems to me.
Online I see .38 Special under $20 ...
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=74815
$16.49 for box of 50 seems certainly competative with Walmart, and you do not have to drive around at roughly $2 a mile.
Online I see .38 Special under $20 ...
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=74815
$16.49 for box of 50 seems certainly competative with Walmart, and you do not have to drive around at roughly $2 a mile.
bluetopper
New member
For $299 you could have bought everything you need to start reloading, even the components.
You can reload 38 for what good .22 ammo costs.
You can reload 38 for what good .22 ammo costs.
Elvishead
Hook686
$2 a mile? I don't drive my jet car there!
I live one mile from Walmart and going there is slightly down hill so I put my car in neutral and coast going there, sometimes I even turn off my car for the fun of it.
Beside like I stated for first line on my OP, I check when I'm shopping for other stuff.
Hook686
$2 a mile? I don't drive my jet car there!
I live one mile from Walmart and going there is slightly down hill so I put my car in neutral and coast going there, sometimes I even turn off my car for the fun of it.
Beside like I stated for first line on my OP, I check when I'm shopping for other stuff.
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It's rare that I buy handgun ammunition for practice. I use a 4 station Lee turret press:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=622290
That kit is $109 with everything but dies and components.
A single stage press is cheaper, and it doesn't hurt to have one around. I started with a single stage Lee and still use it for sizing when I cast bullets.
The thing I like about it is that it's easy to change calibers. I have it set up for 7 or 8 calibers and all I have to to is twist the turret out, snap the shellholder out and put it the turret and shellholder I need.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=622290
That kit is $109 with everything but dies and components.
A single stage press is cheaper, and it doesn't hurt to have one around. I started with a single stage Lee and still use it for sizing when I cast bullets.
The thing I like about it is that it's easy to change calibers. I have it set up for 7 or 8 calibers and all I have to to is twist the turret out, snap the shellholder out and put it the turret and shellholder I need.
I have the older three-station Lee turret press, and have 17 turrets in individual calibers. Yep, changing calibers becomes a simple "Plug&Play" proposition.
But for some ten years, I loaded only .38Special, .357Magnum and .45ACP on a single-stage press. Never tumbled, if the cases were dirty, they'd get a mild vinegar/water bath followed by hot water and dish detergent. Set them mouth up in the sun to dry. Now I do have a tumbler, and use it often. But it is NOT a necessity.
Sometimes I can't find the exact components I like, but there is always something similar enough available.
I haven't seen .38 or .357 ammo at my local Wally's in two years, since before the 2008 Immaculate Deception.
But for some ten years, I loaded only .38Special, .357Magnum and .45ACP on a single-stage press. Never tumbled, if the cases were dirty, they'd get a mild vinegar/water bath followed by hot water and dish detergent. Set them mouth up in the sun to dry. Now I do have a tumbler, and use it often. But it is NOT a necessity.
Sometimes I can't find the exact components I like, but there is always something similar enough available.
I haven't seen .38 or .357 ammo at my local Wally's in two years, since before the 2008 Immaculate Deception.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"I live one mile from Walmart and going there is slightly down hill so I put my car in neutral and coast going there, sometimes I even turn off my car for the fun of it."
You're lucky! When I was your age, I had to drive 5 miles, uphill both ways through 4 feet of snow, to the local WalMart!
And, it wasn't even a WalMart, it was a WalStore, a lesser, earlier version of WalMart!
And, the wheels on my car were square!
You're lucky! When I was your age, I had to drive 5 miles, uphill both ways through 4 feet of snow, to the local WalMart!
And, it wasn't even a WalMart, it was a WalStore, a lesser, earlier version of WalMart!
And, the wheels on my car were square!
I didn't use a tumbler for a long time either. I used a bottle of store bought case cleaner, then started using a little bit of toilet bowl cleaner and dish soap. Later, I slapped together a rotating tumbler with a couple of pieces of threaded rod, 4 rubber wheels and a large plastic jar. I mounted it on a piece of plywood and run it with a drill tie wrapped to the board.
ROFL
My "Walmart or anyone else doesn't ever have any freaking 9mm ammo" situation got handled last summer. My group of friends and I sent in a spy. One of us was voted for the mission (the one with the most charisma and charm). We dressed him up, gave him advice, and scheduled him a job interview. We made sure to brief him on the dialect and pursuasions of most modern shooters and trained him in dropping subtle gun nuances into everyday conversations. Then we printed him up a padded resume and sent him in.
We all waited nervously by the phone for the call that inevitably came. He had been assimilated. And even better news... Sporting Goods/Electronics Associate.
...we were in.
Every new shipment of ammunition, all we had to do was pay him in advance and he'd make sure that a few boxes made it out with him at the end of his shift.
...at an employee discount.
Sure did a lot of shooting over the summer.
Too bad he's looking for a government job now.
...stupid college degree.So, looking for an answer to your Walmart Problem?
***Answer: get yourself a spy.
________
I'd personally like to thank all you who've contributed with advice about reloading. I've always been curious about it (curious enough to save some brass), and I think now's as good a time as any to start with just the set-up mentioned. I think I'll do a little more reading first, but you've inspired me to take that next step into the shooting world.
Thank you,
~LT
lucky-gunner
Inactive
+1 for reloading
BigAl, thanks for the mention.
I agree with you reloading fans--it's rewarding and a great way to save money. We also have reloading supplies in stock and the haz-mat fee for primers is on a per order basis, so you can really save by stocking up.
BigAl, thanks for the mention.
I agree with you reloading fans--it's rewarding and a great way to save money. We also have reloading supplies in stock and the haz-mat fee for primers is on a per order basis, so you can really save by stocking up.
Average Joe
New member
Reload, its fun, and cost effective. You can make your own tumbler out of a plastic bucket with a lid, and a hand crank, or hook up a small motor to a belt and away you go....The time you spend going back and forth to Wally's you could have reloaded a few boxes of ammo.
Lee Loader
In 1978, I started reloading with a Lee Loader.
It was very slow work, so I also learned to take my time and try to shoot better. It worked.
Today, I have a Hornady Progressive Press but I fondly recall the time spent with the Lee Loader.
If you want to reload .38 Special, you can't go wrong starting with the Lee Loader and Unique powder, like somebody else said.
The Doc is out now.
In 1978, I started reloading with a Lee Loader.
It was very slow work, so I also learned to take my time and try to shoot better. It worked.
Today, I have a Hornady Progressive Press but I fondly recall the time spent with the Lee Loader.
If you want to reload .38 Special, you can't go wrong starting with the Lee Loader and Unique powder, like somebody else said.
The Doc is out now.
oneounceload
Moderator
We have seen the enemy and he is us...pretty damn pathetic behavior
I hope you never complain about those who play the welfare or entitlement system like you have...........
:barf:
mikejonestkd
New member
IIRC the 50 round pack of WWB 130 gr fmj is going for $17, and the 100 round value pack of the same product is $31.
I have found GA Arms to be good people to buy from. I buy from shows and order directly. They did have a back-log of orders but they are catching-up.
http://georgia-arms.com/38special.aspx
I've used their 30-06, 8mm, .223, 45acp, 38spcl, 357, 9mm and 30 carbine.
I do reload, mostly 45acp, 357, 30-06AI and 45/70. If I only had one reloadable handgun cartridge I would look at the Dillion Square B Deal. I use am RCBS Rock Chucker and a Pro 2000 for handgun. Time is my biggest issue.
http://georgia-arms.com/38special.aspx
I've used their 30-06, 8mm, .223, 45acp, 38spcl, 357, 9mm and 30 carbine.
I do reload, mostly 45acp, 357, 30-06AI and 45/70. If I only had one reloadable handgun cartridge I would look at the Dillion Square B Deal. I use am RCBS Rock Chucker and a Pro 2000 for handgun. Time is my biggest issue.
The only practical way to go is to reload your own. It is fun and your ammo is dirt cheap. The start-up cost of the reloading equipment to get started is not that great. Once you get started, you will look back and wonder why I waited so long to get started. After you get started, if you like reloading, you can get additional equipment little at a time as you go.