Why is .38 special ammo so expensive?

[StevieP]

It should be about the same as 9mm. Certainly not more than .45acp and other common rounds. But it is. Why???

 

[kalash]

Why do you think it should be the same as 9mm? The latter is much more popular and production is far higher.

 

[enbloc]

Nothing is more expensive than .38 Special ammo except when you grab 2 boxes of .38 Super that someone put back on the .38 special shelf and you didn't notice the label... oh, and don't own anything chambered in .38 Super.

 

[bfm]

Why do you think it should be the same as 9mm? The latter is much more popular and production is far higher.

Economy of scale.

 

[45collector]

.38 is one of the calibers I reload. It's cheap to reload.

 

[boscru]

1) economics 101---supply & demand---

2)why is .380 higher priced higher than 9mm? smaller case, less powder, ----see #1

 

[StevieP]

We have a .380, so I get that.

But isn't .38 the most common revolver caliber? Do revolver shooters just not shoot a lot?

 

[Picton]

.38 is one of the calibers I reload. It's cheap to reload.

This.

I don't pay much at all.

 

[StevieP]

So it should be cheap to manufacture and sell, too.

 

[KBCraig]

Nothing is more expensive than .38 Special ammo except when you grab 2 boxes of .38 Super that someone put back on the .38 special shelf and you didn't notice the label... oh, and don't own anything chambered in .38 Super.

We call that a valid reason to buy a 1911 in .38 Super.

Or, just sell it for profit, because Super is less common than Special.

 

[Sterg]

It goes up my ass a mile too. Maybe the crimp is all I got.

 

[Chet0729]

9mm is probably the most common round sold so it is cheap to manufacturer in large quantities. 38 is less common. I reload both and the cost to reload 38 is about the same as 9mm.

 

[Dexion1619]

It's not that revolver shooters shoot less, it's that less people shoot revolvers. Seriously, I'm the only guy my age (mid 30's) that I know who even owns a revolver.

 

[fbirdquik6]

NATO calibers and other government contracted calibers such as 40sw are where the money is, so ammo plants around the world focus there efforts on their production. When Law enforcement agencies switched to semi automatics, the big money contracts went away from the 38spl's production and it became a secondary production caliber for most ammo plants.

 

[drgrant]

It should be about the same as 9mm. Certainly not more than .45acp and other common rounds. But it is. Why???

Because the demand curve is flat and predictable. People don't buy shitloads of .38 so its never overproduced.

 

[drgrant]

We have a .380, so I get that.

But isn't .38 the most common revolver caliber? Do revolver shooters just not shoot a lot?

Revolver shooters that shoot a lot- 99% of them reload.

 

[BTSDOG]

It's not that revolver shooters shoot less, it's that less people shoot revolvers. Seriously, I'm the only guy my age (mid 30's) that I know who even owns a revolver.

Your friends need to come out of the closet.[emoji12][emoji12][emoji12][emoji12][emoji12]


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[Dexion1619]

Some of them have, but they all like glocks. Lol

 

[Zappa]

Because the demand curve is flat and predictable. People don't buy shitloads of .38 so its never overproduced.

This^

Component weight adds a bit to the price too.
9mm LRN's are generally 115-125gr., while .38's are typically 158gr.
There's also more brass in a .38 sp. casing.

Revolver shooters that shoot a lot- 99% of them reload.

This^

 

[mac1911]

We have a .380, so I get that.

But isn't .38 the most common revolver caliber? Do revolver shooters just not shoot a lot?

I laugh at the price of 380....with all the little pocket guns that came out you would think prices would have come down...oh wait it's a self defense round now.
38spl was in my life time never really cheap.
Also as noted almost everyone I know with revolvers that actually shoot them reload and often cast for them.
Over the years revolver use at the range has gone way down. You see a few LCRs or what ever is the hot pocket revolver is.
I sold my only revolver in the 20 plus years I had it I might have put 250 rounds through it. Most of those where wad cutters. Lee soup cans to be precise. They shot well out to 25 yards.
If the price of 38 or any pistol ammo is high for you it's time to reload.

 

[MisterHappy]

It's because people pay what's asked. Supply and demand. Free market. All that good stuff.


I'm always surprised (but not displeased) that 12 ga shotgun ammo costs far less per pound (since material cost was mentioned) than pretty much anything else.

 

[MAGA99]

It's not that revolver shooters shoot less, it's that less people shoot revolvers. Seriously, I'm the only guy my age (mid 30's) that I know who even owns a revolver.

you need new friends!

38spl can be found for approaching 9mm costs, white box.

 

[Salyeica]

Revolver shooters that shoot a lot- 99% of them reload.

That would have been my guess. Don't have to chase brass around the yard

 

[Picton]

It's not that revolver shooters shoot less, it's that less people shoot revolvers. Seriously, I'm the only guy my age (mid 30's) that I know who even owns a revolver.

Really?

I'm not much older than you, and I've got ten. They've definitely got their place in any collection.

 

[free]

1) economics 101---supply & demand---

2)why is .380 higher priced higher than 9mm? smaller case, less powder, ----see #1

#1 : no, this is not an example of supply and demand.

 

[jhagberg88]

Get a hand press and reload it, very cheap that way

 

[AntiHippie]

.38 is one of the calibers I reload. It's cheap to reload.

It's the cheapest caliber I reload. Got a can full of lead HBWC's free from a friend, so I'm into it for less than a nickel a round.

 

[Freddy B]

What are people paying for factory .38 spl? I'm getting it for about $15/box (LRN or FMJ).

 

[Ron Swanson]

Pickup a box of .25acp and check out the price sometime.

 

[jobowker]

We have a .380, so I get that.

But isn't .38 the most common revolver caliber? Do revolver shooters just not shoot a lot?

They reload a lot. It's a pretty easy round to reload, and it's easier to keep your brass when it doesn't get flung out of the ejection port.