misybailey1":1b7p6y8t said:
Thanks for your input Sam. I am looking at "plinking ammo" for the range right now, and maybe a box of the good stuff, pers. protection, to keep at home.
Hi, Amber
If you hang out here long enough, we're gonna turn you into a handloader (if you're not already?) and you can join us searching for components instead of ammo!
In the meantime, Sam's spot on about availability: whatever you can find at a price you're willing to pay is gonna work "for now." For example, a buddy just got a GP earlier in the summer, and when he went looking for ammo, all he could find was one box of .38s and two of .357s. He bought 'em all, and came home almost a benjie shy of what he had in his pocket when he left home that afternoon! I almost fell over when he told me what he'd had to pay. His Dad lives about halfway between us, so his house is a good meeting place. Dad doesn't know it yet, but I think his garage is gonna be a "classroom" soon, w/ "Beginning reloading" as our first course offering!
But in the meantime, watch all of your local sources (Wal-Mart, Turner's, Big 5, ???) for the Winchester white box stuff, Federal American Eagle, and Remington UMC. Sometimes you might find Fiocchi and possibly one or two others, as well. They're all good .38s for plinking/target use. Usually the prices aren't TOO bad. Don't expect any bargains in .357 quite yet. Any of these sources seem to be getting some ammo in now, but it's out as soon as it's unpacked from the back room, so it's kinda hit or miss.
Also, watch online vendors. The two I use most are MidwayUSA and Graf's. Others that are popular include Widener's, MidSouth, Natchez and probably as many I've forgotten. Some of them will accept backorders, so you can get "on the list."
Asking where you shoot might be helpful, too. The buddy I mentioned above has used an indoor range on occasion, and he said they have a couple of guys who load for the range, so sometimes they have "range ammo" available at reasonable prices. Again, it's catch as catch can.
Dunno how long it's gonna be before this settles out... so, as Sam already said, don't be too picky if you see something on the shelf for now!
Rick C