Cheap Factory loaded cowboy ammo

[evil dogooder]

I've had a side project for about a year and a half that is coming to fruition.   If you could get a large factory loaded cowboy 38 spl poly coated bullet for under $25 a box of 50 would you buy it?    

 If so.. 105 or 125 grn?

Thanks for any input

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

I wouldn't but I think an awful lot of people would.  But what does the word "large" mean?

Good luck.

[Rye Miles #13621]

Nope even with todays prices I can load .38’s for half that or less.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

"Large order"? I thought that was confusing too.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Nope, no way.

I can load for way cheaper!

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

1 hour ago, Smokin Gator SASS #29736 said:

"Large order"? I thought that was confusing too.

 

I read it as coming from a "large factory" 

[Sedalia Dave]

My 2 cents worth is that if you don't reload, $25.00 a box of 50 (50 cents a round) is a darn good price. Yes you can reload for less but if you don't reload you can't beat this price.

I did some internet sleuthing and that is a better price than all but a few  online retailers. It was definitely a better price than any of the vendors marketing their ammo towards SASS shooters. The retailers that had a better price the velocity was around 950 fps.  This is a little hot for most CAS shooters.

 

A 125 gr LTC bullet that had a velocity of about 750 fps from a 4.6" barrel would be a great selling point. This is right in the sweet spot for 38 special cowboy ammo.

 

Most important thing is that the ammo be 100% reliable. If you could guaranty that all of it was loaded with Federal primers, that would be a great selling point. 

 

There is a market for it. Otherwise other sources wouldn't be selling it. The key to success is getting it out there so that people know about it and develop a word of mouth reputation for high quality ammo. 

Edited February 5 by Sedalia Dave

[Stump Water]

36 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

The key to success is getting it out there so that people know about it and develop a word of mouth reputation for high quality ammo. 

 

And answering questions about/clarifying the original post - which wasn't clear at all - in less than 8 hours.

[Flanigan Flats]

125 Grn. I think there is a market maybe not a large one but it is definitely there. 

[Cholla]

From my dealings with Evil Dogooder, I know he has a family to attend to and a business to run, so his time on the Wire is limited. Have some patience.

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

Some of us HATE to reload - but the pricing has to be right.

 

I don't think $25/ box is right for anyone beyond a one match every couple months shooter.

 

Buying minimalist levels of components (1 lb of powder, 1000 primers, 1000 bullets, 1000 pieces of brass, etc.)

If you run the numbers - (excluding labor) $25/ box is still a 50% plus margin.

I do acknowledge labor, packaging and regulatory costs; but in my opinion

$16 to $18 is a lot closer to an acceptable price.

And certainly feasible; if one assumes some sort of brass exchange program.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 6 by Creeker, SASS #43022

[Rye Miles #13621]

A couple months ago a LGS had .38 spl on sale for $16.00 a box of 50. I bought a couple for my modern revolvers. They were FMJ so not for SASS. If they had been lead only I would have bought a couple of those for sure.

Edited February 6 by Rye Miles #13621

[KatfishKid]

$25 a box is a lot. But it's not out of line with what I've seen when I was trying to find an ammo source. The cheapest I've seen for remanufactured ammo is from Green country ammo at $31 per 100 rounds, but all they carry is 158 grn RNFP. 

[Badlands Bob #61228]

Georgia Arms sells 38 special, 125 or 158 gr, for $25.00/50 rounds.  They are lead only bullets, not polycoated.  They go to a lot of gun shows around the Georgia area.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

9mm is pretty much the only factory ammo that is priced at a level where shooters can buy it to shoot matches. USPSA and IDPA.  But it's  fmj. There are some companies making 9mm coated lead but you're back up to that $25 a box level or more. It's nearly impossible to buy factory pistol caliber ammo to shoot SASS for the average person unless you're only shooting a few matches per year.

[Tall John]

6 hours ago, Badlands Bob #61228 said:

Georgia Arms sells 38 special, 125 or 158 gr, for $25.00/50 rounds.  They are lead only bullets, not polycoated.  They go to a lot of gun shows around the Georgia area.

I won a box, they were extremely dirty shooting. 

[El Sobrante Kid]

3 hours ago, Tall John said:

I won a box, they were extremely dirty shooting. 

 

This was also my experience shooting (a lot of) Georgia Arms ammo, both .45 and .38... very dirty ammo.

Edited February 6 by El Sobrante Kid

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

If shooters could buy factory ammo that is legal for their sport at a price that is low enough to make it worth it, most could probably live with the ammo shooting dirty.

[Eyesa Horg]

FF or FFF BP

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Cheap
Factory Loaded
Cowboy Ammo


Pick two.

[El Sobrante Kid]

1 hour ago, The Old ways said:

This 1873 rifle in 44(44-40) is my first 44 cal gun. So when I went to buy some ammo the gun store clerk asked if I wanted cowboy loads or the other loads ?
I said I just want to target shoot and he suggested full lead cowboy loads. The 200gr are jacketed & more money than the 225gr cowboy loads. I just want whatever cartridges today are the safest for a vintage 1873 to handle. What is the max fps for an original 1873 made in 1885.

 

Do not shoot modern smokeless ammo in your 1885 era rifle. That 1873 was designed to shoot black powder ammo, not modern ammo. That said, I'm sure someone will be along to tell you that shooting low pressure modern ammo is OK, and they may be right. It's your rifle so you get to decide if your willing to risk it getting damaged. BTW, the clerk is an idiot. Any firearm made before the early 1900's was built to use black powder, not the modern smokeless powder.

[watab kid]

i also bought some factory 38 ammo back when i decided to have a set of them , i found it at cabellas in a RNFP lead bullet at $16/50 , i mostly bought it for the brass but its shootable for SASS as well as in my WWII vintage revolvers , they are not bad to shoot but i will reload from here out , 

[evil dogooder]

On 2/5/2025 at 12:42 PM, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

I wouldn't but I think an awful lot of people would.  But what does the word "large" mean?

Good luck

 

unfortunately at this time I'm not at liberty to say which brand but it's one everyone here knows

 

Edited February 7 by evil dogooder

[Fargo Bill, SASS #4942]

On 2/5/2025 at 10:37 AM, evil dogooder said:

I've had a side project for about a year and a half that is coming to fruition.   If you could get a large factory loaded cowboy 38 spl poly coated bullet for under $25 a box of 50 would you buy it?    

 If so.. 105 or 125 grn?

Thanks for any input

If you are somewhat rich, yes.  If you are somewhat frugal no,  You can reload for a lot less.  Just do what trips your trigger and smile as you shoot.

 

On 2/5/2025 at 10:37 AM, evil dogooder said:

I've had a side project for about a year and a half that is coming to fruition.   If you could get a large factory loaded cowboy 38 spl poly coated bullet for under $25 a box of 50 would you buy it?    

 If so.. 105 or 125 grn?

Thanks for any input

 

[Scarlett]

On 2/6/2025 at 7:39 PM, Eyesa Horg said:

FF or FFF BP

I offer that in APP. 38Spl and 45 Colt.

 

I sell an awful lot of loaded ammunition to new shooters and folks who do not want to reload.  My prices are higher than Georgia Arms, Choice and others. Quality components, new brass and appropriate velocity. And reliability are my goals… I shot a LOT of Georgia Arms ammo when I first started 12 years ago. It was hotter than labeled by a good bit and dirty. 
 

Evil Do Gooder is a good guy. He has 4 shooters in the family…. Good luck!

 

Hugs!

Scarlett

[Krazy Kajun]

21 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

I offer that in APP. 38Spl and 45 Colt.

 

I sell an awful lot of loaded ammunition to new shooters and folks who do not want to reload.  My prices are higher than Georgia Arms, Choice and others. Quality components, new brass and appropriate velocity. And reliability are my goals… I shot a LOT of Georgia Arms ammo when I first started 12 years ago. It was hotter than labeled by a good bit and dirty. 
 

Evil Do Gooder is a good guy. He has 4 shooters in the family…. Good luck!

 

Hugs!

Scarlett

@Scarlett blows a lot of smoke and does it with with either or both hands.  She sells pretty good components and loaded ammo as well....one to ride the river with, as long as you have your life jacket on. 😎

 

Kajun