38 Special Ammo For Sale
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Speer Lawman 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 158 Grain TMJ Ammunition
$419.99
$399.99
56 In stock now
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Magtech 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 158 Grain LRN Ammunition
$414.9952 In stock now
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Sellier and Bellot 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 158 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$419.9924 In stock now
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Federal Champion 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 130 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$449.9931 In stock now
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Magtech 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain LRN Ammunition
$22.9975 In stock now
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Speer CleanFire 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain TMJ Ammunition
$22.9949 In stock now
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Blazer Brass 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 125 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$459.9916 In stock now
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Sellier and Bellot 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$24.991 In stock now
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Federal Champion 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 130 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$24.9956 In stock now
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Speer Lawman 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 125 Grain TMJ Ammunition
$499.999 In stock now
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Prvi Partizan 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 130 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$25.4945 In stock now
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Fiocchi 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 158 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$512.991 In stock now
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Federal 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 130 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$519.998 In stock now
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Remington 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 130 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$519.9916 In stock now
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Sellier and Bellot 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain LFN Ammunition
$27.494 In stock now
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Remington UMC 38 Special Ammo - 300 Rounds of 130 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$164.999 In stock now
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Federal 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 130 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$27.9944 In stock now
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Magtech 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 158 Grain SJHP Ammunition
$559.993 In stock now
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Winchester 38 Special Ammo - 500 Rounds of 130 Grain FMJ Ammunition
$289.994 In stock now
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Magtech 38 Special +P Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 158 Grain SJHP Ammunition
$589.994 In stock now
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Remington 38 Special +P Ammo - 500 Rounds of 125 Grain SJHP Ammunition
$297.996 In stock now
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Magtech 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain SJHP Ammunition
$29.9945 In stock now
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Magtech 38 Special +P Ammo - 50 Rounds of 125 Grain SJSP Ammunition
$29.9943 In stock now
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Federal 38 Special Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 158 Grain LRN Ammunition
$599.993 In stock now
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Remington 38 Special +P Ammo - 50 Rounds of 125 Grain SJHP Ammunition
$30.9936 In stock now
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Federal 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain LRN Ammunition
$31.9940 In stock now
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Magtech 38 Special +P Ammo - 50 Rounds of 125 Grain SJHP Ammunition
$31.9940 In stock now
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Federal Train + Protect 38 Special Ammo - 500 Rounds of 158 Grain LSWCHP Ammunition
$324.9917 In stock now
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Magtech 38 Special +P Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain SJHP Ammunition
$32.9924 In stock now
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Remington Performance WheelGun 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain LRN Ammunition
$35.5030 In stock now
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Speer 38 Special +P Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 125 Grain JHP Ammunition
$799.998 In stock now
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Speer 38 Special +P Ammo - 50 Rounds of 125 Grain JHP Ammunition
$40.9949 In stock now
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Black Hills Ammunition 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain CNL Ammunition
$43.9918 In stock now
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Winchester 38 Special Ammo - 50 Rounds of 125 Grain JSP Ammunition
$44.991 In stock now
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Hornady American Gunner 38 Special Ammo - 250 Rounds of 125 Grain JHP Ammunition
$229.9912 In stock now
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Remington HTP 38 Special +P Ammo - 20 Rounds of 110 Grain SJHP Ammunition
$18.9915 In stock now
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Winchester Silvertip 38 Special Ammo - 200 Rounds of 110 Grain JHP Ammunition
$199.994 In stock now
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Underwood 38 Special +P Ammo - 20 Rounds of 125 Grain XTP Ammunition
$21.9949 In stock now
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Hornady 38 Special Ammo - 250 Rounds of 110 Grain JHP Ammunition
$299.9917 In stock now
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Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special +P Ammo - 250 Rounds of 110 Grain JHP Ammunition (Brass Cases Not Nickel-Plated)
$309.001 In stock now
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Overview of 38 Special Ammo
The 38 Special has been a cornerstone of American self-defense and revolver shooting for over 120 years, introduced in 1902 and still one of the most widely chambered handgun cartridges in production today. A rimmed, centerfire cartridge, the 38 Special is most often chambered in revolvers, but carbines and a handful of semi-automatic pistols have also been built for the round.
The 38 Special goes by several other names, including the 38 Smith and Wesson Special, the 38 Colt Special, 9x29.5mmR, and 9.1x29mmR. In its standard loading, the 38 Special weighs 158 grain (gr), has a total cartridge length of 1.455 inches, and travels at roughly 755 feet per second (fps). +P loadings push velocity and energy higher for self-defense use, while wadcutter and target loads run lighter and softer for match work and practice.
Many revolver shooters eventually move from 38 Special to 357 Magnum for added power and versatility. The 357 Magnum was developed directly from the 38 Special case, and any 357 Magnum revolver will safely chamber and fire 38 Special ammo, which makes the 38 Special a popular practice load for 357 owners.
The 38 Special is frequently mixed up with the 38 Super, which is a high-pressure semi-automatic cartridge rather than a revolver round. Our 38 Super vs. 38 Special comparison lays out the differences.
What are the most popular 38 Special brands you sell?
- Federal 38 Special Ammo
- Fiocchi 38 Special Ammo
- PMC 38 Special Ammo
- Remington 38 Special Ammo
- Winchester 38 Special Ammo
For extended range sessions and training, browse our 250 rounds of 38 Special ammo for bulk purchasing options, or step up to the 1000-round case for the best price per round.
How does the 38 Special Compare to Other Calibers?
| Comparison | Recoil | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 Special vs. 357 Magnum | Higher | Significantly more power and velocity, better for hunting | Much higher recoil, more expensive ammunition |
| 38 Special vs. 9mm | Similar | Higher capacity in semi-auto pistols, faster reloads | Requires semi-auto maintenance, potential feed issues |
| 38 Special vs. 380 ACP | Lower | Better energy and penetration, proven stopping power | Lower capacity (revolver), more recoil than 380 |
| 38 Special vs. 38 S&W | Lower | More powerful and versatile, better ballistics | Higher recoil than 38 S&W, not compatible with older firearms |
Our 38 Special ballistics charts put those same matchups side by side on velocity, energy and bullet drop, load by load.
Best 38 Special Ammo for Specific Use Cases
| Use Case | Winners |
|---|---|
| Best 38 Special for Self-Defense |
Best Overall: Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special +P 110gr JHP Runner-Up: Speer 38 Special +P 125gr JHP |
| Best 38 Special for Snubbies |
Best Overall: Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special +P 110gr JHP Runner-Up: Blazer 38 Special 125 Grain FMJ |
| Best 38 Special for Target Practice |
Best Overall: Ammo Inc 125gr TMJ Runner-Up: Fiocchi 38 Special 130gr FMJ |
Customer Reviews
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Gary said:
All I have to say is the ammo is crap. It does not eject from the gun, and they swell up and jam the gun. It cost $75 to unjam the gun.
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BIS said:
I had a 3% dud rate. Recoil for a .38 special is very heavy. Many times i had to use a tool to knock the used rounds out of the cylinder. I used this ammo at my outdoor range since the indoor range would not let me use steel case ammo. I dont know why. I am a loyal ammo.com customer and this was the first time i had any issues. All other purchases have been of excellent quality
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Josh said:
I went to the range and used this first thing with a cleaned Ruger sp101. Shot one chamber of 5 and all of the rounds where stuck and I had to smack the ejector rod just to get them a little bit up. It took a bit of effort getting them out and one I wasn't sure was going to come out. I then shot 100 rounds of various brands in both .38 and .357 mag with no problems. I have shot hundreds of rounds through this gun ( multiple brands ) and never have had a problem . They had all been brass cased but I thought I would try these for the price. Not worth it if I have to pry them out.
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Festus said:
No problems at all.
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Rich said:
I think if you are looking for great deals then don't look any farther.
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Bcino said:
Wanted for my 357 magnum.. perfect
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Donald said:
We used 1 box on re-active targets and were greatly impressed. They really smack hard!
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Gene said:
They come in a convenient bag. They all fire when the trigger is pull. I see no variation in the ballistics,
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td said:
good for the price
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Bill said:
Purchased rounds for girlfriend, though she hasnt fired any yet they seem like quality target rounds. And all ''100'' where accounted for.
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rothbaby said:
I plink'd about 100 rds so far and I am very pleased. This stuff shoots great.
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Tim said:
This is my first online ammo purchase. The service was great, and I think it is a good value. My revolver is a little fussy with dirty ammo and this is my only complaint. It shoots fine, and for the price, I'll get over it.
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Dan said:
I have fired 175 rounds and I have had 3 misloads due to cracks in the bullet case. On one round I had to disassemble the lever gun to dislodge the bullet. I will be looking very closely at the remaining rounds and not buying from your group in the futu
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Bruce S said:
quality is ok but usually i experience no duds
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Scott said:
Not impressed with this being a Winchester product. Out of 15 shells,2 were duds . Not a good track record.
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Eli said:
This was my first purchase from Ammo.com, but it will not be my last.
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pissed off ohio said:
this ammo sucked and i bout 500 rnds.
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Reid said:
Shot 50 rounds of the 1000 I purchased. Weapon was a new Ruger ACR. Every spent round was difficult to remove from the cylinder; I had to remove one spent casing with a screwdriver. I put an an equal number of brass ammo through the gun with no problem expelling the ammo.
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BOBBER said:
I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE 150 ROUNDS I HAVE SHOT
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Bernice said:
Ditto above review. I will order again when more is needed. Thanks
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Farmer said:
I have been shooting this in my air weight Smith and Wesson. Very accurate. Good quality. I will buy more.
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james said:
theyre good brand
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Farmer said:
This ammo shoots very well also. Really good accuracy.
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Ann said:
Wpould buy again
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cooky said:
we received the ammo in a timely manner. the ammo was all we expected it to be. we will shop again.
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eric said:
Effective with power similar to 357 round. I'm purchasing again
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EARL said:
Great ammo, great price, had a no problem shoot.
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home defender said:
this ammo shoots so smooth out my 3-inch model 36 Smith and Wesson that it allows my wife to group the shots very tight with a very slight muzzle flip at 40 feet. If I am not home, my wife can pick up the revolver and point and shoot without worrying about safety's, slides, magazines, clip in or out etc. - as she would have a lot of other things to think about in a pressure situation including threat assessment and visual target identification
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Nitemare said:
Bought this Magtech ammo for my son's 38 special revoler. Turned out to be very good ammo. Clean and accurate.
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STABE said:
good all around
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Nancy said:
The bullets provided a lot of smoke, which might be ok for an outdoor range, but not so appealing inside. I didn't see anything to suggest they would be this way, and i'm not very happy about it.
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Rick said:
Large quantity arrived intact, price allows more frequent practice, thus maintaining proficiency. First box had one F to F. Second primer strike solved that. 25 rounds remain in first box for 4% error rate to date.
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titanium194333 said:
Will make further purchases --soon ---need 12 ga. ammo
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Bruce said:
The ammunition had a 4% dud rate. And produced more than an expected emission of black powder residue
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Mike493 said:
Looked at several sites before finding the ammo purchased
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Gene said:
They all went "bang!"
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Chuck said:
I will definitely buy this again...................
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John said:
Speer makes great ammo. Unfortunately, with supply so low, prices are high. But, you better have good ammo on hand. This is good!!!!
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John said:
Speer makes great ammo. Unfortunately, with supply so low, prices are high. But, you better have good ammo on hand. This is good!!!!
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Spudman said:
Great Service and Quick Shipping No Better Way to Buy
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Robert said:
Bought 1000 of these to teach myself how to shoot a snub nose Smith & Wesson. Gone through more than half. Each kicks the same. No miss fires. Come out of the cylinder easily. Will buy them again to keep in practice.
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Dan said:
Fired consistently and accurately
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Bcino said:
Bought for my 357magnum… perfect
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Bcino said:
Pricing was fair this brand, less recoil for my 608 357 magnum revolver
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Bcino said:
FAIR price &+p is what I wanted for my 357 8rnd revolver for less recoil performance is fairly on point it’s decent ammunition that I will purchase again
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Deead Eye Duff said:
You need to check out, Ammo.com. You will not find a better price on hi quality ammo, anywhere. My friends and I in Texas, all stock up, with Ammo com. Keep 'em all in the 10 range. I even bought my wife .357 Ammo there!
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Woody Strode said:
What can I say? It's Federal. Never fails, clean burning, consistent shot after shot. My first choice for factory new ammo.
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Frank said:
Worked like it should it went in the gun. it came out of the gun . so it worked just fine.
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George said:
Great ammo great price!
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Zorro said:
Works for me
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Killer b said:
Wonderful damage to targets
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Arran said:
The first choice I have for .38 ammo for personal protection in a carry revolver. It hits shockingly hard, gel tests show it going very deep, and its both extremely loud and can shoot some big fire balls out the sides of your gun which is going to scare the shit out of all but the most persistent problem on two or four legs.