Not sure as I have not looked in my area here in Florida. I make my own so have not bought any in years. I would have thought it was available everywhere like 9mm but I guess not.

 

Yeah! Me too!

Used to be. I didn't really look banking on this after I bought. I see piles of 9mm and 5.56/.223 and 22lr which used to be the indicator ammo for shortages; if low on those...stock up!

I do see online and use Ammoseek but mail order ammo a drag with shipping costs factored in. I'm heading to Texas next week and maybe have better luck. I was just wondering is nationwide shortage or local before I stock up online.

Thanks!

 

Have you checked targetsportsusa.com? Prices don’t seem to bad….

 

Ammoseek is your friend. Just about everything is pretty accessible in my area, I sold all my .357s so some lucky guy bought about 500rds off me for “cheap”

 

It's a far and few between proposition here in South Carolina as well. Every now and then a shelf at Academy will have case worth of boxes but they don't last long; same for .38's. .357 JHP were the last to show up and they lasted a little over a week probably because of the price - weren't cheap. I want to say $65-$70 for a box of 50.

 

Aztec,

Try Ammoseek . com as a reference for availability and price. What LGC's stock is usually aligned with local customer demand. Wheel guns and lever actions are way down the list on new sales.

 

With ammo prices so high , a lot of shooting has stopped, a buddie is the prez of our gun club, he says guys come out and shoot 1 mag & then bs for a while. Even the 22 shooters are holding back.

 

I should come over there and shoot sometime Mike.
Lemme know if they allow guests.
I have enough 22 we could go all day.
Make them fellas think we struck it rich or something

 

I had a helluva time finding brass - that shipping wasn't stupid.
Most are sold out or want almost as much for shipping as the brass!
Finally found 250 pcs of uncleaned brass for $30 with $13 shipping.
They say "some" nickel "may" be in it.
Normally not an issue but 357 nickel cases are known to crack and split with very few uses.
I'd be ok with maybe 25% but more than that is not "may" or "some".
As far as loaded ammo - I checked locally and you're right, most are out of stock or so ridiculous that you'd have to be desperate to buy it. I was seeing $45/50 158gr cast! SD ammo is that and more for a box of 20.
Sheesh.

 

I had a helluva time finding brass - that shipping wasn't stupid.
Most are sold out or want almost as much for shipping as the brass!
Finally found 250 pcs of uncleaned brass for $30 with $13 shipping.
They say "some" nickel "may" be in it.
Normally not an issue but 357 nickel cases are known to crack and split with very few uses.
I'd be ok with maybe 25% but more than that is not "may" or "some".
As far as loaded ammo - I checked locally and you're right, most are out of stock or so ridiculous that you'd have to be desperate to buy it. I was seeing $45/50 158gr cast! SD ammo is that and more for a box of 20.
Sheesh.

Try Everglades ammo dot com. They have used and new 357 in stock. They are always free shipping and hey have always shipped pretty fast to me over the years. I have used them for the 10 years for bullets and brass and never had any issues. That said the stuff is not cheap anymore that is for sure. Maybe get on the backorder list for Starline.

 

I gave up on factory ammo a long time ago. I started reloading in the early 1980s and never regretted doing so. As for 38/357 I have a couple of thousand rounds loaded up now and cans and boxes of brass. I mostly shoot lead bullets I cast so the loads are very cheap for me to make.

The 38 and 357 I have seen at Academy was some expensive stuff. I have a couple of boxes af Sellier&Bellot 38 lead TN ammo thats is marked $5.99. That same ammo is probably $25 a box now. I sort of understand the prices but not the shortage. Like the other poster said its that the demand is down. Everyone wants to shoot 9mm. I suspect a lot of new and younger shooters have never shot a revolver and consider them antique junk.

 

This is what I paid for a box of 50 at my LGS! But at least she has some sitting on the shelf!

 

142 grain? That's an odd duck fer sure.

 

Gun shows are always a good option.

 

A number of people have mentioned "home made" remedies for this problem. You might want to give those ideas some thought. Ammo is probably not going to get cheaper or easier to find especially given the November festivities coming up. You are always one possible election away from not being able to get this stuff without significant cost or difficulty.

 

Good lord!! Guess I'm outa touch with .357 ammo prices. I knew the big bore cartridges were priced into the ionosphere but not this caliber. 😲😲

 

Right there with you. Been reloading so long when my boy got a 45lc Henry a few years ago I loaded up some 44's and 357's for me and some 45's for him and we went out shooting. Afterwords he mentioned we had gone thorugh a few hundred dollars of ammo if we'd bought it new. I thought no way, but looked at new prices and WOW! Since then I've been shooting a lot more 357 & 38's reloads the past few years

 

The .357 is the one I started loading in 1969 and by the look at those prices I am glad that I still do and have plenty of lead and lino and three different bullet moulds for it plus a lot of brass.

 

My favorite round especially used with Pythons. Glad I hoarded supplies decades ago.
Why would ANYONE sell all of their .357??

 

Sold my revolvers, and my 1894 in .357. I’m a big bore guy and a rifle guy. But don’t worry, the sale of the .357 ammo funded my 450 Marlin

 

Now that you mention it, when I looked last it seemed like what was on the shelf was the expensive "defense" rounds 20 to box at high prices. I mostly shoot them out of my Rossi 92 and find the Federal American Eagle 158 gr soft points as good as any. Mostly reload like others.

DEP

 

I wish I knew somewhere around here that reloaded. That way I could get good accurate information to get me started reloading.357 and 30-30.
It would be nice to be able to share equipment also as I don't have any in the cost of that has gone up pretty good as well.
I mostly shoot 158 GR Federal SP and have had pretty good luck finding that at independent gun shops but very little supply at the big box.

 

I wish I knew somewhere around here that reloaded. That way I could get good accurate information to get me started reloading.357 and 30-30.
It would be nice to be able to share equipment also as I don't have any in the cost of that has gone up pretty good as well.
I mostly shoot 158 GR Federal SP and have had pretty good luck finding that at independent gun shops but very little supply at the big box.

I found a mentor in the Reloading thread. Elkhunter gave me a copy of the ABC's or reloading. Start there. Read it twice before you buy anything. I added a set of 30-30 dies to the book and forwarded it to @10acres. Once he got started I believe that it went to another gentleman with some additional goodies. I am not sure if the "tradition" was continued or not.

While it may help to find a local mentor, by reading first you can get started. Go slow, start with a straight wall cartidge like a .357 or 38 and work your way up to bottle neck cases. There are plenty of people here to answer questions, and none is too dumb or too stupid when it comes to reloading.

 

I wish I knew somewhere around here that reloaded. That way I could get good accurate information to get me started reloading.357 and 30-30.
It would be nice to be able to share equipment also as I don't have any in the cost of that has gone up pretty good as well.
I mostly shoot 158 GR Federal SP and have had pretty good luck finding that at independent gun shops but very little supply at the big box.

Get thee a Lee handloader.
I still use mine quite a bit in spite of having two turret presses plus a C press.
Cost with a factory crimp die set should be under $200.
Add a primer attachment for not a lot more - Lee Precision 90180 Breech Lock, Hand Press Kit.
Or, the C press is a little cheaper but without the primer attachment. LEE RELOADER PRESS
4 die set (factory crimp) Handgun Die Sets

 

Yes. Reload. Find a mentor, some good books and lay by components and you'll be good for life. All my 357s get fed homemade boolits. +1 for starline brass.

 

Ah yes, the good ol' days… when you could stop by the store on the way to the range to purchase ammo. I don’t reload. I keep a "cushion" on hand at home of what I like to shoot in each caliber. I try to find specials online with a business who hopefully doesn’t charge tax and offers free shipping if you buy a certain amount (like over $200). You have to plan that well before you need the ammo.

 

I helped my dad reload 357 when he first got his 686 Smith. I was about 8 at the time. He and I put many a round down the barrel of that gun. I have 4 revolvers and a rifle so chambered and just bought my son a new Ruger made Marlin 1894 in 357. I cast and load my own so I don't have to buy ammo. Back when components were cheap , it wouldn't be nothing for me and a friend of mine to go though 200 or 300 rounds a piece when we went to the range. Not so much now a days.

 

Sometimes you can buy a package together you intoeloading that includes a scale, press and dies. Lee makes a good starter but I suggest the O framed press. For the 357 you are best off with carbide dies so you don't have to lube.
Reloading is kind of a rabbit hole. My supplies were built up over a period of years. I am 74 now and also shoot a variety of different cartridges.
Looked at Midway and you can buy a lot of American Eagle ammo for the price of getting into reloading.
At this time large rifle primers are hard to find. Does not affect the 357 but it could most of my reloading.
Reloading is also time consuming. You need to shoot a lot to make it pay. Most say you do not save, just shoot a little more for the same money.

DEP

 

I beat the drum for reloading to anyone who will listen. That simple littel C-press made by Lee mentioned in post #32 will load all the handgun ammo you will ever want to load. I still use the same RCBS Rockchucker single stage press I started with way back in 1982. Its slow but no big deal to me. I'm in no hurry.

I accumulated most of my reloading stuff long ago and for me its like getting free ammo just for the time to load it. I have had all my supplies so long I don't remember what I paid for them. With powder and primers being so expensive now its almost not worth reloading except you can still have ammo when no one has any because there isn't any on the shelves.

 

That’s the truth, but I took up reloading because I gravitate towards big bores and some aren’t easy to find. And a lot of my guns share bullets so it’s convenient.

45-70, 450M, 458WM
444M, 44Mag, 44spl
38-55, 375
.30-06, 30-30 (plink loads I just use some Berry’s 3030, dang near a spire but has a slightly flat top)
My 1 off is my 45LC.

May this point anyone that reloads something like 223 or 9mm and claims to save money is just kidding themselves, unless they bought all their stuff years ago.

 

Over the past 30 years or so, the 38 & 357 have given way to the 9mm in popularity - in a big way.

I remember boxes, cases of 38 ammo being rather inexpensive and 357 magnum was a bit more. Now 9mm is so popular it's produced in huge quantities and I find it priced quite a bit less than 38's & 357's.

Although I like my two 9mm pistols, I really love shooting 38 & 357 revolvers. So I handload for them and have for over 50 years. I used to pick up some 38 or 357 ammo once in a while. But yikes! It's gotten expensive.

Guy

 

Over the past 30 years or so, the 38 & 357 have given way to the 9mm in popularity - in a big way.

I remember boxes, cases of 38 ammo being rather inexpensive and 357 magnum was a bit more. Now 9mm is so popular it's produced in huge quantities and I find it priced quite a bit less than 38's & 357's.

Although I like my two 9mm pistols, I really love shooting 38 & 357 revolvers. So I handload for them and have for over 50 years. I used to pick up some 38 or 357 ammo once in a while. But yikes! It's gotten expensive.

Guy

I remember picking up 357 Mag at the Bi-Mart in Ellensburg while in college for 16 dollars a box. I miss those days.

Now I gotta reload...

 

Revolvers have gotten very costly and semi autos can be had cheaper. Go to any gun store and you will not have much of a revolver choice. I had a 9mm and 45 auto. Never had much use for them. Still have 38 specials a 357 and a 45 Colt. Couple of IPSC champions got to go to Africa and hunt with the 45 ACP. They thought it left a lot to be desired as the penetration on antelope was very poor.
My primary pistol is a 22 anymore.

DEP

 

Revolvers have gotten very costly and semi autos can be had cheaper. Go to any gun store and you will not have much of a revolver choice. I had a 9mm and 45 auto. Never had much use for them. Still have 38 specials a 357 and a 45 Colt. Couple of IPSC champions got to go to Africa and hunt with the 45 ACP. They thought it left a lot to be desired as the penetration on antelope was very poor.
My primary pistol is a 22 anymore.

DEP

At my LGS they usually have quite a few traded revolvers.
One of the salesguys said folks invariably traded them in for semi-autos.
I wish they had prices to match their "unwanted" status

 

Whenever I try to find. 357mag ammo I normally check either SGAmmo or Freedom Munitions, you will be hard pressed to find boxes of 158gr XTP in 50 count and that one one the things I really like about Freedom Munitions that and great prices.