38 Special – 158 gr. LRN – Federal American Eagle (AE38B) – 250 Rounds

The 158 grain lead round nose is the original 38 Special service load, and it remains a pleasant way to spend an afternoon with a revolver. This listing is Federal American Eagle 38 Special 158 grain lead round nose ammo, MPN AE38B, sold as 250 rounds.

Federal rates this load at 770 fps with 208 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. That is a soft, traditional velocity, which keeps recoil low in steel-frame revolvers and makes it suitable for new shooters and longer practice sessions. The heavy 158 grain bullet also tends to print close to the fixed sights on many older revolvers that were regulated for this weight. Lead round nose bullets are for target shooting, not defense, and unjacketed lead can leave some leading in the bore that a brush and solvent will remove.

This ammunition fits revolvers and lever-action rifles chambered in 38 Special, including the Smith and Wesson Model 10, 15, and 686, the Ruger SP101, GP100, and LCR, the Colt Detective Special and Python, and Henry, Marlin, and Rossi lever guns. A common question is whether lead round nose ammo works in a 357 Magnum. Yes. 38 Special fires safely in any 357 Magnum chamber. Another common question is whether this is a good load for cowboy action shooting. Many cowboy matches limit velocity and require lead bullets, and a 770 fps lead load often fits within those rules, but check your club’s specifics.

Federal AE38B is new production ammunition, not reloads, made in the USA by Federal in Anoka, Minnesota. It uses reloadable brass cases with boxer primers and is non-corrosive. This listing ships as 5 boxes of 50 rounds for a total of 250 rounds. Revolver brass stays in the cylinder rather than flying across the range, so collecting cases for reloading is easy. Store the boxes in a cool, dry place and they will keep for years.