Bulk 38 Special Ammo
Shop in-stock .38 Special ammunition with next-business-day shipping. FMJ range loads and JHP defensive ammo from Federal, PMC, Remington, Speer, and more. All in stock, priced low. Read more about .38 Special.
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38 Special – 129 gr. JHP +P – Federal Hydra-Shok (P38HS1) – 500 Rounds
$569.00
( $1.14 per round ) Add to cart -
38 Special – 158 gr. LRN – Federal American Eagle (AE38B) – 1000 Rounds
$459.00
( $0.46 per round ) Add to cart -
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38 Special – 130 gr FMJ – Remington UMC (L38S11A – 23731) – 250 Rounds
$139.00
( $0.56 per round ) Add to cart -
38 Special +P – 125 gr JHP – Speer Gold Dot (53720) – 1000 Rounds
$599.00
( $0.60 per round ) Add to cart -
38 Special – 125 gr JHP – Speer Gold Dot (53722) – 1000 Rounds
$649.00
( $0.65 per round ) Add to cart -
38 Special – 130 gr FMJ – Remington (L38S11-23730) – 500 Rounds
$249.00
( $0.50 per round ) Add to cart -
38 Special – 132 gr FMJ – PMC Battle Packs (38G-BP) – 900 Rounds
$384.00
( $0.43 per round ) Add to cart -
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38 Special – 130 gr FMJ – Federal American Eagle (AE38K) – 1000 Rounds
$499.00
( $0.50 per round ) Add to cart -
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38 Special – 158 gr CNL – Black Hills CA (DCB38N1) – 500 Rounds
$419.00
( $0.84 per round ) Add to cart -
38 Special +P – 125 gr JHP – Black Hills (D38N2) – 500 Rounds
$469.00
( $0.94 per round ) Add to cart -
38 Special +P – 100 gr HoneyBadger – Black Hills (D38N4) – 500 Rounds
$854.00
( $1.71 per round ) Add to cart -
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38 Special – 158 gr SP – Sellier Bellot (SB38C) – 1000 Rounds
$479.00
( $0.48 per round ) Add to cart -
38 Special – 158 gr LRN – Sellier Bellot (SB38A) – 1000 Rounds
$409.00
( $0.41 per round ) Add to cart -
38 Special – 158 Gr TMJ – Speer Lawman Clean-Fire (53833) – 1000 Rounds
$519.00
( $0.52 per round ) Add to cart -
Overview of .38 Special Ammo
Introduced by Smith and Wesson in 1898, .38 Special is one of the most successful revolver cartridges ever produced and remains widely used for concealed carry, home defense, target shooting, and cowboy action competition more than 125 years later. It fires a .357-inch diameter bullet in weights from 110 to 158 grains, fitting a broad range of J-frame, K-frame, and L-frame revolvers as well as lever-action carbines. Modern JHP loads have made .38 Special a credible defensive choice, and the +P designation unlocks a meaningful step up in velocity for shooters whose revolvers are rated for it.
Popular .38 Special Brands We Carry
- Federal .38 Special Ammo: American Eagle 158gr LRN (AE38B) in 1,000-round cases for range training, and Hydra-Shok 129gr +P JHP for defensive carry
- PMC .38 Special Ammo: Bronze 132gr FMJ (38G) in 1,000-round cases at one of the lowest cost-per-round prices we carry
- Remington .38 Special Ammo: UMC 130gr FMJ in bulk quantities for high-volume range use
- Speer .38 Special Ammo: Gold Dot 135gr +P JHP, a widely trusted law enforcement load for short-barrel revolvers
- Hornady .38 Special Ammo: Critical Defense 110gr FTX, designed for reliable expansion from snub-nose barrels as short as 1.875 inches
Best .38 Special Ammo for Specific Uses
| Use Case | Top Pick | Also Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Range / High-Volume Training | PMC Bronze 132gr FMJ, 1,000 Rounds | Federal American Eagle 158gr LRN, Remington UMC 130gr FMJ |
| Concealed Carry / J-Frame Snub Nose | Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P JHP | Hornady Critical Defense 110gr FTX, Federal HST 130gr +P Micro |
| Home Defense / Full-Size Revolver | Federal Hydra-Shok 129gr +P JHP | Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P, Hornady Critical Defense 110gr FTX |
| Cowboy Action Shooting | Federal American Eagle 158gr LRN | PMC 132gr FMJ, Remington 158gr LRN |
| Low Recoil / Reduced Load | Federal American Eagle 130gr FMJ | Remington 130gr FMJ, Winchester 130gr FMJ |
Why Buy .38 Special Ammo from BulkMunitions?
- In stock and ready to ship. We only list ammunition that is physically in our warehouse. No backorders.
- Next-business-day shipping from our Knoxville, TN warehouse on orders placed before our daily cutoff.
- Bulk pricing on top brands. PMC Bronze and Federal American Eagle in 1,000-round cases deliver some of our lowest .38 Special cost-per-round pricing.
- We tithe 10% of profits to Christian-based, 2A-supporting organizations every quarter, and our customers vote on where it goes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best .38 Special ammo for a snub-nose revolver?
Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P was specifically developed for short-barrel revolvers and is the most widely recommended carry load for J-frame snub-noses. Hornady Critical Defense 110gr FTX and Federal HST 130gr +P Micro are also strong choices. Standard-pressure loads are generally preferred over +P in very lightweight alloy-frame revolvers to reduce felt recoil and wear over time. Browse our full .357 Magnum ammo selection if you want to step up to a more powerful load in the same platform.
Can I shoot .38 Special in a .357 Magnum revolver?
Yes. .38 Special can be safely fired in any revolver chambered for .357 Magnum. The .357 Magnum was developed as a lengthened, higher-pressure version of .38 Special, and all .357 Magnum revolvers accept both cartridges. Shooting .38 Special in a .357 Magnum revolver is a common and economical way to practice with less recoil and at a lower cost per round.
What is the difference between .38 Special and .38 Special +P?
.38 Special +P is loaded to higher pressure than standard .38 Special, producing roughly 10-15% more velocity and better terminal performance from defensive JHP loads. Not all .38 Special revolvers are rated for +P. Vintage revolvers, lightweight alloy-frame snub-noses, and some older S&W and Colt revolvers should use standard-pressure loads only. Always check your revolver manufacturer's specifications before using +P ammunition.
More About .38 Special Ammo
Developed by Smith and Wesson in 1898 as an improvement over the .38 Long Colt, .38 Special was adopted by the U.S. military for limited use and became the dominant American law enforcement revolver cartridge for most of the 20th century. From the 1930s through the 1980s, the majority of police officers in the United States carried a .38 Special revolver as their service weapon, most commonly a Smith and Wesson K-frame loaded with 158gr lead round-nose or semi-wadcutter ammunition.
The cartridge's long law enforcement tenure ended with the transition to semi-automatic pistols in the late 1980s and 1990s, but .38 Special remained popular in the civilian market as a concealed carry and home defense caliber. The introduction of small, lightweight J-frame revolvers and improved JHP bullet technology gave .38 Special a second life as a pocket carry option, and it remains one of the most widely carried defensive calibers among civilian shooters today.
One important distinction for new revolver buyers: .38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers are cross-compatible in one direction only. All .357 Magnum revolvers will safely fire .38 Special ammunition. No .38 Special-only revolver will safely fire .357 Magnum ammunition. If you anticipate ever wanting to shoot .357 Magnum, purchase a .357 Magnum-rated revolver from the start and enjoy the flexibility of both calibers.