.38 Special Ammo Price Tracker

Real-time price tracking across 4 retailers. Updated every 2 hours.

213

Products Tracked

$0.28/rd

Best CPR →

$0.55/rd

Range CPR

$11.99

Cheapest Box →

198

In Stock

2026-05-16

Last Updated

Filter by grain weight: All 20gr 30gr 50gr 80gr 81gr 84gr 90gr 100gr 105gr 110gr 120gr 125gr 129gr 130gr 132gr 135gr 148gr 150gr 158gr

.38 Special by Use Case

Range / FMJ

55¢/rd

best: 35¢/rd
57 in-stock products

Self-Defense

75¢/rd

best: 52¢/rd
41 in-stock products

Hunting

58¢/rd

best: 28¢/rd
8 in-stock products

Match

76¢/rd

best: 58¢/rd
7 in-stock products

Track .38 Special ammo cost per round in real time across 4 retailers. We're monitoring 213 .38 Special products (132 priced offers with CPR data) with box prices starting at $11.99. The typical cost per round is $0.55, with the best deal at $0.28/round. Broken down by use case: Range / FMJ averages 55¢/rd, Self-Defense averages 75¢/rd, and Hunting averages 58¢/rd. Prices are updated every 2 hours. Click any product to see its full price history and set a price drop alert.

.38 Special Ammo Buying Context

.38 Special ammo searches often come from revolver owners comparing range wadcutters, defensive loads, and standard-pressure options. This tracker keeps .38 Special ammo prices, CPR, and stock status together so revolver-ammo value is easier to compare.

Use this page when checking .38 Special ammunition or comparing defensive revolver loads, then follow related hubs to benchmark .38 Special against .357 Magnum and other handgun calibers.

.38 Special Median Cost Per Round

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good cost per round for .38 Special?

The best cost per round we're currently tracking for .38 Special is $0.28/round. A typical CPR across 132 tracked offers is $0.55/round. Prices vary by brand, grain weight, and retailer.

Is .38 Special ammo cheap right now?

The typical cost per round for .38 Special is $0.55. Check our CPR trend chart above to see if current prices are above or below the 30-day average. Set a price alert to get notified when prices drop.

How do .38 Special prices vary by use case?

.38 Special ammo falls into different price tiers depending on intended use. Range / FMJ averages 55¢/rd (best deal 35¢/rd across 57 products). Self-Defense averages 75¢/rd (best deal 52¢/rd across 41 products). Hunting averages 58¢/rd (best deal 28¢/rd across 8 products). Match averages 76¢/rd (best deal 58¢/rd across 7 products).

Where can I find the cheapest .38 Special ammo?

Based on our real-time tracking across 4 retailers, the cheapest .38 Special ammo starting at $11.99/box. We compare prices from Bereli, Brownells, GrabAGun, Palmetto State Armory and more.

How should I compare .38 Special ammo prices?

Compare .38 Special ammo by CPR, pressure level, bullet type, and stock status. Range wadcutters and defensive hollow points can sit in very different price bands.

Other Calibers

.17 HMR .22 LR .22 WMR .243 Win .270 Win .300 Win Mag .308 Winchester .338 Lapua .350 Legend .357 Magnum .38 Special .380 ACP .40 S&W .410 Bore .44 Magnum .45 ACP 10mm 12 Gauge 20 Gauge 28 Gauge 30-06 300 Blackout 5.56 / .223 5.7x28mm 6.5 Creedmoor 6.5 Grendel 7.62x39 7.62x51 NATO 7mm Rem Mag 9mm