Having a helluva' time finding .38 acp

[Spartanmk1]

We have an old Llama Firearms Model VII. It's a 1911 frame and construction but chambered in .38 acp.

Problem is, I cannot find any .38 acp at all.

I'd really like to keep shooting it, it's a fun little handgun, but if I can't find the ammo, it will have to sit as a collectors piece.


Anyone have any ideas on where to find .38 auto?

Thanks guys.

[JeremyS]

You can run light-loaded .38 super, *IIRC*....


Edit: yeah... did a search and a little reading and it's the exact same case and same bullet (.38 acp typically used a 130 grain bullet), same overall loaded length, etc etc etc, but .38 Super is generally loaded to higher pressures. If you found .38 Super loads that were loaded a bit light -- generally keeping velocities under like 1,150 or ideally even closer to 1,000 fps -- it would be the same as .38 acp from everything I can see. Or, if you loaded ".38 Super" to these velocities you would be making .38 ACP, just you'll never find loading dies specifically marked as such.

[Spartanmk1]

Yeah, but I really don't want to take any chances.

I've also read you can reload old .38 acp with .38 super bullets. I would do that if I had reloading equipment

[darmog]

Local Walmart, if they carry ammo, carries various lots of .380 acp. I pick up a box here and there of FMJ and HPs. I'll usually order online for bulk plinking ammo from Freedom Munitions. 1k of their Blaster ammo is about $199 + shipping~ $215 shipped.

http://www.freedommunitions.com/380-Auto-100-gr-RNFP-B-p/b380r100r-c1000.htm

[JeremyS]

Local Walmart, if they carry ammo, carries various lots of .380 acp. I pick up a box here and there of FMJ and HPs. I'll usually order online for bulk plinking ammo from Freedom Munitions. 1k of their Blaster ammo is about $199 + shipping~ $215 shipped.

http://www.freedommunitions.com/380-...100r-c1000.htm

OP didn't typo. He's looking for .38 auto, not .380 auto. Totally, totally different...

[darmog]

Well, heck, learn something new everyday. Didn't know what. Thanks. Guess I should try and branch out to different calibers one of these days to learn more. I'm barely getting over the difference between 9mm and 9mm short. lol

[JeremyS]

Guess I should try and branch out to different calibers one of these days to learn more. I'm barely getting over the difference between 9mm and 9mm short. lol

LOL, it's a nightmare out there! .380 auto is also called .380 ACP, 9mm Short, 9mm Kurz (means short in German?), 9mm Corto (means short in Italian or Spanish probably), 9x17... maybe one I'm forgetting... OH 9mm Browning.

"9mm" is just assumed to refer to 9mm Luger. But that's also called 9x19 and 9mm parabellum (means "for war" in latin)...

But gosh, there are lots of other 9mm cartridges as well like 9mm Makarov, 9x25 Dillon, 9x21 IMI, 9mm Largo (which has a few names of its own)... not to mention the .38 ACP that started the thread and the .38 Super are both 9mm's. These have bullet diameters of 0.355" and you could get away with running a .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver bullet, which is 0.357", if you really wanted to (basically making them 9mm calibers if you just want to put every handgun caliber with a ~9mm diameter bullet into the category).

No reason to branch out to obscure stuff unless it (or the gun it shoots) really interests you for some reason and you're willing to pay the premium for the ammo or you enjoy reloading.

[redcliff]

Try here: http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/11948

[Spartanmk1]

Try here: http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/11948

yeah I saw these. But I was hoping there were some floating around for cheaper.

[VegasND]

If you go to a gun show check out the odd boxes of ammo on all the tables. I passed on 3 boxes of .38 acp for $35 dollars/box last week.

If I were you I'd just use the link provided above and order a few boxes from Graf's

[TANK1135]

LOL, it's a nightmare out there! .380 auto is also called .380 ACP, 9mm Short, 9mm Kurz (means short in German?), 9mm Corto (means short in Italian or Spanish probably), 9x17... maybe one I'm forgetting... OH 9mm Browning.

"9mm" is just assumed to refer to 9mm Luger. But that's also called 9x19 and 9mm parabellum (means "for war" in latin)...

But gosh, there are lots of other 9mm cartridges as well like 9mm Makarov, 9x25 Dillon, 9x21 IMI, 9mm Largo (which has a few names of its own)... not to mention the .38 ACP that started the thread and the .38 Super are both 9mm's. These have bullet diameters of 0.355" and you could get away with running a .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver bullet, which is 0.357", if you really wanted to (basically making them 9mm calibers if you just want to put every handgun caliber with a ~9mm diameter bullet into the category).

No reason to branch out to obscure stuff unless it (or the gun it shoots) really interests you for some reason and you're willing to pay the premium for the ammo or you enjoy reloading.

9mm Luger[.355] is a differant dia. then 38[.357] and 9x18 is[.363] so all 9mm are not the same.

[Fishslayer]

Dang... Gundeals doesn't even list .38 ACP.

You really need to think about reloading. Pistol ammo is dead easy.

...and .38 Super will chamber in it. What generally happens if it gets ahold of one? Accellerated wear or KABOOM?

[MA2]

http://www.ammo-one.com/38APCAuto.html

Do recommend reloading, look at those prices :-O
I think you are paying more for the not made any more, brass head stamping.

Try to ask a small shop/re-loader to load .38Super to .38ACP specs.
The head stamp will be marked incorrectly but it is loaded down, so hopefully a shop will do it, but who knows their policy.

If there is a 9mm conversion barrel (normal 1911 barrel?), that might be best long term option.

Good Luck!

[Spartanmk1]

Thanks for the help guys. Hopefully when Diamond Armory reopens I can ask if he knows anything.

I may just have to get it made.

[five.five-six]

Even .38 super brass is not easy to come by.... this is why we don't buy oddball chambered gunz. When I bought my .357sig, I had dies, brass and boolits before I even found the gun I bought.