Thanks awp762. My buddy had some metalform magazines i found at his house for a 45 ACP 1911 project i purchased. Have not come across any 38 super magazines yet, but if i had to guess he probably bought metalform mags for this build as well.
About how much per round are you spending when you load the 38 super yourself? Buying factory rounds is pretty pricey...
To clarify my earlier comments:
The 9rnd metalform magazines that i bought & worked from day one had the welded base + round top metal followers.
I bought/installed their rubber bumper pads from Brownells, it was the cheapest solution for a working magazine with bumper pads installed.
The older metalform ones had orange plastic followers & about 10 of them came with a pistol i bought for free. These were very old when i got them & immediatly rebuilt them with tripp followers/springs.
If i had to buy new magazines today i would just get the Tripp magazine, simple solution for a magazine with removable base plate, easier to clean.
If i wanted a flush fit 9 rnd magazine the metalform or meggar magazines worked, i would get the metalform since i can easily install their bumber pads if needed in the future.
Factory ammo for 38 super is expensive, cheap target stuff seems to be .35/rnd at the cheapest place i found it including shipping, magtech or Fiocchi
Reloading 38 super with new brass costs me.30/rnd for the first load. After the first load i disregard the cost of the brass & then it costs me .15/rnd
Costs per round:
brass: .149--free freight
bullet; .109--free freight
primer; .028 to .03/rnd mail order vs local price
Powder; .014 to .016/rnd mail order vs local price
local purchase of power & primers .304/rnd vs .30/rnd mail order powder & primers
Once you disregard the price of the brass after the first load you can easily save money vs buying factory.
Ok i didn't figure my time into the reloading costs but that doesn't matter to me.
