I would suggest never go cheap on ammo.

 

I am not familiar with Freedom Munitions or LAX. Are they factory reloads or factory-new ammo?
Were the 38 Specials lead or jacketed bullets? If lead, be sure and scrub the chambers really well to remove and lead or carbon build-up.
Regardless, I bet you will have much better luck with Federal, Remington or Winchester ammunition.

 

LAX started out as a retailer of name brands but Freedom bought them about three years ago and pushed their own stuff in. I have other calibers that work fine but the reviews I've read say quality is very caliber specific. The 38's are WWB FMJ. I scrubbed the barrel and chambers with Blue Wonder Gun Cleaner.

 

Virtually every .357 that I own that I've shot .38SPCL in, then later in the same session shot .357 I have had sticking extractions with. I just shoot the .357 on the .357 revolvers now, and .38 in the .38's. If you are going to go back and forth a good scrubbing of the cylinder will cure it and you can proceed without the ejection issue. When I'm at the range myself I just do not want to mess with cleanup.

 

Change your thread title to "Reloaded ammo problem".

 

It was new ammo. If it was really reloaded it was mislabeled. But thanks for the insight.

 

I don't know much about them, but they say they make a lot out of "recycled" brass. Perhaps even if they use some new brass, it's a hodgepodge. I'd try another type of ammo from a mainstream company (Winchester, Federal, Remington, etc). Brass varies quite a bit in hardness, if not dimensions.

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Not the best quality. I stopped buying it a while back. I'm going with federal and PMC next.

 

For target practice I've never had an issue with Freedom munitions in any caliber. For carry or hunting I go Federal , and Winchester mostly.

 

I had a DW .41 magnum that had one chamber that needed a poke with a dowel to extract. It would leave an imprint on the case that indicated a rough finish. I polished it with some sandpaper wrapped around a dowel until it worked right. No problem after that. Worth a look, anyway.

 

As above, the first step is to try some good quality American made factory ammo, not some that's recycled.

Second, if you ever shoot .38 Special in a 357 revolver, buy a bronze chamber brush from Brownell's. In fact I consider a chamber brush to be a necessary tool for any revolver to insure clean chambers.
These are larger then a bore brush and made of a stiffer bristle.
These will clean even a badly fouled chamber in a couple of passes.

To use a chamber brush I insert it until about 1/3 to 1/2 of it is sticking out the front of the chamber, then rotate the brush a couple of turns, push all the way through then pull it back out.

 

WWB, Federal, and Remington user here (mostly WWB) - I know people claim that WWB is very dirty but I've never had an issue with it. I do like cleaning guns after a range trip though.

 

I'd bet the ranch that it has nothing to do with the brand of ammo, or where it was made.... I have to agree with the comments above that suggest SCRUBBING the chambers with a LARGE copper/bronze wire brush, or similar product...OR just shoot .357MAG cases (lightly loaded if you're old like me). Using non-abrasive liquid cleaners doesn't cork.
TRUST ME ON THIS ONE

J.