What to do with .38s?

[SievertChaser]

Level 7, first playthrough, unlocked the merchant in the diner, busy hunting Raiders in Lexington. I've been speccing up both semiautomatic weapon perks, and they've paid off, combined with Gun Nut I: I've got a good .308 sniper rifle, and a tacticool 10 mm pistol I'd like to marry.

However, I'm swimming in thirty-eights and my neglected Short Pipe Rifle is about as deadly as harsh language. What contraption would you guys suggest to make the most out of 38's?

[whodat1972]

I sell my .38 ammo. 10mm and then strait up to the .44. Remember that any gun ya wanna rock, you should lvl up. Im a gun slinger....lvl 54, and am still rocking the .44 (unqiue old western of course)...so I also have all the perks of a single action handgun.

My dude couldnt run a auto to save his life. like 19 damage?lol

[DEVOLVE MINHA CACHAÇA!]

It is kind of hilarious, but at level 160 I find this caliber, along with pipe weaponry, pretty useful to fight raiders without overpowered weapons such as a handmade or assault rifle, which would make the fight too quick.

When you reach a certain level, they become weaker than radroaches, so I usually feel bad when I have to attack them with anything stronger then a pre-war combat rifle, lol.

[Falaris]

If you have leveled up commando, a decent setup for the rifle is automatic with ammo drum. Wether you go for a scope version (long flanged barrel, stock, suppressor or compensator) or more of an 'smg' setup is your call.

The thing with the various raider (pipe) guns is that they are easy to mod with a lot of different options. Try stuff out.

(If you follow the advice about trying stuff out, you will want to grow a lot of tatos, corn and mutfruit in sanctuary - I tend to grow 12 of each, for making adhesives).

[SievertChaser]

...you can literally farm adhesives in settlements? They didn't mention that in Vault-Tec literature.

Now tell me how to grow crews, and I'll die a happy man.

[DEVOLVE MINHA CACHAÇA!]

Originally posted by dennis.danilov:

...you can literally farm adhesives in settlements? They didn't mention that in Vault-Tec literature.

Now tell me how to grow crews, and I'll die a happy man.

You actually can. By growing tatos, corn and mutfruit, like @Falaris mentioned above, and building water purifiers to get you purified water, you can produce vegetable starch[fallout.wikia.com], which is worth 5 adhesive. It only requires a decently happy settlement with a good production flow.

[MannsOverMeta]

Sell the ammo or turn your pipe rifle into automatic weapon.
You may not have commando, but it's still a good way to make us of .38 ammo.

[Falaris]

To grow crews: Build (and activate) a recruiting beacon. :)

[Xyzzy]

at lev 7 a very useful gun. When shopping look at weapons sometimes you get a modded improved version no too expensive. Collect all junk it gives you caps to buy better guns. Merchant called Cricket (Bunker hill) or roaming, has good guns.

[SievertChaser]

*smashes phone*

Screws, not crews.

[Falaris]

For screws... the scrapping skill is useful, you start getting screws from dismantling guns. And pick up all desk fans you see. If you still can't get enough, buy a shipment from one of the vendors that carry'em.

[Caboose]

.38 is the easiest caliber to find, you can modify weapons without any point spend in skill at low level. even as a side weapon or just to save your dominant type of ammunition they are welcome.
as MannsOverMeta said, turn a gun into a small smg, it can be handy.

[SievertChaser]

Has anyone tried converting the hunting or combat rifles to it? Or is it permanently confined to the realm of "quantity has a quality of its own"?

[casualsailor]

Basically the purpose of .38 caliber ammo is that it is what you start out with. At early levels and in early zones the enemies will primarily fire .38 and you will find .38 in ammo caches.

As you level up the enemies will drop and you will find more .308, .45 and higher caliber ammo. Then you can start using those caliber weapons.

It's just a way to permit you to keep upgrading your damage as you level up.

As with anything else, when you no longer need .38 rounds, sell them.

In early play when .308 is scarce, use your .38 ammo for trash mobs and save your .308 for bosses and tougher enemies.

[Ragnaman]

OP: Its a great throwaway ammo to experiment with. If you get some good legendary on a pipe gun especially.

Not that useful for long range sniping...

[casualsailor]

Here is a vid with some early game weapons. It will show you how to mod up a .38 to make it good weapon until you can replace it with something better like the "Overseer's Guardian" or "Spray n Pray."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18fsRXGJOwA&list=PLuzGD5C-DjX-cBSuDO90SJ8ZaJFSWLkY2&index=10

Edit: Its called the 4P38 Bloodletter.