RotoMetals2Snyders JerkyLoad DataMidSouth Shooters Supply
Lee PrecisionRepackboxReloading EverythingInline Fabrication
Wideners Titan Reloading
Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: Very strange brass i came across.

  1. #1
    Boolit Master

    BigAlofPa.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Shamokin/Coal twp Pa.
    Posts
    1,670

    Very strange brass i came across.

    I bought a bunch of brass from a retired reloader. There is a small bag of brass. The length of 9mm. But the outside diameter is .374 vs a 9mm at .388 unsized. The case mouth instead of a straight edge. Looks like it was rolled in. The edge is slightly rounded. And the head stamps are bare. Sure has me stomped.
    One round at a time.
    Member of the NRA,GOA and FAOC. Gun clubs Zerby rod and gun club. Keystone Fish and Game Association.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    2,878
    38 colt heelbase cartridge might be that diameter. Not sure about length.

  3. #3
    Banned

    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    South Texas
    Posts
    1,419
    Any pics?

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master
    rockrat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    5,324
    380 auto or 38 super or 38 auto? Rimmed or rimless?

  5. #5
    Boolit Master elmacgyver0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    2,019
    From an old reloader you could find a lot of strange things.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master

    BigAlofPa.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Shamokin/Coal twp Pa.
    Posts
    1,670
    The bottom is rimed with a groove. Definitely not 380 or 38 super. I load those. I'll get some pics then too. I looked up the 38 heeled colt. It's close to that i think.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCF8364.jpg 
Views:	37 
Size:	42.1 KB 
ID:	269439
    Last edited by BigAlofPa.; 10-14-2020 at 08:13 PM.
    One round at a time.
    Member of the NRA,GOA and FAOC. Gun clubs Zerby rod and gun club. Keystone Fish and Game Association.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Butler, MO
    Posts
    9,042
    Sounds a lot like the paint marker cartridges that were made for force on force training. Think paintballs on steroids. I don't remember the name for the system right now, but they used special slides and barrels for pistols, and maybe uppers for M16's.

    Robert

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master



    M-Tecs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    9,516
    The roll on the front indicates its a blank of some type. Could be a line thrower or some type of actuator.
    2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    "Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
    – Amber Veal

    "The Highest form of ignorance is when your reject something you don't know anything about".
    - Wayne Dyer

  9. #9
    Boolit Master

    BigAlofPa.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Shamokin/Coal twp Pa.
    Posts
    1,670
    Ahh cool thanks. I'll put them in my casing display.
    One round at a time.
    Member of the NRA,GOA and FAOC. Gun clubs Zerby rod and gun club. Keystone Fish and Game Association.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    510
    Yes, definitely a blank of some kind.
    Maybe 38 S&W blank or 32 S&W blank.
    They are not super old (i.e. not from the 1800's) since there is a grove just in front of the rim.

    https://www.sportsmansguide.com/prod...unds?a=1590408

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master bedbugbilly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    MI (summer) - AZ (winter)
    Posts
    5,098
    Interesting. The first thingI thought of when I saw the photos as well was "blank".

    I see you live in "coal country" - any chance that they might be connected with mining - such as a blank to detonate a charge?

  12. #12
    Boolit Master

    BigAlofPa.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Shamokin/Coal twp Pa.
    Posts
    1,670
    Good question Billy. I had some dentnators in the past. They resembled a copper firecracker though. Im going to have my son ask about them. The guy i got them from. His son is one of my sons buddies.
    One round at a time.
    Member of the NRA,GOA and FAOC. Gun clubs Zerby rod and gun club. Keystone Fish and Game Association.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master

    mattw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    East Central Illinois
    Posts
    1,796
    Those look like the blanks used in the old bimetalic triggered seltzer bottle fire extinguishers. We had a ancient house that had about half a dozen of them on the door frames. I assume that when the strip melted, the spring pulled the little capsule with the blank into the side of the bootle, shattering the bottle and when it did the firing pin set off the blank as an "alarm". These must have been very rare, cannot find a google image of one with the blank capsule.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	FE.jpg 
Views:	30 
Size:	30.7 KB 
ID:	269479
    Last edited by mattw; 10-15-2020 at 11:29 AM.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master

    Rattlesnake Charlie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Victor, CO
    Posts
    1,379
    .38 S&W blank

  15. #15
    Moderator Emeritus / Trusted loob groove dealer

    waksupi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Somers, Montana, a quaint little drinking village,with a severe hunting and fishing problem.
    Posts
    19,355
    Look like movie blanks.
    The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
    John Taylor - "African Rifles and Cartridges"

    Forget everything you know about loading jacketed bullets. This is a whole new ball game!


  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,526
    From the burnish on the case body and the burr roll looks like they were cut of with a small pipe cutter. May have used shoulder neck for a small powder funnel or drop tube in a powder measure.I have cut off wsm cases at the head for drop spouts in lyman measures. almost a perfect fit in the measure.

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Kaneohe, HI
    Posts
    5,583
    It's a blank for a starters pistol.
    I have a rusted pistol and a few blanks.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy Brokenbear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    SE Mo
    Posts
    210
    There also were some heavy duty nail/anchor bolt drivers that were 32cal and 38 cal ..haven't seen or heard of them in years but Remington made the munitions for them in the 50's, 60's 70's and they came in various power levels that the card wad the roll crimp held in were color coded red, green, blue and yellow ..the .38's could drive a 1/2" anchor bolt 3" plus into seasoned concrete

    Bear

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check