38sp with LP

[161]

Last weekend I shot up a bunch of old 38s. Polished them and started loading today. I had one that the primer pocket was way to large for a small pistol primer. Yet it didn't appear to be blown out. I took it to my large primers and it fit perfectly. The case was an old once fired Peters. Has anybody ever seen a 38 sp with a large primer pocket before?
161

[Dale53]

They were common many years ago. When I first started loading (about 1950) I used to see them from time to time. Not common even then.

You might check Phil Sharpe's book on reloading. He may have some information inside.

Dale53

[161]

Thanks
I'd never seen one.
161

[curiousgeorge]

I have never seen the .38 special case with the larger primer pocket, but I still have about 200 - 300 of the old Peters .357 magnum cases made that way. Several years ago Brian Pearce of Handloader Magazine was doing an article on the .357 mag and (IIRC) made the statement that it had always been loaded with a small pistol primer. In the next issue he remarked that obviously it had been made with the large primer pocket as several dozen people had emailed and even sent some of the cases to their offices.

Anyway, an interesting novelty.

[9.3X62AL]

Thanks
I'd never seen one.
161

New one on me, too. Never say "never", and never say "always" in this hobby field.

[ReloaderFred]

I have about 50 of the old Peters .38 Special cases that take large pistol primers. I showed them to the Remington reps at the SHOT show last month in Las Vegas and they told me the cases I had were probably made by the original Peters Company, prior to being purchased by Remington.

When I first started reloading in 1963, the gun store where I bought most of my supplies had two big fish bowls of fired .38 brass. One was filled with small pistol primed brass and the other was filled with large pistol primed brass. Either bowl was .02 cents each.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[kmag]

I have about 5 or 6 hundred of the old peters with large primer pockets in 38 spec. once fired that I shot years ago. They came in blue and white boxes and were labeled police target match loads. When we had the primer shortage they were a comfort to me, knowing that I had cases that would use large and small primers. Never ran out of small primers so didn't have to use them.

[MtGun44]

Were these intended for the heavy .38/44 loads?

Bill

[ReloaderFred]

I doubt they were intended for the 38/44, since the cases I have predated that revolver.

By the way, a 38/44 Heavy Duty was my first duty gun. I sold it for the grand sum of $65.00 in 1971 so I could make a down payment on a 6" Model 19 that I carried for several years, and still have. The Model 19 was $118.00, police price.......

Hope this helps.

Fred

[MtGun44]

When did the .38/44 come out? I thought it was some time in the 1920s or 1930s.

Bill

[Landric]

I can't give you an exact date, but the .357 Magnum is from about 1935, and the .38/44 pre-dates it.

I'd love to get my hands on the LP .38 Special brass, I've never seen any.

[ReloaderFred]

MtGun44,

The initial order for 500 Model 38/44 Militaries, as they were called at the time, was placed in December, 1929, by Harold Wesson. Here is a link to the information concerning the history of the .38/44: http://www.38-44heavyduty.com/38-44_HEAVY_DUTY_HISTORY.php

Hope this helps.

Fred

[NHlever]

I know that the rumor was around that the first .357 Magnum cases had large pistol primers, but I have never seen one in .38 Special, or .357 Remington mag. Brian Pearce, the gun writer mentioned that once in an article he wrote for Handloader magazine. He also said if anyone had one that he would be very interested in it. One of you that has one, or some might want to contact him to help clear up the history of these seldom seen cases.

[oso]

I have so many Peters LP 38 Spec that I don't know how many I have. Excellent for their original purpose: reliable ignition of light target loads. My favorite case for the S&W 52. OOPS, this is the wheelgun forum: Excellent cases for light target loads in the snubbies, too!

[curiousgeorge]

oso

Not just a wheelgun forum. If you shoot lead, you belong as much as anyone else. Heck, if you just KNOW someone who shoots lead and are nice enough to give them all your wheelweights, range scrap, extra brass, etc. ( I will p.m. you my shipping address and this will be just between us!!!) you belong.

[Char-Gar]

Well, after reading this thread, I got up and looked at several boxes of very old one fired Peters 38 Special cases. Sure enough LP primers. I have 4 or 5 hundred.