Western 38 S&W Specialty Cartridges

[challenger_i]

I have two 50-rnd yellow boxes of Western 38 S&W new, empty cartridges. They are copper- colored and have over-size flash holes. From what little I can find on the Net, they are for wax bullet loads for way back when the Post Office carriers had side arms for unfriendly dogs. The boxes are excellent, and the cases are new, unused.

Any takers?

[j4570]

I’d love to see a picture! I like odd stuff like this.

[Outpost75]

These were used also for assembling industrial power loads and theatrical black powder blanks.

I've used lots of these cases for many years. Due to the mild pressures of .38 S&W ammo the large flash hole is no issue. I have loaded thousands of rounds using 148-grain soft swaged .38 Special HBWC component bullets at 1.15" OAL with 2.5 grains of Bullseye or TiteGroup. They shoot to the fixed sights of most revolvers, provide same payload and velocity as factory LRN with a more accurate and effective bullet.

[15meter]

I have used these for the British 38-200. I still have a couple of hundred new primed cases. I used a boolit from a NOE mold that was a close copy of the original 200 grain loading.

Coincidentally, I dug them out this evening. I am sorting through stuff that I'll never use again, trying to reduce the load on the shop floor. I loaded these for a buddy who passed away in June. He had a revolver that fired this round. He picked up the pistol because it was the same model as what his father had carried during the WWII.

His father was part of a Polish refugee staffed tank group that was trained in Scotland. His father also had a SMLE sniper rifle because he was the best shot in his company. Jack also acquired one of these. Complete with the correct wooden crate. Very cool stuff.

[challenger_i]

I’d love to see a picture! I like odd stuff like this.

I'll try to get pics tomorrow.

[Tall]

I use Western 38 Wadcutters for SD in my S&W Model 37. It's great ammo for SD because it's full wadcutter and also nickle plated.

317915

317916

317917

[Tall]

317918

[challenger_i]

I have two 50-rnd yellow boxes of Western 38 S&W new, empty cartridges. They are copper- colored and have over-size flash holes. From what little I can find on the Net, they are for wax bullet loads for way back when the Post Office carriers had side arms for unfriendly dogs. The boxes are excellent, and the cases are new, unused.

Any takers?

Disregard. When I finally got to the shop, I discovered that these two boxes weren't in my cabinet and were out where they were exposed when the June storm took my roof. Cases are still ok, but the boxes got a bit damp'ish.

[schutzen-jager]

I use Western 38 Wadcutters for SD in my S&W Model 37. It's great ammo for SD because it's full wadcutter and also nickle plated.

317915

317916

317917

post was about the .38 S&W + is not the same as the .38 special cartridge -

[Larry Gibson]

The "over size" flash holes were to prevent primers backing outand jamming a revolver. As to any danger by creating excessive pressure....there isn't any.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?381156-Drilled-Flash-Hole-Test-44-Magnum-and-45-Colt

[smkummer]

Those copper colored 38 S&W cases ( loaded with more than just a primer) were also used for launching 40mm grenades.