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Thread: Western 38 S&W

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Pitt Gas,PA
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    678

    Western 38 S&W

    Have some copper colored brass with headstamp Western 38 S&W why the copper look? Could be for black powder loads

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Lesage WV
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    876
    they most likely a {balloon } primer type . look nice but worthless and yes they were BP

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    May 2013
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    over the hill, out in the woods and far away
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    10,158
    The copper washed cases are solid head, but produced with a larger .120" diameter flash hole intended for loading blanks and industrial power loads. The large flash hole prevents the cases from setting back against the recoil plate in firing blanks from causing hard cylinder rotation. I have used unheadstamped (WRA-WW2 era power loads used in explosive bolts for wing-mounted ordnance) cases and later R-P production for standard pressure .38 S&W Loads with 2.5 grains of Bullseye and a soft-swaged 148-grain HBWC bullet seated out to 1.20" OAL and crimped in the top lube groove and they work just fine.

    No issues, but don't "hot rod" them.
    Last edited by Outpost75; 04-07-2021 at 07:29 PM.
    The ENEMY is listening.
    HE wants to know what YOU know.
    Keep it to yourself.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master smkummer's Avatar
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    Aug 2007
    Location
    So. Indiana
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    1,861
    I believe I saw some of those cases used for 40mm grenade launcher ammunition.

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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