The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old July 13, 2010, 03:02 PM   #1
stargazer65
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2009
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 761
Remanufactured ammunition

I bought a box of Bullseye remanufactured ammo (.38 special). Most of the casings are aluminum. At least I think so (they're non-ferous). Are they safe to shoot? On another thread I was told it's not safe to reload aluminum.

Also on a side note, I paid an arm and a leg for it. Like seven dollars more than I paid for a box of brand new winchester white box at my local gun store. I think the good ole boys at the other gun shop I visited probably had a chuckle at my expense after I left. I'll probably not go back there.
__________________
"I assert that nothing ever comes to pass without a cause." Jonathan Edwards
stargazer65 is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 03:40 PM   #2
lll Otto lll
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 1, 2008
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 295
Aluminum? You're not suppose to reload those. Anyway, I wouldn't shoot them.
Live and learn I guess. BTW, brass is non-ferrous too.
lll Otto lll is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 03:59 PM   #3
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
I would probably recommend you take them back / get credit for it in store if nothing else.

There is no way to know who reloaded those cases / or what they reloaded them with ...and its a pretty sure bet there won't be any insurance if you blow up a gun or get hurt ...

If you want to shoot reloads ( and I do ) - I'd suggest you look into getting your own equipment. Its really easy to do / and safe to do ...but then you know exactly what went into the load...

No-one that I know reloads steel cases ( like Wolf ) ---but the cases you have might be Nickel too ...Nickel is also non-ferrous ( or it may be brass - coated with Nickel ) ...or aluminum ...
BigJimP is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 04:42 PM   #4
Baryngyl
Member
 
Join Date: April 29, 2010
Posts: 67
Can you post a few pictures?


Michael Grace
Baryngyl is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 04:44 PM   #5
ScottRiqui
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 27, 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 2,905
The one time I bought factory reloads at a range, I had a squib load that lodged the bullet halfway out of the cylinder and into the barrel.

Never again, especially now that I reload my own anyway.
ScottRiqui is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 06:10 PM   #6
stargazer65
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2009
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 761




Here we go. I put a brass next to a silver one to show contrast.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_1776.JPG (69.5 KB, 351 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_1777.JPG (66.7 KB, 337 views)
__________________
"I assert that nothing ever comes to pass without a cause." Jonathan Edwards
stargazer65 is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 06:36 PM   #7
Buzzard Bait
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Republic of Texas
Posts: 502
nickel maybe?

That looks like a nickel plated case in the picture to me.
bb
Buzzard Bait is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 06:41 PM   #8
jmorris
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 22, 2006
Posts: 3,076
I don't know of any place that will let you return ammunition, much less reloaded ammunition.

What is the head stamp?
jmorris is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 07:02 PM   #9
cornbush
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 29, 2008
Location: The retarded place below Idaho
Posts: 1,408
those are definitely nickel plated brass cases.
__________________
The best shot I ever made was an accident
cornbush is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 07:24 PM   #10
stargazer65
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2009
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 761
Quote:
What is the head stamp?
It's a mixed bag. Winchester, R-P?, W W?, Speer, Federal, F C?, Star?
One thing that bothers me, some say +P and some say +P+. Which may not mean anything since they are reloads.

There is a disclaimer on the side of the box:
We warrant the excercise of reasonable care in the manufacture of these cartridges, but make no other warranty, expressed or implied."

Translation: "We have some QC in place to make these, but if your gun blows up, it's not our problem"

Taking them back is not really an option. I actually shot about 15 of them anyway with no ill effect. But I'm wondering if I should just cut my losses at this point and play it safe. I hate to wreck a brand new S&W due to faulty ammo. Especially since I can get brand new for less money. There's a few scattered references to this ammo on the net, nothing really solid either good or bad.
__________________
"I assert that nothing ever comes to pass without a cause." Jonathan Edwards
stargazer65 is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 10:06 PM   #11
celtgun
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 17, 2008
Location: SE North Carolina
Posts: 203
Shoot that mess

Those are nickel cases, the heaadstamp does not matter, it is reloaded to 38 specs, I am sure. I reload and I never use +P cases, or load any "heavy" 38 loads, that is what 357 Magnum is for, IMO.
Shoot that mess, get online and find some 38 at a good price, split 500 with a buddy, save your brass. This outfit swaps brass, good prices.
http://mastercast.net/contact.htm


Pray and Shoot Daily.
Lee Jones(Celtgun)


Lady Astor: "If I were your wife I'd put poison in your coffee.
Winston Churchill: "If I were your husband I'd drink it!"
celtgun is offline  
Old July 13, 2010, 10:30 PM   #12
Loader9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 29, 2008
Posts: 949
Looks like decent stuff to me.
http://www.nsksales.com/
Loader9 is offline  
Old July 14, 2010, 11:57 AM   #13
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
Since you've already fired some ...they're probably fine.

At the same time - if it worries you enough to put this post together - I'd say quit shooting them ( pull the bullets / dump the powder in your garden) and then you can fire the primers in your gun and dispose of everything.
BigJimP is offline  
Old July 14, 2010, 03:01 PM   #14
Old Grump
Member in memoriam
 
Join Date: April 9, 2009
Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in
Posts: 3,144
They have been around for awhile and I wouldn't worry about their quality unless you get a few misfires or anything out of a standard bang. Are you getting satisfactory results form the ones you shot? If so keep on trucking.
__________________
Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.
--Daniel Webster--
Old Grump is offline  
Old July 14, 2010, 03:22 PM   #15
rtpzwms
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 6, 2010
Location: OTS
Posts: 1,035
Shoot em clean em and buy some hardware and reload em
rtpzwms is offline  
Old July 14, 2010, 08:27 PM   #16
stargazer65
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2009
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 761
Okay, sounds good. Based on this thread and other information, it sounds like they'll be fine to shoot. Thanks for all your input.
__________________
"I assert that nothing ever comes to pass without a cause." Jonathan Edwards
stargazer65 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.09440 seconds with 11 queries