Improperly seated .38spl bullets - LWC, SJHP, LSWC

Papafoxtrot · June 14, 2013, 02:53 PM

Hello all,

This is my first post here, and hopefully this is the correct forum for it.

My father and I have done a good bit of reloading in the past, mainly .45 colt and .45 ACP, with some black powder cartridge in there as well. My father recently passed away, and in going through some of the reloading equipment, I found a bag of .38spl that just didn't look right.

I know these weren't loaded by him as he did not shoot .38spl and didn't load for other people.

My main question though, is what is wrong with these rounds?

In the first photo, you can see what looks to be a properly seated bullet, but the rest are not. Some of the brass has some odd bands around it too.

In the second photo, you can see the same odd bands. These do not occur on every piece of brass, and I cannot find a pattern to it.

So, would you pull the bullets and re-use the brass? Can the bullets be reused if seated properly?

Thanks for the help and for the patience if these are knucklehead questions.

David Bachelder · June 14, 2013, 03:01 PM

I have seen those bands before. I have a lot of 38 brass and some of it is marked the same way. It comes from the factory like that.

Pull the bullets and reload them If you can I don't see what it would hurt. Get an inertia bullet puller, you know the old hammer looking outfit. They are a reloaders eraser.

mehavey · June 14, 2013, 03:11 PM

The knurled "bands" are just factory crimping marks. Ignore them.

The cartridges as loaded/seated in the first pic, however, look more than a little strange -- almost as though someone was attempting to seat the bullet out to create 357Mag case volumes.

I'd probably pull a few and see what's really in there (But it may not be recognizable unless it's a "unique" [pun intended] powder.)

HOWEVER ---

You might rather not shoot them, ...and just write them off as your safest bet.

Old Stony · June 14, 2013, 03:21 PM

I think Id just be tempted to seat the bullets a little deeper with a proper crimp and try them. Someone just didn't seat the bullets deep enough.

mehavey · June 14, 2013, 03:26 PM

Quote:

tempted to seat the bullets a little deeper...

I thought about that, but then said "Self,... if someone deliberately did that for a pressure reason, don't negate their action. And if someone did that out of carelessness, don't tempt fate on what else might be involved inside."

g.willikers · June 14, 2013, 03:28 PM

Yeah, if they didn't seat the bullets correctly, what else did they do wrong?
I'd pull 'em and use the components.

Papafoxtrot · June 14, 2013, 03:34 PM

I will most definitely be pulling several to see what was loaded as far as a powder weight is concerned. I'll be doing this on the WCs too, just so I know what is there.

Oddly, in the bag of 70 some rounds, 25 are seated just fine, 20 or so are not seated, and the rest are wadcutters.

I certainly do not know what the story is behind them, maybe my father took them as trade for some blackpowder stuff or was trying to help someone out. Could have been from one of my uncles too...who knows. I do know the rounds wont be used until I figure out what the powder load is.

Thanks for the insight gents, it is appreciated and I look forward to getting back in to reloading!

Semper Paratus · June 14, 2013, 09:18 PM

Take them apart save the brass and projectiles and reload with an appropriate load out of a reloading manual or manufacturers data. WRT the brass with the two cannelures in it...don't sweat the small stuff. I have a fair amount of older .38 Spcl brass and nickle plated brass with the same cannelures. The purpose was to serve as a stop for the bullet when seating it in the case, prior to crimping. Size the brass normally and go on.

Shootest · June 14, 2013, 11:30 PM

I would pull all of them and reuse cases/bullets and trash the powder. It’s too risky to shoot the unknown. Who knows what is loaded in them.

rebs · June 15, 2013, 05:05 AM

yep, pull the bullets and throw the powder on your lawn for fertilizer then reuse the bullet and cases.

June 14, 2013, 02:53 PM	#1
Papafoxtrot Junior Member Join Date: June 13, 2013 Posts: 3	Improperly seated .38spl bullets - LWC, SJHP, LSWC Hello all, This is my first post here, and hopefully this is the correct forum for it. My father and I have done a good bit of reloading in the past, mainly .45 colt and .45 ACP, with some black powder cartridge in there as well. My father recently passed away, and in going through some of the reloading equipment, I found a bag of .38spl that just didn't look right. I know these weren't loaded by him as he did not shoot .38spl and didn't load for other people. My main question though, is what is wrong with these rounds? In the first photo, you can see what looks to be a properly seated bullet, but the rest are not. Some of the brass has some odd bands around it too. In the second photo, you can see the same odd bands. These do not occur on every piece of brass, and I cannot find a pattern to it. So, would you pull the bullets and re-use the brass? Can the bullets be reused if seated properly? Thanks for the help and for the patience if these are knucklehead questions.

June 14, 2013, 03:01 PM	#2
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	I have seen those bands before. I have a lot of 38 brass and some of it is marked the same way. It comes from the factory like that. Pull the bullets and reload them If you can I don't see what it would hurt. Get an inertia bullet puller, you know the old hammer looking outfit. They are a reloaders eraser. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

June 14, 2013, 03:28 PM	#6
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Yeah, if they didn't seat the bullets correctly, what else did they do wrong? I'd pull 'em and use the components. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

June 14, 2013, 09:18 PM	#8
Semper Paratus Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Tidewater, VA Posts: 155	Take them apart save the brass and projectiles and reload with an appropriate load out of a reloading manual or manufacturers data. WRT the brass with the two cannelures in it...don't sweat the small stuff. I have a fair amount of older .38 Spcl brass and nickle plated brass with the same cannelures. The purpose was to serve as a stop for the bullet when seating it in the case, prior to crimping. Size the brass normally and go on. __________________ Semper Paratus--Always Prepared

June 14, 2013, 11:30 PM	#9
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	I would pull all of them and reuse cases/bullets and trash the powder. It’s too risky to shoot the unknown. Who knows what is loaded in them. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

June 14, 2013, 03:11 PM	#3
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,896	The knurled "bands" are just factory crimping marks. Ignore them. The cartridges as loaded/seated in the first pic, however, look more than a little strange -- almost as though someone was attempting to seat the bullet out to create 357Mag case volumes. I'd probably pull a few and see what's really in there (But it may not be recognizable unless it's a "unique" [pun intended] powder.) HOWEVER --- You might rather not shoot them, ...and just write them off as your safest bet.

June 14, 2013, 03:21 PM	#4
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I think Id just be tempted to seat the bullets a little deeper with a proper crimp and try them. Someone just didn't seat the bullets deep enough.

June 14, 2013, 03:34 PM	#7
Papafoxtrot Junior Member Join Date: June 13, 2013 Posts: 3	I will most definitely be pulling several to see what was loaded as far as a powder weight is concerned. I'll be doing this on the WCs too, just so I know what is there. Oddly, in the bag of 70 some rounds, 25 are seated just fine, 20 or so are not seated, and the rest are wadcutters. I certainly do not know what the story is behind them, maybe my father took them as trade for some blackpowder stuff or was trying to help someone out. Could have been from one of my uncles too...who knows. I do know the rounds wont be used until I figure out what the powder load is. Thanks for the insight gents, it is appreciated and I look forward to getting back in to reloading!

June 15, 2013, 05:05 AM	#10
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	yep, pull the bullets and throw the powder on your lawn for fertilizer then reuse the bullet and cases.