Headstamp on .38 special cases..........

Hole Shooter · June 8, 2008, 07:16 PM

I have some .38 special cases and the headstamp says W-W. Is that a Winchester case? I ask because I also have some other cases and the headstamp says Winchester (all spelled out). If both cases are Winchester can someone please tell me why the headstamps are different? If the case marked W-W is not Winchester, does anyone know what it is? Any and all comments are certainly apprecitated!
Hole Shooter

rwilson452 · June 8, 2008, 07:19 PM

yes, it's Winchester

Hawg · June 8, 2008, 08:08 PM

They're both Winchester. The W-W is Winchester Western.

Sevens · June 8, 2008, 10:39 PM

Over the years, Winchester has put a bunch of different things on headstamps. I've seen WIN, WINCHESTER, W-W, WW, W-W Super, Western, WRA, WCC and some others I've probably forgotten.

My first caliber at the bench was .38 special and as I was a real range rat in high school, I used to see a lot of scattered brass at our club's range. Seemed like each time I went down to the range, I'd find a .38 with a different headstamp on it. So, for the hell of it, I started a little collection. Just one sample of each different headstamp. I think I have about 40 different in a box somewhere, all tarnished over time. I still keep any .38 I've never seen, and it to the collection. Thank god I don't do it in other calibers... that would be insane.

A fun link for you to check out:
http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

Hole Shooter · June 9, 2008, 12:20 PM

Thanks fellas for all the replies. Since both cases were made by Winchester, I think I am going to consolidate my .38 special “Winchester” and “W-W” brass as if they were all stamped the same and sort by the number of times the case was reloaded. Again, thank you for your help!
Hole Shooter

Sport45 · June 10, 2008, 01:18 AM

To each his own, but I've never found a need to sort .38spl brass in any form or fashion. I just shoot it until it splits.

**44 AMP** · June 11, 2008, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Over the years, Winchester has put a bunch of different things on headstamps. I've seen WIN, WINCHESTER, W-W, WW, W-W Super, Western, WRA, WCC and some others I've probably forgotten.

And a couple of the ones you've forgotten are Super-X, and Super Speed, although these are more common on rifle brass. Super Speed hasn't been done in a long, long time, but I have some old .30-30 brass so marked. And there are likely some more I've missed as well.

Winchester and Remington have used a few dozen or so different headstamps during the last century or so, one reason cartridge collectors have so much "fun".

June 8, 2008, 07:16 PM	#1
Hole Shooter Member Join Date: October 18, 2007 Posts: 31	Headstamp on .38 special cases.......... I have some .38 special cases and the headstamp says W-W. Is that a Winchester case? I ask because I also have some other cases and the headstamp says Winchester (all spelled out). If both cases are Winchester can someone please tell me why the headstamps are different? If the case marked W-W is not Winchester, does anyone know what it is? Any and all comments are certainly apprecitated! Hole Shooter

June 8, 2008, 10:39 PM	#4
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Over the years, Winchester has put a bunch of different things on headstamps. I've seen WIN, WINCHESTER, W-W, WW, W-W Super, Western, WRA, WCC and some others I've probably forgotten. My first caliber at the bench was .38 special and as I was a real range rat in high school, I used to see a lot of scattered brass at our club's range. Seemed like each time I went down to the range, I'd find a .38 with a different headstamp on it. So, for the hell of it, I started a little collection. Just one sample of each different headstamp. I think I have about 40 different in a box somewhere, all tarnished over time. I still keep any .38 I've never seen, and it to the collection. Thank god I don't do it in other calibers... that would be insane. A fun link for you to check out: http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

June 10, 2008, 01:18 AM	#6
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	To each his own, but I've never found a need to sort .38spl brass in any form or fashion. I just shoot it until it splits. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

June 8, 2008, 07:19 PM	#2
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	yes, it's Winchester

June 8, 2008, 08:08 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	They're both Winchester. The W-W is Winchester Western.

June 9, 2008, 12:20 PM	#5
Hole Shooter Member Join Date: October 18, 2007 Posts: 31	Thanks fellas for all the replies. Since both cases were made by Winchester, I think I am going to consolidate my .38 special “Winchester” and “W-W” brass as if they were all stamped the same and sort by the number of times the case was reloaded. Again, thank you for your help! Hole Shooter