Unstamped shells

4T4MAG · February 19, 2011, 11:52 AM

Does anyone know if it is possible to buy shells that either do not have a head stamp or just stamped with the cal.?

PawPaw · February 19, 2011, 12:00 PM

Sure! Almost anything is possible. The question is: is it economical? I'd bet that you could have a headstamp with your initials if you were willing to buy a lot of 10,000.

wncchester · February 19, 2011, 02:41 PM

"...if it is possible to buy shells that either do not have a head stamp .."

Do you mean "shells", as in shotshells, or cases, as in metallic? Anyway, as mentioned above, only if you're willing to pay for a production run, no one makes unmarked cases for common retail purchasers.

Woody3 · February 19, 2011, 04:14 PM

Why would you want to do this? Am I missing something?

IllinoisCoyoteHunter · February 19, 2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Sure! Almost anything is possible. The question is: is it economical? I'd bet that you could have a headstamp with your initials if you were willing to buy a lot of 10,000.

precisely

PawPaw · February 19, 2011, 08:15 PM

This thread struck an interest and I found some custom brass makers that will put a custom headstamp on a cartridge.

Like this guy LINKY

Or these guys LINKY

I understand that Starline will do a custom headstamp if you order 100K cases. They do headstamps for MidwayUSA.

chiefr · February 19, 2011, 09:03 PM

The only source I could halfway suggest would be for you to contact Quality Cartridge Co and see what they can do for you.

serf 'rett · February 20, 2011, 01:45 PM

I wonder if one were to propose by handing the perspective spouse a case of rounds labeled “Marry me?” would the proposal be successful

or go up in smoke?

FrankenMauser · February 20, 2011, 03:20 PM

My experience is only with Quality Cartridge, but...
The more complex the engineering / tooling for a cartridge, the more expensive it will be, and the larger the minimum order will be.
Allowing QC to have the 'rights' to continue producing brass for your wildcat brings the cost down. (If you want it to be a 'proprietary' case, you're going to pay for it.)
Keeping the Quality Cartridge name on the case head means for a huge money savings.
If you can't wait for them to 'slip you in' between larger production runs, you will have to pay for it.

Some people find the above to be offensive, and don't understand it. But, I see it as standard business practice (you could apply all of the same ideas to a custom car interior fabricator, or specialty cake decorating shop).

If it is a really simple change, such as only a head stamp on a common cartridge - plan to pay a minimum of $1200, and more than $1/case for a minimum order. If that head stamp change includes removing the manufacturer's name - plan to triple or quadruple the price.
However, going bigger than a minimum order is where you get into pricing that seems more reasonable. (There's a reason they call it a "minimum" order.)

Magnum Wheel Man · February 21, 2011, 09:22 AM

if you are not interested in any head stamp, you could obliterate te existing head stamps ( my local machinist chucks cases in his lathe & uses a knurling tool or ??? to "X" out the existing 444 Marlin head stamps for my shot shells )

hard to get a good pic of shiney brass with my camera butt...

4T4MAG · February 21, 2011, 10:20 AM

Mag Wheel, when using a lathe, does that thin out the head too much in any way that would weaken the brass?

I have never used Quality Cart before. Do they make good brass?

Magnum Wheel Man · February 21, 2011, 10:22 AM

no... the knurling is only as deep as the original headstamp... it should not weaken the brass at all... he's done this for several reformed cases...

4T4MAG · February 21, 2011, 10:24 AM

Would it bee too deep for re-stamping?

Magnum Wheel Man · February 21, 2011, 10:29 AM

I would doubt it... but might be hard to read unless they flatten out after shooting a couple times ( these are the 1st I've gotten from him ) he said they normally flatten out some after firing, but at the lower pressures that shot shells use ( I'm duplicating .410 loads in them ), I'm not seeing any flattening of the knurling after one firing anyway

Uncle Buck · February 21, 2011, 12:23 PM

I recently received my custom head-stamped brass from Rocky mountain Cartridge (Email [email protected]).

The brass has a head-stamp that reads "BUCK 45 LONG COLT" and cost me $80.00 for 40 rounds (Included shipping and a plastic cartridge box). There was a few months wait for them, but they are well worth it!

Other companies that I contacted either did not responds or wanted a minimum of 100K order.

I am happy with the product that Rocky Mountain sent me.

bamacisa · February 25, 2011, 08:50 PM

I have a few 38 Special cases that have the caliber only stamped on the case. I found them among my range pick up brass.. don't know where they came from. I have heard that the government made some unmarked cases for covert ops.

T. O'Heir · February 26, 2011, 01:47 AM

"...for covert ops..." Only Mack Bolan can get those.

BigBob3006 · February 26, 2011, 03:37 AM

4T4MAG,

I understand that some special runs of American manufactured ammo came without any markings. It is possible that some of this ammo made it back home. I've been told that the debriefing of the involved personal was very stringent. Of course strange things have happened. I have government issued box of national match ammo that not only doesn't have head stamping, it
doesn't even have a primer pocket. Talk about weird. This came my way when I was shooting for Camp Lejeune.

February 19, 2011, 11:52 AM	#1
4T4MAG Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2009 Posts: 162	Unstamped shells Does anyone know if it is possible to buy shells that either do not have a head stamp or just stamped with the cal.?

February 19, 2011, 12:00 PM	#2
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	Sure! Almost anything is possible. The question is: is it economical? I'd bet that you could have a headstamp with your initials if you were willing to buy a lot of 10,000. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

February 19, 2011, 08:15 PM	#6
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	This thread struck an interest and I found some custom brass makers that will put a custom headstamp on a cartridge. Like this guy LINKY Or these guys LINKY I understand that Starline will do a custom headstamp if you order 100K cases. They do headstamps for MidwayUSA. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

February 20, 2011, 01:45 PM	#8
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Wondering? I wonder if one were to propose by handing the perspective spouse a case of rounds labeled “Marry me?” would the proposal be successful or go up in smoke? __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

February 20, 2011, 03:20 PM	#9
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	My experience is only with Quality Cartridge, but... The more complex the engineering / tooling for a cartridge, the more expensive it will be, and the larger the minimum order will be. Allowing QC to have the 'rights' to continue producing brass for your wildcat brings the cost down. (If you want it to be a 'proprietary' case, you're going to pay for it.) Keeping the Quality Cartridge name on the case head means for a huge money savings. If you can't wait for them to 'slip you in' between larger production runs, you will have to pay for it. Some people find the above to be offensive, and don't understand it. But, I see it as standard business practice (you could apply all of the same ideas to a custom car interior fabricator, or specialty cake decorating shop). If it is a really simple change, such as only a head stamp on a common cartridge - plan to pay a minimum of $1200, and more than $1/case for a minimum order. If that head stamp change includes removing the manufacturer's name - plan to triple or quadruple the price. However, going bigger than a minimum order is where you get into pricing that seems more reasonable. (There's a reason they call it a "minimum" order.) __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 19, 2011, 02:41 PM	#3
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"...if it is possible to buy shells that either do not have a head stamp .." Do you mean "shells", as in shotshells, or cases, as in metallic? Anyway, as mentioned above, only if you're willing to pay for a production run, no one makes unmarked cases for common retail purchasers.

February 19, 2011, 04:14 PM	#4
Woody3 Member Join Date: February 7, 2011 Posts: 37	Why would you want to do this? Am I missing something?

February 19, 2011, 09:03 PM	#7
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	The only source I could halfway suggest would be for you to contact Quality Cartridge Co and see what they can do for you.

February 21, 2011, 09:22 AM	#10
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	if you are not interested in any head stamp, you could obliterate te existing head stamps ( my local machinist chucks cases in his lathe & uses a knurling tool or ??? to "X" out the existing 444 Marlin head stamps for my shot shells ) hard to get a good pic of shiney brass with my camera butt... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

February 21, 2011, 10:20 AM	#11
4T4MAG Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2009 Posts: 162	Mag Wheel, when using a lathe, does that thin out the head too much in any way that would weaken the brass? I have never used Quality Cart before. Do they make good brass?

February 21, 2011, 10:22 AM	#12
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	no... the knurling is only as deep as the original headstamp... it should not weaken the brass at all... he's done this for several reformed cases... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

February 21, 2011, 10:24 AM	#13
4T4MAG Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2009 Posts: 162	Would it bee too deep for re-stamping?

February 21, 2011, 10:29 AM	#14
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I would doubt it... but might be hard to read unless they flatten out after shooting a couple times ( these are the 1st I've gotten from him ) he said they normally flatten out some after firing, but at the lower pressures that shot shells use ( I'm duplicating .410 loads in them ), I'm not seeing any flattening of the knurling after one firing anyway __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

February 21, 2011, 12:23 PM	#15
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	I recently received my custom head-stamped brass from Rocky mountain Cartridge (Email [email protected]). The brass has a head-stamp that reads "BUCK 45 LONG COLT" and cost me $80.00 for 40 rounds (Included shipping and a plastic cartridge box). There was a few months wait for them, but they are well worth it! Other companies that I contacted either did not responds or wanted a minimum of 100K order. I am happy with the product that Rocky Mountain sent me. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

February 25, 2011, 08:50 PM	#16
bamacisa Member Join Date: February 13, 2008 Posts: 50	I have a few 38 Special cases that have the caliber only stamped on the case. I found them among my range pick up brass.. don't know where they came from. I have heard that the government made some unmarked cases for covert ops.

February 26, 2011, 01:47 AM	#17
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...for covert ops..." Only Mack Bolan can get those. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

February 26, 2011, 03:37 AM	#18
BigBob3006 Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 80	4T4MAG, I understand that some special runs of American manufactured ammo came without any markings. It is possible that some of this ammo made it back home. I've been told that the debriefing of the involved personal was very stringent. Of course strange things have happened. I have government issued box of national match ammo that not only doesn't have head stamping, it doesn't even have a primer pocket. Talk about weird. This came my way when I was shooting for Camp Lejeune. __________________ Have a nice day. Good luck and God bless. Bob