April 15, 2018, 09:54 AM | #1 |
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38 Special Cartridge
I have a 38 special cartridge with a round nose full metal jacket bullet. It has a cannelure. This is not a reload by me. My opinion is, it is a factory load by Winchester. The head stamp has WCC 94 and 38 spl.
Is this a military cartridge? |
April 15, 2018, 11:36 AM | #2 |
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Yep, military. You will probably see sealant around the primer and maybe around the bullet too. The cartridge was made by Winchester Cartridge Co. in 1994...
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April 15, 2018, 12:50 PM | #3 |
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What U.S. military coppers, assuming it's MP's, were still carrying .38 revolvers in 1994? Just curious.
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April 15, 2018, 01:15 PM | #4 | |
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The standard military .38 Special load is a 130gr FMJ.
Different sources give different velocities, one says 810fps, another says 950fps. Ok, did a little digging, and a 94 headstamp round should be approx. 950fps. There was a lower velocity round made to support the aluminum cylinder (& frame) "aircrew" model S&Ws and Colts, as the standard load was too much for those guns. Those guns were retired from service rather quickly, and the light load M41 ammo went away, the load returning to what it was originally. Reportedly the 130 at 950 has the same POI as the 158 at 850 (or close enough to be usefully "on" with the usual fixed sight set up). Quote:
A 130gr FMJ with a WCC 94 headstamp is Winchester produced ammo for military use, in 1994. It might have gone to the military and later made it way out (surplus, etc) or it might have been sold direct to the public, as "surplus" (contract overrun, etc.) No way to know which.
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April 15, 2018, 01:25 PM | #5 |
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Yes, mil-spec.
Yes, mil-spec. It is Ball ammo for 38 special revolvers. These are/were issued to Air Force pilots in case of shoot downs, and Security Personnel (not necessarily MP's). Today, most base Security is contracted, but it would not surprise me in the least if whoever is in the guard shack at the gate has a S&W Model 10 and FMJ 38 Special Ball.
Lead Round Nose Bullets, and Wad Cutters are also included in the tech manual. From TM43-0001-27 "CARTRIDGE, CALIBER .38, BALL, SPECIAL, M41 Type Classification: OBS - MSR 08836015. Use: Revolver. The cartridge is intended for use in personal defense hand guns. Description: BALL Cartridge. The cartridge has a jacketed bullet. Tabulated Data: DODAC.............................................. 1305-A400 UNO serial number ............................ 0012 UNO proper shipping name ........................................... Cartridges for weapons, insert projectile Weight ............................................... 203 gr Length................................................ 1.55 in. (39.4 mm) Tracer ................................................ NA Primer................................................ Percussion Fuze................................................... NA Explosive: Type ............................................ NA Weight......................................... NA Incendiary: Type ............................................ NA Weight......................................... NA Propellant: Type ............................................ SR 7325 Weight......................................... 4.8 gr Performance: Chamber pressure.............................. 16,000 psi Velocity .............................................. 950 fps, 15 ft from muzzle Shipping and Storage Data: Quantity-distance class/ SCG ............................................ 1.4S Storage code...................................... Class V DOT shipping class ............................ C DOT designation ................................ SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION Drawing number................................. 7553580 References: SB 700-20 TM 9-1005-206-14&P-1 TM 9-1005-206-14P/3 TM 9-1300-206"
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April 15, 2018, 01:51 PM | #6 | |
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Quote:
Military? I don't think so. Maybe. I know that I used to just go to my LGS to buy them. They used to come in a pretty basic white box where they were stuffed in there like sardines - no tray. I miss those boxes. They were kind of a pain to refill (had to alternate upside down, rightside up, upside down, rightside up, etc.), but they were a very compact way to package 50 rounds. Nowdays, the "same" round comes with a tray. The bullet has a truncated nose (flattened), and the brass headstamp just says "Winchester 38 Spl." And I buy them by the case (500) now .
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April 15, 2018, 02:22 PM | #7 |
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USGI M41 ball ammo. The Air Force used a lot of this.
Don
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April 16, 2018, 02:04 PM | #8 |
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Back in my working days, I had a couple of assignments at facilities controlled by the Department of Energy.
All of the guards inside the facility were carrying revolvers. They looked like my grandmother's 38 Special S&W revolver, but I wasn't about to go into a facility like that and start asking about the security arrangements. |
April 16, 2018, 08:43 PM | #9 | |
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April 17, 2018, 09:12 AM | #10 | |
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April 17, 2018, 10:00 AM | #11 | |
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I used to buy Winchester White Box 130gn "ball" ammo with the WCC headstamp. I bought them at various LGS' in my area. I was also buying like headstamped 45 ACP WWB ammo at the same time "230gn ball." I wasn't buying old ammo. The year stamped at the time was current - or maybe the year before. Most of what I bought was "83" through "85" - purchased mostly in 84 & 85. But I have many other years - even from the '70's (range pick up). I don't recall having "94" specifically, but I know I have quite a few from the '90's. I didn't buy much ammo in the late '90's, through the '00's; so I'm not sure when they dropped the WCC designation from WWB ammo. Or when they switched from just packing them into a little box, to adding the trays (and expense). As for the 38 WCC brass, I have since retired it. Most of them have been loaded countless times and they seemed to have softened or something (for another post). So I set them aside. The 45 ACP stuff is till going strong.
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April 17, 2018, 10:19 AM | #12 |
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WCC stands for Western Cartridge Company, not Winchester.
But, given that the two companies are under the same owner, it's a blurry distinction. Western produced/produces ammo in Illinois, and Winchester produced ammunition in New England. You can still buy this exact load commercially. I saw some boxes of it at WalMart a couple of years ago when I was looking for other ammo.
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