Brass for .357 Mag Revolver

LadyHunter · March 27, 2008, 06:10 AM

Greetings: I am new to this forum and I'm finding it extremely helpful. I am getting back into re-loading for my .357 revolver and a friend has given me some manufactured loaded brass for a .38 that has the initials "G.F.L" on it...would anyone be able to tell me what this stands for? And should I invest time in re-loading these? I'll be developing a load for deer hunting this year using the Cast Performance 200 grain WFN and would like to be as efficient/accurate as possible. Thanking you in advance~

Yoosta B. Blue · March 27, 2008, 07:51 AM

Welcome to the forum, LadyHunter. This is indeed a great place to exchange information and to learn all sort of nifty things in the realm of reloading...

You can do a Google search for G.F.L. brass and will find numerous hits. One of those hits contains the following statement -- "The Fiocchi brass (headstamp G.F.L.) appear to be thick walled and some users might find that they fit tight in the crimp die. They fit very tight in the author's Lee Factory Crimp die." So this shows that the author is reloading those casings...

Yoosta B. Blue

Sevens · March 27, 2008, 07:56 AM

I have some GFL in another caliber and as I recall, it's Fiocchi.

http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

Yep:
Giulio Fiocchi, Lecco, Italy

Seems to be decent stuff to me. One brand of brass you should avoid like the bubonic plague is "A-Merc" or "American" brand. It's complete crap. Much of it is barely within spec on dimensions, flash holes are almost all off-center, not round, need de-burred. It's the worst brass I've ever come across.

I've also seen some sub-standard Selior & Beliot, but others have had fine luck with that.
In any case, you won't be making 200 grain WFN hunting rounds out of .38 Special I hope!

Enjoy that Black Hawk!

LadyHunter · March 27, 2008, 08:20 AM

Greetings

Seven: Absolutely NOT on the .38 200 Gr WFN, I'll be loading that in my .357 cartridges only...my nephew hunts with this load and the results are amazing.
I will mostly use the .38 for plinking and home protection.

Thanks for the advice and it's good to know I have these resources!!

Happy Shooting!!

The Lovemaster · March 27, 2008, 10:33 AM

My experience with the S&B brass is that the primer pockets are noticably smaller than spec, making priming a little difficult. I'm going to quit using S&B, I'm getting tired of the hard prime.

GP100man · March 27, 2008, 11:41 PM

buy starline new,nuff said

GP100man##

freakshow10mm · March 28, 2008, 08:55 AM

Yes. Starline and Starline only.

TexasSeaRay · March 28, 2008, 11:04 AM

I sneered at Starline when they first came out. Who the hell wants a serious piece of brass called "Star" anything?

Now, for my 44 Special target loads, and 38 Special bullseye LWC loads, I won't reload anything BUT Starline brass.

It is excellent, excellent stuff.

Jeff

March 27, 2008, 06:10 AM	#1
LadyHunter Junior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2	Brass for .357 Mag Revolver Greetings: I am new to this forum and I'm finding it extremely helpful. I am getting back into re-loading for my .357 revolver and a friend has given me some manufactured loaded brass for a .38 that has the initials "G.F.L" on it...would anyone be able to tell me what this stands for? And should I invest time in re-loading these? I'll be developing a load for deer hunting this year using the Cast Performance 200 grain WFN and would like to be as efficient/accurate as possible. Thanking you in advance~ __________________ "I don't like the idea that the police department seems bent on keeping a pool of unarmed victims available for the predations of the criminal class" - David Mohler, 1989, on being denied a carry permit in NYC

March 27, 2008, 07:56 AM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I have some GFL in another caliber and as I recall, it's Fiocchi. http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm Yep: Giulio Fiocchi, Lecco, Italy Seems to be decent stuff to me. One brand of brass you should avoid like the bubonic plague is "A-Merc" or "American" brand. It's complete crap. Much of it is barely within spec on dimensions, flash holes are almost all off-center, not round, need de-burred. It's the worst brass I've ever come across. I've also seen some sub-standard Selior & Beliot, but others have had fine luck with that. In any case, you won't be making 200 grain WFN hunting rounds out of .38 Special I hope! Enjoy that Black Hawk! __________________ *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.

March 27, 2008, 08:20 AM	#4
LadyHunter Junior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2	.357 Brass Greetings Seven: Absolutely NOT on the .38 200 Gr WFN, I'll be loading that in my .357 cartridges only...my nephew hunts with this load and the results are amazing. I will mostly use the .38 for plinking and home protection. Thanks for the advice and it's good to know I have these resources!! Happy Shooting!! __________________ "I don't like the idea that the police department seems bent on keeping a pool of unarmed victims available for the predations of the criminal class" - David Mohler, 1989, on being denied a carry permit in NYC

March 27, 2008, 11:41 PM	#6
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	brass buy starline new,nuff said GP100man##

March 28, 2008, 11:04 AM	#8
TexasSeaRay Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 810	I sneered at Starline when they first came out. Who the hell wants a serious piece of brass called "Star" anything? Now, for my 44 Special target loads, and 38 Special bullseye LWC loads, I won't reload anything BUT Starline brass. It is excellent, excellent stuff. Jeff __________________ If every single gun owner belonged to the NRA as well as their respective state rifle/gun association, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in today. So to those of you who are members of neither, thanks for nothing.

March 27, 2008, 07:51 AM	#2
Yoosta B. Blue Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2008 Location: Just a tad NE of the Alamo... Posts: 252	Welcome to the forum, LadyHunter. This is indeed a great place to exchange information and to learn all sort of nifty things in the realm of reloading... You can do a Google search for G.F.L. brass and will find numerous hits. One of those hits contains the following statement -- "The Fiocchi brass (headstamp G.F.L.) appear to be thick walled and some users might find that they fit tight in the crimp die. They fit very tight in the author's Lee Factory Crimp die." So this shows that the author is reloading those casings... Yoosta B. Blue

March 27, 2008, 10:33 AM	#5
The Lovemaster Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 416	My experience with the S&B brass is that the primer pockets are noticably smaller than spec, making priming a little difficult. I'm going to quit using S&B, I'm getting tired of the hard prime.

March 28, 2008, 08:55 AM	#7
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	Yes. Starline and Starline only.