Old Brass

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  • Last Post 14 February 2013
mike morrison posted this 12 February 2013

Cleaning thing up a little and there was an old 30cal GI ammo can. Opened it and it had old brass in it most 38 special. It was real dirty. Thought i might clean it up and reload it. This is what I found as I deprimed it. some of the cases seemed to fit the depriming pin real tight. Using a Lee depriming die. After that i cleaned all the brass in Hornady ultrasonic and after drying polished in corn cob media. Decided to sort it out and inspect it. This is what i found. First I notice the brass just looked different. No grove cut in front of the rim. Closer inspection revealed cases that were bloonhead cases. These were marked U.S.C. Co. Othere were marked REM-UMC. These were the ones with the small flash holes. Then there were cases marked Peters with Large Primer Pockets. Some of these appeared to have been fired with black powder some not. There was one case marked Western that had a large primer and marked 38 Super Special. There were two 38 Long cases one marked as such the other marked F A 1 04. I do not know the history of the ctg companies verry well except I believe Remington bought Union Metallic Ctg Co. just before or in the Great Depression Era. I think the F A is Frankfort Arsinel and was dated 1904. Thought it might be intersting if some members can shed some light on the age and possible years of these cases. Might be interesting of the opinions of reloading brass this old. I think the lack of the groove in front of the rim might create postive extraction in a rifle. m

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TRKakaCatWhisperer posted this 12 February 2013

Reading Sharp's volume on reloading, you'll find that primers were standardized in WWII. Before then you'd have to have Rem primers for Rem brass etc. Flash holes were also standardized.

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Ed Harris posted this 12 February 2013

TRK is correct. Postwar the US manufacturers standardized on a small primer in .38 Special and solid-head cases. What you have is worth saving only as type examples for their headstamps or to section and photograph what old balloon-head cases looked like. New brass of known history is better if you plan to reload and shoot the stuff. Collectors usually want only loaded rounds, preferably in pretty boxes. Empty cases have little collector value and fall into the “scrap” category.

If you need .38 Special brass to reload, I have plenty and would be happy to swap you some newer stuff for your old treasures, so that I could have them as photo examples.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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Chargar posted this 13 February 2013

Some pre-war primers contained mercury which can seriously weaken brass. If you want to reload any of it make certain you know what you have.

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Chargar posted this 13 February 2013

Some pre-war primers contained mercury which can seriously weaken brass. If you want to reload any of it make certain you know what you have.

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RicinYakima posted this 13 February 2013

Like Ed, I would like some samples, especially the FA and large primers. Swaps available! Ric

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Ed Harris posted this 13 February 2013

Good idea would be to take some high res digital photos of the headstamps and post the pics here. If you don't have a digital camera which will do sharp closeups, either Ric or I can do it.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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mike morrison posted this 13 February 2013

Have a camera will try to get some pics later today.

Have some New Remington Unprimed 32 Long Colt Brass. Is there a market for this? Will try to attach a pic. m

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RicinYakima posted this 13 February 2013

Yep, good market. Try the Marlin rifle collectors forums. Marlin made an rf/cf lever rifle that used this brass. Ric

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mike morrison posted this 14 February 2013

Got a pic as requested. hope i can get it posted. not sure of the quality m

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corerf posted this 14 February 2013

Id say the flash holes INDEED vary greatly! Thats fun to see.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 14 February 2013

mike ---   thank you thank you thank you ...

i think this photo should be a permanent sticky ... because shooting cast bullets is tricky enough ...but 50% of a beginner's frustration is because of a belief that all the molds, all the brass cases ... , and all the guns  are made to the infinitely exact specifications that someone publishes in a reloading book ... or a gun paper magazine ..

once comprehension of almost infinitely large combinations of ” out of spec ” dimensions ( weights, densities, locations ...etc. ) is achieved ...it actually makes playing with guns ( and i might mention wimmin critters ) ...much more fun !! 

for example ... if one ruger 1 doesn't shoot real good ... heck, buy another one !  it might deliver !  ( i have three now, still none a 1/2 moa rig ... but i bet the next one will be !! ) . see how much fun variances can be ?   (  g  ) 

thanks again .. ken

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mike morrison posted this 14 February 2013

Yes sir cast bullets are a real challange. fun for today tomorrow and on down the road. m

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