Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Ammo
o

Notices

Ammo All Ammo Discussions Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-16-2011, 11:27 PM
coyotero coyotero is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: OKLAHOMA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Copper cases

Could someone tell me the last date copper cases were made? Found some old copper case .38 WCF today.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-18-2011, 01:14 AM
Alk8944's Avatar
Alk8944 Alk8944 is offline
Member
Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,616
Likes: 1,554
Liked 8,610 Times in 3,452 Posts
Default

I don't believe there ever were .38 WCF in Copper. Very few center-fire cases of any caliber were Copper. Often chemical cleaning of brass will leach the Zinc from the surface leaving the brass red and appearing to be Copper. If you are willing to damage one try a stroke of a file across one of the cases and I will bet the filed area will be brass colored.
__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-18-2011, 02:10 AM
nutsforsmiths nutsforsmiths is offline
SWCA Member
Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 1,619
Likes: 219
Liked 1,307 Times in 352 Posts
Default

I know the last time copper cases were used in the Army was 1876, after the battle of Little Bighorn. That was one of the reasons the troops had trouble firing back at the natives, because their single shot Springfield Trapdoors rifles couldn't properly eject the spent cases. A lot of the copper cases were stuck in the breach when the barrels got too hot, or ripped in half when trying to eject them, and since the carbines a lot were using didn't come with cleaning rods attached, they had a hell of a time digging those empty cases out.

When the Army when to brass cases, the ejection problem disappeared.

I am not sure when consumer ammo stopped using copper cases.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-18-2011, 07:42 AM
walnutred walnutred is offline
US Veteran
Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 4,451
Likes: 785
Liked 3,030 Times in 1,002 Posts
Default

IN the 70s and 80s there was a Canadian company supplying 32 rim fire ammo with copper cases. I was buying it at the time for a Marlin but don't remember the brand name. They were the last I'm aware of.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-18-2011, 01:43 PM
cjw3 cjw3 is offline
Member
Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases Copper cases  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 858
Likes: 14
Liked 82 Times in 52 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by walnutred View Post
IN the 70s and 80s there was a Canadian company supplying 32 rim fire ammo with copper cases. I was buying it at the time for a Marlin but don't remember the brand name. They were the last I'm aware of.
CIL (Canadian Industries, Ltd.), I think. At the time I had an FFL and was able to scrounge up some .32 Long rimfire for a friend of my brother-in-law.

I haven't thought of that outfit in 30 years.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
rimfire, springfield

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
.455 Colt-Eley Cases ( Mk I Cases, Webley) smithywess Reloading 4 02-03-2017 11:08 PM
copper plated vs not copper plated bullets normanlclark Reloading 17 07-24-2016 06:40 PM
WTT-Rifle ammo+primed Cases For Handgun cases/primers oldRoger Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 2 05-06-2009 07:00 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:47 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)