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  #1  
Old 05-01-2019, 01:58 PM
allthumbs allthumbs is offline
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Default 38 Ball Ammo

Would you shoot this, I don't know how old it is, or would some collector want it, I have no clue of where it even came from.
not the box I have but same exact thing.
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Old 05-01-2019, 02:41 PM
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That is fine ammo. It is a little weak but the brass is splendid and will load many times. That is the later steel gun load.........
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Old 05-01-2019, 02:53 PM
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As long as you have kept it properly stored there should be no problems with it

I do not believe it is old enough to have collectible value, but then I am not a cartridge collector
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Old 05-01-2019, 03:13 PM
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The headstamp should say "RA XX", the XX being the year of manufacture.
Spec'd as 130 gr. bullet @ 950 fps. I chronoed some many years ago that barely broke 800 fps!
A FULL box in good condition might be worth something to a military collector.
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Old 05-01-2019, 03:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Homie View Post
The headstamp should say "RA XX", the XX being the year of manufacture.
Spec'd as 130 gr. bullet @ 950 fps. I chronoed some many years ago that barely broke 800 fps!
A FULL box in good condition might be worth something to a military collector.
I guess they were made in 67, box is probably 95% , sturdy but a little discoloration. Thanks, for the help.
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Old 05-01-2019, 03:40 PM
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I have about 10 boxes of that stuff from the 60's my Dad got me. I have no idea of the collector value, but I would have no problem shooting it. it should go bang every time.
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Old 05-01-2019, 04:07 PM
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Maybe this was sold off as surplus as this ammo seems to be fairly common. I had some a few years ago that I shot up. The one cartridge I have left has a Winchester headstamp from the mid-'60s.

Last edited by rockquarry; 05-02-2019 at 11:35 AM.
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Old 05-01-2019, 08:19 PM
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About 8-10 yrs ago JGsales was selling that stuff
I bought 7000 rds it was $7.00 a box
Wish I would have bought the wadcutters instead they were the same price
I still shoot them once in a while.
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Old 05-01-2019, 10:04 PM
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When I was in Army I had a m15 that was not govt issue. My outfit didn't have 38 ammo. If you had a 38 we had to beg the AF for it. I found it to be good ammo. I knew a Marine who had connections to get GI 38 while he was stationed stateside. He wore out a m15 shooting GI ball but he would run that 38 like he was shooting 22s. I don't know if from the ammo
or just sheer number of rounds fired but forcing cone was eroded badly. Not from outside like 357s hot loads in 19s. It was internal wear.
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Old 05-01-2019, 11:31 PM
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Looks to be in good shape. Don't think it is highly collectable. Shoot it up.
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Old 05-02-2019, 10:34 AM
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If I am right that stuff was made for the Korean conflict for the pilots.
It was also used for the MP's in the States. if memory serves right.

The original loading was weak and later lots were beefed up a little more
for the higher quality revolvers, used later in the USA.
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Old 05-02-2019, 12:29 PM
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Thanks for the info guys, I'm going have fun with them if the rain ever stops !
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Old 05-02-2019, 12:58 PM
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I came into a lot of that ammo years ago. It was in the camp I bought high up on a closet shelf. I called the people we bought the camp from as it was a very friendly deal and told them.

He told me thanks I plum forgot about that, shoot it up and have a good time.
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Old 05-05-2019, 05:14 PM
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For target shooting or general plinking it's fine. For defensive ammo ...... FORGETABOUTIT!
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Old 05-05-2019, 07:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nevada Ed View Post
If I am right that stuff was made for the Korean conflict for the pilots.
It was also used for the MP's in the States. if memory serves right.

The original loading was weak and later lots were beefed up a little more
for the higher quality revolvers, used later in the USA.
The Air Force issued .38 Special revolvers (air crews, air police, and others), the Navy issued .38 Special revolvers (aviators and others), and the Army issued .38 Special revolvers (aviation units and others) well into the 1980's. GI surplus .38 Special ammunition is very common, contract overrun ammunition in military packaging is very common, and scavenged or stolen military .38 Special has been common for many years.
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Old 05-05-2019, 09:20 PM
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Somebody gave me several boxes of that stuff a few years back. I shot it up. Worked just fine.
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