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Old 08-15-2020, 02:56 PM
Babysitr Babysitr is offline
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Default Help me ID antique ammo I found

Was given some old "pistol" rounds,I was told....Some Saturday fun, and for the most part, some education...#1 marked .44 S&WA.....#2 no clue at all.....#3 .38 s. rim and center fire....#4 .22 short marked US....#5 38-40 , rifle I guess....#6 .44wcf rifle I guess....#7 .41 Long DA....colt??....#8 .32 S&W center and rimfire, shorts?........take a stab if you know!...I do not
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Old 08-15-2020, 03:15 PM
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Your #2 is .30 Carbine. #7 is .41 LC, I don't believe anyone other than Colt ever chambered revolvers for it, hasn't been loaded since around the early 1970s.
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Old 08-15-2020, 06:01 PM
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1- 44 American
2- 30 Carbine
3- 38 Short Colt & 38 Short Rimfire
7- Yes 41 Long Colt
8- 32 S&W and 32 Short Rimfire


Looks to me like you reversed 5 and 6.
5 looks like 44/40 and 6 looks like 38/40 to me.
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Old 08-15-2020, 06:16 PM
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When I saw #2 my gut said .30 Carbine too.
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Old 08-15-2020, 08:59 PM
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Thanks everyone.
I think that's the first time I have ever seen an original 44 American cartridge.
The round that prompted the demise of the heeled bullet (except for the 22).
One of the best things the Russians ever did for the revolver (and other cast bullet shooters)
was rebel against that bullet and design their own.
Revolutionary in fact!
I have taken the liberty of labeling the original picture.
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Old 08-17-2020, 10:29 AM
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The '.44 American' cartridge could be .44 Merwin & Hulbert.

The M&H edition is just a bit longer case than the American.
M&H case length is 1.16 in my info (but there's lots of disagreeing info on the round and it's dimensions)

The 44 American case is just under an inch long at .91" according to MrGoogle.

The M&H was also called the .44-30 at the time.

Nice bunch of old cartridges...
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Old 08-18-2020, 05:51 PM
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After some further thought and some measurements of the images, I believe the 44 to be the American (or an earlier) version.
Comparing it to the 30 carbine next door at 1.29", the 44 ends up being .903" ± a bit (rough measurements off the computer screen).
Which puts it in the range of the S&W 44's of the era.
Looking closely, they appear to be headstamped.
That would tell the story.
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Old 08-18-2020, 06:14 PM
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I have some old ammo hanging around the bench like most of us do.

Would you clean them up or leave them as is?

If I ran them in the tumbler with walnut would it mess up the bullet or be ok?
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Old 08-18-2020, 06:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajgunner View Post
I have some old ammo hanging around the bench like most of us do.

Would you clean them up or leave them as is?

If I ran them in the tumbler with walnut would it mess up the bullet or be ok?
Depends on what you intend to ultimately do with them.
For shooting I would clean up the brass just a little to get any dirt or dust off, leaving the surface smooth.
I'd do this with a rag, possibly with a little alcohol on it.
Don't worry about any stains, they won't effect the seal.
Real corrosion of the brass: Don't shoot em as the brass is now weaker.
For display leave them as is.
Especially if the lead bullets are starting to corrode and turn white, I would not tumble them.
Tumbling loaded rounds is an often discussed subject here.
Search the threads.
I won't do it but many others will.

I keep all my loaded ammo in 50 round plastic cases (or the original factory boxes).
After a few years or decades they can oxidize and look tarnished.
As long as the surface is smooth, they will shoot just fine.
Real corrosion like from water damage needs to be cleaned off and then the decision made as to whether you think they are safe.
Any pitting of the brass and I'd say not safe.
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Last edited by Nemo288; 08-18-2020 at 06:56 PM.
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