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Old 01-09-2011, 03:55 PM
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Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads!  
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Default Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads!

I posted in another thread that I was given 150 357 mag reloads. I broke them all down. There was about 10- 38 Spl in there also

So, out of 140 or so cartriges I got at least 6 different types and weights of bullets. The 38's I recognize as Federal Hydra Shoks. The others are all different. SWC, Semi Jacket, bevel base, hollow base, HP etc,etc.

Never seen such a miss mash, plus about 10 other bullets I threw out as they were different from these. Several of the bullets separated while pounding them out and broke my RCBS hammer.

I can't figure out the first cup of 160 gr SWC FMC with a hollow base that are only .351" in diameter? and have several crimping bands.



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Old 01-09-2011, 04:31 PM
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It looks like most of those bullets were sized for a 38 Super, not a 38/357 revolver...
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Old 01-09-2011, 04:58 PM
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Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads!  
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Kinda makes you wonder how some people get through life as well as they do, huh?
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Old 01-09-2011, 11:07 PM
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Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads!  
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That .351 inch bullet of 160 grs. is surely a mystery.
The .351 bullet diameter is nominal size for 180 gr. bullets used in the .35 Winchester Self Loading and the .351 Winchester Self Loading, both cartridges used in the 1905 and 1907 semi-auto rifles, respectively.
I have a Model 1905 Winchester, in .35 Winchester S.L., and 700 full metal jacketed bullets of .351 inch and 180 grs.
I don't believe that either cartridge was ever made with bullets other than 180 grs.
So where those 160-grainers came from is a mystery.
In the 1960s, when Super Vel pioneered light pistol bullets at higher velocity, their bullets were typically slightly smaller than standard. This helped reduced pressure a bit, without sacrificing practical accuracy.
Years ago I measured some Super Vel .38 Special 110 gr. bullets and was surprised to find them .355 inch, instead of the usual .357 or .358 inch. Later, I learned the reason.

.351 inch 160 gr. bullets? In semi wadcutter configuration? They might work in the .35 WSL or .351 WSL, but their design might cause jams.
If you have no need for them, I'd like some to try in my Model 1905 .35 WSL. Won't be for a while, though. The ground is snow-covered and today it never got up to 20 degrees out there!
Heck with that. I'll stay inside and reload.
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Old 01-10-2011, 01:35 AM
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Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads!  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gatofeo View Post
That .351 inch bullet of 160 grs. is surely a mystery.
The .351 bullet diameter is nominal size for 180 gr. bullets used in the .35 Winchester Self Loading and the .351 Winchester Self Loading, both cartridges used in the 1905 and 1907 semi-auto rifles, respectively.
I have a Model 1905 Winchester, in .35 Winchester S.L., and 700 full metal jacketed bullets of .351 inch and 180 grs.
I don't believe that either cartridge was ever made with bullets other than 180 grs.
So where those 160-grainers came from is a mystery.
In the 1960s, when Super Vel pioneered light pistol bullets at higher velocity, their bullets were typically slightly smaller than standard. This helped reduced pressure a bit, without sacrificing practical accuracy.
Years ago I measured some Super Vel .38 Special 110 gr. bullets and was surprised to find them .355 inch, instead of the usual .357 or .358 inch. Later, I learned the reason.

.351 inch 160 gr. bullets? In semi wadcutter configuration? They might work in the .35 WSL or .351 WSL, but their design might cause jams.
If you have no need for them, I'd like some to try in my Model 1905 .35 WSL. Won't be for a while, though. The ground is snow-covered and today it never got up to 20 degrees out there!
Heck with that. I'll stay inside and reload.
I will post some better pictures of them tomorrow or I guess it's today. Maybe someone can ID them.
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Old 01-10-2011, 04:14 PM
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After 45 years in this game...and SEVERAL "learning experiences" with other peoples reloads...I don't even take them...or throw them away if stuck with them in a trade or garage clean out. NOT worth the time to fool with IMHO.

FN in MT
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Old 01-10-2011, 05:44 PM
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Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads!  
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Oh, I can't pass this one up.

Several years ago I obtained in a trade several hundred rounds of .30-06 reloads loaded into cloths belts used in the Browning 1919 machine gun. They had been in the belts for so long that the case lube had dried out and basically glued the cartridges into the belt loops. A machine gunner friend volunteered to loosen them up, clean the cartridges and belts, and reload the belts. We then ran them through my dealer-sample 1919A4, the only gun I would risk running unknown reloads through.

Well, it was a lot of fun to be sure! The cyclic rate was high then low, then really high, the gun jumped and bucked on its tripod, huge balls of fire and rank nasty smoke belched out of the muzzle end, and we had numerous casehead separations. We never knew what was going to happen. The 1919A4 devoured everything without a hiccup except for the casehead separations. We had a blast. I kinda miss those nasty old rounds.

Any other time I get unknown reloads we pull the projos and dump the powder in a bucket to make spectacular powder genies on my buddy's driveway late at night.

Good times.
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Old 01-10-2011, 08:41 PM
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That reminds me of a box of .41 Magnum reloads I was given once. I pulled one and the entire case, I mean right up to the bullet, was filled with Unique. I can only imagine the boom that might have made!
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Old 01-10-2011, 08:46 PM
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Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads!  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank237 View Post
After 45 years in this game...and SEVERAL "learning experiences" with other peoples reloads...I don't even take them...or throw them away if stuck with them in a trade or garage clean out. NOT worth the time to fool with IMHO.

FN in MT
I agree. After the amount of time and effort spent on bashing this things apart for 150 pieces of brass. It was not worth it. I did get 3 nice boxes with it though.

Anyway, here is a better picture of the 160 gr SWC with hollow base. They are the bulk of the bullets but only measure .351 or so so it's a mystery to be. Maybe someone can ID them??

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Old 01-13-2011, 11:09 PM
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Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads!  
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My first impression is that Winchester made them, only because Winchester was into copper-coating a lot of their bulets early on.
That hollow base might be deep enough to slug the bullet up to fill the bore. In your earlier photo, it looked much shallower; little more than a dish.
They're very likely swaged from nearly pure lead. Load them over heavy but sane .357 charges and you'd have a recipe for horrible bore leading: Undersized bullet + High Velocity + Soft Lead = Long Steaks of PB in the bore.
But in a .38 Special at 850 to 900 fps they might be okay. Frankly, you just can't tell until you fire them. Save a few for display, if you decide to use them.
They might work fine in my 1905 Winchester self-loader, or not. You can't tell much until you load and fire them.
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Old 01-14-2011, 02:47 PM
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Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads! Another reason it's good to break down unknown reloads!  
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If you want them, send me a PM with you address and they are yours.
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Old 01-14-2011, 06:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank237 View Post
After 45 years in this game...and SEVERAL "learning experiences" with other peoples reloads...I don't even take them...or throw them away if stuck with them in a trade or garage clean out. NOT worth the time to fool with IMHO.

FN in MT
Frank,

I'm with you on this.
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