I recently bought a model 57 that came with 75 rounds. The rounds are not in factory boxes and I suspect that they are reloads.

How can I tell if these are in fact reloads or if they may be factory rounds. They have assorted bullet types from wad cutters to jacketed hollow points.

I am at work, so I can't post pictures right now.

Any suggestions?

Head stamps would be my first guess. Put them together according to bullets and see if the head stamps match still. Or even better if it is head stamps from Starline you know they are hand loads. That would be too easy though.

I'm guessing you don't have access to the previous owner or you would ask him/her directly.

There are several ways to try and see if the ammo is reloaded or not. With a magnifying glass take a look at the cases and try to see if there are drag lines/marks from being put through dies.

Primers used to be a good indication before Winchester decided to make all their primers Yellow brass instead of Nickel plated. A few years back if the primers were brass the ammo was probably factory because most, if not all sold primers were Nickel plated.

You can also "try" to match up the bullet to the head stamp on the brass. If there is a Gold Dot bullet in Remington brass, not factory! LOL

IMO since you are in doubt I would break down the ammo and use the components to load ammo you are sure of. You already know that's what you should do...

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Thanks for the comments and advice. I will take a closer look at these tonight.

IF they are in fact wadcutters, and not semi wadcutters, then you can count about 99% on them being reloads, because I am not aware of any factory loading for the .41 that contains wadcutters. There may be one or two of the smaller factory reload outfits that use them, but even then I don't believe so.

Just pull them to be safe and re-use the components with known data.

You are better off pulling the loads. There is no use taking a chance, I once pulled a .41 load a couple of years ago and it was a full load of Unique to the point it had been compressed. That would have made for a hot time!

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Vaya con Dios

Since you can't remember who gave them to you, pull them. I have to say though, I would shoot someone else's reloads IF I knew them.

There is a long list of folks who I would trust enough to shoot their loads:

OCD1
Paul5388
Jessie, NKJ_nut
Arch Angel
Erich
Snapping Twig
VA doublegunner
Gun 4 Fun

And a host of others here. I shoot (read have shot) factory loads before and I don't know them folks from Adam. Maybe I'm just too trusting.

That being said, there are folks I would NEVER shoot their reloads:
********* to be continued *********

What I used when I had a questionable load in 41 mag was T/C contender with a 14 inch barrel not much can take out that barrel safety first

Thank you for the kind words Skip!

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Same here Skip, and I would have no problems shooting loads crafted by you, or any of the others here that you listed.

When the 41 first came out,there were 2 basic loads...a 210 semi-wadcutter and a full blast 210 jacketed.The wadcutters were from Remington and W-W.They were fairly soft lead and were loaded with a crimp essentially above the driving band. In other words they were about as deep in the case as they could be and maintain friction.If you are seeing something like a 215 gr SWC and its crimped in the crimping groove then they are reloads.Can`t speak for the newer hunting loads from Federal as I have never seen them.Also if the cases are smoked up that would be a clue to a reload. John

The general rule is "Don't fire reloads made by someone else" especially if the "someone else" is unknown!

Personally, if I was unsure if they were reloads or factory, I would treat them as reloads. I know ammo has gotten pricey, but the gun is still worth a whole lot more. Not to mention your body parts.

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You're shy a few manners.

How can you tell if they are factory or reloads? You can't, because they can be both.

Anytime there is ever a shred of doubt, take them apart and either try to determine the load or just start over.