Smith & Wesson Forum

Advertise With Us Search
Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-24-2017, 09:18 AM
bananaman's Avatar
bananaman bananaman is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hillsdale, Mi.
Posts: 7,500
Likes: 7,042
Liked 7,088 Times in 2,942 Posts
Default Odd .38 Bullet find

Yesterday, I was at a flea market. Bought a couple boxes of bullets. The .38's are 158gr. SWC. They are copper plated according to the printed box label. (no brand on it) Normally plated bullets that I've seen have a hard shiny finish. Plated do not normally have lube. Dimensions & weight are correct. (checked them) Anyway, 411, for $10, couldn't turn them down. Will be for plinking. Anybody seen any like this before??? Bob
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 001.jpg (57.2 KB, 357 views)
File Type: jpg 002.jpg (49.7 KB, 279 views)
File Type: jpg 003.jpg (54.4 KB, 266 views)
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #2  
Old 04-24-2017, 09:24 AM
ImprovedModel56Fan ImprovedModel56Fan is offline
US Veteran
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MA
Posts: 7,348
Likes: 7,536
Liked 5,590 Times in 2,562 Posts
Default

Don't know anything about them, but I am reminded of Winchester Lubaloy bullets, which were similar in appearance, at least the part that showed outside the loaded cartridge case.
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #3  
Old 04-24-2017, 09:40 AM
4barrel's Avatar
4barrel 4barrel is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: OVER the hill in TEJAS
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 13,107
Liked 4,339 Times in 1,773 Posts
Default

National Bullet Co. They can stand 1100 fps.

Last edited by 4barrel; 04-24-2017 at 10:34 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #4  
Old 04-24-2017, 11:06 AM
BSA1 BSA1 is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 957
Liked 1,555 Times in 680 Posts
Default

They are copper washed lead bullets. I have not seen them for a long time.
Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
  #5  
Old 04-24-2017, 02:24 PM
rwsmith's Avatar
rwsmith rwsmith is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: (outside) Charleston, SC
Posts: 31,000
Likes: 41,665
Liked 29,250 Times in 13,830 Posts
Default And the plating...

Quote:
Originally Posted by BSA1 View Post
They are copper washed lead bullets. I have not seen them for a long time.
And the plating isn't nearly as thick as the hard shiny plated bullets.
__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 04-24-2017, 03:51 PM
bananaman's Avatar
bananaman bananaman is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hillsdale, Mi.
Posts: 7,500
Likes: 7,042
Liked 7,088 Times in 2,942 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rwsmith View Post
And the plating isn't nearly as thick as the hard shiny plated bullets.
I know. That is why I posted. A new 1 on me. Just going to use lead data. It was mentioned that it was a "copper wash" by another member. Not what I am used to. Bob
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-24-2017, 05:32 PM
gregintenn gregintenn is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Lafayette, Tennessee
Posts: 6,926
Likes: 6,833
Liked 8,936 Times in 2,910 Posts
Default

Home made? I've seen this done with a car battery and some sort of kitchen chemical. I don't recall what. Not sure why they'd need lube.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-24-2017, 06:30 PM
SLT223's Avatar
SLT223 SLT223 is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,309
Likes: 2,723
Liked 5,054 Times in 1,442 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 4barrel View Post
National Bullet Co. They can stand 1100 fps.
Looks like they went out business in 2008 for failing to fill orders for over a year while continuing to accept payments.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #9  
Old 04-24-2017, 10:53 PM
bananaman's Avatar
bananaman bananaman is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hillsdale, Mi.
Posts: 7,500
Likes: 7,042
Liked 7,088 Times in 2,942 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gregintenn View Post
Home made? I've seen this done with a car battery and some sort of kitchen chemical. I don't recall what. Not sure why they'd need lube.
The box had a machine printed label. They were manufactured. No name on the label though of the manufacturer. Bob
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-24-2017, 10:56 PM
bananaman's Avatar
bananaman bananaman is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hillsdale, Mi.
Posts: 7,500
Likes: 7,042
Liked 7,088 Times in 2,942 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SLT223 View Post
Looks like they went out business in 2008 for failing to fill orders for over a year while continuing to accept payments.
After National Bullet Co. was mentioned, I researched it somewhat. They did not close on good terms from what I gather as you say. Bob
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-24-2017, 11:42 PM
BC38's Avatar
BC38 BC38 is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 13,524
Likes: 1,184
Liked 18,473 Times in 7,310 Posts
Default

2-1/2 cents apiece? I'd take them at that price for sure. That's about half the cost of the cheapest cast lead. The copper wash is just a minor bonus - might help prevent leading.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #12  
Old 04-25-2017, 06:46 AM
bananaman's Avatar
bananaman bananaman is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hillsdale, Mi.
Posts: 7,500
Likes: 7,042
Liked 7,088 Times in 2,942 Posts
Default

I went to the sellers house (from flea market) on Monday. He had bought a BUNCH of loading stuff at auction for $450. He told me he had gotten about $900 back so far. I bought Hoppes, 1400 bullets, (projectiles) 2 bricks of primers, & NEW 500 ct nickel 45acp brass for $75 total. At today's retails, close to $400. He seemed happy, I WAS happy. Bob
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #13  
Old 04-25-2017, 01:26 PM
Wee Hooker Wee Hooker is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: New England, USA
Posts: 4,470
Likes: 3,071
Liked 4,295 Times in 1,611 Posts
Default

Nice! I love a new/oddball bullet find. Gives me an excuse to develop a load for them!
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #14  
Old 04-25-2017, 02:54 PM
mikld's Avatar
mikld mikld is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: May 2012
Location: S. Orygun
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 1,966
Liked 1,827 Times in 987 Posts
Default

To me they look like copper colored powder coating. Either plated or powder coated, they should not have any lube on them. Somebody doesn't know what they are doing. I wouldn't have bought them...
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-04-2017, 07:33 PM
bananaman's Avatar
bananaman bananaman is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hillsdale, Mi.
Posts: 7,500
Likes: 7,042
Liked 7,088 Times in 2,942 Posts
Default

I loaded 200 rounds of the "GOLDEN BULLETS" (copper, I know) Did the math on handloads.com cost calculator. With what I paid for components, worked out to $3.36, for a box of 50. A lot of plinking bang for the buck! Bob
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #16  
Old 05-04-2017, 07:51 PM
BC38's Avatar
BC38 BC38 is offline
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 13,524
Likes: 1,184
Liked 18,473 Times in 7,310 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bananaman View Post
I loaded 200 rounds of the "GOLDEN BULLETS" (copper, I know) Did the math on handloads.com cost calculator. With what I paid for components, worked out to $3.36, for a box of 50. A lot of plinking bang for the buck! Bob
There you go! What's not to like about that?
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #17  
Old 05-04-2017, 11:25 PM
Nemo288's Avatar
Nemo288 Nemo288 is online now
Member
Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find Odd .38 Bullet find  
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Badgerland
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 558
Liked 1,497 Times in 787 Posts
Default

I have seen copper "washed" 44 bullets a couple of decades ago.
Got them at a swap meet - gun show at a club.
They were very nicely made 265 grain SWC-GC with a greasy lube.
They way they were packaged, although very well, made me suspect a small (think garage) operation.
They looked a whole lot like yours except bigger and with the flat, gas checked, base.
I suspect folks figured out the copper wash was way more trouble than it was worth (basically nothing).
They were shot up a long time ago.
Accuracy was good but I didn't have enough of them to get excited or document anything.
Probably used my standby load of 18 grains 2400 with 265 cast 44's.
__________________
NEMO
"Everything 44"

Last edited by Nemo288; 05-04-2017 at 11:31 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
Reply


Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ever find a gun you thought you would never find or afford? bushmaster1313 Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics 122 08-23-2017 11:06 AM
Please help me find or find similar fearsmokey S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 7 06-15-2015 04:15 PM
Published bullet weight vs. actual bullet weight safearm Reloading 29 03-26-2013 05:45 AM
A online Cast Bullet Book from Ingot to Target. A cast bullet Guide Rule3 Reloading 2 09-19-2011 04:26 AM
Best .40 bullet Buckey08 Reloading 4 03-10-2011 11:16 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 04:44 PM.


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