|
|
04-28-2022, 04:56 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 1 Post
|
|
U.S. Air Crew (Man) Ammo
I have a 50 round box of 38 Spl. ammo in what appears to ridgid nylon cases. It is full ball ammo with a brass(?) head stamp of USAC. It is my understanding that this is possibly a very light load developed for the S&W 38cal. AirCrewMan revolver. Or, I my be completely wrong on this. Any thought would be most welcome.
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-28-2022, 05:21 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: OH
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 6,237
Liked 6,341 Times in 1,648 Posts
|
|
I believe the USAC ammo came out in the commercial market in the mid to late 1980's. I don't believe it had anything to do with the US Air Crew revolver. There were numerous reports of issues with this ammo's poor performance (loose bullets being one of the biggest issues) and it was common to find the empty cases left lying around the range grounds, because the cases used a unique bullet base that "snapped" into the plastic case, hence the loose bullets.
|
The Following 6 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-28-2022, 05:32 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Western ,Ma.
Posts: 6,233
Likes: 12,714
Liked 13,462 Times in 3,396 Posts
|
|
It's as stated above.
USAC= United States Ammunition Company.
__________________
Paul
S&WCA #2726
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-28-2022, 06:49 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West TN
Posts: 444
Likes: 52
Liked 457 Times in 186 Posts
|
|
Still have some with the loader. Shot fine. Had some bullets too. Easy to load.
__________________
SSG Ret.
TN & TX ARNG 66-06
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-28-2022, 06:54 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Great Lakes State
Posts: 29,959
Likes: 12,837
Liked 34,138 Times in 8,026 Posts
|
|
Commercial brainchild from the 1980’s.
Click here and read the thread: > USAC-Remember these?
__________________
"I also cook."
Last edited by s&wchad; 04-28-2022 at 06:56 PM.
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-28-2022, 07:34 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,647
Likes: 244
Liked 29,161 Times in 14,100 Posts
|
|
I still have a few rounds and some advertising material in my collection. It had zero to do with the military. The hook was that it was simple to reload with some inexpensive hand tools. But a special bullet design was required. The bullet and the case snapped together.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
04-29-2022, 11:53 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 1 Post
|
|
Holy cow... where have I been! I may have been asleep in the 80's. Thanks for the information. I have a box of 50 of these. Guess I will go ahead and shoot them.
|
04-30-2022, 08:35 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 8,778
Likes: 19,566
Liked 11,884 Times in 5,395 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Col. F. Bina
Holy cow... where have I been! I may have been asleep in the 80's. Thanks for the information. I have a box of 50 of these. Guess I will go ahead and shoot them.
|
Welcome to the S&W Forum! I don't think that I would shoot them, they may have more collector value than value as plinking ammo.
__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA
Last edited by s&wchad; 04-30-2022 at 08:47 AM.
|
04-30-2022, 11:42 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,647
Likes: 244
Liked 29,161 Times in 14,100 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by stansdds
Welcome to the S&W Forum! I don't think that I would shoot them, they may have more collector value than value as plinking ammo.
|
I have no idea of their present value on the collector market, but I would recommend keeping the full box instead of shooting them. Even though they are not very old, the USAC ammo is not often seen.
|
04-30-2022, 12:09 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Northwestern Illinois
Posts: 966
Likes: 1,094
Liked 1,410 Times in 593 Posts
|
|
If I remember correctly these only used the primer for shooting them and they were intended for shooting indoors (like in your basement) with low recoil, low report, and very reduced penetration. I had a box and foolishly shot up most of them. Seems to me I still have six loaded rounds and forty-four empties. Please don't hold my feet to the fire on that.
|
04-30-2022, 12:27 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Location: AR—Town & Country
Posts: 7,491
Likes: 80,383
Liked 26,153 Times in 5,958 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Llance
If I remember correctly these only used the primer for shooting them and they were intended for shooting indoors (like in your basement) with low recoil, low report, and very reduced penetration. I had a box and foolishly shot up most of them. Seems to me I still have six loaded rounds and forty-four empties. Please don't hold my feet to the fire on that.
|
148-158 grain bullets going from 700-900 FPS is no slouch round. I am not sure I would shoot that in the house unless at a robber!
__________________
Possum—The other white meat!
|
04-30-2022, 01:16 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,647
Likes: 244
Liked 29,161 Times in 14,100 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Llance
If I remember correctly these only used the primer for shooting them and they were intended for shooting indoors (like in your basement) with low recoil, low report, and very reduced penetration. I had a box and foolishly shot up most of them. Seems to me I still have six loaded rounds and forty-four empties. Please don't hold my feet to the fire on that.
|
Not so for USAC ammo. There were several makers (Winchester was one) of plastic cased indoor practice ammo which used primers only as the propellant. And those also used plastic snap-in reusable bullets. Those I have seen or used were in .38, and worked in any .38 or .357 revolver - including .38 S&W. The problem with them was that the plastic cases often split after a few shots.
Last edited by DWalt; 04-30-2022 at 01:18 PM.
|
05-02-2022, 03:09 AM
|
Suspended
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,747
Likes: 1,590
Liked 8,916 Times in 3,555 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Col. F. Bina
Holy cow... where have I been! I may have been asleep in the 80's. Thanks for the information. I have a box of 50 of these. Guess I will go ahead and shoot them.
|
I Wouldn't shoot them, someday they will probably be as valuable as Gyro-Jet ammunition, or Dardick "Trounds". You do remember those, don't you????
Last edited by Alk8944; 05-02-2022 at 03:12 AM.
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|