38/44 Ammo, too shoot or not to shoot? WITH PICS.

[dacoontz]

Posted a picture of this ammo in an earlier thread. Got the ammo today and I think this stuff may be too expensive to shoot, but I really want to load it in my Heavy Duty and see if I can shoot through a frying pan. Any opinions on the value of this full box of vintage ammo?

 

[smith17]

I think it would break a cast iron frying pan. I would say it is in the $30-50 range.
Ed

 

[mod34]

Do you plan on your house being invaded by frying pans??

....so, I'm walking down a dark ally and am approached by two rough looking frying pans..........

 

[Beemer-mark]

....so, I'm walking down a dark ally and am approached by two rough looking frying pans..........

Profiling is WRONG.

 

[moosedog]

I may be wrong, but I don't think that is 38/44 ammo. I think that is called "metal piercing 38.

If the frying pan is made in China, you could probably kill it with a wadcutter.

 

[BUFF]

If you just bought the ammo, then it is worth whatever you paid for it.

If it were me, I'd probably shoot 5 or 6 rounds to see what it is like, with at least one into your frying pan. Then, save the empties; put them back in the box.

 

[Sebago Son]

If the box is complete, it will be worth alot more left that way then if you fire even one round.

Shooting this ammo will not be spectacular. I've used a good deal of it in the past an it's thoroghly unremarkable.

You want to shoot something jazzy, try a box of SuperVels.

Who would eat off a Chinese Frying pan? Best shoot it just to be sure.

 

[sheriffoconee]

I remember those...I had some on a Bianchi speed strip "in case I wanted to reload to shoot through something"....at least, that was my thinking at the time. They also came in a ..357 version....Troopers polished them up and carried them in the cartridge loops on their belt....

I found one of my old 38 KTW rounds the other day as well...I have one left, I might as well shoot a frying pan with it too

 

[pbslinger]

My friend and I shot an iron frying pan with a cap and ball revolver and it went right through it. It was in 1972, so the odds are good it was a USA made skillet.

I'd save the ammo.

 

[dacoontz]

In all fairness I would also be willing to shoot through a skillet, wok, dutch oven, or other cooking utensil without any prejudice or bias. I think I will actually save the ammo for awhile and see what else I can find just in case it becomes valuable. I have some other "hi-velocity" ammo coming my way that I believe is more modern and still likely to pierce some metal. Thanks for the opinions, I think.

 

[Dave T]

I may be wrong, but I don't think that is 38/44 ammo. I think that is called "metal piercing 38.

moosedog is right, that's just a 38 Special load variation. I may still have a box of it. I know I used to.

38/44 ammo was labeled as just that, "38/44" or as 38 Hi Speed. I've read it was rated as shooting a 158g bullet at about 1100 fps. Think of it as the +P+ of the 1930s. (smile)

Dave

 

[rburg]

Send it to Bill Pattison, he'll take proper care of it. We can then name his as the official historian and caretaker of any .38/44 ammo anyone comes up with. He won't mind, I'm sure.

 

[cxm]

Fairly Valuable

The a full box 38 Spl. metal piercing ammo would bring about $75.00 at most gun shows... on an internet auction it might well bring more...I'd say considerably less if the box is not full...

I suggest you hold on to it... it isn't likely to lose any value, and probably will appreciate....

FWIW

Chuck

 

[smith17]

One of the most popular on-line auctions is Ward's Collectibles. Below is one of the last auction's items which received no bids, despite the fact that it is a not-often-seen item. Did the fact that it is missing a couple of rounds impact it? Maybe, but old ammo isn't going for quite what most folks think it should go for at the present time.
I think their next auction starts the first of February and it is a good place to pick up some very desirable ammo to go with a particular gun. Just FYI.
Ed

https://www.wardscollectibles.com/viewitem.php?item=2648

 

[smith17]

I would also like to respectfully disagree with the notion that this is not ".38/44" ammunition. A Western Rifle and Pistol Ammunition Handbook from 1935 lists their Super-X .38 Special Metal Piercing round, 150 grain Conical at 1,050 fps. I have one of the pre-war boxes and it specifically lists the Smith & Wesson .38-44 revolver. Winchester's load of the same period is rated at 170 fps higher than the Western load, a few years before they merged.
Ed

 

[Dave T]

smith17,

I was basing my comments on having had a box of that stuff at one time and not remembering any mention on it of being a 38/44 load. Likewise I've seen different boxes labeled "38/44" and "38 HiSpeed". If your catalog claims this stuff is 38/44 ammo then I was wrong. If it's OK I'll beat myself up later. (LOL)

Dave

 

[smith17]

Dave:
No reason to beat yourself up. By the time dacoontz' box of ammo was manufactured (post 1961), the sales of the N frame .38 special was insignificant and there was no reason to mention it on the ammo box. Plus, the N frame wasn't the only revolver from S&W able to handle that load in the 60s. I find it interesting that 30+ years after its introduction, that ammo still was within about 10fps of the original Western load.
Ed

 

[dacoontz]

Send it to Bill Pattison, he'll take proper care of it. We can then name his as the official historian and caretaker of any .38/44 ammo anyone comes up with. He won't mind, I'm sure.

Good thought, but I think I will keep it for myself and not shoot it unless I get overcome by some home invading frying pans. Hey, it could happen. And I am sure Bill will understand if I don't package them up and send them his way just yet.

 

[1Aspenhill]

Daniel,
Anytime you want to send it go ahead, but I have some myself also:

Dick, good idea!
Ed, I agree with you. I think that even though they stopped making 38/44 head stamp ammo, that the dogbone 38 Special was still hotter than what they started with.
Bill

 

[rburg]

He's so easy. Just a little bait and we get a photo worth drooling over!