Aguila .38 Especial brass

[David Sinko]

While dumpster diving at the range I found a full box of once fired Aguila .38 Especial. I have more .38 Special than I'll ever need in a couple of lifetimes, but I just can't pass up 50 that are in a box. Is this good brass? Any surprises like excessively tight primer pockets? Would it hold up well to, say... heavy charges of SR4756 with 158 gr. cast bullets?

Dave Sinko

 

[john traveler]

It's been many years since I encountered Aguila .38 Special brass. My experience was not good. A large percentage of mouth splits after only one or two firings, and primer pockets loosened up too fast.

 

[John R]

It's made with a very poor grade of brass.
You should get one or two loadings out of it though.

 

[Paul5388]

I use some of their .45 ACP brass and don't see a problem with it. That's higher pressures than a .38 Special, so it should work just fine in your application.

Of course, you may want to save it as evidence of Mexico smuggling their ammunition into the States.

 

[David Sinko]

I think I'll be scrapping this stuff.

One or two loadings? That sounds like A-Merc. Funny thing about A-Merc is it's completely worthless as .45 ACP even after its first firing, but the higher pressure .40 S&W would last me three loadings (in a Glock!) before it would look like a belted magnum after being resized. No point in taking any chances.

Dave Sinko

 

[flash60601]

This once again bears out the truth of "YMMV" .

I have a bunch of Aguila brass in 9mm that reloads and shoots just like the domestic stuff, and is virtually no different from R-P or FED in my usage, experience, and opinion.


However, if you are going to actually dump that 38 brass, send it to me (I will, of course, reimburse you for what you think fair) and I'd like to test it to destruction. That way, we will all know for sure.

Thanks,

Flash

 

[Paul5388]

If I didn't already have quite a few .38 Special cases, I'd have been tempted to do as Flash is requesting.

I think comparing it with A-Merc may be an injustice to Aguila.

 

[Howard B]

Thanks for making me feel less self conscious about dumpster diving. My wife will help me pick up brass off the ground, but she walks away when I take the lid off the trash cans and start digging for the bottom. Howard

 

[Win]

I have a bunch of Aguila .357 that I have shot and reloaded several times. Still holding up well. I think this was from one of the last shipments of this ammo into the USA...meaning their latest technology may have improved ?? Anyway, I'm satisfied with it.

 

[harry carey]

I think the brass you are discussing is two piece brass, not good. I worked in a range once upon a time and when walking in and smelling that harsh ruptured case smell I would yell out AMERC!!! much of the foreign brass is two piece. the how, why, etc of this method of manufacture escapes me. is there anything on youtube showing how this two piece junk is made ? magtec primer pockets are not good and 45Colt brass bulges a bunch in lever guns. Aguila 22 ammo is good.