Ever see this headstamp?

[BillBro]

I dint recall ever seeing the BHA "brand" before but more odd is the +P proof . Could this be a high pressure proof round? If so how the heck did it end up on the ground at the range I frequent?
If anyone can offer any insights Id be interested in hearing them.

 

[thadheth]

Black Hills Ammo proof round. Apparently only available to firearms manufacturers.

 

[oldman10mm]

I've seen bags of empty 9mm 'proof marked' brass being sold at shows. They're usable for reloading, but you take your chance if their still in dimensional spec.

 

[BillBro]

BHA!! Of course. I knew that.��
I wonder what the pressure of it would be. I know Im not going to fire it in my guns.
I bet you Ive collected 200 or 300 rounds of various ammo at that range, and I dont even keep the light strike rounds. Its hard to tell how many of those Ive thrown in a bucket there.

 

[ReloadforFun]

SAAMI lists "Proof" 9mm Luger at 55,500 psi.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Proof rounds = Big Bang lol...

Like said.above, check the brass for viability since the pressures it was subjected to were very high.

 

[gwpercle]

The stamp seems to read ... 9mm +P PROOF ...

I wouldn't fire it in any of my pistols ... 9mm +P Proof Loads could be on the hot & heavy side .
Gary

 

[2152hq]

Mr SAAMI lists proof pressure's.

The 9mmLuger+P has the following specs:
115gr bullet

MAX average 'Service Pressure' .. 38,500 psi
This is what the OTC ammo can be loaded to.

Proof Cartridge Values:
Min average pressure...52,000 psi
Max average pressure...55,500 psi
(Sampling lot is 10 cartridges to get the average)

Interestingly, they don't list any separate Proof data for '9mmLuger' (non +P).
For '9mmLuger' (Proof) it simply states.. "Obolete-Use 9mmLuger+P Data"

So Id guess that all modern 9mm Luger caliber guns get fed a '9mmLuger+P' Proof Round if they do in fact see any proofing by their maker these days.

Cal's 38spcl and 45acp both show the same 'obsolete-use +P Proof Round' (of the same caliber) on the SAAMI specs .

The proof rounds in the ranges at the factorys I've worked at used to have the case & bullet dyed red or blue. The ammo boxes they came in were clearly marked as firearms proof loads for use by mfg'rs or something to that effect. I don't recall a different headstamp but they may have had one.
We used to scoop up some of the brass and take it home, proof rd brass included. No one ever complained of any difference in reloading it or any problems. Shotgun ammo included.
It was all mixed together.
But that was a little over 50 yrs ago now. No telling what they do with the stuff now.
I think I still have a couple 45-70 and 30-30 proof rds somewhere,,maybe a few .22LR.

https://saami.org/wp-content/upload...FP-and-R-Approved-2015-12-14-Posting-Copy.pdf

 

[Jack Flash]

It should go without saying that you don't fire something you found on the ground at the range in any of your firearms.

And I understand that you are not planning to, you just posted for information. We need to be sure that this thread causes no inferences to the contrary.

Paraphrasing the wise gun writer E.D. Harris:
"Those who thrill to tales of reckless adventures and derring-do should avoid reloading cartridges for firearms."

I would add: "Avoid firearms altogether."

 

[Alk8944]

This post got me to call Black Hills Ammunition as it raised several questions that I already had and have been intending to call them about, specifically the proof loads they manufacture. The individual I spoke with is in a position to speak authoritatively about the questions I had.

Several months ago I purchased several hundred once-fired .380 ACP cases from an on-line source, and mixed in them were several Black Hills .380 Proof head-stamped cases. I was going to call them anyway because of this. What I found out was:
1: In a given caliber all brass is the same regardless of the load, standard, +P, or Proof. There is no special proof brass, only the different head-stamp.

2: Current practice with Black Hills is to paint the case head of all proof loads red, regardless of caliber. So most likely the cartridge OP found was purchased as once-fired brass and is a hand-load. The red in the head-stamp is a good indication that this was a factory proof load originally. This is exactly what my .380 cases looked like when I cleaned the red paint from the case heads.

3: A factory Proof load should not compromise the case, but the general recommendation is to not re-load them as there is a possibility it has.

Other than this I will not identify the individual I spoke with as I promised him I would not! We spoke about 30 minutes about these and other matters.

The general recommendation of course is to not shoot anyone elses hand-loads, or absolutely not any range pick-up loaded ammunition for which there is no provenance! The above statements are an accurate reflection of our conversation!