Found these 380 Autos at the range, Would you use them?

[Rule3]

I picked up some 380 brass at the range, figured I could use some as there is no 380 auto to be found. This is NOT my brass.
So after sorting I took a closer look. Do you think resizing will make them OK or should I toss them?? They look a tad bulged to me.

 

[Rule3]

I picked up some 380 brass at the range, figured I could use some as there is no 380 auto to be found. This is NOT my brass.
So after sorting I took a closer look. Do you think resizing will make them OK or should I toss them?? They look a tad bulged to me.

 

[John R]

Will your sizer die go down that far?
If it will, it should iron out the bulge.
Give it try and see, might be worth trying to save them, being there so hard to come by.

Wonder what they were shot in?

 

[walnutred]

Man, if your that desperate for 380 brass I'll sort through my misc. brass bucket this weekend and send you what I have. I don't reload 380 but I've probably accumulated 100 or so brass over the years in my range sweeps. I don't really know because I just throw it aside when sorting and don't count it.

I think those you pictured are beyond salvaging.

 

[NFrameFred]

I've seen a few like that, shot from a cheap POS pistol, and the worst thing is they seem to size with an uneven case mouth. Not enough to really affect anything and Lord knows you don't have to worry about target accuracy or range with that round, so I'd say proceed with a little caution and a careful eye and plan on reloading them. I wouldn't load them hot and if the case mouth unevenness was extreme, I might even consider the usually unheard of step of trimming them a bit to square them up. Probably won't be necessary.

I know some won't even think about loading salvaged range brass. I've loaded thousands of rounds of it and never had a problem, but I discard any that might be questionable.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Wow. I didn't know Glock made a pistol in 380.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by walnutred:
Man, if your that desperate for 380 brass I'll sort through my misc. brass bucket this weekend and send you what I have. I don't reload 380 but I've probably accumulated 100 or so brass over the years in my range sweeps. I don't really know because I just throw it aside when sorting and don't count it.

I think those you pictured are beyond salvaging.

I like shooting 380 but the problem is always the brass. Most of the pistols through them into the next county.
My PPK is back at S&W for the recall. I have a Sphinx AT380M made in Switzerland, extremely accurate.Plus several pocket, mouse guns. So yes, if you or anyone has any 380 brass they wish to part with, I'd be glad to take it. Let me know what the shipping is.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by VAdoublegunner:
Wow. I didn't know Glock made a pistol in 380.

They do but can't get them here in the US. I think this brass was over loaded!

 

[NFrameFred]

Originally posted by OCD1:

Originally posted by VAdoublegunner:
Wow. I didn't know Glock made a pistol in 380.

They do but can't get them here in the US. I think this brass was over loaded!

Believe it or not, I've seen some brass from a Bryco/Jennings, once fired factory that looked just like that. Some people don't believe or understand that a quality gun lasts a lifetime and a POS gun can shorten a lifetime.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Don't use that brass. There really is no need to. If you need brass, look on some of the gun websites for it first, Gunbroker or another auction site next, check with suppliers that you "forum" with.

Check out www.tennesseevalleybullets.com. Jes is an honest dealer, nothing like being an honest lawyer by the way

, and may have just what you are looking for. If not, he may be able to direct you to a place where they are available.

I have had bulged cases from my Glocks. I have had bulged cases from my Browning High Power too. Never have I seen cases in the shape you picture above though. I take that back, I did see one worse, my KB in the BHP. My Glocks have not exhibited case expansion to that severity.

FWIW

 

[Bruce51]

Is your gun and your hand and your eyesight worth more than that brass? Smith Crazy is right about those cases. Get some new ones. They are overstressed and they won't be better a second time. Kabooms from brass letting go seldom work out for the best. Bruce

 

[mkk41]

I'm even thinking that they may have been fired in a regular 9mmP chamber.

 

[Dr.-d]

Or a 9mm Makarov?

 

[Rule3]

No, I am not going to use them. Thanks for all the replies.
I have no idea what they were fired from. I am almost 100% sure they are some reloads from one of the "gents" at the club I belong to. Found them late in the day after they have some kind of bullseye shooting.

They are pretty nasty looking aren't they!

 

[Waldo]

I used to shoot at a club where there were a lot of machine guns shot. A lot of 9mm and .45ACP guns will bulge the brass like that. I know one guy who reloaded it for his Thompson. He said those bulges were sized out and he lost more brass then was ever ruined. However you always need to decide what you think is safe for you and you gun.

 

[flash60601]

Some pure blowback operated guns will deform 380 and other brass like that. If it was fired ina gun chambered for the 380, it probably was NOT fired in a locked-breech firearm like a Llama or KeltTec.

380ACP that has been fired in 9x19 (Parabellum) also gets that bulged. Particularly bulged on one side. Although both 380 and 9x19 headspace on the chamber mouth, it is not uncommon for the 380 case to be held firmly enough by the extractor for it to be struck hard enough by the firing pin and so discharged.

Reforming of stuff that badly misshapen is iffy, let your own conscience (or "risk-tolerance") be your guide.

Flash

 

[Bib]

380ACP that has been fired in 9x19 (Parabellum) also gets that bulged. Particularly bulged on one side. Although both 380 and 9x19 headspace on the chamber mouth, it is not uncommon for the 380 case to be held firmly enough by the extractor for it to be struck hard enough by the firing pin and so discharged.

One of my shooting buddies fired a cylinder-full of my .380 reloads in his 9mm J-frame and the cases bulged, similar to the ones in the photo.

 

[Sgt Preston]

Sgt Preston here. No I wouldn't use it. One of the things that I do is to visually inspect each & every piece of brass after cleaning & before reloading. I inspect them each under a lighted magnifying glass. I look for splits at the mouth, loose primers pockets, flattened head stamps = over pressuring & also anything that just looks "funky". I also check the headstamp to confirm that it actually says 380. If the brass in question isn't "perfect" I throw it away. These 380's appear to have been fired in a 9mm gun. After all in the end, we a building a bomb, placing it in our hands & placing it 18 inches in front of our eyes. I choose to err on the side of safety. Hope this helps. Sgt Preston USMC LLA

 

[Nickster60]

I will also throw my hat in the ring for 380 brass. If you have any I would be happy to have it.

Thanks
Nick

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by flash60601:
Some pure blowback operated guns will deform 380 and other brass like that. If it was fired ina gun chambered for the 380, it probably was NOT fired in a locked-breech firearm like a Llama or KeltTec.

380ACP that has been fired in 9x19 (Parabellum) also gets that bulged. Particularly bulged on one side. Although both 380 and 9x19 headspace on the chamber mouth, it is not uncommon for the 380 case to be held firmly enough by the extractor for it to be struck hard enough by the firing pin and so discharged.

Reforming of stuff that badly misshapen is iffy, let your own conscience (or "risk-tolerance") be your guide.

Flash

They definitly seem to be bulged on one side more than then all the way around. I think you have hit upon the problem!.
Thanks and too Sgt Preston for ID of the problem.
The brass is already in the recycle bucket with full honors .

Thanks for the replies and offers, I really did not need these 20 or so poor little deformed cases.