PRVI Partisan .38spl brass

[ddixie884]

I reloaded some of this tonight. I had never loaded any of it before, but it seems to be all right. This brass seems to be a little thicker than most, like the old military .38spl brass I used to load years ago. Sized in a modern Lee carbide sizer die and loaded with a .358 cast bullet it exhibits the classic wasp waist look recommended by Elmer Kieth for the .44mag with cast bullets. Loaded rounds seem to chamber properly in my M65-5, but I haven't fired any, or reloaded them more than once. Anyone had any experience with this brass? I just wondered since I am a little suspect of non USA components. I will post my results from further use of this brass.

 

[mtime7]

I have loaded some in 357 and 223, always seems to be of good quality to me, and I prefer it to Fed brass

 

[dg101win]

I purchased some of this ammo late last year or early this year. As factory ammo it is great out of several of my 38's. As far as reloading it I have been using Wolf primers,Win 231 and my odd assortment of cast bullets. Results are no different than other brands of brass.

 

[moxie]

It's very good stuff. FYI, Hornady uses PRVI for their specialty ammo like the WWII Japanese Arisaka, etc. First class!

 

[chriske]

Nothing wrong with that brass AFAIK. I've been using it for years, off & on.

 

[vandeusenps]

Good to here guys, I too bought a box of the cheap 158 gr. lrn bullets just for the brass. I've not shot it yet, but I'm a little skeptical also about non-american components. Sounds like others have had good luck, though.

 

[ddixie884]

I was looking thru some of my old posts and found this. I have loaded some of this brass 3 or 4 times and it is holding up well.

 

[mus]

Yes, have these in 38 Special and 357 Magnum, good cases.
Factory 357M with 158 grain SJSP bullets are quite stout ��

 

[rockquarry]

Good brass, just don't mix it with thinner-walled brass if you have an interest in accuracy. The amount of force required to seat a bullet is much different than when using a thinner-walled case.

 

[M1A]

I have purchased a lot of PPU ammo. Pistol and rifle. Reload it now without issue. Good ammo, good brass.
My one exception is .38 S&W. Ammo was fine, however, reloaded brass would not fit the cylinders of my Enfield or Webley. I surmised it was the thicker brass as the OP mentioned.
Any other .38 S&W brass worked just fine.

 

[Engineer1911]

I have found Privi bullets, .224" and .308", to be less than shinning in accuracy. The brass is excellent.

 

[pharmer]

I absolutely love Privi .38 spl. I bought a case (1K) of 158 SWC and 3 cases (500 158gr SWCHP's rds each, don't know why they are packed different) in the last year, more before that. Full power (spec says "904 fps") without +P designation. I've shot maybe 1.5K+ of them and while "snappy" in a 642 they are perfect in a Model 15-3. I've got all the brass saved for retirement in September. Joe

 

[ostlund]

Dittos with everyone else for 5.56x45 NATO.

 

[ddixie884]

I absolutely love Privi .38 spl. I bought a case (1K) of 158 SWC and 3 cases (500 158gr SWCHP's rds each, don't know why they are packed different) in the last year, more before that. Full power (spec says "904 fps") without +P designation. I've shot maybe 1.5K+ of them and while "snappy" in a 642 they are perfect in a Model 15-3. I've got all the brass saved for retirement in September. Joe

I think you will find the 904fps to be optimistic as this ammo is milder than that but it is pretty good plinkin ammo. The strongest European .38spl I have tried is the Perfecta brand of 158gr fmjrn that gives about 900fps from a 4" barrel........

 

[ddixie884]

"Gun Sam" on you tube tested the Prvi Partizan 158gr swchp in a 2" snub and got a 5 shot average of 754fps............

 

[slickracer]

I toss anything other than Federal, Remington, Winchester, Blazer or Starline in the recycling bin.

 

[rockquarry]

"Gun Sam" on you tube tested the Prvi Partizan 158gr swchp in a 2" snub and got a 5 shot average of 754fps............

I don't know who "Gun Sam" is, but for a standard pressure load with a 158 grain bullet, that's about right for a 2" snubnose and a pretty decent velocity for such a short barrel. You'll probably get another 50 fps with the same bullet in a +P load. Not really enough difference to matter unless one is considerably more accurate than the other.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I don't know who "Gun Sam" is, but for a standard pressure load with a 158 grain bullet, that's about right for a 2" snubnose and a pretty decent velocity for such a short barrel. You'll probably get another 50 fps with the same bullet in a +P load. Not really enough difference to matter unless one is considerably more accurate than the other.

Some companies state that 780 out of a 2" 38 special is a +P load.
I like to see at least 800fps out of a lead 158 to be "Legal".....
and the real FBI should be around 850fps, depending on the revolver.

 

[gregintenn]

Prvi is great brass. Brass from Magtech ammo is also good. It will be marked CBC if memory serves.

Amerc is the only brand I've really found to be unusable.

 

[ddixie884]

I saw another chrono test on you tube and from a 4" a 158gr RN did 772fps. This is not bad and equals standard .38spl of many domestic loadings, It is not equal to FBI type +P loads and nowhere near 904fps. I have some PPU .38spl in my stockpile and I like it but it is not anything special as to velocity.