Question for ammo collectors

[Retired W4]

I have what I think could be some early .357 cartridges. Brass case, FMJ bullet, marked REM-UMC 357 MAGNUM. Any idea what vintage these are?

 

[Coaltminer]

They may be metal piercing rounds that were common in police use back in the day.

 

[rck281]

They may be metal piercing rounds that were common in police use back in the day.

The metal piercing rounds are pointed. I believe these are from the 60's or 70's

 

[desi2358]

Rond nose full metal jacket would be a later loading (50's to 70's). With the Rem-Umc headstamp probably 50's era and I believe they were intended to be a target load. The metal piercing loads used a pointed bullet and were normally loaded in a nickle plated case (common for duty ammo to resist corrosion from leather belt loops and drop pouches).

 

[raisedin99]

Early to mid 70's Winchester Western .357 armor piercing. I am thinking that they were also made in 38 special for a time.

The original posters picture looks to me like what was known as a Metal Point bullet.
If I recall correctly it was a round nose bullet with a metal cap on the nose. Sort of a half jacket in reverse.
The really old guys here should be able to clarify this for you.

terry

 

[Retired W4]

I have some "metal piercing" .357 as in raisedin99's picture with the pointed nose. I am hoping these are from the 50's, to display with my pre-27 (1954) and (pre-28) Highway Patrolman (also 1954). I know these are some what old because it's been a while since they used the REM-UMC stamp. I just don't know how old.

 

[CTG_COLLECTOR]

Retired W4, what you have is a 158gr MP (Metal Point, sometimes called metal capped). The gilding metal cap only covers the tip of the bullet and bullet shank below the cap is lead.

The large style letters on the headstamp was in use from around 1940 to 1960.

 

[DWalt]

The REM-UMC headstamp was changed to R-P in the early 1960s. So yours would be no more recent than that. If you had a box with a Lot Code stamping, you could date them fairly exactly.

 

[Retired W4]

Thank you for the replies on this subject. It looks like these will be perfect for my purpose. No box/lot code.