Question for ammo experts.

[ruger 22]

My son found an old Iver Johnson pocket revolver in his late father-in-law's belongings. There is also a partial box of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. shells in 38 S&W. The best I can make out on the label is 146 grain bullet and 16 grains of powder. I would assume that this must be black powder since 16 grains of any smokeless powder would be a fairly heavy load in many of our today's big bore cartridges. I would appreciate your opinions please.

 

[s&wchad]

It could be 15 grains of powder.

A photo would help, but it sounds like BP loads. UMC bought out Remington around 1912 and started marking their boxes "Remington - UMC". When they started offering the loads with smokeless powder, the powder type was listed on the label.

Here are a few UMC and Remington-UMC boxes that show how they were marked. They're not .38 S&W, but they should help.

You could always fire one in a gun rated for smokeless and see!

 

[BMur]

Collectable Ammo

Definitely Black Powder ammo.
You know if it's a UMC box and lacks the Remington name it's pre-1911 and worth a lot of money. Depends on condition of the box. The rounds are worth no less than $5 each so not a good idea to shoot them. Lots of collectors out there that are trying to fill partial boxes and would pay good money for original black powder rounds.

Murph

 

[thadheth]

Perhaps this is the same as the box and ammunition that you have.

 

[ruger 22]

Thadheth, It is exactly the same but I only have the top portion of the box.
And the shells are identical.
Many thanks!

 

[ruger 22]

Thanks much for all your responses and expertise.

 

[Mike N]

Hi everyone, I'd like to thank you for your responses. I am ruger 22's son that owns the Iver Johnson in question.