Question for Keith disciples ...

[mc5aw]

I was down at the LGS and came across a sealed box of .44 Specials. The top label reads: "100 BULLETS; .44 SWC (KEITH); NOM. WT 259 GR.; SIZED .430" while the side label reads: "ASCH'S BOXES; #2 WESTVALE; PLANO, TEXAS 75074; .44 SWC250 GR".

Any idea of the age of this box & shells, and what it's value is? Too old and/or valuable to shoot?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CoMF]

I'm admittedly not a student of the late Elmer Keith, but I have a feeling those are component bullets and not loaded ammo.

I hope someone with more knowledge jumps in eventually.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I was down at the LGS and came across a sealed box of .44 Specials. The top label reads: "100 BULLETS; .44 SWC (KEITH); NOM. WT 259 GR.; SIZED .430" while the side label reads: "ASCH'S BOXES; #2 WESTVALE; PLANO, TEXAS 75074; .44 SWC250 GR".

Any idea of the age of this box & shells, and what it's value is? Too old and/or valuable to shoot?

Thanks in advance!

Those are bullets only. Anyone can call anything a "Keith" bullet, but a true Keith bullet has specific features which you can easily find by doing a little research. People who cast bullets call it a "Keith" these days if it is a semi-wadcutter. That is not accurate, however.

Stated another way, all Keith bullets are semi-wadcutter, but not all semi-wadcutters are Keith bullets.

Among other features, the real Keith bullet, Lyman 429421, I think, has a sharp shoulder, a single large grease groove with square edges and it is hard cast. There are other features, but those are easy to spot.

I am not familiar with the maker of the bullets you show in the photo, but imagine it is somebody who casts bullets for reloaders. I doubt they are too old. If you were thinking they were vintage or collectors' items or something, I have my doubts.

 

[mc5aw]

Thanks, Shawn. I took another look, and it must be bullets sans brass ... the box is too small to fit 100 loaded rounds. I haven't started reloading for my 624 yet, so maybe I'll hang onto them if they're not especially valuable.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I see a zip code on the box so I would think they are modren vintage and I would load em up.

 

[358156hp]

They just appear to be "cottage industry" cast bullets to me too. I wouldn't pay a premium for them, but wouldn't hesitate to use them if the price was right.

 

[WillD]

Asch's Boxes

Although I don't remember using any .44 cal Asch bullets I still have several boxes of .357 cal. circa late '70's. They were very fine bullets in their dayand quite popular at McBride's in Austin. I hope you enjoyed these .44 cal projectiles.

 

[MichiganScott]

IIRC, Elmer Keith patented a bullet. I do not recall the particulars of it other than it was some type of wadcutter.

Keith designed the bullet and then collaborated with Lyman to get the molds made. The original semi-wadcutter Keith designed had three bands of equal width. The crimp groove was between the top and middle band. Between the middle and bottom band was a square bottom grease groove. The grease groove was changed by the mold manufacturers to a square bottom with rounded shoulders so it dropped from the mold easier. However, by rounding the bottom's shoulders the grease does not hold in place as well. The base of the current molds tend to be beveled, also to drop from the mold easier in the automatic casting machines.