To Shoot or Not to Shoot...

[Jack Flash]

Recently I attended a gun show. Some elderly gentleman had a table with a lot of odds and ends, basically a guy who got a table to unload a bunch of old stuff out of his basement.

I spied a CCI Blazer .357 Mag box that was priced at $4. When I opened it (after asking permission, of course!), the first thing I saw were some mixed brass obvious handloads. I put it down and started to move on and the old guy said "there's 21 rounds there, what would you give for it?" I said I really didn't want handloads and he told me "Most of it is Blazer -- will you give me $2?"

Well, I thought the components would be worth that much so I paid him. When I inspected it later I saw that, yes indeed, 17 of the rounds were CCI Blazer NR .357M.

So here's my question:
Would you shoot these? They appear to be NOS and in the same condition as they left the factory. But I can't help worrying that he could have popped out the bullets, dumped the powder, and poured in his own special overcharge load then replaced the bullet. Is this even possible with these aluminum cases? Am I becoming paranoid in my old age?

Please note that I NEVER shoot someone else's reloads. The 4 rounds that are not NR will be broken down for components. I am just asking if you would shoot the CCI NR "apparently factory" rounds.

Thanks for any advice and comments...

 

[USAF385]

I only shoot my reloads or my uncle's reloads. I know what I do and I trust him.

I personally wouldn't shoot possible reloads from some random character.

JMO

 

[Jellybean]

I wouldn't have a problem shooting them, as long as I'm using your gun.

 

[Jack Flash]

Not what I was hoping to hear, but thanks for the frank and honest responses.

I almost never buy ammunition at gun shows any more. How do you really know whether someone is selling factory ammo or has a slick reloader supplying him? At today's prices, this could be quite profitable if done well. I want to buy ammo where you walk into a brick and mortar building that will still be there tomorrow.

The one exception I make is Blazer NR, since I assumed it would be cost prohibitive, if not impossible, to reload that stuff. I also have assumed that no malevolent individual would (or could) pull the bullets, replace the powder with some super nova load, then replace the bullet without the attempted deceit being obvious.

I am still hoping that the illustrious Mr. Burg weighs in on this. Seems to me he buys a lot of "rummage sale" ammo, and I would like to hear his unique knowledge on this subject.

 

[Jellybean]

I've known dealers that would have sold reloads as new, in fact they might have as far as I know. There is really no way to tell if the ammo is factory or not, depending on how good of a job they do. I guess it's all a matter of trust, which I don't trust many people at all anymore, but if they are trying to make a living they probably wouldn't sell bad ammo intentionally, or without a license. But then again I've seen guys that were really proud of their reloads when I wouldn't go near the stuff.

 

[Alk8944]

The Aluminum cased Blazer ammunition marked NR should cause no concern about the possibility of it being reloaded. The NR means Non-Reloadable, not "shouldn't be", but "cannot be" due to the primers used. It uses an odd size Berdan type primer manufactured only by CCI and not offered for sale to anyone, only used in this ammunition loaded by Speer which is a related company. The chances of this ammunition being reloaded are somewhat less than zip-to-none.

All Aluminum Blazer was loaded with Speer Uni-Core bullets. If it fits all these criteria do what was intended for it, shoot it and throw the cases away. Stop worrying about it and letting others cause you concern.

 

[flop-shank]

ALK said what I was thinking and a lot more. If you still have doubts, pull a bullet and if the case has a berdan type primer pocket, shoot the stuff up.

 

[Centenniel]

I would shoot the NR ammo.

 

[JSR III]

I think that you answered your own question in your description of the seller in your original post. This little old man that pulled a box of stuff from his basement to sell at the local gun show for how much, ($2.00) is most likely not some slick used car salesman trying to unload his hot reloads for the outrageous price of ($2.00). Just my humble opinion.

If you are really concerned, sell the box and the unused rounds here or on one of the gun sites and you will probably get 5 times your original investment back.

 

[Jellybean]

The Aluminum cased Blazer ammunition marked NR should cause no concern about the possibility of it being reloaded. The NR means Non-Reloadable, not "shouldn't be", but "cannot be" due to the primers used. It uses an odd size Berdan type primer manufactured only by CCI and not offered for sale to anyone, only used in this ammunition loaded by Speer which is a related company. The chances of this ammunition being reloaded are somewhat less than zip-to-none.

All Aluminum Blazer was loaded with Speer Uni-Core bullets. If it fits all these criteria do what was intended for it, shoot it and throw the cases away. Stop worrying about it and letting others cause you concern.

I'm afraid you are mistaken.

First of all, the Blazer aluminum cases can be tampered with by simply pulling the bullets, altering powder charges, types or etc. and then reassembled.

Secondly, they are not intended to be reloaded but can be, and have been reloaded, and I know this for a fact! Those "odd sized" Berdan primers are nothing but a standard Boxer primer with the anvil removed and any brand will work. But this doesn't matter that much because they are using boxer primers now anyway, judging from the empties I picked up at the range last summer.

I seriously doubt that anyone would intentionally do this, just like with any other reloadable ammo, but it most certainly can be done, and done easily.