WESTERN SUPER X METAL PIERCING 357

[geraldo]

I have had my eye on this box of ammo for a while at a local pawn shop, finally bought it today, can anyone shed some light on it as far as price and when they quit making it or if still in production, thanks for replys.

 

[sophie]

You should know the price.

 

[CTG_COLLECTOR]

Beautiful box and ammo. Looks like its in excellent condition too!

This MP style ammo was probably discontinued sometime in the mid-late 70's and there have been several different bullet styles over the years. Don't feel bad if you paid $50-75 for a full box of this ammo as individual rounds sell for on average $1-2.00 ea.

 

[geraldo]

Thanks for your intelligent response ! the previous poster must have some sort of mental issues ! I paid $35 for the box and I knew that is was not a some new mfg. ammo, just didn't know what you told me, Thanks

 

[kaaskop49]

attn Geraldo

If I were to shoot any of this (and why not?) I might want to restrict it to outdoors. It was designed to punch through car doors and perhaps damage engines of getaway vehicles. At one time, highway officers could shoot at cars containing felons. Perhaps it would damage the backstop of an indoor range? Or perhaps I overreact. I'm sure range personnel would say no to using it. IMHO.

 

[Troystat]

I was at the range the other day and a person was shooting some S&B 357 ammo that looked very much like your ammo pictured. Don't know what the Jacket material was but it was FMJ shaped very similar, shot ok.

 

[geraldo]

I agree it is not to be shot, I bought it not to shoot just collect as it is rarely seen

 

[Nevada Ed]

Quite the collectors item. You did well for just $35 for a box in such good condition.

"In 1930, Smith & Wesson introduced a large frame .38 Special revolver with a 5 inch barrel and fixed sights intended for police use, the Smith & Wesson .38/44 Heavy Duty.[13][14] The following year, a new high-power loading called the .38 Special Hi-Speed with a 158 grains (10.2 g) metal-tip bullet was developed for these revolvers in response to requests from law enforcement agencies for a handgun bullet that could penetrate auto bodies and body armor.[15] That same year, Colt Firearms announced that their Colt Official Police would also handle 'high-speed' .38 Special loadings.[16] The .38/44 high-speed cartridge came in three bullet weights: 158 grains (10.2 g), 150 and 110 grains (9.7 and 7.1 g), with either coated lead or steel jacket, metal-piercing bullets.[17] The media attention gathered by the .38/44 and its ammunition eventually led Smith & Wesson to develop a completely new cartridge with a longer case length in 1934—the .357 Magnum."

 

[30-30remchester]

I have been a cartridge collector for over 4 decades now, so I do have some knowledge. As stated these were mainly designed for highway patrolmen, to give them enough penetration to penetrate car doors. Seeings how many car doors aren't made of steel any longer, I guess the need does not exist any longer. I agree, don't just waste this unusual ammo shooting tin cans. One to two dollars each is going price, so you did well. I keep a couple rounds of this with me whenever me and my 357's go traveling. You never know when a car door may attack you. I pulled one of these bullets and sectioned it to see what it's construction was. It is simply a soft lead bullet, aka core, with the thin copper jacket surrounding the core. I was surprised that the jacket was so thin, even the nose section was thin.

 

[CTG_COLLECTOR]

Here's a link to a little more info about the Winchester MP rounds:

International Ammunition Association {iaaforum.org} - View topic - 38 Special Western Super X Metal Piercing

 

[geraldo]

Thanks for all the information ! very useful. I knew that there were some ammo experts out there, Gerald

 

[chief38]

I inherited a few dozen of those and shot a few at metal plates last Fall. I was sort of disappointed in the performance as they did not do a whole lot more penetrating than regular .357's did on metal plates. They failed to penetrate the 1/4" steel plates at 25 feet and put only a slight dent in it.

If not mistaken I believe these bullets were designed to work on Automobile engines that are made of Cast Iron. How they work on Cast iron is beyond me as I was not willing to take shots at my engine - but cast iron is a lot more brittle than is steel.

I would imagine they would be pretty poor man stoppers - and probably would just cut a nice clean hole right through. Collectible more than anything I would guess.

 

[jimmyj]

That ammo I used in the 1950-1960 era. It was "Supposed" to penetrate vehicle bodies. I discovered that it wasn't any better than regular .357 ammo.

 

[K-9]

It's just jacketed lead. With a catchy name and cool-looking bullet.

 

[mkk41]

I seem to recall seeing it listed as late as the 80's. The white box shown on the cartridge collectors site with blue Winchester-Western script and Red X seems to be what I recall as 80s packaging.

 

[jimmyj]

Positive of this ammo:
"In The Day" real cops carried revolvers. This ammo looked "Cool" in the 12 round bullet loops on your gun belt.