38 special R-P ammo question

[pogi]

I was given some of this ammo last year by a family member in a lot.

.38 special, R-P head stamp, almost 50 rounds, no box.

The bullet looks like it is seated low and the crimp is odd.

The family member did not reload and, more probably than not, did not obtain reloads from anyone.

Is this ammo good to go?

Thanks for the info.

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[po18guy]

That is .38 FMJ "hardball" which is uncommon these days. The bullet is held from pulling or setting back by the crimp and the cannelure. It is crimped over the front band of the bullet. Fine for any .38 Spl revolver.

 

[pogi]

That is .38 FMJ "hardball" which is uncommon these days. The bullet is held from pulling or setting back by the crimp and the cannelure. It is crimped over the front band of the bullet. Fine for any .38 Spl revolver.

That you very much for the info.

It looks factory new but I have never seen ammo like it.

 

[1911Fanatic]

I was given some of this ammo last year by a family member in a lot.

.38 special, R-P head stamp, almost 50 rounds, no box.

The bullet looks like it is seated low and the crimp is odd.

The family member did not reload and, more probably than not, did not obtain reloads from anyone.

Is this ammo good to go?

Thanks for the info.

View attachment 2092842

I wouldn't shoot that. Especially if you had the box. It looks old. I don't;t know if it;s collectible though. I had tons of old ammo from the 50's and earlier that I inherited. Some in uncommon calibers. I sold almost all of it to collectors.

 

[po18guy]

That you very much for the info.

It looks factory new but I have never seen ammo like it.

The military ordered hundreds of thousands of .38 hardball ammo from Winchester and others. They have a thing about exposed lead - probably the Geneva Convention.

 

[pogi]

The military ordered hundreds of thousands of .38 hardball ammo from Winchester and others. They have a thing about exposed lead - probably the Geneva Convention.

Cop ammo most likely.

 

[RVTECH]

Cop ammo most likely.

Yep, carried the same stuff in the AF.

No doubt 130 grain.

 

[po18guy]

Cop ammo most likely.

Military was brass cased, and caries the military headstamp with year of manufacture. The example shown is commercial, either police or civilian use.

If in doubt, fire it in a .357 and evaluate.

 

[gmerkt]

Cop ammo most likely.

Agree. Back in the day before the Wonder Nines and most officers carried .38's. And when most .38 Special was lead, not jacketed.

Military was brass cased, and caries the military headstamp with year of manufacture.

All the M41 Ball that I've seen had a brass case, no nickel plating. The government likes that overcrimp on the bullet. A friend of mine gave me a bunch of R-P commercially boxed, military zinc/wood cased old stuff from China Lake NAS. It had brass cases, commercial headstamp but probably pre-dated M41 Ball.

Over the years, the DoD has attempted to standardize ammo procurement. With limited success. The US Army is supposed to be the single manager of ammo across all the services. But it's been known to happen that the USAF and USN will procure outside the standard ammo system. Meaning, nickel plated case .38 ammo in the military probably happened.

Air crews carrying .38 Special arms were often issued .38 Special tracer ammo for signaling.

 

[Member 86767]

I shot about 25 rounds of that stuff through my PPC S&W 10-7 the other day. Accurate with a friendlier pop and less recoil than 125 grain Hornady XTP that I loaded myself.