[boing]

I culled the "Western .45 Auto" headstamps from my range scroungings. They didn't clean up very well, and I thought I had read about them giving reloaders trouble. I can't really remember though, so maybe I'm thinking of a different case.

The Western stuff looks fine to me, but what do I know. It's only a couple dozen cases, but I figured I'd ask instead of just tossing them.

[Mal H]

If they are, indeed, Western cases ("W" or "W Co" headstamps) and not Winchester-Western (W-W), they might be valuable to case collectors. I'm not sure not being a case collector. Western cases haven't been around since arbout 1932 when they bought out Winchester and the name changed to Winchester-Western.

If the headstamp is "Western", I'm not sure who makes it.

As far as reloading them, it's probably ok if there no signs of splitting or corrosion and they match modern cases in weight indicating they have enough brass in the walls.

[mparris71]

boing,
are you picking up brass at Rex's indoor range? I do once in a while, amazeing what people shoot in there.

[boing]

Never been to Rex's. I shoot at On Target in Asheville.

Here's the case, for no particular reason. I'll go out on a limb and say "not collectable". :)

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=293549

[Mal H]

I just checked this headstamp site (http://members.shaw.ca/cstein0/uscenter.htm), and "Western" is one of the headstamps of the old Western Co. The cases you have are at least 70+ years old.

[boing]

Well. That's interesting. I guess.

Maybe I'll put 'em on Ebay.

How many synonyms are there for "RARE!" :D

[HSMITH]

I think I have a couple of those in my range bag, when you are nearly sold out on ebay maybe I could be "the last stash of these rare pieces" LOL!

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Hey guys I have fired many thousands of western brass also REM-UMC and my favorite brass of all is GI 45acp WW71. 72. 76, 77, & WW79 brass. I have GI brass in the really low numbers like 1917 and the 30's and some 1940's like new looking Steel 45acp brass that was used by a local champ before he passed on to the range in the sky. I have never had a problem with the exception of firing some 1917 live 06 ammo without bothering to read the box which said Lewis machine gun ammo not for use in rifles. It generatated a story of what a 17 year old should not do.

John Paul

[Steve Smith]

I've found Western brass several times at ranges...they always go right into my range brass for processing. Never knew it was that old! Kinda neat to shoot with such old brass.

Boing, just use it!