[ar10]

I found a single .380 nickel plated case today with a single large flash hole and 2 smaller flash holes in it. It's a first for me, I've seen a ton of Berdan's but never a one with three especially in that small of caliber. I can't make out the headstamp yet but it looks like zzz or sss. Anyone see any of these before?

[Sunray]

Sounds like somebody plated it themselves after trying to convert berdan to boxer. Any indication it was drilled?
I'm not seeing either 'zzz' or 'sss' on the list of 7.62NATO headstamps. Mind you, it's not complete.

[ReloaderFred]

He's looking at a .380 Auto case, not a .308.

It's not something I've seen, unless like Sunray said, someone tried to convert it, which would be a lot of work for a common caliber.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Sheldon]

What headstamp is on it?? It may just have been through the press of some heavy handed reloader who just used ran it through his press without realizing it was in the mix?

[ar10]

Headstamp info
LVE 02 9X17k 380APC

LVE:
Novosibirsk Low -Voltage Equipment Plant Plc., 30A, Stantsionnaya St, Novosikirsk, 630108, Russia

I did not punch the primer yet, but looking down the inside the center hole is larger than the two smaller. It just seems odd that someone would go to that much trouble for a .380. As far as LVE. I've punched out a boat load of .380's, nickel and brass, and this is the first LVE I've come across.

[Mal H]

The Novosibirsk Low Voltage Equipment plant is huge. They manufacture a wide variety of equipment including an assortment of cartridges.

Their cartridge claim to fame is that they will fire even in the harshest of Siberian winters so I'll bet the 3 flash holes are no accident or experiment. They are probably there to get the most flash out of a primer and into the powder as possible.

[rcmodel]

Be interesting to see the primer & primer pocket after you punch it out.

Got to wonder, but it almost has to be a Boxer primer, as a large central flash-hole would seem to preclude having a built-in Berdan anvil in the case.

Keep us posted!

rc

[ar10]

Be interesting to see the primer & primer pocket after you punch it out.

Got to wonder, but it almost has to be a Boxer primer, as a large central flash-hole would seem to preclude having a built-in Berdan anvil in the case.

Keep us posted!

rc

I've got a couple of pictures of it, took them this morning. Shouldn't be any problem punching the primer out, and can do it in a few minutes. I'll take a picture of that as well.
Don't know how to post pictures on the web so if you want them pm me and I'll send them to anyone who wants them.

[ar10]

Well, after one decapping pin and one punch it's a damn Berdan primer. I beat on that stupid thing for half an hour trying to get the primer out then I got mad and knocked the whole primer pocket out, most of it anyway. And I'll swear that I saw 3 primer holes in it, I even took pictures of the stupid thing. :mad::o:o

[SyberShooter]

I often see what I think is a large center hole when picking up brass at the gravel pit and using sunlight to look down the case but only to find it is berdan - I think the forming process leaves something that looks like a hole but isn't. I've broken a few pins with that mistake - now I use a pencil light to check every case.

[Mal H]

ar10 - you probably saw the underside of the dimple that forms the anvil in the middle of the pocket.

[ar10]

That dimple is one flat sucker now. :banghead: