Seeking some old 'Balloon Head' .38 Special Cartridge Cases

[Oyeboten]

I intend to try and duplicate the original .38 Special Loadings in a period S & W Revolver to the era...and test the resultant Velocities with a Chronograph.


To do so, it would be nice to have the actual kinds of Cartridge Cases used at the time.


If anyone has a few of the old 'Baloon Head' Cartridge Cases for .38 Special, and was willing to sell them or give them away, please let me know?



Thanks!

 

[Foto Joe]

Oyeboten,

Why don't you explain for some us remaining ignorant people exactly what a "Balloon Head" cartridge is. I've heard the term numerous times but I can't visualize what it is.

Is the brass thinner towards the head allowing more room for charge? Or is the head thinner allowing a longer interior length? Or...none of the above.

 

[DickM]

Google is your friend: http://www.frfrogspad.com/miscellf.htm

 

[Old Fuff]

If you don't come up with anything, consider looking up a cartridge collector's table at the next gun show you attend and buy a few old, but still loaded cartridges. Then either pull the bullets or shoot them to obtain some more data. After that you'll have the fired brass you need. Some of the more common balloon head .38 special rounds sell for as little as 50 cents each.

 

[Oyeboten]

Thanks Old Fuff,



Good idea!



Hi FotoJoe,


Yes, the Balloon Head Cartridge Case originally used for the .38 Special, held a little more Powder than the later or modern Cases do.


I just thought it would be fun to try this.


A few old previously un-fired Cartridges would be ideal I suppose, I could fire and Chronograph them, then do my re-load...

Also, since the Case would not have ever been re-loaded before, it would be at it's best strength, too.

 

[Bluehawk]

But are they safe to reload??

 

[Oyeboten]

For Black Powder only, as far as my purposes go, I am sure they would be fine.

Or, the worst which may happen, is part of a Case Rim blows out or the Head seperates or both or it blows some of the rim out, the Case splits and the Head seperates, stuff like that.