38 special ammo:Prvi Partizan or Armscor

I have used a lot of Privi for many pistol and rifle calibers. Nothing negative to report. The brass is great for reloading as well.

Both are made well. Armscor is probably a little better, it can compete with the best made here in the USA.

The Armscor seemed like a hot load when I used it.

kyron4 said:

"The Armscor seemed like a hot load when I used it"

Good to hear. I had never really heard anything about their ammo, just their firearms. I've shot the Perfecta 158 RN FMJ, and it shot well from my Rossi 92. I'll be firing it in a 357 pistol and lever action so being on the hot side is no big deal. Seems most all Euro/Asian 38's ( Geco, S&B, Magtech, etc.) tend to be on the hot side from what I've read.

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Just for those who don't know, Armscor is the parent company of Rock Island. They produce 1911 pistols, revolvers, long guns and shotguns too. Their ammo production is huge and it's good ammo.

http://armscor.com

I have been shooting that PRVI stuff a lot lately and have had no problems. I usually shoot 38 specials out of my 6.5" Blackhawk, so they all feel about the same to me.

And ARMSCOR USA brand ammo is made at plants in the U.S. .

kyron4

No experience with Armscour ammo but have found Prvi Partizan and Fiocchi to be decent stuff in regards to inexpensive .38 Special ammo (usually stock up on it while at the gun shows).

I have not used Armscor ammunition but was recently given a box by a friend and was going to use it this coming weekend at the range...

https://advancedtactical.com/products/armscor-usa-357-magnum-full-metal-jacket-158-grain-50-round-Bo
Armscor Precision 357 Mag Full Metal Jacket
Specifications and Features:

Caliber: .357 Magnum
Bullet Weight: 158 Grains
Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket
Reloadable Brass Case
Muzzle Velocity: 1826 fps

Muzzle Energy: 1307 ft/lbs
Uses: Target Practice, Plinking Firearms

50 Rounds per Box

These figures are approximate and are shown for reference only. Test barrels and ballistic software were used to determine ballistic figures. Results may vary on individual firearms.

Looking at the ballistic data from the Armscor website has given me pause. The test must have been done in a rifle as I can't imagine what the recoil & pressure will be like if those ballistics are from a revolver!!!

Have any of you learned folks here shot this exact load in a 357 Magnum revolver? If so how hot was it?

Conversely, the ballistics for the 38 Special load appear to be within SAAMI specs for 38 Special+P.

https://advancedtactical.com/products/Armscor-Precision-38-Special

Caliber: .38 Special
Grain Weight: 158
Bullet Type: FMJ
Muzzle Velocity: 891 fps
Muzzle Energy: 278 ft/lbs
Uses: Target Practice, Plinking

These figures are approximate and are shown for reference only. Test barrels and ballistic software were used to determine ballistic figures. Results may vary on individual firearms.

I will try the above load in 38 Special.

Just a note, it's possible the Armscor ammo is compliant with CIP standards and not SAAMI standards. In some cases the pressures with the CIP standards can be higher, but not always.

It's also possible Armscor is using all the pressure allowed by SAAMI unlike the American manufacturers who usually stop way short of the limits. If Armscor is making ammo here they are following the rules, after all, they don't want huge law suits.

I find it funny when manufacturers outside the country list high numbers it's met with concern but when American manufacturers like Buffalo Bore produce very hot ammo every one sings their praise.

I used the .30 carbine Privi ammo with but one issue. The powder burns dirty. The cases are much dirtier than my reloads (I use Hodgdon's H110) and there's a black gummy residue on many of the spent cases. I left them in my brass polisher (tumbler) for hrs but still the black gummy stuff remains.

I've been using Starline brass (pretty much the gold standard in cases) on my .30 carbine reloads and there's where I'll stay. Chucked most of my Privi brass because of the black gummy residue.

I prefer Magtech 158 gr SWC. It makes a nice clean hole, suffices for SD (the standard police load in the 1950s & 60's) and the bullet weight of 158 grains is regulated to revolvers with fixed sights. Not so with any 130grain FMJ

John Joseph said:

I prefer Magtech 158 gr SWC. It makes a nice clean hole, suffices for SD (the standard police load in the 1950s & 60's) and the bullet weight of 158 grains is regulated to revolvers with fixed sights. Not so with any 130grain FMJ

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But to OP is juxt looking for inexpensive range ammo.

John J.

The standard police load in the 1950s and 1960s was the 158 grain Round Nosed Lead.

THE LSWC would have raised eye brows and even been illegal for carry by Private security in some states that specified .38 Special RNL for private security BECAUSE it was what the police carried.

The 150 to 160 grain LSWC was believed by many to be a big step up, though street numbers have never supported that theory.

Most department went to the "White Labs" recommended 140 grain semi jacketed HP when they finally ditched RNL for all but training. Many departments had invested in reloading and had a few years worth of RNL to get rid of when the switch came.

Keep in mind that for patrol officers many departments resisted going to the .357 because of the public perception that it was over powered right into the early 1970s and you mght understand how come Mayors and City and COunty commissions fought to keep the RNL which was a nice exceptable bullet in bullet loops of the police for way to long after sportsmen and privte citizens figured out it was not the best choice.

Into the late 1970s department even fought allowing officers to wear low topped boots because it looked too militaristic......despite most of the injuries causing paid down time being ankle injuries gained in foot pursuit or CQB.

Really, it mattered to folks so it mattered to the politicians in control.

They even fought subdued uniform colors and non reflective belt buckles, badges and such.

It was a pain. But in a sense it may have been partially right as many blame the "militarization" of police for the precieved greater separation of the US/THEM (police and everyone else) in both directions leading to less effective neighborhood policing. There are darned few "Officer Friendlies" noticeable today. For some folks, police are seen as sort of an occupying army.....and often they do look it.

-kBob

Bob, I don't know about your neck of the woods but here in CA the 158 round nose was nosed out in the 40's and 50's, replaced by the SWC (I even remember shooting a qual score in the 80's with a .38 SWC!) Nowadays it is rare to find 158 LSWC new ammo, but Magtech still loads it for a reasonable price--- $17+/box from Grafs and Midway---certainly near the same approximate price point as both Armscor and Privi.
After the 1970 Newhall and the 1986 Miami-Dade/FBI incidents things changed dramatically. .357 Mags and later the wunder-nines, both with expanding bullets came into fashion. Mayberry Barney Miller and Car 54 morphed into Robocop, Miami Vice and NCIS.
Anywayy, I thought I'd offer up the Magtech as an alternative to consider, The brass is good for reloading.

I have used both Prvi Partisan PPU and Armscor (both the US & Phillipine made) ammunition in numerous handgun calibers and have always been well satisfied with both brands. I would not hesitate to purchase either at a good price.