This doesn't look right?

Having nearly blown a Browning HP up with a 'commercial' reload, I no longer shoot anyone's except my own.

The QC (or lack thereof) on those rounds just reinforces that opinion. If you're willing to 'pass' something like those, you're not going near my firearms.

Larry

Not sure I see an issue. Would need to measure with calipers but it appears the left one has a slightly shorter case leaving the crimp groove exposed more than the right case. I see this with my own reloads when using batches of mixed brass since I don't trim 38 Special before reloading.

The case on the left is a bit short, so there's more crimp groove showing, and less crimp produced by the fixed-length roll crimp die. This is very common in pickup/mixed headstamp brass.

It's not an indication of a problem, so I'd shoot it.

mindbent said:

What can you guys tell me about these 2 rounds. They're .38spl that I'm assuming are reloads.View attachment 1052752

Click to expand...

It sounds like you aren’t sure of the origin of those rounds. Without knowing who made them, why take the risk?

mindbent said:

Don't know that I trust them

Click to expand...

That means you don’t trust them, and you shouldn’t

Don’t shoot them.

Nature Boy said:

It sounds like you aren’t sure of the origin of those rounds. Without knowing who made them, why take the risk?



That means you don’t trust them, and you shouldn’t

Don’t shoot them.

Click to expand...

True the crimp is not the issue so much as if you do not know or do not trust who loaded that ammo. I personally don't shoot ammo from unknown sources. On the other hand had I produced that ammo myself and saw that crimp difference I would still shoot it.

Uneven case length can cause those crimp variations.

who loaded them?

drband said:

who loaded them?

Click to expand...

It doesn't appear that he knows since he states, "I'm assuming they are reloads". He also hasn't shared where he got them. Bought them at gun show? Found them on the ground at the range?

Safest course would be to pull them, toss the powder and reload them but I don't know if the OP reloads.

mindbent said:

What can you guys tell me about these 2 rounds. They're .38spl that I'm assuming are reloads. Don't know that I trust them.View attachment 1052752

Click to expand...

Other that it’s two different cases both with cast SWC’s, nothing. Only way we know they are 38 spl is to take your word for it.

The “unknown” fact is why many won’t shoot reloads from questionable or unknown sources.

pull em and reload them with a known load, if your not sure you can trust them, then don't.

d

The left hand case was originally loaded with a hollow base wad cutter bullet, the two cannelures on the case are the clue. Bullseye shooters lust after these empties for future wad cuter loads. A waste to put a SWC bullet in them.

The one one the right has no visual defects. The one on the left is seated a bit out, (crimped too early) and there is a separation line forming just below the cannelure.

Never shoot them in my firearms.
You can tell for sure they are reloaded, and if someone doesn't do the
overall length any better than that, then they may well have internal
defects as well, such as powder charge.
Even the crimp is incorrect and 2 different type cases.
Lots of non-standard basics.
If you know who did these two, just let them know they have room for
improvement without breaking bad on them.

entropy said:

The one on the left is seated a bit out, (crimped too early) and there is a separation line forming just below the cannelure.

Click to expand...

What you are seeing is not a separation line, just a lower cannelure unique to factory wadcutter loads.

ANY cartridge YOU are uncomfortable with, don't ask what to do from a bunch of strangers that don't have skin in YOUR game.

That said:
Did the carts come from the box in the pic?

Origin of the box is unknown; did your friend buy them new or from another "friend" that reloaded which you did not know about?

Are they UMC -Rem reloads put back on the same original box, or are they just old UMC carts?

Are they range pick-up (Different headstamps, or maybe sorted) put in a range trash barrel recovery box?

If you have any doubt about YOUR OR SOMEONE ELSE'S safety, don't use them. The I'net is replete with scary stories and videos, but they only represent a very very small threat from shooting reloaded ammunition.

The one on the left looks weird to me, and if I knew it was a reload, I probably wouldn't shoot it; however, if it was a factory load I'd probably trust it and shoot it anyway. So, what's the verdict? Is either a bad cartridge? Both? Or neither?

Ohh wow, why is there a crimp so far down on the case of the one on the left?

Case on the left looks like it was a 38 target load with wadcutter seated flush (canullere half way down is typical of 38 target brass. Indicated bottom of watcutter. I'm sure these 2 cases have different head stamps.

mcb said:

Not sure I see an issue. Would need to measure with calipers but it appears the left one has a slightly shorter case leaving the crimp groove exposed more than the right case. I see this with my own reloads when using batches of mixed brass since I don't trim 38 Special before reloading.

Click to expand...

Same

mindbent said:

I got 50rds from a friend whos husband had passed (didn't even know he owned a gun). I know nothing about reloading so I didn't know cases could be different lengths. I thought the one on the left wasn't seated all the way down. I'll check OAL with calipers just for the hell of it. You guys pretty much reimbursed what I had allready figured about not sure don't shoot them. I don't think my friend would be to happy about his old Python going kaboom and I'm short on friends. Someday I'll find someone to reload them for me but for now they get shelved. Thanks for the replies even though this is the wrong forum. Should have been in the reloading forum. Thanks again.

Click to expand...

Trash them so no one else gets a hold of them. My brother knows to trash my 38's if I pass.

I see no "physical" problem in these loaded cartridges, the crimping and shorter case is not going to make much a difference in the safety of them.

HOWEVER its what you cant see that can hurt you. You dont know who loaded them and how much or what powder theyre loaded with. Its easy to overload 38/357 with the hot powders and not know it.....for that reason only if your not sure of who loaded it and its someone you trust, I wouldnt fire it. Pull the slugs and dump it.