tkcomer
Member
Got some 38 special, mixed brass off of E-bay. Ran into some headstamps I'm not familiar with. What is WCC, CBC and GFL? Is this good brass?
38 Special Mixed Brass
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The Bushmaster
Member
WCC is Western Cartridge Company (Military division). CBC I can't remember and GFL...Well. All I can remember about GFL is I call it scrap and junk it.
It's one step above Amerc
It's one step above Amerctkcomer
Member
Well I'd heard the Amerc had bad primer pockets. I have 41 of those. I'll kick those out. Around 200 is the WCC. Around 120 is Remington, Winchester, Norma, Speer and other brand names. I just wanted to start loading for the 38 special and $20.50 shipped for 500 rounds didn't seem too bad. I just had never heard of those 3 brands. Thanks.
Sheldon
Member
GFL Guilio Fiocchi - Lecco (Italian ammunition headstamp)
CBC is Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos....Brazilian. Works good for me too.
I have not had any issue with the GFL stuff. I know the 45 ACP Amerc stuff is considered bad. I had issues with them being too thick, but they may have that worked out now.
CBC is Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos....Brazilian. Works good for me too.
I have not had any issue with the GFL stuff. I know the 45 ACP Amerc stuff is considered bad. I had issues with them being too thick, but they may have that worked out now.
nitesite
Member
For years I thought WCC = Winchester Cartridge Company
Then I learned that the Western Cartridge Company was bought by Winchester. That's where the Winchester-Western name brand came from.
You'll still see WCC on new production Winchester ammo (part of the Olin Corporation) made under military contract.
Then I learned that the Western Cartridge Company was bought by Winchester. That's where the Winchester-Western name brand came from.
You'll still see WCC on new production Winchester ammo (part of the Olin Corporation) made under military contract.
tkcomer
Member
I just pitched the Amerc out. And about 25 others I've never heard of. Some had a double star and a date stamped on it. I have enough brass that will last me years. I won't shoot these 38s very much. Dad died years ago and I just couldn't bring myself to fire “his” guns since I had guns of my own. But after all this time, why not? He left a beautiful J-frame 36 Smith and a nickel Colt Detective Special that has had only one cylinder fired through it. I'll load light loads for both guns. I'm curious to see how they shoot.
The Bushmaster
Member
I bet your dad didn't intend for those guns to sit idle. Enjoy...
moxie
Member
You've got the names for the headstamps but you still
need to check them on your equipment, on your guns. I've got a zillion WCC cases. Some particular "years" work, others don't and I keep a list. Never had any problems with CBC.
need to check them on your equipment, on your guns. I've got a zillion WCC cases. Some particular "years" work, others don't and I keep a list. Never had any problems with CBC.
Ben Shepherd
Member
CBC is what S&B uses in thier commercial stuff.(at least the stuff I picked up at cabelas). I tried some once in 38 special, found the primer pockets were too small to work with. Crushed a bunch of primers in it trying.
Oddly enough the 357 brass they make works just fine?
Oddly enough the 357 brass they make works just fine?
shooting on a shoestring
Member
Size and shape
Whenever I get new (or previously enjoyed) brass, I use a primer pocket uniformer on each case. I mount mine in a drill press, turn it slow, hold the inverted case against a wood block and feed the rotating bit into the primer pocket. It takes roughly 5 seconds per case. Makes seating primers easy and uniform. I also trim all of my new brass to the same length as my old brass to keep from adjusting dies.
Whenever I get new (or previously enjoyed) brass, I use a primer pocket uniformer on each case. I mount mine in a drill press, turn it slow, hold the inverted case against a wood block and feed the rotating bit into the primer pocket. It takes roughly 5 seconds per case. Makes seating primers easy and uniform. I also trim all of my new brass to the same length as my old brass to keep from adjusting dies.
ReloaderFred
Member
CBC brass is made in Brazil and is marketed as MagTech, in both brass and loaded ammunition.
S&B makes their own brass and it's all headstamped S&B. It's made, I believe, in the Czech Republic, but I could be mistaken. The company was started in the 1800's by two Frenchmen and has been in business ever since.
There is very little .38 special brass that isn't reloadable. In fact, the only one I can think of is A-Merc.
Hope this helps.
Fred
S&B makes their own brass and it's all headstamped S&B. It's made, I believe, in the Czech Republic, but I could be mistaken. The company was started in the 1800's by two Frenchmen and has been in business ever since.
There is very little .38 special brass that isn't reloadable. In fact, the only one I can think of is A-Merc.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Pumpkinheaver
Member
I have been loading a batch GFL .45acp brass for 8 years, still going strong.
Ben Shepherd
Member
ReloaderFred is correct. I was mistaken in my above post. I was thinking of the wrong ammo. Brainfart on my part.
The Bushmaster
Member
I don't know guys...I've had problems with GFL's primer pockets getting loose after one or two loadings in both 9mmX19 and .45 ACP.
ReloaderFred
Member
Back in the 1970's, when Smith and Wesson was owned by Bangor Punta, they marketed ammunition under the S&W brand. The first couple of years, the brass was headstamped S&W-F, and it was all made by Fiochi. They even offered ammunition in calibers they didn't make guns for, such as the .380 auto. After several years, they switched to someone else for their ammunition, but I can't for the life of me remember who the other company was.
I've been loading all the .38 brass I can get my hands on for cowboy action shooting and haven't had any problems with any of it, except A-Merc, which won't even fit in a couple of my shellholders. The loads are light, which helps, but between my wife and I, we're going through a whole bunch of .38's feeding four handguns and two Marlin Carbines. Generally, if it's headstamped .38 special, it gets loaded and shot, over and over again.
Hope this helps.
Fred
I've been loading all the .38 brass I can get my hands on for cowboy action shooting and haven't had any problems with any of it, except A-Merc, which won't even fit in a couple of my shellholders. The loads are light, which helps, but between my wife and I, we're going through a whole bunch of .38's feeding four handguns and two Marlin Carbines. Generally, if it's headstamped .38 special, it gets loaded and shot, over and over again.
Hope this helps.
Fred
tkcomer
Member
Thanks for all the info. Right now I've sized and cleaned 120 rounds of the ones I'm familiar with. The Remington, Winchester, Norma and Speer brass. With light loads, that should last me a long time. I still have to order powder and bullets. Thinking of Ramshot True Blue as they have recipes for the 357 and 44 mag. Trying to come up with a do-all powder for all three. Looking at the Winchester 125gr hollow points for the 38 and 357. One things for sure. Bullet prices have shot up in the last few months.
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