.38 Spl Cases

[unwashed]

Hey guys, I was going through some of my old stuff and came across these .38 cases. Haven't shot my 38 in ages but about a year ago decided to start again. Iirc those were factory loaded with wadcutters and semi wadcutters I used in my service revolver to practice with about 30 years ago. Just curious if anyone knows why these cases are made this way. For a lack of a better word, those cannelure around the case go through to the inside of the case and seem to line up with the base of the bullet, never had any split at that point though. Oh, all Winchester head stamp.

 

[AJC1]

It's there to hold the bullet to prevent setback. Enough reloads will fire it smooth.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I can almost see the outside dotted lines now on my cases that were like that, 4-6 reloads and you won't notice anymore.

 

[Jim Watson]

What is to set a bullet back in a revolver? The recoil acts to pull the bullet, as owners of 9mm revolvers may learn.
I have not seen a good explanation of the wadcutter cannelure other than identification of the brass before loading.

 

[AJC1]

What is to set a bullet back in a revolver? The recoil acts to pull the bullet, as owners of 9mm revolvers may learn.
I have not seen a good explanation of the wadcutter cannelure other than identification of the brass before loading.

You assume that bullet movement only occurs during the firing cycle.... when the under cavity space of a wadcutter is very small, any movement can cause a huge change in pressure.

 

[unwashed]

Thanks guys, I kinda thought it was a bullet thing since I loaded some 125 gr bullets and it almost lined up with the base, the lower one I assume is for the semi wadcutters. I guess with a crimp that bullet isn't going anywhere except down the barrel.

 

[FROGO207]

More people than one might expect ask this exact question, and often. The answer I always give "is to make you ask questions" LOL. As the stock answer is to prevent setback I feel it is true but could also be for ID purposesas well. As stated after a couple reloadings it is a moot point anyway. I always liked the dual canalure ones.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

The brass with the cannalure in the middle is wadcutter brass.
When loaded from the factory, wadcutters are sized post-loading. IOW, the brass is primed and charged, then the bullet is inserted. Then the cartridge is sized. This is very much how a Lee Factory Crimp Die (for handgun cartridges) works.
The cannelure keeps the bullet from falling in the oversized brass.

After the first firing, the brass is not as big, and the danger of the bullet actually falling to the bottom of the brass no longer exists.

The center cannelure still IDs the brass.

Wadcutter brass is different: the inner walls do not angle in towards the center until below that cannelure. On regular brass, the inner walls are thicker just a few 10ths of an inch from the neck, and get thicker as they approach the base of the cartridge.

Because a wadcutter seats so deep in the brass, they require parallel sides on the case far deeper than regular brass. Seating a HBWC in regular brass, one runs the risk of pinching the base of the wadcutter.


There are people constantly searching for true wadcutter brass. I'm one of them. I shoot HBWC bullets, and need wadcutter brass.

Winchester wadcutter brass has the cannelure halfway down.
R-P wadcutter brass has a double cannelure, about straddling the halfway mark of the case.
Federal is a bit trickier: it has a cannelure not quite halfway down.

 

[unwashed]

The brass with the cannalure in the middle is wadcutter brass.
When loaded from the factory, wadcutters are sized post-loading. IOW, the brass is primed and charged, then the bullet is inserted. Then the cartridge is sized. This is very much how a Lee Factory Crimp Die (for handgun cartridges) works.
The cannelure keeps the bullet from falling in the oversized brass.

After the first firing, the brass is not as big, and the danger of the bullet actually falling to the bottom of the brass no longer exists.

The center cannelure still IDs the brass.

Wadcutter brass is different: the inner walls do not angle in towards the center until below that cannelure. On regular brass, the inner walls are thicker just a few 10ths of an inch from the neck, and get thicker as they approach the base of the cartridge.

Because a wadcutter seats so deep in the brass, they require parallel sides on the case far deeper than regular brass. Seating a HBWC in regular brass, one runs the risk of pinching the base of the wadcutter.


There are people constantly searching for true wadcutter brass. I'm one of them. I shoot HBWC bullets, and need wadcutter brass.

Winchester wadcutter brass has the cannelure halfway down.
R-P wadcutter brass has a double cannelure, about straddling the halfway mark of the case.
Federal is a bit trickier: it has a cannelure not quite halfway down.

Thanks for the info. I have 50 of those case I do not plan on using but they are scratched, if you look at my other thread "38 Spl Cases Part II" they are mostly like that, some not as bad. I you want them let me know, I send them to you.