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Name That Bullet!

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G

g_one

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Ok, wheel gun aficionados, I got one for you.

I found an old gun belt of my father's, and it had a bunch of .357 JSP tucked into it. I know this not just by the look of it, but because the base reads (edit: fixed) 'Federal 357 Magnum' I can also tell you that knowing how long ago my father died, and how long before that my mother made him put all of his guns into hiding, these bullets are at least 15 years old, but probably closer to 20, despite how clean they look. (That's aluminum or some other white/silver metal of some sort - not brass, just bad lighting.)

Is there any chance you can tell me, judging by the line that I hope is clearly visible about 1/3 of the way down where the bullet stops, what weight bullet these are, and if they're likely to still fire after sitting in a box that long?

Cheers
 

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Definitely says 357, although looking at it again it probably is intended to be read in the order of 'Federal 357 Magnum'
 
'FEDERAL 357 MAGNUM'
But when making the original post, I looked at it wrong and reversed the order - typing '357 federal magnum' on accident
 
Here's a pic I just snapped of them loaded in a Dan Wesson 14. Sorry for the confusion.
 

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I'm almost certain its a 158gr bullet, based on the location of the cannelure which gives you an idea of the length of the bullet.

Look up the specs for a current Federal .357 mag 158gr JSP. Even if they are a bit older, the specs should be close to the same. If they were kept in at least a sort of dry environment they should be good to go.
 
Most makers use nickel plated cases for .357 Magnum to indicate that it is a "premium" cartridge.

Jim
 
As long as there any signs of corrosion or cracking on the casing anywhere, I would imagine they are good for a try. The casing is nickel plated brass, it was commonly used for ammo kept in gun belts, as it corroded/tarnished less from making contact with the leather so much.
Not sure on the bullet weight though.
 
When I got my first .357 revolver (my first handgun) in 1987, I took it out with some old stuff that looked identical to what you have. Stamped as yours is, too.

My then-stepfather had had them for some gun he had not owned in years, and the ammo was likely well over a decade old at the time. There were probably thirty rounds left in the box.

On a hot, sunny July day in the middle of a Florida summer, the fireball these things made was incredible. I have never seen fireballs the size of pumpkins in broad daylight since with any ammo I've been able to get my hands on (but, I have some Winchester Silvertips in .357 Magnum I brought back in 2010 from my dad's place when he died. I think they're 180-grain stuff.)
 
Shoot them..

The ammo looks fine..I'm sure will shoot fine.

If you have acess to a scale, weigh a loaded round, shoot said round, weigh empty case+do a little math...That will tell you the bullet weight of the rest..Bill.:)
 
Most makers use nickel plated cases for .357 Magnum to indicate that it is a "premium" cartridge.

Jim
Click to expand...

I was always under the impression that they used nickel because it didnt tarnish as bad in the leather pouches they were carried in my LE way back when.
 
Chances are the ammo will fire just fine. Last year I found some rounds, 357 and 44 mag, that I reloaded almost thirty years before. They got buried under stuff in the garage (don't ask) and were forgotten. All that time in an unheated/cooled, humid garage and they all went bang. I did check them over and found no split cases or other problems.

Jeff
 
ljnowell

That's kind of what I also thought about nickel plated cases: that it was done to keep tarnish and residue from building up on the case from being in contact with leather and the elements. The plating might also help make extraction easier when dumping the empty cases.
 
That ammo is as good today as it was 20 years ago.

Chances are it will fire just fine 80 years from now too.
Click to expand...

No way man. Didn't you hear Federal's press interview. Ammo only has a 10 year shelf life. :evil:

Seriously, that ammo will be every bit as reliable as ammo you buy in the store today, assuming you find ammo in the store today.
 
To answer the question will they still fire - yes, they will, I have ammo that is from the 1930's and 40's and they work fine. As far as guessing the weight of the bullet, I would weigh it. Cases average around 77 grains, powder in the range of 6 to 18 grains and whats left is the bullet - typical 357 soft nose are 110, 125 grains, or 158 grains, there are some 140 and 180 grain models floating around also.
If I were to bet, I would say it is probably 158 grains which tended to be very common.

tom
 
I seem to recall that Speer used to have a .357 JSP that looked like that. Judging by the cannelure on the case, it would be a 158.

Chances are excellent that it will work just fine. While I wouldn't bet my life on it working, I certainly wouldn't bet my life on it not working.
 
It looks to me like the nickel cased version of the Federal American Eagle 158gr. JSP.

124446.jpg

Pic stolen from Midway's website.
 
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