Question About a Revolver Round

[marv]

Check the addr on the barrel. If it says "Bridgeport" she got a good one.

 

[Jim K]

I hope the ammo is really .38 Special and fits the revolver properly. When someone says "Russian writing" and "bullet down in the case" in the same sentence, I think 7.62 Nagant.

Jim

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

He could surely tell the difference between those two. (Couldn't he?)

 

[Drail]

Wadcutters. When you want every single ft/lb. of energy delivered to the perp. Sort of like a Freightliner.

 

[murf]

shoot em in a 357 magnum revolver and see what they do.

murf

 

[BCRider]

When in doubt open one up using a bullet puller to see what's inside. You won't be able to identify what the powder is but it'll answer any questions about the bullet.

Lots of folks even recently around here have suggested double ended wadcutter bullets (DEWC) as a good option for .38Spl defensive loads. The issue being that .38Spl does not have the speed or energy to reliably open up a hollow point so the full 100% flat meplate of a wad cutter is going to do the most damage in this case.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Have you tried chronographing it? Your local range should have some handloaders who have chronographs and would be willing to test it for you.

A muzzle velocity of about 875 fps from a 6" barrel or about 100 fps less from a 2" barrel would be about tops. If it develops more than that, I definitely would not shoot it in your snubbie.

 

[Tactical Lever]

A relative bought a Charter Arms Undercover Special in .38 Spcl.
At the time the seller tossed in a box of self defense ammo. The ammo box had Russian or that type writing on it. The seller said it was the best he had on hand and was loaded HOT.

I'm trying to find the box now and post a pic but I will describe the round. It is a 38 spl brass case but the bullet which is hard lead does not extend pass the brass. The seller said he special ordered these by the case for the undercover cops and only had one box left or he would give her 2 more.

I will try to find at least a round so I can post a pic of the headstamp. I did look at it once a long time ago and I am positive it is not a u.s. round.

This pistol was bought many decades ago and is very well made and has a tight lockup. I am the only one who has fired it and that was with some blazer ammo. I saved the other ammo for home defense. 5 rounds down the tube is all and it still looks new with the rubber grips that came with it.

Anyone have any insight or seen a round like this?

I would take some measurements and compare it to SAAMI 38 Spl dimensions. If you have a reloading book (and a caliper or micrometer), it'll be pretty easy to tell what it is.

I would not use it until I identified it better.

 

[Tactical Lever]

http://www.sixbullets.com/_images/firear1.38_Special_trans_gif.gif

Try this; hope it helps.

 

[TenDriver]

For as long as I can remember my grandfather has sworn by his "sidewinders" in his 38. Someone loaded them up for him years ago and he's told me stories of cutting down a gum tree with them, blowing a stray dawg in half, etc.

They look like wadcutters to me..... One of these days I'd love to snag one and pull the bullet to see if it's something loaded backward or just a wadcutter. Either way he's happy with them.

 

[BCRider]

And like a lot of old folks he's clearly well practised as spinning a yarn....

 

[suemarkp]

Does your ammo look like this (click on the zoom and you can see the box and the ammo) https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=111

BuffaloBore loads wadcutters faster then most. A typical wadcutter round may only do 750 fps in a short barrel. These are 850 fps and I thought they used to make a +P version too.

 

[toiville2feathers]

After 3 months what has this thread accomplished or where has it gone.

 

[gandog56]

I use 148 grain DEWC in a LOW power for practice ammo for my .357 Mag. I think I once figured my regular load would make 20,000 rounds with one 8 lb. jug of Red Dot powder.

 

[TfflHndn]

What does the headstamp say on the case?
I agree with murf above; if you have reservations about a "hot" 38, shoot a few in a 357 and see what you have.

 

[ugaarguy]

Fuzzybunny hasn't replied since he started this thread four months ago. Apparently he got his answer and has moved on.