What's this for?

[namedpipes]

Photo is of three .38 Special rounds.

Round 1 is just for reference, nothing special about it.

Round 2 looks to me like a hand reload with either a very light bullet or perhaps less powder?

Round 3 has a flat copper(?) face, flush with the case top.

I haven't taken any apart. #2 & #3 are probably between 20 - 50 years old. I'm curious what the uses of #2 and #3 might be. These were acquired through an inheritance, so I can't ask.

Anyone?

 

[Big Daddy 45acp]

#2 is a wadcutter. Used for target shooting. Cuts a nice clean hole in paper.

#3 may be an early birdshot, blank or signaling round. Not sure, never saw one like that.

 

[FPrice]

Number 2 looks like some type of wadcutter bullet to me while number 3 appears to be a blank. That flat piece should be the cardboard wad that hols the powder charge inside.

 

[namedpipes]

Wow that was fast Thanks!

Number 3, the photo isn't as clear as I'd like, but the face appears to be copper, not paper/cardboard.

I guess I could shoot one at a target and see if it makes a hole, many little holes or no holes at all

 

[terraformer]

#2 is a semi-wadcutter and #3 is a wadcutter, although I have never seen a copper jacketed one, it wouldn't be precluded from existing per se. Anything with any sort of shaped head/point is a semi-wadcutter, although that is a very low profile pointed head. I have .357 semi-wadcutters in the garage and they are much more pronounced.

PS: #3 could also be the "bird-shot", which is actually for use on snakes and called snake-shot, mentioned above but I would lean more towards a wadcutter unless that round feels significantly lighter than #2.

 

[Beansie_Time]

I have a similar round to number three at home. i'll post a pic later.

 

[vellnueve]

Shot, blank, or maybe tear gas.

 

[center442]

Shot, blank, or maybe tear gas.

#3 reminds me of some tear gas rounds that were available many years ago. Can you tell if the "cover" is cardboard or metallic?

 

[namedpipes]

#3 reminds me of some tear gas rounds that were available many years ago. Can you tell if the "cover" is cardboard or metallic?

My uncle was a naughty boy, but not THAT naughty!

However, looks like metal.

I'm going to go with "full metal jacket wadcutter".

 

[fbirdquik6]

i had a box of 38's like that, they are full wadcutters and they sound pretty cool going down range!

 

[EddieCoyle]

I'm going to go with "full metal jacket wadcutter".

Nope.

Number 2 is a DEWC (Double Ended Wad Cutter) These are easier for commercial loaders/reloaders to deal with because either end of the bullet can be inserted. Unlike the HBWC, they're usually not seated flush.

Number 3 is either an old shotshell, a tear gas cartridge, or a backwards loaded bullet made by some experimenting reloader. I don't think FMJ wadcutters have a sharp edge like that.

 

[LT1MCSS]

My friend was cleaning out his basement this weekend and found a couple boxes of ammunition. On of the boxes was similar to Round #2. I have wondered what they were since I saw them. They are wadcutters or double ended wadcutters like mentioned above

 

[namedpipes]

Curiosity kilt the kitty.

#3 was birdshot (snakeshot?) with the pellets sandwiched between two pressed-in copper plates.

 

[terraformer]

Nope.

Number 2 is a DEWC (Double Ended Wad Cutter) These are easier for commercial loaders/reloaders to deal with because either end of the bullet can be inserted. Unlike the HBWC, they're usually not seated flush.

Number 3 is either an old shotshell, a tear gas cartridge, or a backwards loaded bullet made by some experimenting reloader. I don't think FMJ wadcutters have a sharp edge like that.

So EC, why is it when I buy wadcutters they are flat on top (this is always .38s), and when I buy semi-wadcutters they are always with a modified point where there is a lip before the point begins? You seem to suggest that all of these are wad-cutters. Is the semi v. wad-cutter thing a way of the factories signaling they either have DEWCs or HBWCs? I've always made the distinction based on flat-top or modified point and didn't know there was another reason.

 

[scooter]

#2 is a semi-wadcutter and #3 is a wadcutter, although I have never seen a copper jacketed one, it wouldn't be precluded from existing per se. Anything with any sort of shaped head/point is a semi-wadcutter, although that is a very low profile pointed head. I have .357 semi-wadcutters in the garage and they are much more pronounced.

PS: #3 could also be the "bird-shot", which is actually for use on snakes and called snake-shot, mentioned above but I would lean more towards a wadcutter unless that round feels significantly lighter than #2.

I shoot copper wad cutters in my 627 in .38 cal all the time.

 

[highlander]

the third round might be birdshot using a gas check for a wad rather than cardboard.

 

[namedpipes]

the third round might be birdshot using a gas check for a wad rather than cardboard.

The copper 'wad' could not have been gas tight. Someone mentioned some birdshot rounds used to be made that way (with metal inserts for wad).

 

[BIG GUN]

The copper 'wad' could not have been gas tight. Someone mentioned some birdshot rounds used to be made that way (with metal inserts for wad).

I used to do it that way, using two lead bullet gas checks. One over powder and another inverted on top, then crimped.

 

[RKG]

#2 is a semi-wadcutter and #3 is a wadcutter, although I have never seen a copper jacketed one, it wouldn't be precluded from existing per se. Anything with any sort of shaped head/point is a semi-wadcutter, although that is a very low profile pointed head. I have .357 semi-wadcutters in the garage and they are much more pronounced.

PS: #3 could also be the "bird-shot", which is actually for use on snakes and called snake-shot, mentioned above but I would lean more towards a wadcutter unless that round feels significantly lighter than #2.

#3 is not a semi-wadcutter (sometimes known as a "Keith shape"); see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiwadcutter
for the profile of a semi-wadcutter.

#2 is what is known as a "button nose" wadcutter, which are sometimes known as "bevel base wadcutters" because the base has a slight bevel to facilitate reloading. The rationale for the button nose is obscure; some believe that it cuts a better hole, but I believe that the real purpose is to facilitate pour fill out in the mold (BB wadcutters are all cast).

 

[WILDCATT]

ammo

come on guys,#2 is a wadcutter,lyman mould and is not double ended,I have two 4 cavity and its also a H & G.the last is a wadcutter setted flush for the S & W mod 52.bullet cant extend or wont fit mag.It is double ended and washed in copper.oh its terrible to be so old.

 

[EddieCoyle]

.oh its terrible to be so old.

And so wrong. Read post #13, he opened up #3 and it's birdshot. I bet you whiffed on #2 as well. Thanks for playing though.

 

[bigbird34]

38

If the headstamp states "Special Tool" it is a blank for an industrial tool,that would drive nails ,or cement anchors .....BB34