Hey folks...
So...I always buy factory ammo. Never buy other people's reloads as a general rule as far as I can determine.
Most times when I buy factory ammo from other people, I seldom have to check the contents. If the box is fairly new, I am not worried and I have never been taken before (yes, I know, there is always a first time). Never had an issue.
So I go and buy a bunch of ammo off someone today on another site. Bought a combination of factory .223/5.56 ammo and .38 Special. All the .223/5.56 ammo is new - like 2023 and over. Some of it has factory sealed / glued boxes still (ie. Winchester 5.56 and the S&B 100 back). So all that ammo is new and pristine. All good there.
The .38 special ammo - not so much in pristine shape. Boxes are (what I am guessing) circa 1980s or so, I don't know. But the guy from whom I bought this today - it belonged to his late father, who passed away last year - he has no use for the ammo since he doesn't have guns that can shoot them
I have a lever action .357/.38 which is what I plan to use this ammo to shoot which is why I bought it.
Now...the boxes are severely distressed, which is not great, but based on age, understandable. The Remington 38 specials boxes all say lead semi wadcutters. The Federal Box is semi wadcutter / hollow points +P. Now, I know that some people in the past have partial boxes and they just put rounds together as long as they are the same brand, and headstamp/caliber, etc. (I personally don't do this but I have seen some that do). Some other people keep the boxes just to store loose rounds. Part of my purchase today was a ziploc bag of the same mixture as what you see below in the photos (99.9% Remington 38 Special).
It is very possible some of these could have been from other boxes, loose and consolidated. BUT I am seriously wondering whether these are reloaded since I know 357 and 38 are popular reloading calibers, and these, while overwhelmingly Remington-Peters, have different bullet types. I have never seen some of these bullet types before, inset into the casing so much (that may just be my own ignorance). I do see that all the primers are nickel coloured (so I guess that is a good sign as Remington does use nickel coloured primers). But they are not all semi wadcutter (see photos - different bullet types), which is fine as long as these aren't someone's reloads. I also received a bag of Remington rounds, of the same variety. This makes me think these were all loose rounds and the father or son just consolidated it all in boxes of the same brand.
I have posted some photos - the rounds are pretty much comprised of these types. I don't have extensive experience with .38 special rounds - all the ones I have shot have been more modern day semi wadcutters from Federal / S&B - just curious if Remington has made these three different types and if you have seen the Federal ones where the bullets are non existent.
I talked with a buddy who believes these are factory rounds as he said in the photos you can see some of the coloured sealant around the primer pocket area even faintly. He said that is something he only has seen in factory rounds. He also asked if this guy was selling reloading equipment and the answer is no. Just these rounds an a rifle was all he sold. Also, my buddy suspects that may have happened is that these rounds were all not in full boxes and the seller just combined same manufacturer rounds in a manufacturer box, which is why there was a leftover bag of all Remington rounds (with different bullets). He also mentions that he has not seen too many reloading supply shops that will sell the semi wadcutter hollow point bullets, so perhaps that is another indication these are likely just a mixed group of factory rounds.
Thanks for any feedback / advice / suggestions you may have.
So...I always buy factory ammo. Never buy other people's reloads as a general rule as far as I can determine.
Most times when I buy factory ammo from other people, I seldom have to check the contents. If the box is fairly new, I am not worried and I have never been taken before (yes, I know, there is always a first time). Never had an issue.
So I go and buy a bunch of ammo off someone today on another site. Bought a combination of factory .223/5.56 ammo and .38 Special. All the .223/5.56 ammo is new - like 2023 and over. Some of it has factory sealed / glued boxes still (ie. Winchester 5.56 and the S&B 100 back). So all that ammo is new and pristine. All good there.
The .38 special ammo - not so much in pristine shape. Boxes are (what I am guessing) circa 1980s or so, I don't know. But the guy from whom I bought this today - it belonged to his late father, who passed away last year - he has no use for the ammo since he doesn't have guns that can shoot them
I have a lever action .357/.38 which is what I plan to use this ammo to shoot which is why I bought it.
Now...the boxes are severely distressed, which is not great, but based on age, understandable. The Remington 38 specials boxes all say lead semi wadcutters. The Federal Box is semi wadcutter / hollow points +P. Now, I know that some people in the past have partial boxes and they just put rounds together as long as they are the same brand, and headstamp/caliber, etc. (I personally don't do this but I have seen some that do). Some other people keep the boxes just to store loose rounds. Part of my purchase today was a ziploc bag of the same mixture as what you see below in the photos (99.9% Remington 38 Special).
It is very possible some of these could have been from other boxes, loose and consolidated. BUT I am seriously wondering whether these are reloaded since I know 357 and 38 are popular reloading calibers, and these, while overwhelmingly Remington-Peters, have different bullet types. I have never seen some of these bullet types before, inset into the casing so much (that may just be my own ignorance). I do see that all the primers are nickel coloured (so I guess that is a good sign as Remington does use nickel coloured primers). But they are not all semi wadcutter (see photos - different bullet types), which is fine as long as these aren't someone's reloads. I also received a bag of Remington rounds, of the same variety. This makes me think these were all loose rounds and the father or son just consolidated it all in boxes of the same brand.
I have posted some photos - the rounds are pretty much comprised of these types. I don't have extensive experience with .38 special rounds - all the ones I have shot have been more modern day semi wadcutters from Federal / S&B - just curious if Remington has made these three different types and if you have seen the Federal ones where the bullets are non existent.
I talked with a buddy who believes these are factory rounds as he said in the photos you can see some of the coloured sealant around the primer pocket area even faintly. He said that is something he only has seen in factory rounds. He also asked if this guy was selling reloading equipment and the answer is no. Just these rounds an a rifle was all he sold. Also, my buddy suspects that may have happened is that these rounds were all not in full boxes and the seller just combined same manufacturer rounds in a manufacturer box, which is why there was a leftover bag of all Remington rounds (with different bullets). He also mentions that he has not seen too many reloading supply shops that will sell the semi wadcutter hollow point bullets, so perhaps that is another indication these are likely just a mixed group of factory rounds.
Thanks for any feedback / advice / suggestions you may have.
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