Imperial IVI 32 Special brass, reloadable?

Canuck Bob

Canuck Bob

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I've got a stash of Imperial IVI manufacture 32 Special 170gr KKSP ammo. I'm wondering about the quality of the brass for reloading once fired. What kind of performance do you folks remember for this brass. I've always considered IVI a lower quality than earlier CIL or Dominion in their day for no good reason actually.

The plot thickens, I've two boxes of CIL Imperial in the same configuration. There is no doubt the IVI stuff has the small font headstamp in comparison with the CIL headstamp. Searching has turned up reports that the small font brass is of poorer quality to the large font stuff. The CIL ammo has reference a 1969 patent without detail at least giving a rough date range. The IVI stuff has no date and the lot numbers of both are undecipherable codes.
 
All speculation and interpretation the brass is made to industry standard specs so why would it be of lesser quality . If you feel it is unsafe through it in the dumpster
 
I've used it without issue. 3-4 loads in but I'm not pushing the bullets hard. Iirc 28 grs 3031. It's a middle range loading. Dropped a bear for my buddy last fall. 3 complete pass thrus with hotcors
 
Brass quality can mean many things, and it doesn't necessarily mean that good brass allows 20 reloads and poor brass only 3. Uniform case dimensions and volume is important, as is the hardness of the alloy. If the necks and shoulders are a bit hard, and prone to splitting, that can be addressed through annealing, but if the bases are soft, the brass might be dangerous. If the brass won't hold a primer after the first firing, it isn't worth reloading.
 
I have had no issues to speak of with any of the IVI brass in 32 Special, or any of the other chamberings of IVI brass I have handloaded. Any issues that have arisen such as cracks in the neck area after subsequent reloading were taken care of with annealing.
Some shooters have reported the ammunition in some cases varies wildly performance wise, I've never shot enough of it as factory loads to really comment on that aspect of the subject. As far as the brass goes, it has worked OK for me. Others may or may not feel the same way.
You could always put the brass, or the loaded rounds for that matter, on the EE, they will probably sell quickly listed at a reasonable price.
 
Canuck Bob said:
I've got a stash of Imperial IVI manufacture 32 Special 170gr KKSP ammo. I'm wondering about the quality of the brass for reloading once fired. What kind of performance do you folks remember for this brass. I've always considered IVI a lower quality than earlier CIL or Dominion in their day for no good reason actually.

The plot thickens, I've two boxes of CIL Imperial in the same configuration. There is no doubt the IVI stuff has the small font headstamp in comparison with the CIL headstamp. Searching has turned up reports that the small font brass is of poorer quality to the large font stuff. The CIL ammo has reference a 1969 patent without detail at least giving a rough date range. The IVI stuff has no date and the lot numbers of both are undecipherable codes.
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I had a stash of Imperial 30-30 I got from another guy what had a stash. The 50% of them had primers that went fizzzz. The brass was good though!
 
I would venture to say that the IVI brass is still comparable, if not better, than the commercial fodder available today (Win, Rem, Fed) To boot, brass and ammo in that calibre are relatively uncommon, you can easily sell the IVI ammo, or brass.
 
It is decent brass but like all old cartridges they may have age-hardened and may well benefit from annealing the necks before resizing.
 
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