Federal 38 special

[Tomme boy]

I have noticed in the last 6 months I have been getting a large amount of 38 special brass at the local range. And most of it has been Federal. I am having a problem with it. The rims are too large in diameter to fit in any of the 4 shell holders I have for it.

I measured a bunch of the ones that I can not insert into the shell holders. They are running 0.4355"-0.437". Saami calls for 0.440" So they are under what the book calls for but will not fit in any of my shell holder. I also measured a bunch of the other brass and they all were around 0.431"-0.433"

Just wanted to let some people know what I have been seeing. I few of the A-USA brass and Blazer had this same problem but no where near the amount I have that are Federal.

So anyone else have brass that does this? I am just pitching them into the scrap bucket as I have more than I will ever use. I did chuck a couple in the lathe and turned them down to 0.433" and they fit fine in the shell holder after that. I think they might have had a large run on brass that was just a little large.

 

[JWinAZ]

How about the rim thickness?

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I loaded a couple 50 cal cans full twenty years ago when I got my first 550. Haven't loaded more then a couple Hundred since.

CW

 

[Mitty38]

I have noticed this on some of the newer Federal and Blazer 38 special. Never bothered to measure it. Because it was only a couple pieces of range pick up stuff. Just tossed it.
Had found that on Blazer 2 or 3 years past. 1 or 2 in a box.
But only in Federal this last year.
Might be a tolerance stacking issue. My Lee shell holder does fit the 38 special pretty tight.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

Some folks will have more than one die set and perhaps a different shell holder would be a good fit. Rather than scrap it, offer it for sale noted that the rim is large and will need a dedicated shell holder. I see very little 38 special laying around these days so suspect it is worth sorting out and finding a new home for it later.

 

[fiver]

yep, I ain't seen a 38 case on the ground in probably 10 years... unless i drop it.

 

[Tomme boy]

I have 4 shell holders from Lee, RCBS, A knurled one I can't remember who made. These cases don't fit in any of them.

It is not really a big deal as I have picked up almost 2000 of them last year. For me I am just pitching them now. I just sent a internet friend about 500 or so. He might run into some of these. So @CWLONGSHOT if you talk to Jamie he might see some of these if you want to tell him.

I know if I bought factory ammo to get brass I would be mad if these were in the box. But I don't buy factory ammo.

 

[Tomme boy]

How about the rim thickness?

Have not checked it. I can put them in my guns and the cyl turns so they must be in tolerance there.

 

[Rex]

What about a Dillon 550, shouldn't it work there?

 

[Tomme boy]

I ran a few of the cases in my Lee ABLP/4000 press to size them and they feed and work in that shell plate. But the way those are it has a lot of slop to allow for misalignment of the press. But I do not prime on that setup as it throws primers all over the place so I hand prime. And that is where I am running into the problem with the over sized rim.

 

[Mitty38]

I only have two shell holders that size. One for the hand de primer and the other for the presses.
Come to think of it. I need to try a few that won't fit the hand prime, in the bench press,next time I get some. Never have with the .38 special brass. Always de primed it by hand.

I have an ice cream bucket of Thrice fired back(about 1000). And consistently finding 50 or so Blazer or Winchester at the range.So another 5 quart bucket.

Plus my cousin shoots Blazer and Federal in his carry. He gives me a couple boxes a year.
Probably have almost another 5 quart bucket of those.

A total of about 2500 or so.
So tossing a few once fired is not a big deal for me.
Now if it were .357 brass. I would be filing the head, modifying the case holder, or something. Cause I only have 200 of those.

 

[Tomme boy]

I would turn down the 357 mag brass if it was like this. I find it but nothing like what I find in 38 special.

 

[Mitty38]

I have yet to find a .357 once fired shell in my area. That is not aluminum case.

So I use Starline and judiciously police it. Probably better off with some of the Hot H110 loads I shoot It with anyway.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Yes 357 is scarce as range pickups. I find full boxes occasionally. ( We are supposed to pick up all spent brass) So I check target trash as well as brass buckets. Got almost 50 pcs of 458 Socomb from couple kids couple months ago.

 

[Rex]

Tomme, wish you lived here in our little berg you could come over and use my Dillon to size and prime with and I'd make a pot of coffee.