old 38 spl

[Cheesehead]

I came across some old 38 spl rounds. The head stamp says "U.M.C. 38 S&W SPL" with a "U" stamped on the copper colored primer. I know it means Union Metallic Cartridge. The bullet appears to be round nose lead. Probably fairly common, but how old? Should I shoot them or disassembled for the brass or save them?

Cheese

[rem2035]

Cheesehead
     
I would just keep them and definitely would not shoot them.

1.They were made before or around the time of the Union Metallic Cartridge/ Remington Arms           Company merger which occured in 1911. Some time after the merger headstamps are Rem-UMC.

2.The primers will be corrosive. It wasn't until 1926, Remington introduced Kleanbore priming in  ammunition.

3. It is possible to have a blackpowder round. My 1901, 1903, 1908, and 1910 UMC catalogs have both in them. Remington listed blackpowder revolver cartridges until 1938 catalog.

4. My 1913-14 catalog shows UMC headstamp in cartridge pictures.

rem2035

[Cheesehead]

rem2035,

Thanks for the info. I pulled one of the bullets and found a small amount of off white colored powder. The amount and the color of the powder seems unusual.

Cheese

[mcwoodduck]

I have six of these that came with my great grandfathers S&W knock off Spanish revolver.  Does anybody collect them?

[Reed1911]

Cheese,

Likely that off white powder is inert filler, a lot of times bulk powder has it, it is used to add weight and bulk so a given load of powder "x" can still be used with lot to lot variations.