Older 38-40 ammo and cases

[Blackhawker]

Recently, I purchased some 38-40 brass from someone on an auction site.  While I was in search of modern solid headed cases for reloading higher pressure loads in my Ruger Blackhawk, I had very much been mis-informed or "under-informed" by the seller as to what I was buying.  Fortunately, roughly half of what I purchased was new, unfired and newer fired solid headed cases.  Prior to buying this brass, I had never seen a balloon headed case. 

At this time, all of the balloon headed cases have been tossed into my trash can but now I'm wondering if there is some collector value to them.    The cases that have balloon heads are headstamped as "Peters", "REM-UMC", "WRA" with the 38WCF designation rather than 38-40, and the "Western" headstamp.  The cases marked with "Western" do not have balloon heads, however, I'm now wondering if these cases should be re-loaded to higher pressures as they are probably fairly old as well. 

Does anyone have any knowledge of older 38-40 cases and/or if they have any value to a collector or otherwise?

[Mikey]

Blackwater:  years ago when I was wildcatting a 40 caliber for a 1911 I purchased old 38-40 ammo and pulled the bullets for fodder.  I had the cases hanging around for years until I finally sold them at a CASS match.  The fella who bought them from me liked the older (balloon head) cases as he said they were more 'original' and could load up the full black powder charge - seems the new cases don't take as much of the Holy Black as the older balloon head cases.
 
If you have a Ruger in 38-40 I would simply buy new brass and load that stuff and sell the older brass on a CASS site, or even here...  Good luck. 

[Blackhawker]

Thanks for the info Mikey.  I had read the same about the case capacity for black powder loads as well.  I posted the brass on the reloading classifieds just the other day.

Thanks!