Author Topic: RWS pistol/revolver brass: Balloon Headed???  (Read 646 times)

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Offline Blackhawker

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RWS pistol/revolver brass: Balloon Headed???
« on: January 26, 2012, 06:39:16 AM »
I was at the range the other day and picked up a bunch of .357 mag, 38sp, and 45 auto brass.  As I was cleaning and prepping the cases last night I noticed that all of the RWS brass in the above listed calibers appears to be balloon headed brass.  The brass is certainly new brass and I just can't figure out why the bottoms of cases look like this.  More importantly, I wonder if this can be reloaded.  ???  While the 38's and 45's are somewhat low pressure rounds, I certainly don't want to run a full 357 magnum load in a balloon headed case. 
Does anyone here know if this brass can be reloaded or if it is truly balloon headed?
As nice as the brass looks, I may be tossing the .357 mag brass.    :-\

Offline cwlongshot

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Re: RWS pistol/revolver brass: Balloon Headed???
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2012, 11:57:18 PM »
I doubt its truly a balloon head case of modern manufacturer.... Cut grind one in half and look!
 
Older balloon head cases (45 L C) are easilly spotted they lack the relief cut at the rim. This is bacause of the way they are formed.
If you do have some, they are not appropraite for modern smokless powders. I have herd the term "semi balloon head" but never seen the animal.
 
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Offline Blackhawker

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Re: RWS pistol/revolver brass: Balloon Headed???
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2012, 03:30:36 AM »
A few months ago I acquired some old 38-40 brass. Most of it was solid headed but there were about 70 pieces (since sold to a BP loader) that were really old and balloon headed.  Prior to my buying this brass, I had never seen a balloon headed case before and always wondered what they looked like. 

The brass I picked up the other day all has a "hump" in the middle of the case around the area that houses the primer.  I too was amazed to see this since this is modern made brass.  In fact, I looked up RWS and they make some heavy caliber rifle brass.  The .357 mag ammo they sell states that the brass is reloadable but it seems odd that the inner case has this hump in the middle and a crevice around the rim area, much like balloon headed cases. 

I'll try to cross section one if I have some time and I'll post a pic.....again, if I have some time to do so.