Old Ammo Question?

[foghorn918]

I have about 600 rounds of .38 special wad cutters that I got from my step dad (OKC PD retired).

They are reloads from the OKC PD range from 1968 - 1969 era.

(side bar trivia - the rounds belonged to my Mom who shot competively for the OKC PD in the 60's, before they had female police officers, she was a secretary there, but was a member on the police shooting team)

I have shot 6 rounds and they seem to produce a white smoke, more smoke than new factory loads. They all went bang, and projectile to the target.

Question is: Do any of you who reload, and ammo experts, feel like this ammo is still OK to shoot?

It has always been stored in climate controlled areas.

I thought I would shoot it to work on trigger control, plus it was free.

Just want to be safe and not damage a gun.

Let me know what you think.

 

[pdcrig]

I'm not saying that you should use them, but I would feel confident if they are mild and they were stored in a controlled environment. If you've got a chronograph you may want to check the velocity. That is a useful indicator( but not the only) to determine safety.

 

[Zombie]

I'd say they should be fine personally...So long as they seem to be consistent and don't feel off when shooting. I have some in 45 I have shot without issue so far just a little dirty

 

[criticalbass]

Wadcutters are light loads. The police reloaders were little motorized factories that gave very consistent results in large volume. The white smoke? I don't have a clue, but suspect it is a powder that was cheap even at the time. I would clean well after every trip.

I would not be afraid of these in a solid revolver. The brass might be getting a little brittle, so annealing or tossing might be in order. CB

 

[Old Fart]

Shoot them.

 

[foghorn918]

Thanx for the feedback. Much appreciated.

 

[Danny]

I think you'll be okay also. Guns back then weren't very stout, so anything used for them should be good to go in a modern revolver.

 

[dennishoddy]

I think you'll be okay also. Guns back then weren't very stout, so anything used for them should be good to go in a modern revolver.

That is a good statment. A buddy was shooting a .357 S&W revolver out at the range last week. I thought he had it loaded with black powder with as much smoke as he was putting out. He reloads, and said the powder he had, has a reputation for doing that.

 

[oneof79]

The white smoke isn't from the powder, it is probably from the lube on the bullets.

 

[T.R.]

The white smoke isn't from the powder, it is probably from the lube on the bullets.

This.