Lake City .38 SPL?

[M. Sage]

I just picked up 50 rounds of .38 SPL at the gun show, it's head-stamped 79LC, and is obviously military. THe box identifies it as "Caliber .38 Special, ball, PGU-12/B High Velocity, 130 Grain." Anybody know anything about this ammo? Is the pressure standard and would it be safe to shoot in a standard-pressure rated revolver?

It does have a very hefty crimp low on the bullet, and the bullet is deep in the case, practically telescoped. I just want to make sure that this can't damage the revolver I just bought.

[Sideline Shooter]

1979 was a looong time ago. This brass could have been reloaded and put in the same box. I only say that because you stated it has a hefty crimp. Do you see any other signs as it being reloaded? Maybe pull a bullet and weigh it to verify the bullet weight.

Sideline Shooter

[freakshow10mm]

PGU-12/B
Ball (Light - 132 gr- high velocity)
Deep seated bullet with heavy cannelure 1/4" below mouth

http://www.frfrogspad.com/miscella.htm

3/4 or so down the page.

Here you can purchase the mil spec document specs for $25:

http://aero-defense.ihs.com/document/abstract/FSNWDAAAAAAAAAAA

From TFL: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=184039

Starting with early sixties, US Air Force (US AF) decided to go back from semiautomatic M1911A1 pistols to revolvers; there were few reasons to do that, including lighter weight of most recent revolvers with aluminium frames, as well as simplified manual of arms. Another reason for this step back was significant wear of available pistols. During Vietnam war, pilots and other personnel of US AF and US Navy were armed with a wide variety of revolvers, made mostly by Colt and Smith & Wesson. These included two- and four-inch barrel versions, as well as six- and five-shot models, with steel and aluminium frames, and some even with aluminium cylinders. As available commercial .38 Special ammunition was of rather marginal effectiveness, USAF developed it sown .38 Special round, loaded with jacketed ball bullet to conform to international conventions. Designated as PGU-12/B, this round was still relatively weak on terminal effect, and in 1977 US AF requested additional funds to develop even more effective revolver load. However, instead of authorizing of new spending, Congress requested the US AF to provide the entire picture of situation with handguns in US Armed Forces. Following analysis shown that out of about 590 thousands of various handguns, listed in US military inventories, about 120 thousands were revolvers of various types; also, only 430 thousands (about 73%) of those sidearms were in serviceable conditions. More than 90 types of handgun ammunition also were listed. As a result of these findings, reported to Congress, it decided to authorize adoption of an entirely new, modern 9mm semiautomatic pistol for all armed forces.

[M. Sage]

Thanks. I found a bit of info that says they fired this stuff from guns with aluminum frames and even aluminum cylinders. Don't think I'll worry too much about a stainless gun.

1979 was a looong time ago. This brass could have been reloaded and put in the same box. I only say that because you stated it has a hefty crimp. Do you see any other signs as it being reloaded? Maybe pull a bullet and weigh it to verify the bullet weight.

Sideline Shooter

Oh no. This is actually a cannelure that is way down by where the base of the bullet probably is. I'd be shocked if it was reloaded because I don't see someone putting that on like it is. Too much work, since you can't do it with regular reloading dies.

I might shoot some, might hang on to it. Apparently it's kind of hard to find this stuff. Only paid $15 for a pristine box of 50.

[ar15barrels]

The army ammunition data sheets from 1994 still list 38special loads.

Start at page 80 of this pdf file:

http://ar15barrels.com/tech/TM43-0001-27.pdf