57 year old relaods

[aggie67]

A good friend who had died a fews years back gave me some loaded ammo that he said he cast bullets for and reloaded back in early to mid 50's. There were .38 spl, .45 Colt and a few .45 ACP along with some 38-40 Win. I shot all of it except the .38 WCF last Sunday and all of it--except 2 rounds--went bang, recoiled properly and made a noise when it struck steel. I know the Colt was loaded with Bullseye and it was the only misfires out of about 75 rounds total. The primers had a great strike in the Ruger Blackhawk, just did not light off. . These had been stored in a tack room of his barn where he loaded all those years.

I pulled the two bullets and the powder charge was dry and correct and when I knocked the primers out, no sign of why they misfired as they were dry, no oil or anything else. I loaded them in bare cases and hit them with the revolver hammer again--no light/no bang. Really was amazed. His lead was alloyed to be close to Lyman #2, but on some of these there was oxidation on the part of the cast bullet outside the case. On the bullets, I pulled, the lead inside the brass case was tarnished but not affected by age.

Wish my friend could have been there to see us shoot it. The farm where our range is located is one I bought from him after he retired so it would have been twice as nice. Still got to shoot the .38*.40 though, Maybe next range day.

A bad day shooting is better than a good day shopping with the wife. Bear

[mr surveyor]

very cool story.

Thanks for posting it.

[Don2]

I don't know what the big deal is. I am 57, and I reload.

Hummm

Never mind.

Heck...I don't understand either...I was born in 57 and I reload also..!!!!
If their kept out of the rain and sun..They pretty much last a very long time..

Several months ago, I washed several of my blue jeans and had 6 38spl's in my pocket...They went through the washer and drier with no issues.....I was very surprised when my wife walked into the room and asked my why I washed and dried my ammo too.....It had worked its way out of the pocket and was clinking around the drier when she heard it..!!!
Just a dumb move on my part....BUT...They shot just fine after sitting on my bench for a day...!!!!

True but DUMB story ( I'm NOT telling any others!! )
Don2