Independence / ATK "Blazer" 357 Mag. ammo?

[yuppiejr]

Hi,

So now that I'm playing with wheelguns I decided to buy a bit of factory ammo to test/practice and eventually start reloading my own on the brass. I was at Capras today and noted they had boxes of 50 / 357 Magnum 158 gr JSP. (5254) for $22.99 each (cases were on sale for $405.99 if I recall) so I grabbed 2 boxes to go with my new (to me) S&W model 19 for function testing and practice. When I got them home and opened both boxes there were 100 Blazer Brass looking me in the face.

Since ATK "imports" this stuff do any of the Federal/ATK folks here know if this is actually overrun of their own brand products or if it's actually some sort of imported/reload that just happens to be using headstamp sorted brass? The brass looks brand new, I've shot plenty of Magtech/USA Ammo and other commercial reload stuff that didn't look anything like this. Primers are silver if that matters...

Just curious, might go grab another couple of boxes for a range trip this weekend particularly if I'm getting all single headstamp brass in the deal to reload.

Thanks for any info - J

[photogpat]

So its Capras branded reloads or new product? Could be a private label, that happens.

Blazer is made in Idaho under the CCI label.

[45Badger]

Stick with 158 grain pills for your 19. A steady diet of 125-130 grainers will beat the snot out of it. Serious S&W info available here- http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum.php

A 4" model 19 is a nice gun. A 6" Model 19 is elegance with a bang!

[OldmanFCSA]

My Ruger GP100 6"heavy in 357 likes Hornady XTP 140 grain over 18.2 grains of WIN296.
Most accurate loading I've ever tested in GP100's.
I buy Starline brass in 3000 pc lots. Works great for me.
I only keep enough Factory loadings around to be "legal".

Your results may vary ............................................................

[yuppiejr]

The Independence I purchased today was 158 grain semi jacketed flat nose so it sounds like I rolled the dice and won...

Turns out you can buy the same bullet configuration (158 gr semi jacketed flat nose) in Federal American Eagle form from AmmunitionToGo for just a hair over $200 shipped which is cheaper than the Independence stuff locally:

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_i ... point-ammo

I'm cracking open my manuals again to start re-reading the 38 SPC and .357 mag sections... of we go. Thanks for the info & recipe gents!

[45Badger]

If you want a truly pleasant mellow experience, drop 2.6-2.8 gr of bullseye (or win 231) in a .38 special case and stick a 148 gr wad cutter (DE or HB work fine). I prefer plated to not have lead to clean up, but that's up to you. Fire out of a .38 Special or .357 mag and you'll giggle.

[OldmanFCSA]

For in-house practice - de-prime&prime a 38Spcl case, put a paper punch dot of paper in bottom of case over flash hole, pour case level full of melted wax, let harden, shoot, repeat!!! NO GUNPOWDER REQUIRED.

Lots of fun - they will penetrate cardboard - best used outside because of potential lead or mercury exposure from primers.
Recovered bullets can be remelted and used again. Best of all, bullet material available at grocery store. Parafin Wax.

Wax bullets hurt like hell, do not shoot at anyone. DO NOT SHOOT AT ANYONE! That said, we use to use wax bullets for police training, night-time force-on-force training, hostage training, until one officer slipped in a live round accidentally on a reload from a speed-loader. No one was hurt, BUT EVERYONE was SCARED poopless! Rule that saved us was, first round from a speed-load was fired down-range into a bullet trap. Sure got everyone's attention since we were in an underground building at training center=total darkness training.

[Seismic Sam]

So was the careless person who threw a live round in the chamber assigned to clean up all the poop?? That could have turned out really, really bad. Sounds like the rules need to be changed slightly to make sure everybody needs to cough up all their live ammo at the front door. Never used the wax bullets, but did use to do indoor target shooting with my 9mm with just a primer and the Speer plastic bullets.