Odd ammo at the range

Big Dog · 04-03-2002, 02:22 PM

I found a couple empty cases at the range I haven't sen before. They are a cloudy white plastic with a silver (nickel? or maybe aluminum) rimmed casehead, with the stampings "USAC 38 SPL". Some type of .38 Special training load? They are shorter than brass cases, and the plastic is fairly thick, with a noticeable step about a third way down from the mouth. Are these things commercially available?

Jack O · 04-03-2002, 08:07 PM

Big Dog I have saw some plastic cased componets that fired plastic bullets with a primers. They are made for indoor practice. That may be what you saw. Y'all have a good one.

DavidC · 04-06-2002, 10:21 PM

i think those are training rounds for law enforcement types

SteveG · 05-04-2002, 11:45 PM

Big Dawg,

USAC (United States Ammunition Company) was around in the mid 1980's. They had a line of ammo that was plastic cased and made to reload by hand. Meaning, you deprimed and reprimed with their special tool loaded Bullseye (or whatever) and pushed the bullet in with your fingers. I know this sounds wild, but I tried few boxes when it came out. I still have a few of the cases with the bullets and a factory info sheet around here.

I hope this clears things up.

Steve G In NE

Eric · 08-12-2002, 10:39 PM

SteveG is right, I honest to goodness have just under 1,200 ounds of it in my shop. I bought it it the early 90's for next to nothing from a buddy of mine that sells ammo (If you need it, he's got it). He said they just didn't catch on like some people thought. Anybody want some?

rlpaladin · 04-03-2008, 12:35 AM

last poster still here???
i have a question about the USAC .38 spl ammo...

tnx

Taurus Fan · 04-03-2008, 07:28 AM

I had some in 1980, all you put in was a new primer and they shot the plastic bullet out with a pretty good force. They made a good indoor rainy day diversion, but even powered by just the primer, they'd punch holes in cardboard boxes, you needed a backdrop to catch the bullets. Been a long time, but it seems like for outdoor range use, they did recommend a VERY tiny amount of Bullseye. I'd forgotten about that until I saw SteveG's post.

kenbo776 · 05-06-2008, 09:20 PM

Back in 1979, I too had some of the .38 cal ammo . It was for indoor use and it used only the primer for power. It was easy to reload ...pretty powerful too. Went right thru milkcarton at 25 ft. and can also totally blow up your common pesky household mouse as I found out one day.
Made a mess all over the wall....yuck.....
ken

TXplt · 05-06-2008, 09:41 PM

I remember these...it was a light cylindrical plastic thing for the "bullet" and a plastic casing primed with a small pistol primer. The ones I remember were made of Blue and Red plastic (bullet was black). Late 70's. The variant we shot wasn't designed to be used with any powder; just the primers.

Big Dog · 05-07-2008, 05:23 AM

Wow! Quite a resurgence for an old post! Love it!

Since then, I have found some .223 Rem plastic casings too, with similar metal base. Apparently a training round - somebody must have bought a case - it was all over the range floor!

Mike Franklin · 05-07-2008, 06:15 AM

Hold on that ammo. It has been made for awhile and will, in the future, have some collector value. I have some .357 mag Black Talon I'm saving for a rainy day.

Cyrille · 05-07-2008, 07:33 AM

Sounds to me like it's something the anti's would push, you know for marking and tracing purposes!

andrew cochran · 05-07-2008, 10:11 AM

I never heard of the stuff. Sounds intresting.

I know they make 9 mm paintball ammo for law inforcement training.

04-03-2002, 02:22 PM	#1
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,225	Odd ammo at the range I found a couple empty cases at the range I haven't sen before. They are a cloudy white plastic with a silver (nickel? or maybe aluminum) rimmed casehead, with the stampings "USAC 38 SPL". Some type of .38 Special training load? They are shorter than brass cases, and the plastic is fairly thick, with a noticeable step about a third way down from the mouth. Are these things commercially available? __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

04-03-2002, 08:07 PM	#2
Jack O Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mobile Alabama Posts: 172	Big Dog I have saw some plastic cased componets that fired plastic bullets with a primers. They are made for indoor practice. That may be what you saw. Y'all have a good one. __________________ " Without proper weaponry the hunter will become the hunted"

04-06-2002, 10:21 PM	#3
DavidC Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio tx Posts: 25	i think those are training rounds for law enforcement types __________________ NEVER MIND THE DOG BEWARE OF THE OWNER AND HIS M1A , OH YEA IF YOU RUN YOU WILL JUST DIE TIRED

08-12-2002, 10:39 PM	#5
Eric Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 673	SteveG is right, I honest to goodness have just under 1,200 ounds of it in my shop. I bought it it the early 90's for next to nothing from a buddy of mine that sells ammo (If you need it, he's got it). He said they just didn't catch on like some people thought. Anybody want some? __________________ I told him straight up, "You are an idiot for bringing those two fists to this gun fight."

04-03-2008, 12:35 AM	#6
rlpaladin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lake City, South Carolina Posts: 1	i know this an old thred,,, but last poster still here??? i have a question about the USAC .38 spl ammo... tnx

05-04-2002, 11:45 PM	#4
SteveG Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Omaha Posts: 36	Big Dawg, USAC (United States Ammunition Company) was around in the mid 1980's. They had a line of ammo that was plastic cased and made to reload by hand. Meaning, you deprimed and reprimed with their special tool loaded Bullseye (or whatever) and pushed the bullet in with your fingers. I know this sounds wild, but I tried few boxes when it came out. I still have a few of the cases with the bullets and a factory info sheet around here. I hope this clears things up. Steve G In NE

04-03-2008, 07:28 AM	#7
Taurus Fan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cobra Command Headquarters Posts: 816	I had some in 1980, all you put in was a new primer and they shot the plastic bullet out with a pretty good force. They made a good indoor rainy day diversion, but even powered by just the primer, they'd punch holes in cardboard boxes, you needed a backdrop to catch the bullets. Been a long time, but it seems like for outdoor range use, they did recommend a VERY tiny amount of Bullseye. I'd forgotten about that until I saw SteveG's post. Last edited by Taurus Fan; 04-03-2008 at 07:53 AM.

05-06-2008, 09:20 PM	#8
kenbo776 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Plastic practice ammo Back in 1979, I too had some of the .38 cal ammo . It was for indoor use and it used only the primer for power. It was easy to reload ...pretty powerful too. Went right thru milkcarton at 25 ft. and can also totally blow up your common pesky household mouse as I found out one day. Made a mess all over the wall....yuck..... ken

05-06-2008, 09:41 PM	#9
TXplt Lost in the Ozone Again Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 2,855 Images: 4 Blog Entries: 2	I remember these...it was a light cylindrical plastic thing for the "bullet" and a plastic casing primed with a small pistol primer. The ones I remember were made of Blue and Red plastic (bullet was black). Late 70's. The variant we shot wasn't designed to be used with any powder; just the primers. __________________ Old fighter pilots never die.....They just wind up in Texas Last edited by TXplt; 05-06-2008 at 09:43 PM.

05-07-2008, 05:23 AM	#10
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,225	Wow! Quite a resurgence for an old post! Love it! Since then, I have found some .223 Rem plastic casings too, with similar metal base. Apparently a training round - somebody must have bought a case - it was all over the range floor! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

05-07-2008, 06:15 AM	#11
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,276	Hold on that ammo. It has been made for awhile and will, in the future, have some collector value. I have some .357 mag Black Talon I'm saving for a rainy day.

05-07-2008, 07:33 AM	#12
Cyrille Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 1,863	Sounds to me like it's something the anti's would push, you know for marking and tracing purposes!

05-07-2008, 10:11 AM	#13
andrew cochran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Little town in ARKANSAW! Posts: 2,183	I never heard of the stuff. Sounds intresting. I know they make 9 mm paintball ammo for law inforcement training. __________________ If you don't have anything good to say... Don't say it!