Does anyone still shoot factory 185 metal Case SWC?

First topic message reminder :


I've been trying to do some searching on the value of some Factory .45 185 wadcutter, and can't seem to find anything using the search function; has it fallen out of favor and totally been supplanted by the lead reloads?

Randy

I still have a box or so of the Remington 185 SWC's.  I save them for 50yd testing of guns I build.  I've always felt they were special in that regard.  

I agree with fc60 that in theory and practice the jacketed hollow points should be more accurate because of the consistency of the bases.  But the profile of these HP's is tailor made for feeding hangups because the nose is finished to a sharp edge.  That nose is just looking for an edge to hang on.  You have to really know what you are doing in setting up the feed ramp of frame and barrel, and also your magazine release points to make these alibi free.

RJaquith wrote:Thanks for the quick responses - guess it's just plinkin' ammo now

A few years  back the Marines at Quantico shot a lot of WW 185 JSWC , lot # 40- 6000 through 40-6004 . It was very good ammo.
I have about 4500 Remington 185JSWC.

Sir,

You just made my day with those lot numbers!

Thanks!

RJaquith wrote:Sir,

You just made my day with those lot numbers!

Thanks!

Now this was Winchester yellow box , don't remember their name for it .

RJaquith wrote:Sir,

You just made my day with those lot numbers!

Thanks!

Now this was Winchester yellow box , don't remember their name for it .
Do you have some ?

I have 1000 rounds of yellow box that I picked up at a gun show years ago(probably from a retired military shooter), half which is mixed lots (maybe civilian?), but 500 of which is WCC 40-6002 - that falls right into your data range.

RJaquith wrote:I have 1000 rounds of yellow box that I picked up at a gun show years ago(probably from a retired military shooter), half which is mixed lots (maybe civilian?), but 500 of which is WCC 40-6002 - that falls right into your data range.

I have some that I picked up years at a gun show in Ohio . 1000 of 40-6000 and 800 of 40- 6004 .
I would not sell it , it is match ammo.

SingleActionAndrew wrote:

Ed Hall wrote:Remington is the only one I know of that is still selling those style bullets.  Here's Midway's offering:

Remington Match Bullets 45 Caliber (452 Diameter) 185 Grain Full Metal Jacket Truncated Cone

(Or, are you meaning cartridges, in which case Federal Gold Medal uses them?)

Do we know if the bullets are still made? Midway says discontinued. I'd love a steady supply.

I have about 4500 Remington 185 JSWC .

To the OP…in the world of competitive rifle shooting, the older the ammo is the more likely it is to have degraded performance. One contributing factor is the phenomenon of “cold welding” I believe it is called. This is where two metals gradually fuse together by some amount over time. I have used military issued match ammo MK262 (Black Hills 223 match) but if it is several years old I re-seat the bullet by several thousandths (.015-ish) to break the seal of the weld. I typically can feel a POP when I do this if the ammo is a couple years old. This welding of the case neck to the bullet obviously has a negative impact on the standard deviations and ultimately group size.

My concern for purchasing ammo that is 10+ years old is how does this apply to pistol ammo? Especially when used for bullseye competition. Would need to see some current group test results at 25 & 50 yds or else I would have to consider this ammo to be just short range practice ammo now.

Just some food for thought.

-Trevor

If the bullets are lead (lubed or coated) cold welding is unlikely. Jacketed bullets will, to some extent because jackets are made from a copper rich brass.  So you get copper-copper cold welding which isn’t a super strong weld to begin with.

As a welder who has welded copper, brass, carbon steel , stainless , plastic and glass.with NE ER a bad Xray I think you people are dreaming and trying to explain something that you have absolutely no background in . The only thing that I know of that can be cold welded is pure Gold . Most 45 ball has an asphalt coating between bullet and case as a all weather seal. Bullet and case Sticking together IS NOT WELDING.

Belive me most old ammo has the ability to outshoot the  shooter  
 All it takes is a Ramson Rest or barrel tester ( I have both ) and we can find out .

RJaquith wrote:
I've been trying to do some searching on the value of some Factory .45 185 wadcutter, and can't seem to find anything using the search function; has it fallen out of favor and totally been supplanted by the lead reloads?

Randy

I have about 4 cases of Federal Gold Medal 185gr JWC ammo.  It would appear that Federal is no longer making this ammo but I occasionally see it for sale at $45 to $50 a box.  That is pretty close to the market price when I bought mine.

Mike

Jon Eulette wrote:Federal Match 185 JSWC red & white box early 90’s; US Army Reserve Team issued ammunition.
Ransom Tested by me. Pistol built by me. Routinely saw groups like this at 50 yds.

Jon,

For decades elite gunsmiths would use the Federal Gold Medal 185gr FMJSWC ammo to test their finished pistols before sending them on to their new owners.  Many still do depending on their ability to acquire this GM45B ammo. 

Mike