Army wife could use some advice...

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H

HP

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Hello,
I'm a first time poster and just need some general advice.

My husband is stationed in Iraq. One of our favorite activities is to go shooting together, so while he's gone I go to the range alone fairly frequently and send him my targets. I know it sounds sort of lame, but it's just one small way we can connect. We can't talk on the phone all that much. And it tickles him to see my improvement.

Anyway, before he left, he reloaded me a bunch of ammo, but I blew through it pretty fast. For the interim, I purchased a couple of cases of factory ammo from Cabela's. At the range tonight, I had a cartridge completely separate in the receiver. Only about one inch of the brass ejected, the rest jammed up the barrel. One of the guys there helped me and showed me how to use a wire brush to remove the piece in the barrel.

It scared the bejeesus out of me. Do I need to worry about the rest of the ammo?

This is .223 ammo. The cases are marked LC 04 on the bottom. The brand is 'Ultramax'.

So...was this a fluke? Do I need to worry about the rest of the case of ammo? And finally, should I clean the rifle any differently than I usually do?

Thanks in advance for any advice...
Heather
 
Let me be the first to welcome you to the board.

This is the first I've heard of cases separating on the Ultramax stuff from Cabela's. I've shot a bulk pack with no problems and haven't heard of it from anyone else before now. However, I understand this is remanufactured ammo, as evidenced by the headstamp you cited. I'd advise you to just keep watching and see if you have any more problems.

Oh, and while you now know how to use a cleaning brush to remove a stuck section of case, you might also aquire a broken shell extractor. Those are available for .223/5.56mm (as well as .308, '06, and others).
 
...while he's gone I go to the range alone fairly frequently and send him my targets. I know it sounds sort of lame...
Click to expand...
No, it's not. I was there fifteen years ago. I didn't have a wife or girlfriend at the time, but letters, mementos, or anything else from family and friends was worth more than gold.

Sending him your targets and letting him see your improvement is an excellent idea. By doing this, you're keeping him involved with your progress and helping him feel like he's still involved in the things you do at home. Take it a step further. Ask him advice, any questions you may have about your shooting, tips to keep improving. Need some tips about dealing with a flinch? Thinking about trying a different bullet? Maybe you've been thinking about getting a new .22 rimfire? Whatever it may be, bring it up and ask his opinion on it, get his feedback. Then do it and show him the results of his guidance. Don't just tell him about what you've been doing, make him part of the process. (Maybe also send some pictures of yourself shooting.)

This approach can be applied to any hobby or pastime, or even things like taking care of the house, and instead of feeling detached, it will make him feel like he's still involved in your life, rather than just hearing about it after the fact.
 
Bad ammo is a possibility with ANY brand of ammo, unfortunately. Ultramax is remanufactured, and while I haven't heard of any systemic problems with it, it is twice-loaded brass and there is an increased risk that something got by the loaders - in this case probably a bad piece of overstressed brass.

I wouldn't let it slow me down, it's proabably a fluke - but by all means contact Ultramax and let them know about the problem. They need to know, to keep QC up to snuff and shooters safe.

Ultramax Ammunition
2112 Elk Vale Road
Rapid City, SD 57701

Toll-Free 800-345-5852 or 605-342-4141
Fax 605-342-8727


BTW, thank your husband for his service, and you as well for being his support. May he be safe and come home soon.
 
Don't thank us. When you make a promise you stick to it. That goes for either of us.

It is a german made Vorre with a set trigger. No one here has ever heard of it, but six months ago it was the only thing in my price range. It has elegant lines and seems to be very accurate.

I will contact Ultramax and let them know about the problem.

Thank you for all the help and advice. And who knew this happened often enough that they made a tool for it!

Heather
 
Heather, welcome to THR.
God bless your husband and I pray he makes it home safe to you once again.

If you have the ability to, post pictures of the failure here, and also of your targets.

Again. Welcome.

RTFM.
 
HP, you experienced a case head seperation. It is the most common "ultimate end" do overly-reloaded brass. Another possibility is that you have a headspace prioblem with your rifle, but chances are that isn't the case since you've been using reloads with great success. The simplest answer is that Ultramax got a really worn out piece of brass and its life ended in your rifle. Buy yourself a broken shell extractor (just a few bucks) and this time shrug it off. If it happens again, consider taking the rifle to a smith who can check the headspace. If everything is ok then, switch brands of ammo.
 
I have never heard of that and think it's probably going to just be a one time problem due to a worn out case. Although, I did recently buy a box of Ultramax that had all dented cases around the shoulder. Perhaps the quality control is slipping.

What prompted my post was the Vorre rifle you speak of. After a pretty extensive google/gunbroker search I can't find a picture or description of one of these rifles. Do you have a link either in German or English that you could show us?
 
Shoot. I can't figure out how to post pics here.

It would help if I spelled it correctly. The barrel reads:
Voere Titan Menor Vonrebach Kal. 223

I don't think the rifle itself was to blame. It has been performing perfectly for me. I will go with the main thought expressed here that it's a fluke.

Thanks ya'll.
Heather
 
I was never in the service, although both my brothers were back in the 1970s and 1980s. The older I get the more I realize the gratitude we owe to those who go and serve.

If I had been in the service it would have tickeled me if my wife sent me targets she'd shot.

I have had remanufactued ammo cases split before. I've also had my reloads split. I haven't had a case head separation.

You can find broken case extractors advertised in Shotgun News.
 
Welcome aboard Heather.

Another military man here.

Don't know where your at but if you need any help while he's gone don't hesitate to ask here or at your local VFW.
 
You may not want thanks but thanks you have. I served 27½ years and have some small idea of what you are doing and have done (both of you) so that your husband can successfully serve. I DEEPLY appreciate that there are folks such as you who have picked up where I left off. I'd hate to see what little I contributed be wasted/lost.
 
I forgot to tell you in my first post that those broken shell extractors can be had through cheaperthandirt.com and probably a few other places, and they don't cost much.
 
Heather, I forgot to tell you...I just got back from nearly a year in Iraq...I know for a fact your husband looks for your mail every day with a lot of excitement!
 
Ultramax ammo

I contacted Ultramax and 'Lana' immediatly offered to swap out with new ammunition. They even wanted to pick up the shipping costs. I declined since most of you thought it was a fluke.

She also said that .223 brass was getting hard to locate because most of it gets sent to Iraq.

The sevice was first rate.

Thanks again for all your help,
Heather
 
Heather,

If I knew where to ship it, I would send you a CASE of ammo for that rifle.

May God bless you and keep you and may He hide your husband in the hollow of his wing, as he fights for our country.

Thanks to you for keeping him motivated.

Spoon
 
Hey HP...

Welcome to THR ! My situation was just like yours...only reversed. My wife, the SGT Major, was away from me for over two years...and anything you can say or do for a separated loved one goes far, and should never be considered trivial.
In keeping with the thread...I never put any ammo labeled "re-manufactured" through any of my firearms. If you like cheap...try the "Cheaper than Dirt" website, and look at Wolf .223. Never had a problem with it !

-DOD employee ( 28 years ) :evil:
 
In keeping with the thread...I never put any ammo labeled "re-manufactured" through any of my firearms. If you like cheap...try the "Cheaper than Dirt" website, and look at Wolf .223. Never had a problem with it !
Click to expand...

FWIW, I read and hear mixed reviews on Wolf ammo in general. First off, I hear Wolf burns dirty, but not as dirty as Barnaul. Now, the reason I've been reluctant to try Wolf, as good as some people say it is, is that the case is laquer coated steel. I've heard that while it feeds and functions flawlessly in communist bloc weapons, American guns have tighter chambers more like a match rifle and it don't tend to work as well. I've heard plenty of complaints about the laquer burning off and gunking up the chamber and causing failures to go to battery and/or eject. That's why I tend to stick to American-made or Sellier&Bellot brass cased ammo and advise others to do the same.
 
I thought voere's caseless rifle was discontinued... hmm.

I've shot a lot of Ultramax ammo without a problem, likely just a fluke.

Anyway.. Heather you keep right on sending those targets.
 
Wolf Ammo...

quote: First off, I hear Wolf burns dirty, but not as dirty as Barnaul. Now, the reason I've been reluctant to try Wolf, as good as some people say it is, is that the case is laquer coated steel. I've heard that while it feeds and functions flawlessly in communist bloc weapons, American guns have tighter chambers more like a match rifle and it don't tend to work as well. I've heard plenty of complaints about the laquer burning off and gunking up the chamber and causing failures to go to battery and/or eject.

Problem above was solved by Wolf around a year ago...FWIW, I don't go by what I read or hear...but by what I know from first hand experience. I tried it in my Olympic Arms M4 with a buttoned 5.56mm barrel...like I said...never a problem. YMMV... :scrutiny:
 
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