Is it just me..

[PWC]

or are there more posts about gun/ammo failures recently? Seems like a lot of brass failures at the case head, bulged cases, mostly pistol, rare for revolver, seldom rifle.

Can't say it is because of new reloaders because each incident discussion appears to be different. It does appear to be slanted more toward range brass with unknown history, and suprisingly, new brass failures.

Maybe it is because with all the new shooters there are more folks posting, as opposed to older shooting community that has discussed/anlyzed these failures in the past. Could this new brass failure be because of hi demand and quality slip ups, or changing brass specs accepted by mfgrs?

I don't know; I just notice there seems to be more posts on the subject.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Many possibilities. More shooters, new shooters, more people on the range to see bad stuff happen, more new reloaders (some who really concern me), etc.

Ammo makers may have dropped the ball a bit more often recently. Or, maybe people are pulling out old/improperly stored ammo to shoot now.

Many possible variables.

I am wondering it I should not longer leave old/borderline unsafe brass on the range anymore. If I am leaving brass in the bucket it there it should NOT be reloaded. Maybe I need to bring it home and scrap it if others can't figure that out themselves? Think I will to try to help them in any case.

 

[Gridley]

One more possible cause for more people complaining about failures: experienced shooters picking up cheaper ammo than they have before.

I'm a bit of an 'ammo snob'. Pre-panicdemic I sneered at steel case, and wouldn't buy '2nd tier' new-manufactured ammo. Sure, my ammo cost a little more, but I didn't worry about duds, high primers, etc.

During the last year and I half I dipped far enough into my stockpiles that I felt I had to replenish... and stuff I'd scorned before was all that was out there if there was anything at all. I now have things in stock from manufacturers I'd never heard of a year ago (including one I'll never buy from again). So, yeah, I've had a few more ammo problems. Haven't posted about them because I expect cheap ammo to have problems (even when it is actually really expensive ammo), but I have had them.

(Edit to add: yes, steel case ammo works. I mentioned the "snob" part, right?)

 

[troy fairweather]

Could be, I just picked up a box of 270 Winchester power points literally the worst box of ammo I've ever got. I'll post a picture, sorry for the quality. This case has a Wrinkle the hole neck and some on the shoulder, there is a very nasty burr on the case mouth thats .015 fatter then the neck diameter. col jumps around about 80 thousands. Plus the brass is very white like there not enough copper in the mix

 

[kcofohio]

Could be, I just picked up a box of 270 Winchester power points literally the worst box of ammo I've ever got. I'll post a picture, sorry for the quality. This case has a Wrinkle the hole neck and some on the shoulder, there is a very nasty burr on the case mouth thats .015 fatter then the neck diameter. col jumps around about 80 thousands. Plus the brass is very white like there not enough copper in the mix

View attachment 1005222

Or too much zinc.

 

[Encoreman]

I just read an article this morning of a lady in Alaska that does weapons training and she said she had seen an uptick in ammo malfunctions that she attributed to ammo makers running at full tilt and maybe QC not getting into the act as much.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

As long as the failures don't cause death or injury, the manufacturers will continue to cut corners in order meet the incredible demand. Look forward to this until the hoarders are out of money and new gun owners are satiated. This could take years.

 

[1942bull]

I think @Gridley got it right in post #3. The ammo shortage of the best brands led to people buying lower tier and ammo. New shooters bought the cheapest FMJ to practice with. I shoot both Federal JHP and FMJ and Underwood Extreme Defender ammo. I have not seen any deterioration over the past year.

 

[webrx]

Yep, it’s just you.

kidding - somebody had to say it.


I have read more about failures but have not personally seen or heard from local friends of them.

I agree it may be low QC or new loaders or both if this is occurring. I think a lot of reloaders started with single stages and worked up to progressives. I stopped at a turret press and it suits me.

I wonder if some maybe went up that evolutionary ladder too quickly. They had the money (Biden Bucks) so the ly bought progressives and didn’t get the benefit of experience going in stages.

I still dump and weigh every load and look in every case because I was taught/told to do it that way and safe is more important than fast for me. Not bashing progressives, but my guess is most of those who use one and never have an issue probably started out with a basic and worked up to it after gaining experience. Those who jump right in face a learning curve and a dangerous one if they don’t get it right.

just my random thoughts. YMMV.
D