[sturmgewehr]

The discussion of bullet setback came up in another thread recently so I figured it was a good subject to discuss in a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6PAmKLUcbc

Questions and comments are welcome.

[Zerodefect]

Non-issue with me.

The round in the pipe gets shot at the range. Even if it is a JHP in the pipe of my CCW. Worst case senerio where I "Clear and make safe" in comps. That round that got cleared onto the ground, is only going to be chambered twice anyways..

[the duck of death]

My ammo doesn't set back, there's enough crimp that the bullet stays put.

[heeler]

I'm a little confused by the video.
The guy goes into a speach about how dangerous it is and then puts the chambered rounds away in a plastic bowl if he sees any set back only to use them later at the range...??
Did I miss something here??
If it's that much concern then why use it??

[chhodge69]

Setback is even easier to spot if you place your all rounds nose-down together in an ammo box. The uneven case bottoms will jump out at you.

[Jim K]

I once did an admittedly limited test with 9mm, setting bullets back until the powder charge was crushed and found no significant increase in pressure or signs of any increase. Not to say it can't happen, but IMHO the issue has been wildly overblown and I suspect that in at least some cases, "bullet setback" has been an excuse/explanation for a problem actually caused by an overload, a barrel obstruction, or insufficient case support.

Jim

[sturmgewehr]

I'm a little confused by the video.
The guy goes into a speach about how dangerous it is and then puts the chambered rounds away in a plastic bowl if he sees any set back only to use them later at the range...??
Did I miss something here??
If it's that much concern then why use it??
If you watch carefully, you'll notice the guy says to regularly check for setback and at the first sign of any setback, put it in a container to shoot at the next range outing. Minor setback isn't going to cause an unsafe condition, severe setback is. The guy doesn't say wait until the bullet is pushed all the way back into the case then shoot it.

[Mizar]

In most pistol calibers the cylindrical, widest part of the bullet is already fully stuffed into the case. With smokeless powder one must push the bullet real deep to compress the charge (IF compressing it is a problem...). Not to mention that setback actually distorts and eliminates the crimp. I just don't get it - how a 0.1" (for instance) setback will increase pressure so much as to be dangerous and blow your pistol to pieces? I suspect, that the "setback myth" and the first reports of blown Glocks in .40 S&W are closely related.

Boris

[F-111 John]

There have been more gun blow-ups from accidentally double charging a case while handloading than there have been caused by bullet setback.

[chhodge69]

I'm concerned with setback not because of the pressure "problem" but because reducing the COAL below the minimum can cause a F2feed - I want my carry ammo 100%

[The Lone Haranguer]

I've shot visibly set-back .45 Auto with no ill effects. The .45's case is larger, however, and the cartridge operates at roughly half the pressure of the 9mm or .40 S&W. Some guns may be sensitive to the overall length of the cartridge, resulting in misfeeds with a set-back round. If you must shoot it, be sure it is the first to go in the chamber.

[jon_in_wv]

The only weapon I've had to deal with setback is my Ruger LCP. THe LCP and the P3AT have a tendency to cause "smilies". THe bottom of the feed ramp strikes the tip of the next round in the magazine causing a smiley in the bullet face. Its not an issue with softer bullets but I noticed XTPs were significantly set back by the impact. While the slight increase in pressure isn't an issue to me with a pistol like my M&P, which has a stout fully supported barrel, The chamber of the LCP is literally paper thin at its narrowest point. I solved the problem by buying a S&W Bodyguard. The S&Ws barrel is almost three times thicker at its narrowest point than the LCP. I've noticed no smilies or setback with it and if it was to happen I feel a lot more comfortable with the Bodyguard.