[Steelharp]

Just unloaded my "new" Clackamas Kimber to dry fire a bit, and noticed the round in the chamber looked short. Stood it next to a fresh one, and sure enough! Should this happen when one is loaded into the chamber? Is this normal, or is there an issue here I need to be concerned with? What about reloading this round into the gun again? Would this be ok, or should it be discarded?

Thanks, Mikey D...

[CrudeGT]

I saw a thread like this a little while ago, try a search, should pull up some good info. The general consensus, IIRC, was that it happens with older ammo that is loaded and unloaded a lot. I don't think it will effect the round, but don't take my advice. research some old threads is your best bet.

[Parker Dean]

DO NOT fire that puppy!

With the bullet set back like that the pressure will go sky high, and perhaps your gun too.

Probably a bad crimp on the cartridge I'd be more than a little suspicious of the rest of the lot. That is unless you chambered that one multiple times.

[cheygriz]

A short, or "deep seated" round can DRASTICALLY increase pressure. KABOOM!!!!!!!

Discard the round!!!

Try not to chanmber the same round more than twice, and even then check tpo see it has changed length.

If it happens asgsin, change your branmd of ammo, and/or have a competent gunsmith check out your feed ramp and chamber.

This could have very dangerous consequences.

[Steelharp]

It was only chambered once, this afternoon. I have had the ammo a while, since last summer; would that make a difference? Wonder if I should just discard what I have left... what concerns me (now) is that it happened with one chambering; I would have to assume that every round of the lot would do that. It's Federal brand ammo. Is there another brand you would recommend?

Mikey D...

[cheygriz]

I would try to chamber (NOT FIRE) the other rounds, and if ANY of them "deep seat" I would send the ammo back to Federal and explain the problem. You might have a box from a bad batch, because Federal is top notch ammo. (BTW- EVERY manufacturer puts out a bad lot every once in a while)

If the ammop is defective, Federal will gladly replace it.

[BHPshooter]

That is called bullet setback and is a STRONG suspect in gun KBs.

DON'T fire that in your gun... It may explode.

ALWAYS watch out for bullet setback. Bad, bad stuff.

Wes

[Selfdfenz]

I agree with all the other posts.

It is surprising how little force it takes to cause set back. Had it happen with some UMC 45 ACP when I bumped the slide a bit to finish chambering a round.

I am so glad I did not try and shoot that round.

I was being watched over that day.:D

S-

[shep854]

On The Other Hand--You have just found yourself a perfect, unassailable reason to buy a .45 ACP revolver. :D :D

As was posted already, that box of ammo is suspicious for an auto, but you can load them into a wheelgun and merrily blaze away.

BTW: DO NOT load the set back round, unless you want to buy TWO .45 revolvers.

[wingman]

Perhaps( I suspect) you have a tighter chamber then normal in your Kimber,
(I like them made this way due to accuracy) However is does give you a problem
in finding the proper ammo unless you reload.
With a tight/short chamber when you feed a round the bullet can set back
if it's wide or too long for the chamber. Do not shoot them after setback.!!!

[strambo]

:what: :what: That's the worst I've seen (from chambering vs a malfunction), the case is bulging a little 'cause the bullet is so deep! If you would have shot it your thread title would have been "Kimber KB with factory ammo!":uhoh:

[GigaBuist]

Holy pooh-nanny! You SURE you didn't whack that thing with a hammer?! That's NOT normal by any stretch of the imagination.

[Steelharp]

Man, you guys have got me sweatin' like a Kennedy in a motorcade! :D I'm going to try the rest of the mag right now; I'll be back in a few minutes.

Mikey D...

[Steelharp]

Well, I chambered the rest; they all look normal. Maybe it was just one bad round. Now, how do I discard it, since I can't fire it?

Mikey D...

[larry_minn]

Well, I chambered the rest; they all look normal. Maybe it was just one bad round. Now, how do I discard it, since I can't fire it?

Mikey D...
Couple of ways you can go with this. Send a e-mail to Federal with the photo and ask them if this is normal. Odds are you will get a apology and cert for free box of ammo.
To despose of it you can either give it to reloader who likely has a kenetic bullet puller, toss it into a small fire (wear hearing/eye protection) or dunk into waste oil for few days and toss into trash.
Course I know folks who set them out as targets (just stick bullet thru old bullet hole in a 2" by 6" I.E a 9mm in .40 or 45 hole) Then attempt to shoot primer with scoped rifle.
BTW I had this problem when I first reloaded. Poor crimp in my case and I had one that didn't chamber when I was doing drill. So I shoved the back of slide (1911 Springfield) and fired. Chunk of brass (I think) somehow hit my glasses high on lense and took chunk out. Rather LOUD as well. No damage to gun.

[Mr. Mysterious]

Wow, that baby was sure set back!

[Steelharp]

Larry_minn, thank you, and thanks to all. I have forwarded the pic to Federal to see what they say. The only other question I have is, how do you know if you have a bad round in the chamber if you're just shooting? If I had been at the range, I would have just pulled the trigger on that round. I cringe to think what might have happened, and is there really anything that can be done to prevent it?

Mikey D...

[Ryder]

I cringe to think what might have happened, and is there really anything that can be done to prevent it?

Chances are nothing other than stiff recoil would happen with the 45. It is a low pressure round and not extremely sensitive to seating depth. Cases with higher pressures and lower volumes (like the 40sw or the 380acp) are. I vary seating depths in search of best accuracy on a variety of calibers and have yet to KB a gun. No surprise though since I won't own a 40.

When I'm reloading I set my dies for crimp efficacy by pushing the nose of the bullet hard onto the table top and measuring it's length. If they hold in place the rest are good to go as long as I don't change my die position. Factory ammo? Guess you'd have to check every cartridge if you want to be sure.

[BluesBear]

Setback happens. Hopefully not too often. With fast burning powders a ka-boom is very possible.

For me it usually only happens if the round has been chambered 5 or 6 times.
This is why you should check your carry ammo. I press hard on the bullet of every round I load in my defense magazines.


However the setback rounds are salvagable. If you reload. Get yourself a kinetic bullet puller. You know the ones that look like a big plactic tack hammer. Tap the bullet back to a little longer than normal, then run it into a seat/crimp die.

If you don't reload, but you note this happening often, just run a small bead of lacquer around the case mouth to help seal the bullet to the case. This will make it harder for the bullet to setback.

[Matt G]

BluesBear is spot on. These things happen.

According to manufacturer's specs, the rounds are guranteed to not set back for ONE chambering. Sure, we all end up chambering more than that, but you're only guarenteed ONE. When that bullet hits that feedramp with the full force of the slide pushed by the recoil spring shoving the case against its rear, things happen. The tight pinch put on the bullet by the taper-crimped case may get the slightest, negligible slide that first chambering. That sets it up so that the consecutive chamberings make more and more difference.

What to do? Well, obviously, inspect your rounds. But probably the best way to do this is to rotate your "Barney Bullet" through your loads. About every two chamberings, rotate them out, and shoot them next practice session. If you carry a Kimber 1911, you probably carry an 8rd magazine and a round in the chamber. That gives you 9 rounds after 18 rechamberings to practice with. Sounds expensive? Consider this, though: how often do you REALLY rechamber? Sure, when you pick the pistol up, you do a quick press-check to assure the chamber is loaded, but this does NOT count as a re-chambering; the bullet does not strike the feedramp, and the extractor holds the case firmly against the breechface.

Do NOT attempt to baby your rounds by "easing them in," by riding the slide into battery slowly. The pistol was designed to have the slide slam shut, under the force of the recoil spring, as it stips a round off the magazine. Also, don't drop a loose round into the chamber to load it-- this is hard on your extractor, which is a pretty darned important piece of equipment for your pistol's reliable functioning. The only part that is disposable on your gun is the ammunition. What's a $.50 cartridge every now and then? :)

[Stratford Holdings]

Do you by chance have any calipers to take a measurement? Most of my Reloads are 1.2 inches but it looks almost like your picture. BTW, they shoot fine. I think most ammo is between 1.15 - 1.25 inches.

[Brian Williams]

On The Other Hand--You have just found yourself a perfect, unassailable reason to buy a .45 ACP revolver.

Or he could get a S&W 547 or 940 for 9mm, or a 610 for 10mm or 40 Short &weak.

[BluesBear]

Years Ago™, we didn't worry about bullet setback.

I carried Norma ammunition in my Colts for many years.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1010068
A nice big soft lead hollow point in a thin copper jacket. Loaded in a case with a huge honkin' cannelure. That bullet wasn't going anywhere except FORWARD!

Even the Remington 185gr JHP, which didn't always expand but would feed in anything, had a small case cannelure.