chaim
Member
Yesterday was a very disappointing day at the range. I went with four handguns (four gives me variety while being manageable and giving me time with each gun), my new to me almost 30 year old Taurus 431, my Taurus 856UL, Glock 19 and CZ PCR (all but the 431 are sometimes carry guns, the 431 may eventually be carried occasionally but I bought it more just because I wanted it).
The first disappointment was my 431. I had wanted one for about 20 years and finally got around to buying one recently. It was its first range trip. The first few cylinders I shot HSM 240gr LSWC "Cowboy Cartridges" and I was surprised at how stout the recoil was given that these were supposedly "cowboy" rounds. I guess 240gr out of such a small revolver (2.5" K-frame sized revolver) will be stout regardless. They also didn't seem to quite go where I was aiming, not by a lot but they were off (I had a bigger issue so this was almost forgotten). Then I moved to my intended carry/home defense load should I decide to use the 431 in that role, 165gr Hornady Critical Defense (well, there are other brands and loads I would use, but for now I'll go with the Critical Defense, later I was thinking some of the Buffalo Bore and/or Underwood versions of more traditional revolver loadings).
The Critical Defense were much more pleasant to shoot and actually enjoyable, and from 10 to 15 yards hit right where I aimed. The problem was, 3 or 4 rounds failed to fire. Some took 3 or even 4 strikes before the round would go off. On the first round that didn't fire, I removed it and inspected the primer, and it did appear to be a nice solid strike. Further, only one round went off on the 2nd attempt, the rest needed several hammer strikes to fire. So, I am inclined to think it may have been the ammo, but Hornady usually makes good ammo with good QC so multiple rounds out of 20 were bad rounds, hard to believe. What is really annoying about this... I'd almost rather it happen with both brands. The trigger is incredible, and it is a 30 year old gun, so it is possible that work done by a previous owner or even simple wear could be the cause of the issue (despite the primer strikes appearing to my eyes to be good). Now I need to try out several loads of ammo and lots of rounds to reassure myself that this was only an ammo problem and not the gun before I'd ever use this gun for defense, and .44spl is expensive. I never planned on shooting this much so I wasn't going to buy .44spl dies, but I guess I'm going to have to do some .44spl reloading.
My Glock 19 was reliable as I'm used to, but since it has been 4 or 5 range trips since I last brought it (just over a month), and I've only owned it for about 2 months, I wasn't as accurate with it as I would have liked (I was "combat accurate" however).
Next I shot my PCR and reassured myself that I can still shoot accurately. Things went well, as they always do with my CZs.
The biggest disappointment of the night was my Taurus 856UL. I love this gun, it is accurate (though at 16oz, follow up shots are a bit slow if I want to keep it accurate) and has been reliable for the 3 or so years I've owned it, and I often use it in a backup role or when I want to just drop a gun in my pocket (with a pocket holster of course). I was shooting some Colt branded Double Tap 110gr DT Lead Free ammo. Three or four rounds into the first cylinder I hear a round that sounds and feels off (way too quiet). I suspect my first squib round in 23 or 24 years of shooting so I don't pull the trigger but try to open the cylinder and it is jammed shut. I try forcing it open, it won't. I doubt it is cylinder binding since it was coupled with a very weak sounding and feeling round, I think the bullet is lodged partially in the cylinder and partly in the barrel, but I call over to the range officer to see if they have a rubber mallet I can borrow to try to force open the cylinder in case it is just binding. He asks what is going on, I inform him (stressing that I strongly suspect a squib round with the bullet jamming things up). He asks to check it out and I let him, and he starts doing what I did (trying to force open the cylinder with his hands). Then, he tries pulling the trigger (very bad idea if it is a squib round blocking the barrel), but luckily the cylinder still doesn't rotate. Anyway, I had to leave it for their gunsmith to work on when he comes in on Monday, and that ended my range trip on a rather negative note.
Both issues were with Taurus revolvers, so of course, my mind does go to Taurus' hit or miss reputation. However, both issues were likely ammo related. Still, not confidence inspiring, and no one wants their range trip ended with such a catastrophic failure of one of their carry guns (on the bright side, the gun jammed up and I could tell from the sound that something was wrong, another round fired with a squib in the barrel could have destroyed the gun and possibly injured my hands).
Edit 1/8 for spelling error
The first disappointment was my 431. I had wanted one for about 20 years and finally got around to buying one recently. It was its first range trip. The first few cylinders I shot HSM 240gr LSWC "Cowboy Cartridges" and I was surprised at how stout the recoil was given that these were supposedly "cowboy" rounds. I guess 240gr out of such a small revolver (2.5" K-frame sized revolver) will be stout regardless. They also didn't seem to quite go where I was aiming, not by a lot but they were off (I had a bigger issue so this was almost forgotten). Then I moved to my intended carry/home defense load should I decide to use the 431 in that role, 165gr Hornady Critical Defense (well, there are other brands and loads I would use, but for now I'll go with the Critical Defense, later I was thinking some of the Buffalo Bore and/or Underwood versions of more traditional revolver loadings).
The Critical Defense were much more pleasant to shoot and actually enjoyable, and from 10 to 15 yards hit right where I aimed. The problem was, 3 or 4 rounds failed to fire. Some took 3 or even 4 strikes before the round would go off. On the first round that didn't fire, I removed it and inspected the primer, and it did appear to be a nice solid strike. Further, only one round went off on the 2nd attempt, the rest needed several hammer strikes to fire. So, I am inclined to think it may have been the ammo, but Hornady usually makes good ammo with good QC so multiple rounds out of 20 were bad rounds, hard to believe. What is really annoying about this... I'd almost rather it happen with both brands. The trigger is incredible, and it is a 30 year old gun, so it is possible that work done by a previous owner or even simple wear could be the cause of the issue (despite the primer strikes appearing to my eyes to be good). Now I need to try out several loads of ammo and lots of rounds to reassure myself that this was only an ammo problem and not the gun before I'd ever use this gun for defense, and .44spl is expensive. I never planned on shooting this much so I wasn't going to buy .44spl dies, but I guess I'm going to have to do some .44spl reloading.
My Glock 19 was reliable as I'm used to, but since it has been 4 or 5 range trips since I last brought it (just over a month), and I've only owned it for about 2 months, I wasn't as accurate with it as I would have liked (I was "combat accurate" however).
Next I shot my PCR and reassured myself that I can still shoot accurately. Things went well, as they always do with my CZs.
The biggest disappointment of the night was my Taurus 856UL. I love this gun, it is accurate (though at 16oz, follow up shots are a bit slow if I want to keep it accurate) and has been reliable for the 3 or so years I've owned it, and I often use it in a backup role or when I want to just drop a gun in my pocket (with a pocket holster of course). I was shooting some Colt branded Double Tap 110gr DT Lead Free ammo. Three or four rounds into the first cylinder I hear a round that sounds and feels off (way too quiet). I suspect my first squib round in 23 or 24 years of shooting so I don't pull the trigger but try to open the cylinder and it is jammed shut. I try forcing it open, it won't. I doubt it is cylinder binding since it was coupled with a very weak sounding and feeling round, I think the bullet is lodged partially in the cylinder and partly in the barrel, but I call over to the range officer to see if they have a rubber mallet I can borrow to try to force open the cylinder in case it is just binding. He asks what is going on, I inform him (stressing that I strongly suspect a squib round with the bullet jamming things up). He asks to check it out and I let him, and he starts doing what I did (trying to force open the cylinder with his hands). Then, he tries pulling the trigger (very bad idea if it is a squib round blocking the barrel), but luckily the cylinder still doesn't rotate. Anyway, I had to leave it for their gunsmith to work on when he comes in on Monday, and that ended my range trip on a rather negative note.
Both issues were with Taurus revolvers, so of course, my mind does go to Taurus' hit or miss reputation. However, both issues were likely ammo related. Still, not confidence inspiring, and no one wants their range trip ended with such a catastrophic failure of one of their carry guns (on the bright side, the gun jammed up and I could tell from the sound that something was wrong, another round fired with a squib in the barrel could have destroyed the gun and possibly injured my hands).
Edit 1/8 for spelling error
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