The Night Rider
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I went to Sportsman's Warehouse with my wife once and all we could find was a box of .45 GAP. Thankfully the salesman stopped me and told me that it would not fit in a 1911.
A lesson in paying attention.
- Thread starter Japle
- Start date
Many many moons ago I was buying a case of Federal 115 grain ball 9mm from a local shop. I remember it was a whapping 85 bucks for the case. I paid my money, they handed over the case. So far so good. Got home and went to put the ammo away. That's when I saw they gave me a case of Federal 147 grain HP. Called the store to let them know I'll be in to swap out the ammo for the ball ammo. They told me to keep it. Something about not being allowed to sell "used" ammo. I asked what the difference in price was so I can pay it. Was told since it was there mistake I don't have to pay the difference. I still buy guns there.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
A few years ago I went to my favorite gun store that also had a firing range. I didn’t bring ammo. I bought 2 boxes of Blazer Brass 115 grain 9mm there and went into the range. I loaded my magazines not noticing something wasn’t right with the ammo until I fired my first round. The gun fired but the recoil wasn’t there. I didn’t see the case eject. I stopped immediately. I dropped the mag then locked the slide back. I could see the case well inside the chamber. I turned the gun up and rapped on the side of the slide and out came a .380 ACP case.
My 3 mags were full of .380 ammo except one that had 16 rounds. I unloaded the mags. Put the .380 ammo back into the 9mm box and went out to see the range master.
At first I thought CCI had made a mistake and put .380 ammo in a 9mm box. The range master told me it was his fault. He was showing a new shooter the differences between the 9mm round and the .380 round and he mixed up the trays gong into the box. Sure enough he had a .380 labeled box full of 9mm.
He handed me that box and told me to keep the .380 ammo gratis for the error. I did own a .380 pistol so I got a good deal.
My 3 mags were full of .380 ammo except one that had 16 rounds. I unloaded the mags. Put the .380 ammo back into the 9mm box and went out to see the range master.
At first I thought CCI had made a mistake and put .380 ammo in a 9mm box. The range master told me it was his fault. He was showing a new shooter the differences between the 9mm round and the .380 round and he mixed up the trays gong into the box. Sure enough he had a .380 labeled box full of 9mm.
He handed me that box and told me to keep the .380 ammo gratis for the error. I did own a .380 pistol so I got a good deal.
Styx
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Haha, now I feel better about my 9mm vs 40s&w mix up.
I think I would have noticed that the .380 rounds were noticeable smaller than 9mm. 
BLACKHAWKNJ
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- Dec 30, 2007
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Bought a used barrel for my Browning HP, first range session, horrible accuracy, cases bulged at the mouth.
I was firing 9MMs out of a 40 S&W barrel.
I was firing 9MMs out of a 40 S&W barrel.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
It’s funny, I should have noticed but for some reason I didn’t. I sure didn’t admit to the range master that I loaded 3 -17 round mags full of them.Haha, now I feel better about my 9mm vs 40s&w mix up.
jrmiddleton425
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- Jan 18, 2011
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- 663
I have done this also, out of a Colt SAA. It took a knife to get the case out, which about two-thirds of the case was missing.
My best guess is that the .429 bullet out of the approximately .452 barrel leaves enough of a gap so there isn't enough pressure to hurt the gun.
Old_Grouch
Member
Good call. Although we've all been guilty of it at some point, dumbassery does not constitute a legitimate alibi.
But a .40 S&W will fit into a .45 cal. 1911 mag and barrel & may feed and fire. Full disclosure below.I was lucky. 45acp won't fit into a 40 caliber mag.
While running though some drills with my Ruger SR1911 (.45ACP) today, & after loading my own magazines with my own reloads; the fifth round was a .40 S&W. It fed & fired but with a muffled bang; definitely not normal and I stopped right there.
The case did not eject but examination showed lengthwise cracks in two locations, with no damage to the pistol, nor shooter. And no corresponding hole in my silhouette target either. I did see dust kick up on the berm however.
These were my own hand loads, and I was shooting 200 gr LSWC's in the .45. I also load 155 gr LSWC's for my .40's but on a different press. So somehow, the similar looking round (a bit smaller but with a similar bullet) managed to get mixed into with my .45's when I loaded the mags. My fault 100% and a lesson learned...I've done a clean up on my pistol loading bench as a result. When loading; one bullet type, one powder can and one primer sleave on the bench for the caliber loading. I've loaded my own ammunition since 1962, and you'd think I'd have caught the size/caliber/bullet difference...but I didn't.
While this all occurred on my farm range, alone, at home and with no witnesses; in our family, we fess up on any and all screw-ups. I took care of that little chore by text this afternoon, reporting in to wife and two 45+ yr old sons.
Be safe out there...familiarity does not always equal safety. Rod
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lightman
Member
Its easy to have a mix-up like that. Wrong ammo, wrong magazines, or just plain forgetting one or the other. It happens............
I make it a point to double check for that stuff after I get everything out and before I load it into my range bag.
I make it a point to double check for that stuff after I get everything out and before I load it into my range bag.
Yes it is. And that is why I leave one of my Star Firestar pistols and magazines in my range bag while I have the other one out.
Here is a photo of my Spanish pistols. The top two are my Firestar M40 and Firestar M43. It is way too easy to mix up the magazines for both Firestar's since they are the same size and fit either frame.
Mine was when I first got my SAR9 years ago. Took it to the range, loaded up a couple of mags and almost instantly the problems started. Spent casings being ejected over my head and into my shirt, behind my safety glasses and constant FTFs. Got home and called SAR warranty department and explained my problems........ SAR rep: "What grain ammo were you using?" Me: "115 grain." Rep: "The manual states you have to start with 124 Grain NATO rounds to break it in, it was designed as a NATO sidearm."
Having done the manly thing and not read the manual I was pretty embarrassed to say the least.
Jim Watson
Member
I once took mismatched pre-loaded 2011 magazines and gun to a match. Those .45s did not chamber at all smoothly in the 9mm barrel. Fortunately another shooter had enough to loan me.
I specifically don't own a .380 or .40 cal because of the similarity to 9 mm and 45 ACP. I occasionally pick one up at the range and it goes through the reloading process until I put it in the sizing die. At least it won't blow up there.
I bought a box of 250 gr Berry's Bullets in 45 Colt at Bass Pro Shop and the box was filled with 300 gr 45-70 bulets. The first two people I talked to told me they couldn't return ammo, even if the wrong kind was in the box. They weren't having any of the argument that the bullets by themselves without a case, primer or powder weren't actually ammo. Finally I got high enough that they agreed to "give" me the correct bullets. I left the 45-70 there because I didn't have any use for them.
Styx
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I own 380acp, 9mm, 40s&w, and 45acp. I can't ever see myself getting confused with .380 and 9mm or 40s&w and 45acp.
380 is noticeably shorter and smaller. A 9mm won't fit in any 380 mags I know of, and a 380 isn't going to blow up a 9mm handgun:
40s&w is noticeably shorter and thinner. 45acp won't fit in a 40s&w mag or chamber, and 40s&w is to small to fit in a 45acp mag. The lips of the mags I tested won't catch the top round. 9mm and 40s&w on the otherhand are very easy to mix up if not paying attention as a 9mm will fit and feed into a 40s&w mag and chamber, and there's a chance of a kaboom.
It’s more a collecting and sorting issue than using issue.
