Federal Black Pack - 9mm setback

[blackd24]

I was at the range loading a magazine of factory ammo - 9mm federal black pack from November 2019 (Black Friday). As I was putting one in, the bullet set back all the way into the case. There was zero neck tension.

two questions - have as anyone ever seen a factory round like that? Absolutely no neck tension.

what would happen if this was loaded and fired? Obviously loaded way too short, but without neck tension, would pressure be an issue, i.e. kaboom.

 

[Hartkopf]

Thanks for posting. That is not good. I would caliper each round and then push them against a wood surface, re-measure and see if there is any movement. I have a box from November’19 that I will be scrutinizing.

 

[jmorris]

Set back could cause a substantial increase in pressure. They don’t give the load data, not that we know it for your Federal ammunition but Speer had one that more than doubled pressure with only .030” setback.



The final step in my loading process is to “press check” the rounds row by row. Makes it easy to see if any move and are not level with the rest.



I would likely apply that method to the remaining factory rounds you have. It’s fast, free and might catch others, if they exist.

I have also found CCI Blazer and Marlin Camp 9’s don’t mix. Why I also load rounds and eject them to ensure they are doing anything odd when trying something new.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

what would happen if this was loaded and fired? Obviously loaded way too short, but without neck tension, would pressure be an issue, i.e. kaboom.

On a straight walled (9mm is slightly tapered) auto pistol cartridge without a perfectly supported chamber there would be a high chance of case rupture (kaboom). Common outcomes are magazine guts on the bench and cracked grips. Hopefully a pistol with removable grips and not a plastic grip frame. When I've seen this happen the bullet doesn't leave the cartridge.

 

[bullseye308]

I’d definitely contact the manufacturer and they will probably have you send them back and they will replace it with something hopefully better.

 

[lordpaxman]

I was at the range loading a magazine of factory ammo - 9mm federal black pack from November 2019 (Black Friday). As I was putting one in, the bullet set back all the way into the case. There was zero neck tension.

I have several Black Pack’s on the shelf, they are the 250rd, 115gr variety. Purchased around BF 2019, IIR there was a Federal rebate on these as well. I just checked one pack, they are packaged in plastic 50 rd carriers, all 250 had excellent neck tension, pounded on them as much as I dared, especially with primers facing up. Visually they all had a hint of wasp waist.
Were yours 115gr? I’m not sure there were any other variations. There were no other markings on the box that would indicate a batch or plant number. These were purchased at a Dunham’s in Bradford PA.
For the round that had zero neck tension, can you measure the bullet diameter and check the case for either a really thin wall or a split? I’m not sure what QC they do but it would seem they could put a step in the process for minimum length and set back. I’ve not seen a 9mm round with setback, but I have seen a .40. Good luck.

 

[Akula69]

Interesting. I picked up 3 - 5 gallon buckets of brass at the range on 7/10 and when sorting them I found three 9MM Federal cases that were split 3/4 of the way down from the neck. As the range is private I asked the master if he know anything about them and he stated there had been a LEO whose G17 blew the extractor/spring assembly and they had to hammer the slide off to extract the case. He further stated in an examination of the unfired rounds several had projectile setback.
If I get a chance I'll dig one out of my scrap brass bin and post up the pictures.

 

[blackd24]

I wish I would have saved it.. I was with my dad and I didn’t want any chance of it being mistakenly loaded. If I were to guess, probably undersized bullet.

 

[Hartkopf]

For what it’s worth, I checked my 250 round box of Black Pack 9mm for neck tension.

Lot # H26A403.

I’m confident all 250 have good neck tension. I pushed on all of them in the trays and sighted across for any low ones. Then I spot checked 5 rounds from each tray (25 rounds total) buy measuring, pushing against a wood bench and re-measuring. I got one bullet to move by pushing WAY harder than needed. I pulled that bullet and it measured exactly .355.