I opened a new box of Federal Premium HST 9mm today and found one of the bullets loaded upside down. This is the first time that I have ever found a factory round loaded upside down. Does this happen often? Really makes me wonder about the quality control of these "premium" tactical/defense rounds.
Federal HST loaded upside down
- Thread starter MR.G
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Manedwolf
member
Do you mean the BULLET was inserted in the casing upside-down, or just the entire round was in its tray upside-down?
The latter I wouldn't consider a biggie, just a hiccup in the packaging machine that a belt inspector didn't notice. If they somehow managed to jam a hollowpoint bullet in the casing upside-down, that's something else!
The latter I wouldn't consider a biggie, just a hiccup in the packaging machine that a belt inspector didn't notice. If they somehow managed to jam a hollowpoint bullet in the casing upside-down, that's something else!
rero360
Member
wow, I've never heard of that happening before, although in todays mass manufacturing process I guess anything is possible, somehow I have the opinion that it would be a bad idea to try to fire that round
Graystar
Member
I would contact Federal about it and see what they say.
SouthpawShootr
Member
Seen pictures of that. I've had several people tell me this happens every now and again with Winchester USA (WWB). Never heard of it happening with any other manufacturer.
Ivy Mike
Member
Obviously, firing that one would be a bad idea.
Call Federal and see what they have to say, but I wouldn't worry about the rest of em.
The volume they produce these things on means that a few mistakes are going to slip by.
Call Federal and see what they have to say, but I wouldn't worry about the rest of em.
The volume they produce these things on means that a few mistakes are going to slip by.
Black Majik
Member
Agreed. I've seen pictures of it from the WWB Value pack lots.
Manedwolf
member
I've never seen that. Take a digicam shot and send it to Federal, or get them on the phone and ask for an email to send it to. At the least, you'll likely get some free ammo out of it...
Mooseman
Member
On the bright side you've got yourself a cool little collectable.
1911austin
Member
My thought is to stick with a manufacturer that sells quality self-defense ammo to any law abiding citizen and not just law enforcement. I think it is likely that when a batch of ammo in produced that has a quality problem and does not meet law enforcement standards it finds its way to some reseller on the internet.
Manedwolf
member
I have seen lots of HST stamped as "NOT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE" for sale on the web. Does that indicate a rejection flaw, or simply overrun stock?
SouthpawShootr
Member
That indicates there is some flaw in the lot. Might be out of spec. Something was caught during final inspection. The ammo is safe for rangework but under no circumstances should be used duty.
PaulBk
Member
HST 9mm
Actually not a dollar/round, more like .25 cents/round.
"Not for LE Use" are the early batchs, pre-2004. They had initial problems with 4 layer denim penetration, making them unsuitable for LEO use. Been fixed for a while now...
-PB
Actually not a dollar/round, more like .25 cents/round.
"Not for LE Use" are the early batchs, pre-2004. They had initial problems with 4 layer denim penetration, making them unsuitable for LEO use. Been fixed for a while now...
-PB
fastbolt
Member
You open enough boxes of factory ammunition over the years, you'll find a little something that wasn't planned by the manufacturer every once in a while.
Considering the many millions of rounds produced by automated production it probably speaks quite well for the big manufacturers' quality control measures that we don't see more problems ...
I've come across mangled bullets/cases; incorrectly seated bullets; incorrectly trimmed and sized cases; primers inserted in the primer cups backwards; inert primers; squib powder charges ... and I can't remember what else at the moment. Most of the things I've listed are from major manufacturer law enforcement contract ammunition, too, although mostly within the less expensive product lines. I've heard of occasional similar occurrences even in the more expensive product lines, though.
It pays to inspect each and every round used, by visual and tactile senses, as the rounds are handled and loaded into a cylinder charge hole & speedloader or a pistol magazine, in case a visible problem can be identified before the round is used. Of course, the incorrectly trimmed and sized cartridge cases I've encountered weren't noticeable until they failed to chamber in the pistols ... during range training ... and careful inspection and comparison revealed they were out-of-spec and too long to permit chambering.
The last low-powered round I remember encountering appeared fine to the eye and finger tips ... but when it fired it was an obviously under-powered round by sound, recoil and cycling of the slide. It barely cycled the slide of my G27 ... just enough for the empty case to be barely ejected upward and out of the slide's ejection port, being thrown forward over the barrel hood and onto the slide, to 'dribble' along the top of the slide and fall off the front end of the muzzle. 
I IMMEDIATELY stopped shooting and checked the pistol, and discovered the round had possessed enough power for the bullet to clear the barrel.
Haven't figured out a way to visually identify inert/hard primers, yet, either ... :banghead: Fortunately, they've only seldom occurred around me. I can't think of a calendar year when I've experienced, observed or had reported to me more than half a dozen instances over the course of a year ... but there was that one morning a few years ago when we had half a dozen different shooters experience hard/inert primers while using training ammunition from two different major manufacturers during the same qualification session. What would be the odds of that happening again???
Considering the many millions of rounds produced by automated production it probably speaks quite well for the big manufacturers' quality control measures that we don't see more problems ...
I've come across mangled bullets/cases; incorrectly seated bullets; incorrectly trimmed and sized cases; primers inserted in the primer cups backwards; inert primers; squib powder charges ... and I can't remember what else at the moment. Most of the things I've listed are from major manufacturer law enforcement contract ammunition, too, although mostly within the less expensive product lines. I've heard of occasional similar occurrences even in the more expensive product lines, though.
It pays to inspect each and every round used, by visual and tactile senses, as the rounds are handled and loaded into a cylinder charge hole & speedloader or a pistol magazine, in case a visible problem can be identified before the round is used. Of course, the incorrectly trimmed and sized cartridge cases I've encountered weren't noticeable until they failed to chamber in the pistols ... during range training ... and careful inspection and comparison revealed they were out-of-spec and too long to permit chambering.
The last low-powered round I remember encountering appeared fine to the eye and finger tips ... but when it fired it was an obviously under-powered round by sound, recoil and cycling of the slide. It barely cycled the slide of my G27 ... just enough for the empty case to be barely ejected upward and out of the slide's ejection port, being thrown forward over the barrel hood and onto the slide, to 'dribble' along the top of the slide and fall off the front end of the muzzle.
I IMMEDIATELY stopped shooting and checked the pistol, and discovered the round had possessed enough power for the bullet to clear the barrel.Haven't figured out a way to visually identify inert/hard primers, yet, either ... :banghead: Fortunately, they've only seldom occurred around me. I can't think of a calendar year when I've experienced, observed or had reported to me more than half a dozen instances over the course of a year ... but there was that one morning a few years ago when we had half a dozen different shooters experience hard/inert primers while using training ammunition from two different major manufacturers during the same qualification session. What would be the odds of that happening again???
Does anyone know how I should contact Winchester regarding an ammo problem? I had three failures to fire in my last box of .38 Special white box, even after I ran the rounds through a different revolver. I'd like to get a partial refund or credit.
3 weelin geezer
Member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2005
- Messages
- 28
What kind of ammo was it? The special 20 per box or the white bundle of a 100? I just throw such ammo away. If I find some laying around it usually hasn't been struck. I figger if it doesnt go bang the 3rd time I try it, then it won't. I make a hole, put gas on it, toss in a match and run behind some rocks until it pops. It's more of a hassle to call the company I think for a single dud or two than just write it off. I use the white box btw for practice. The black talons have their sacred place.
have their sacred place.- Status
