Filthy .40 American Eagle rounds safe to shoot? (pic)

[Der Stro]

After a failed attempt at some range time I got home, unpacked everything, and decided to take a look as I've never bought Federal American Eagle before. Needless to say, I'm less than impressed with the brass as it's full of black rollmarks and what look like water stains (little circular tarnished spots on the brass). What concerns me though, is a black residue around the bullet. It has a waxy consistency with no noticeable odor. I've never seen this before and was hoping someone could shed some light on it. Attached is a photo of the round in question along side a clean and bright Federal Champion round. About half of the ammo exhibits this black stuff.

 

[valnar]

I don't know, but I'd like to since I plan on buying 500 rounds of cheap target ammo soon...

This might be a good place to ask, what is the cleanest cheap plinking round? WWB? Something else?

 

[TriTone]

Could be some sort of bullet lube. A lot of people won't comment on it's safety for you - out of fear of legal repercussions. Your best course of action is to contact Federal instead of an enthusiast internet forum.

Best of luck.

 

[gunnutery]

I couldn't tell you what that is, but I can tell you that I've used American Eagle for years without issue. I've used AE .40S&W, .357 mag, 9mm and .308.

It used to be THE cheap alternative where I'm from. Although @ the second post, it's currently not the cheapest plinking round, especially in .40. If you can find it in stock at cheaperthandirt.com, check for BVAC cases of 500, they've been going for $113-135.

 

[Owen Sparks]

It looks like surpluss millitary ammo that is sometimes sealed with black tar to keep moisture out. I have some old British .303 rounds like that.

 

[Psa1m144]

I have also used Federal American Eagle in the past and did not have any issues. HOWEVER.. if you have any doubt as to the safety of a round, please do not use it!

 

[longdayjake]

Hopefully I can help you. I buy and sell a TON of Federal pulled bullets. Before the puller got the industrial polisher there was always black tar on the bullets. (It's for moisture sealing). I loaded and shot a ton of them and sold literally millions of them without a single complaint. As long as your rounds chamber, it won't hurt you or your gun to shoot them.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

A lot of people won't comment on it's safety for you - out of fear of legal repercussions.

You are obviously new to the internet. That is exactly what people like to do....comment on topics of which they have limited understanding. More like it is that they don't know whether they are safe or not givent he limited amount of information available. Not too many people are worried about being sued for a comment on an internet forum.

 

[Der Stro]

Hopefully I can help you. I buy and sell a TON of Federal pulled bullets. Before the puller got the industrial polisher there was always black tar on the bullets. (It's for moisture sealing). I loaded and shot a ton of them and sold literally millions of them without a single complaint. As long as your rounds chamber, it won't hurt you or your gun to shoot them.

That sounds about right, actually. After loading a magazine with the American Eagle stuff I noticed my fingers had a waxy residue on them, and were black with tiny little brass shavings on them. It would make sense it is some type of sealant of lubricant, I just never heard of it before.

 

[lemaymiami]

If that were my ammo... I'd carefully clean each round with a clean dry (no lube, no solvent of any kind) cloth then find out if there's a problem of any kind at the range. Although I don't have much patience with bulk manufacturers that ship out rounds that aren't properly cleaned first, I can understand in the price competition where some are working to get the rounds out at the cheapest price point possible...

If I have a problem with a particular ammo lot, one or two incidents of failing to fire properly (and at the correct strength) would be all it took to pull that stuff and return it if possible. Cosmetics are another matter.

Some of the reloads my City used to provide as practice and training ammo were so bad you couldn't even chamber them (and this was when most of our officers were still equipped with revolvers....). The deformed, improperly seated (in some cases wadcutters reverse mounted, etc.) ammo was just set aside as we burned through thousands and thousands of the cheapest junk my agency would buy. I imagine that sort of stuff is fairly common at agencies trying to save a buck if they don't get strong feedback from the end users....

Your feedback to retailer, distributor, and ultimately the manufacturer is an important check on those that produce sub-par ammo....

 

[daytodaze]

I've never had a problem shooting any federal american eagle ammo. Not my ammo of choice, but I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[rcmodel]

I agree it is just bullet sealer tar.

The rest of the round is not tarnished or discolored in the least, so it is safe to assume it was put there by the factory when it was loaded.

Completely safe to use it.

rc

 

[Shadow 7D]

RC
Horribly UNSAFE, he needs to send the ammo to us
so WE can properly dispose of it down range...

 

[rcmodel]

There you go!

rc

 

[Skylerbone]

Federal Champion is the cleanest I have seen in terms of brass though I cannot comment on its performance otherwise. I load all my own but can say the cheap Federals need not be tumbled before reloading, a good sign of clean burning powder.

The more important thing to check for with factory ammo is that they didn't mix in another caliber on you. Read a few 9mm in a box of .40 threads. To date I've had only 1 odd ball bullet show up in 10s of thousands of rounds or more which was the correct caliber but incorrect weight.

 

[marine 97-03]

Just shoot them.....then let us know if it is safe

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

call federal. they'll replace it. i've never seen that black gunk on any ammo. i wouldn't shoot it. where did you get it? might be mildew or something if it was sitting around some backroom for god knows how long.

 

[ku4hx]

If they were mine I'd take a dry old toothbrush and see if the junk could be brushed away. Probably pull the bullet of a couple of the worst and examine the inside of the case and bullet's "in case" exterior.

If the stuff couldn't be brushed off and the inside of the cases looked bad I'd call the maker and complain.

Jacketed bullets are not lubed as cast boolits are, but I have seen new, unfired, cases with extrusion lube or other matter in them. Those I just vibrated clean in media containing polish. I'd be willing to bet that's what you're seeing here. The question is does it contaminate the powder and/or primer.

 

[AEA]

I have shot a lot of American Eagle .45 and still have a lot to shoot. I have NEVER seen anything like that.

It is either old ammo that was not stored correctly or it is something that is not currently made.

Contact Federal and ask. Send them that picture.