First .357, First Kimber, First Squib.

[Oninotaki]

Over the holidays I picked up a Kimber k6s with a .3" barrel because 3" barrels are the best.

While picking it up I grabbed some range ammo to test it out with. I picked up three boxes of .38 special from a new to me brand named Ammo inc. $20 a box of 50 seemed cheap to me, but I am new to the world of .38 special so I didn't think anything of it. More than 9mm and 380, less than 45 acp, sounded right in my head.

Got home with it all and still had enough daylight to shoot a cylinder or two in my backyard range. Fired my 1st cylinder of 6 shots and was enjoying how mild the recoil was, and how smooth the trigger was. Loaded up my second cylinder and 1st round was a squib, my first squib ever.



Had to use a rod and a hammer to get it out. I googled the company and they have a terrible reputation for squibs. Now I got 53 rounds of ammo I bought from a shop 5 hours away that I don't dare shoot.

So what do I do with this stuff? I dont trust it at all. Do I just store it forever? Break it down into its components and if I ever get into reloading use them up in that? Throw it in a lake and pretend I never saw it?

 

[unclenunzie]

I'd contact the maker and see what they are willing to do. Give them the lot number assuming the boxes have one. Maybe it is a known bad lot, and they might make good on it. A long time ago I got a bad lot of 38 special from Hornady, they replaced it for me at no cost. AMMO inc. isn't Hornady, but it's worth calling.

 

[MrBorland]

I’d normally agree with contacting the manufacturer, but if they’ve got a rep for squibs, and you already experienced one yourself, I don’t think I’d trust a replacement box, either.

Good a good scale? If you don’t want to just shelve or disassemble them, weigh the bullet & empty case - that’s roughly the weight of a squib. The rest should be uniformly heavier - I’m guessing by 0.3-0.4-ish grams. Even so, keep the range rod handy, and don’t do any rapid-fire

 

[trackskippy]

Squibs happen. The more you shoot the more likely you are to come across one, or ten. Hey, at least you stopped and checked.

Really not a big deal as long as you're paying attention or its not a critical moment. The one you got is actually a good one as far as they go. It really sucks when the bullet is just sticking a little out the muzzle end and you have to hammer it ALL the way back.

 

[Marine Dad]

I had my first squib with the same ammo a few weeks ago. A member on another forum also had a squib with the same ammo. Definitely done with Ammo Inc.

 

[MEHavey]

Weigh the remaining rounds.
See if any stand out light/heavy.

(Do it it whether you shoot them or not, and let us know how the weights distributed)

 

[Jim Watson]

They have their own head stamp, if the brass is out of the same lot you MIGHT be able to detect a missing three or four grains of powder. Maybe. Can't hurt to weigh them and pull down the lightest to see.

 

[Tinman357]

Save them to pull down when you start reloading or give them to a reloader with a warning. Do anything but shoot them anymore. It's only $20.

My reasoning is that if they miss the powder drop during assembly then they very well could drop a double charge and then compress it when seating the bullet.

A double load 38spl probably won't grenade a well built 357mag like the Kimber, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere near it when that primer gets popped off.

 

[J-Bar]

Save them to pull down when you start reloading or give them to a reloader with a warning. Do anything but shoot them anymore. It's only $20.

Good advice. Hope you heed it.

 

[Walkalong]

Save them to pull down when you start reloading or give them to a reloader with a warning. Do anything but shoot them anymore. It's only $20.

Yep. Fuss a little and get it out of your system, then forget about it/write it off for a loss. Do keep them if you think you might ever reload, or give them to someone who does. Chalk it up to experience and move on with a smile.

 

[LocoGringo]

I had a run-in with that ammo also, only my problem was the opposite. I bought some 45 ACP to run through my XDs and that stuff had some KICK. I should have stopped shooting it, but finally came across 1 round that had more juice than the gun could handle and it induced a nasty malfunction.

I will NEVER buy AMMO Inc. ammo again. I contacted the company and they were responsive, but the best offer I got from them was to get another box of ammo from them. No thanks.

 

[Monster Zero]

Over the holidays I picked up a Kimber k6s with a .3" barrel because 3" barrels are the best.

While picking it up I grabbed some range ammo to test it out with. I picked up three boxes of .38 special from a new to me brand named Ammo inc. $20 a box of 50 seemed cheap to me, but I am new to the world of .38 special so I didn't think anything of it. More than 9mm and 380, less than 45 acp, sounded right in my head.

Got home with it all and still had enough daylight to shoot a cylinder or two in my backyard range. Fired my 1st cylinder of 6 shots and was enjoying how mild the recoil was, and how smooth the trigger was. Loaded up my second cylinder and 1st round was a squib, my first squib ever.

View attachment 1186557

Had to use a rod and a hammer to get it out. I googled the company and they have a terrible reputation for squibs. Now I got 53 rounds of ammo I bought from a shop 5 hours away that I don't dare shoot.

So what do I do with this stuff? I dont trust it at all. Do I just store it forever? Break it down into its components and if I ever get into reloading use them up in that? Throw it in a lake and pretend I never saw it?

If you can't get your money back, keep it.

Invest in an inertial bullet puller and deconstruct it all. Start your accumulation of reloading supplies and equipment right there.

Oh BTW, welcome to the world of revolvers. Save all your empties, and consider getting into reloading, which is one of the beauties of the .38/.357.

Sooner rather than later, one might add.

Also please give us a range report on the Kimber when you can.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Deconstruct it for components if you reload. Otherwise bury it in a wateproof tube along with some dessicant packs for "just in case."

 

[JohnKSa]

...I picked up three boxes of .38 special from a new to me brand named Ammo inc. $20...

Nooooo...
I was just reading about a similar incident on another forum involving the same brand.Ammo inc. And then another person chimed in with another squib experience using that brand.

...the best offer I got from them was to get another box of ammo from them. No thanks.

That was their response to the squib on the other forum too.

 

[Pat Riot]

I wouldn’t waste time weighing the cartridges. If they don’t have enough Quality Control to get loads right how would one know their bullets and brass are made consistently.
I would begrudgingly put them away until you decide to start reloading or find a friend that reloads. Pull the bullets, dump the powder in a container and spread it in a flower garden this spring. Then reload the rounds with a known powder properly measured.
@Tinman357 could be right about double charges. I am sure that Kimber cost a tidy sum. Why risk it on cheap crummy ammo?

You could sell it to a reloader. I doubt you’d get your money back, but 1/2 or 3/4 of what you paid wouldn’t be a bad thing at this point. In my opinion.

Good Luck in whatever you do.

 

[MEHavey]

Weigh them.
Let us know the weight distribution.

 

[Riomouse911]

Congrats on the new Kimber! I don’t own a Kimber revolver, but the reviews I have read over the years have been universally positive.

My only Ammo, Inc. experience is from two boxes of .380 100 gr FMJ that I bought to shoot through my Uncles PPK at Thanksgiving. The 20 or so rounds I fired worked just fine, I hope the rest go boom, too.

Like the others wrote above, if you do choose to get into reloading, the .38/.357 rounds are a fantastic place to start.

Stay safe.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

 

[.45Coltguy]

Dave DeLaurant, where did you find that poster? Classic! I'd like to get that for my shop. Funny.

 

[Dave T]

I have a metal version of the one on the left (bear) hanging on my shop wall. If I could find the middle one I'd hang that up too. LOL

Dave

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I have a metal version of the one on the left (bear) hanging on my shop wall. If I could find the middle one I'd hang that up too. LOL

Dave

I don't think the middle one has made it to the metal sign stage, but the other two show up pretty regularly at eBay or Amazon.

I think they all originated here:

Golden Age Parodies: Blue Loon Fine Arts

Blue Loon Fine Arts -- Wild Shot Tin Signs ~ Right On Target for Ranch or Camp!Signed and Numbered by the Artist, Wayne McLoughlin. Own a signed and numbered piece of Wayne McLoughlin's classic sporting humor.

www.blueloonfinearts.com

 

[film495]

my impression of centerfire being totally way more reliable than rimfire is totally blown

 

[trackskippy]

Happens a lot more than you might think.

 

[gconang]

I have a case of Ammo inc 38 special . Hope I dont have a squib. Got a case of 1000 normally 600 but I got it on sale for 450. I've only shot 150-200 rounds of it. I'll be careful for sure.

 

[JohnKSa]

I'll be careful for sure.

Yup, shoot slowly and check the bore if something feels funny after a shot.