Got some factory ammo yesterday, strange find

[Bovice]

I got two boxes of Winchester white box .40 S&W 180 grain full metal jackets. I had a gift card and got it because I didn't have anything else I needed in the store, and I could reuse the brass. When I unboxed it and went to load it up, I noticed something.

The cases were roll crimped! The crimp was clearly distorting the bullet around the entire circumference. What gives? It's been a long time since I've bought factory ammo, and a really long time since it was any Winchester. I had some Remington laying around that I finally shot up a few weeks ago, but the cases were taper crimped. But roll crimping? It headspaces on the case mouth....

I know that I get good performance from what I make at home. But the Winchester just printed terribly, the only upside was that I collected all the brass. Does anybody know if this is how they always do their ammo? A friend had a box of Winchester 9mm, and it was taper crimped. I don't know why a big time manufacturer would be doing it wrong.

 

[LiveLife]

Could you post close up pics?

 

[helotaxi]

Never had a noticeable crimp on any factory Win autopistol ammo. There shouldn't be one.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Mistake

I don't open for inspection every box of factory ammo I buy. Maybe I should. (I only buy factory ammo when I need to replenish my supply of empty brass.)

It sounds like you got a defective run of ammo. Now that you have shot it, it is probably too late to do anything about it, but if you still have the box, I would take the lot number and any other identifying information and notify Winchester of what you found.

Not only might you save some unsuspecting soul the problem of a jam (during a firefight, maybe) which would be NOT cleared by the usual method, you might get yourself a certificate for a replacement box of ammo.

Good luck.

Lost Sheep

 

[Bovice]

I would post pics but I already shot it all. It all went bang and functioned the slide, just not accurately at all. It stayed on a paper plate, but we all know that's not saying much.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I would post pics but I already shot it all. It all went bang and functioned the slide, just not accurately at all. It stayed on a paper plate, but we all know that's not saying much.

Unless you're somehow attacked by a paper plate.

 

[gotzero]

I just purchased two 100 round boxes of .40 WWB value packs, and almost all of my rounds are crimped like this. I found this thread archived when googling about this issue. Here are some pics below.

This ammo fits in my .40 case guages, and does still headspace at the case mouth, but it sure looks like something is wrong.

 

[RustyFN]

This ammo fits in my .40 case guages, and does still headspace at the case mouth, but it sure looks like something is wrong.

I would be curious to see one of those bullets pulled. They look very deformed.

 

[hentown]

That's some bad ammo!

 

[highlander 5]

That ammo looks like it was over crimped. I'd call Winchester and tell them about it who knows you might get some free ammo out of the deal

 

[straight-shooter]

Definitely looks like their QC personnel took a day off! Don't hesitate to call Winchester on this one. I'd get one of their managers email and send those photos to them.

 

[gotzero]

I pulled one. Yikes. The first picture is just the bullet.

The measurement at the crimp was .391. The measurement about two thirds of way down the bullet was .397 (in the picture). At the base the bullet was .399.

 

[gotzero]

Here is the pic at the crimp, .391

 

[murf]

with that much crimp, the rounds are probably headspacing off the extractor, not the case-mouth. bullet looks a little deformed, too.

i'd pull them after i talked with winchester (they may want them back). definitely would not shoot them.

murf

 

[icanthitabarn]

I e-mailed them about some .45acp that were all over the map, on length. Around 20% were too long to fit my friends gun. It was bizarre, as was the fact that they haven't calledback, after responding to my e-mail, and saying to call them. They didn't answer the phone the few times I called. They really seem to not care at all about their defective ammo.

 

[Waywatcher]

Every single factory Winchester 40 round I have seen has been roll crimped just like these pictures, even Winchester Ranger that I bought.

I performed the plunk test with my Glock barrel, and they still headspace on the case mouth. I have personally shot 450 rounds of this roll crimped ammo through my Glock with no issue. Maybe they did it to prevent setback? Who knows. I don't think it's an accident or mistake in any case.

I am not very impressed by Winchester at all.

 

[blarby]

I've pretty much given up on all factory ammo.

QC is all but absent in even the most "trusted" brands.

The only reason for me to buy it, is for guaranteed lifespan brass with a pop if I'm so interested. I know, I could just buy the brass..... but if you think the QC is bad on the stuff they load in boxes- you should see what they sell as components.

In addition, sometimes friends drop by with rounds they want to shoot- and as long as they aren't dangerous like these 40 cal, I'm game for that !

I think what I'm going to do after my recent Black Hills incident is just buy what little factory ammo I need for brass- and break it down. That way I get a bullet, too.