tideguyinva
Member
These came out of my .45. They are CCI. At one time they were all equal length but now some are shoter. What happened to them? They have just been in the mag. cycled a few times just to change them in the mag. Any ideas?
Is this ammo safe to use?
- Thread starter tideguyinva
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After chambering rounds multiple times , it's not uncommon for the bullets to get pushed into the case . This will increase pressures and possibly cause unsafe conditions . Have to recommend not shooting them although I'm sure many do .
357fan
Member
Tideguy - those are dangerously set-back. I'd ditch them.
In the future, I'd advise against chambering and re-chambering rounds. Not only does it result in bullet set-back, but all that fiddling around could lead to an AD.
In the future, I'd advise against chambering and re-chambering rounds. Not only does it result in bullet set-back, but all that fiddling around could lead to an AD.
biggiesmalls
Member
squib = danger
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Although the .45 Auto is a large case, a relatively small (in volume filling the case) powder charge, operating at low pressure, and thus would probably be more forgiving of such, I could not in good conscience advise you to use those severely "telescoped" rounds. They might not feed properly, either. In the higher pressure/smaller case 9mm or .40 S&W, definitely not.
Blazer Brass (if that's what that is) does seem to have a rather loose case mouth crimp. I've seen some noticeably shortened after just one chambering in 1911s. I shot them anyway with no problems, but those were not compacted nearly as much as the second and third rounds (from left) in your photo, more like the fourth and fifth.
Blazer Brass (if that's what that is) does seem to have a rather loose case mouth crimp. I've seen some noticeably shortened after just one chambering in 1911s. I shot them anyway with no problems, but those were not compacted nearly as much as the second and third rounds (from left) in your photo, more like the fourth and fifth.
MachIVshooter
Member
A squib is a severely undercharged cartridge that fails to propel the bullet out of the bore. Not something that can be determined by outward appearence of a round.
tideguy-
Pitch 'em. Bullet set back, especially that severe, increases chamber pressures substantially. Yeah, your firearm might take it a few times, but why risk it?
DENALI
member
This is textbook bullet seatback and they are very dangerous and need to be safely disposed of. Take them to a local gunshop for disposal if you're not comfortable doing it yourself, but don't just throw them in the trash...........
OhioPaints
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It's a very bad practice to unload and rechamber the same round. One manufacture recommends that rounds not be rechambered more than 2 or 3 times.
As someone else noted, .45 is more forgiving, but in a 40SW round, such setback could DOUBLE the chamber pressure. It only takes a slight bit of setback in 40SW to push the round to gun destructive pressures.
I seldom unload a round. If I do, it goes somewhere in the middle of the magazine, not on top.
Ken
As someone else noted, .45 is more forgiving, but in a 40SW round, such setback could DOUBLE the chamber pressure. It only takes a slight bit of setback in 40SW to push the round to gun destructive pressures.
I seldom unload a round. If I do, it goes somewhere in the middle of the magazine, not on top.
Ken
jaholder1971
Member
Throw them away?
I'd simply use a kinetic bullet puller to push the bullet forward then reseat back to length with my reloading press.
I'd simply use a kinetic bullet puller to push the bullet forward then reseat back to length with my reloading press.
jad0110
Member
Yeah, I dropped one onto an indoor/outdoor carpetted concrete floor while sitting on a stool and it set the bullet back quite a bit. I did the same thing as jaholder, and I put just a tad more crimp on than the other blazers.
tideguyinva
Member
I was thinking the same thing but I wanted to know for sure. What I didnt know is that your not supposed to rechamber a round like that. I will be sure and not do that again. As for the ammo it is going to the range and letting them dispose of it properly. Thanks everyone for the great information you have given. I am alwyas learning something from THR.
I once ran some tests (far from definitive) with bullet set-back in 9mm, and found that it really had little effect on pressure. Only when the bullet was forced back far enough to compress the powder charge was there any sign of high pressure, and even then functioning was normal (no blown up guns).
Note that bullets can set back from recoil in the magazine, even if not fed into the chamber. In any case, rounds with set-back bullets may not work very well, and for a carry gun I advise loading the mag with fresh rounds every time you load the gun. Save the "used" rounds for the range.
Jim
Note that bullets can set back from recoil in the magazine, even if not fed into the chamber. In any case, rounds with set-back bullets may not work very well, and for a carry gun I advise loading the mag with fresh rounds every time you load the gun. Save the "used" rounds for the range.
Jim
Sport45
Member
tideguyinva said:
One idea is to use your thumb to push them out of the mag instead of running them through your pistol. I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume you were not at the range when you did this. I avoid running live rounds through the actions of firearms in my house.... A ND would put a .451" hole somewhere you might not want one.
jarholder1971 said:
That's what I'd do to. I wouldn't recommend firing them the way they are, but most likely it wouldn't hurt anything.
The Bushmaster
Member
I load and unload my carry ammunition on a daily basis with no set back problems. With that said...You might try to find a manufacturer, like Federal, that has a cannelure on the case just below the seated bullet that stops this or reduces the possibility of it occuring...
If you are a reloader. Don't disgard those rounds. Remove the bullets and reload the cases and use them to practice with...
If you are a reloader. Don't disgard those rounds. Remove the bullets and reload the cases and use them to practice with...
OhioPaints
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Have you measured the rounds with a micrometer?
As little as 1/100th of an inch can MORE THAN DOUBLE the pressure in a 40SW 180 gr cartridge. See http://greent.com/40Page/ammo/40/180gr.htm
for details.
There is a report (see http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/setback.html) where failures happened at the firing range at Los Alamos. It was traced back to ammo that had been repeatedly rechambered.
Rechambering ammo can be very dangerous in all calibers, but 40SW seems to be the most susceptible to destructive results.
Ken
DENALI
member
You should ignore anyone on this thread who suggest's anything but safe disposal. I'd think this would be as good a place as any for one of the moderators to jump in and do a little chastising................
The Bushmaster
Member
OhioPaints...Why yes I have as a matter of fact...I have kept a log of measurments for 20 Federal 9mm X 19 rounds that I use for CCW defence. I measured them once a week just for sh**s and giggles. In six months I had just that .001" set back. Give me a break guy...I've been reloading for over 20 years and .001" set back isn't going to have any effect on those rounds. If that was the case you would have to be extremely exact when setting up your OAL on every cartridge you assembled...You have been up on those wierd websites too many times...
Here is the chart provided in the link OhioPaints provided:
1.140" 26,195 psi
1.130" 27,521 psi
1.120" 29,079 psi
1.115" 29,924 psi
1.100" 32,900 psi
1.075" 39,641 psi
1.050" 50,954 psi
1.040" 57,926 psi
1.030" 66,890 psi
1.020" 80,345 psi
1.010" 101,286 psi
1.000" 138,744 psi
According to that it would .100" (1/10th) not 1/100th to double it which I can believe if the loads are already at or near max.
1.140" 26,195 psi
1.130" 27,521 psi
1.120" 29,079 psi
1.115" 29,924 psi
1.100" 32,900 psi
1.075" 39,641 psi
1.050" 50,954 psi
1.040" 57,926 psi
1.030" 66,890 psi
1.020" 80,345 psi
1.010" 101,286 psi
1.000" 138,744 psi
According to that it would .100" (1/10th) not 1/100th to double it which I can believe if the loads are already at or near max.
The Bushmaster
Member
I MIGHT except 1/10 of an inch causing a higher pressure, but 1/100 of an inch...? Naw...Not enough to amount to any worry...
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I'd call CCI and complain.
Have the lot number off the box handy.
They need to hear about this.
They will probably send you some free ammo for your troubles.
rcmodel
Have the lot number off the box handy.
They need to hear about this.
They will probably send you some free ammo for your troubles.
rcmodel
OhioPaints
Member
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Duh, what's wrong with my math <sigh>. I double and triple checked before I sent the message. Thanks for catching my mistake.
But still a tenth of an inch setback can really up the pressure. Actually, if the ammo is loaded to max, just a .055" additional setback (about 1/20", right?) will double the pressure. The next .02" will almost definitely blow the brass and possibly the gun apart (138,744 psi on the measurements shown.)
Ken
dhoomonyou
Member
DO NOT USE them.
Call CCI customer service, they will send you a mailer, and replacements.
Call CCI customer service, they will send you a mailer, and replacements.
mpmarty
Member
If you just go to the range once a week or so and shoot your carry ammo before you get into the Winchester White Box, then after cleaning reload with FRESH carry ammo. Don't try to keep the same rounds in the weapon for extended periods and when you clean the pistol, clean the magazine also.
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