*Whew* Glad that was at the range. . .

[WardenWolf]

So I went to the range today, and took my Ruger P90 .45. This is the gun I always keep in my car for self-defense. I always keep it loaded and decocked with a round chambered (single/double; legal to keep it this way in Arizona).

I get to the range, get set up, and pull my P90 out to start shooting. Safety off, taking the first shot double action. . . *Click*. I just stood there with this look of horror. I try again. No go. First round in my gun, the one that was always in the chamber ready to go, the one that I would have been counting on in an emergency, is a complete dud.

After ejecting that round, the rest of the clip shot flawlessly. Now, I don't over-oil my guns. There's no way that oil could have killed the primer. I just had a bad round. The round was a Remington UMC yellow box cartridge.

There is NOTHING like the realization that the round you'd been counting on for over 2 years was completely dead.

 

[blkbrd666]

I would chalk the experience up as good training...now you know not to do this again:

I just stood there with this look of horror.

 

[Mad Magyar]

There is NOTHING like the realization that the round you'd been counting on for over 2 years was completely dead.

Long time between trips to the range for your PD. However, you did the right thing racking for another shot. I've seen many just look bewildered for a long time before initiating the "slap-rack-bang"....

 

[Claude Clay]

luck, as it is--of the draw
though yellow box may not be the best; still 2 years to have not fired your SD gun is a l o n g time. every 6 months at least will cut your exposure to misfires by 75%. good luck.

 

[WardenWolf]

I normally shoot .45-framed pistols, so I get plenty of practice even if I don't use that specific gun. For all intents and purposes, it's like my father's Colt Combat Commander (which I shoot fairly regularly), just with a lighter recoil.

And yes, I know the slap, rack drill. However, I didn't do it because of the risk of a delayed reaction. It seems .45-caliber bullets, in particular, have a reputation for extended hangfires. Instead I did the proper thing and held it downrange for about 10 seconds before ejecting it.

 

[Old Fuff]

Remington UMC yellow box is a promotional brand made for sale in discount stores or regular retailers running a "special." It's fine for practice - which it is usually used for. I suggest that you buy something better. "Better" does not necessarily mean hollow points. You want quality ammunition that above all feeds reliably.

 

[WardenWolf]

Funny is that the stuff used to feed 100% reliably in both the 1911 and my P90, and always shot decently.

However, the last box we got (which is a later batch than what was in my pistol) is a bit more problematic. The 1911 doesn't like it very much. My P90 eats it up, though. The P90 tends to eat some ammo types that the 1911 won't. I normally load with FMJ because it IS my car gun. If I have to shoot through a door, FMJ is more likely to fully penetrate.

 

[M203Sniper]

Tap - Rack - Bang

Good enough for Chesty Puller, good enough for me.

 

[Eightball]

The round was a Remington UMC yellow box cartridge.

It's yellow where you come from? Where I work, pistol UMC is white box, and not many problems with 'em that I"ve ever heard of.

 

[WardenWolf]

Yeah, well, can anyone recommend a good FMJ round that feeds well in Colt 1911's? After using that ammo for a long time, the last batch we got was bad. Generally anything that feeds well in the 1911 will feed in the P90 as well, with the P90 actually being more tolerant.

 

[gbelleh]

I used to shoot Remington UMC yellow box a lot, but I've had quite a few problems with it either misfiring, or having manufacturing defects (especially in 9mm).

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

There is NOTHING like the realization that the round you'd been counting on for over 2 years was completely dead.

Yeah, that pretty well stinks - as you point out, good to know now. However, you should probably using premium defense factory ammo anyway to defend your life, not Rem UMC.

 

[WardenWolf]

There was sa time when UMC was actually good ammo. Apparently not anymore. At any rate, I'm looking for a better FMJ round. My P90 isn't picky, although my father's 1911 is.

 

[jdc1244]

can anyone recommend a good FMJ round that feeds well in Colt 1911's?

S&B – it runs perfectly in my Colt’s 1911s, never a failure. Decent price as well.

 

[Gryphon1410]

I like using the American Eagle ammo by Federal. Goes bang every time so far and is relatively inexpensive.

 

[WardenWolf]

Anyone had any experience with PMC? PMC generally gets good ratings as a very accurate inexpensive ammo, but I have no idea how their .45 ammo is or whether it feeds well in classic 1911's.

 

[tblt]

That is cheap ammo I would never use it for SD

 

[WardenWolf]

Well, PMC is South Korean. Given that South Korea is a high-tech country, I have no inherent objections to using ammo from there as it is probably very good and PMC is very highly rated. But autoloading pistols are finicky beasts. Ammo that works perfectly in one model may never work right in another. I need to know if it works well in a 1911.

 

[Brian41]

There is NOTHING like the realization that the round you'd been counting on for over 2 years was completely dead.

forget range time...you had 2+ year old loads you were relying on for personal defense? Even if i'm not at the range every month or so, i would ABSOLUTELY keep less than 6 month old HP's loaded up for my daily carry piece.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Well Mike the Wolf...There is Remington Green box. There is Winchester. There is Federal and there is Hornady...Take your pick. All quality ammunition and made in America. Of course I use my own reloads with Hornady XTP bullets as I trust them much more then factory...

And if you are having that much trouble with your guns feeding standard ammunition, maybe you need to take your guns to a reputable gunsmith and have them looked at...

 

[WardenWolf]

you had 2+ year old loads you were relying on for personal defense? Even if i'm not at the range every month or so, i would ABSOLUTELY keep less than 6 month old HP's loaded up for my daily carry piece.

One, ammo does not normally degrade in only 2 years. Two, I live in Arizona which means a dry environment conducive to preservation. That is the ONLY US-made factory centerfire round I've ever encountered with a dead primer, and I've shot ammo much older than that. I've seen ammo stored in garages for decades come out looking and shooting like new. Three, I use FMJ's because it's my car gun, and in case I have to shoot through, say, a car door, I'd rather have a more durable round.

I already took the 1911 apart for cleaning and inspection. I can practically do it blindfolded. Scrubbed everything clean, checked for signs of wear. It's not the gun, it's the ammo. The gun is pristine, and I've seen it run reliably before with different ammo. Part of the reason why 1911's are a bit picky is that they lack a bullet ramp, instead relying on a ramped lip on the barrel. Newer models like my P90 have a full bullet guide.

 

[hags]

Remington UMC yellow box is a promotional brand made for sale in discount stores or regular retailers running a "special." It's fine for practice - which it is usually used for. I suggest that you buy something better. "Better" does not necessarily mean hollow points. You want quality ammunition that above all feeds reliably.

Yes, for self defense I would think you'd want the best available. Corbon, Hornady, Federal Hydra Shok or something along those lines.

 

[RogersPrecision]

I would like to have that dead round for autopsy.
I'd pull it down and photograph the results and post them here.

Here are some recent pics of a dud that was being carried by a federal law enforcement officer. Notice that the powder looks clumpy and wet.
I do not know the source of the contamination. Bullet and primer were both properly seated.

 

[WardenWolf]

I gave the round to the rangemaster to dispose of, so I don't have it. It was properly assembled, with no visual differences between it and an unfired round except for an obvious dent in the primer where my firing pin struck it. The primer simply failed to go off.

I fully ejected the round and rechambered it afterwards, with no luck. It was clearly the primer. One of the range officers expressed surprise that a Remington round did not go off.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Eightball, UMC is in yellow boxes here, never heard of white box UMC. I believe you, I just don't know why it would be different, does remington have more than one ammo factory?