[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I was checking some photos and came across the one below:

Both of these are the "old style" 230-gr. Federal HydraShok in .45 ACP. Notice how one has exposed lead and a different diameter hollow cavity? I fired both rounds later and checked to see if the deformed one would feed properly; it did and it chronographed well within the standard deviation of that lot of ammunition, but would it feed in every .45 pistol? The point is that it was not as it should have been.

Many probably already do, but I suggest that checking one's ammunition visually is not a waste of time...especially for carry or duty ammo.

Sooner or later I suspect strongly that you will find one with a reversed primer, split case, or even a bullet seated upside down. Over the years I have found some rounds that should never have left the factory in practically all makes; it is not often, but once could be too many times under the right circumstances.

Best.

 

[erich]

I remember a .357 SIG cartridge from Cor-Bon (one of their early 115-grainers, back in the mid-'90s) that had the bullet pushed way too far down in the case neck. Given the pressures that the .357 SIG is operating at already, this alarmed me.

You're right: inspect them all!

 

[Guest]

I just look over each round as I load it into the mag. Does not take long to be safe. Remember, Murphy was right!

 

[weshowe]

Stephen and all.
I visually inspect each round, see if it will drop into the barrel's chamber easily (pistol disasembled), and mark each round with an idlible marker. This allows me to positively identify my rounds and show that they have been inspected for carry use.
It's anal, but I've discovered factory "oops" problems, too.
Wes

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hi there,

Great advice!

It doesn't take that much time or effort to inspect your carry ammunition.

Chris

 

[pff]

Likewise. I also invested in a cartridge gage that suppoosedly checks for max SAAMI dimensions.

In resolvers I rotate each round past the recoil shield as a bent rim or high primer can tie up round guns.


Regards,

Pat

 

[Guest]

Good advice. I've found a .380 round in a box of 9mm, and an entire box of 147 gr 9mm that fed perfectly in my Ruger but was too long to fit in a Kahr magazine. Now I inspect and test everything.