Federal ammo recall

[dcphoto]

http://www.americanrifleman.org/article ... y-warning/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RoyGBiv]

Thanks for the heads up

[A-R]

Thanks for the heads up.

Would be nice if they actually printed the lot number on their ammunition boxes.

Have a bulk 250-count box of AE45A250 and thankfully there is a lot number on the inside of the to flap of the box (not in the range specified on the web site, thankfully, as I've already fired about half the box).

But just this week picked up two 50-count Federal Champion .45 boxes WM5233 from Wal Mart and there is no lot number printed anywhere on either box that I can find. Guess I'll call the 1-800 number tomorrow.

[A-R]

Called Federal four times today. No answer. Left message and sent electronic message via their web site.

About 3:30 this afternoon, received a call back from a guy in Minnesota (who said he'd been on calls non-stop all day). I asked him about the Federal Champion from Wal Mart and he said the lot number is located on the inside flap. I had seen the number but looked right past it because it did not seem like a lot number (didn't follow same numbering sequence, wasn't printed in same big smeared black ink as other lot numbers). But he assured me this is the lot number for those Federal Champion packages and that my two boxes were both OK (he confirmed this by asking me the color of the primers, which were brass like the cases and said the bad ammo had different color primers - not saying that ALL such primers are bad, but the bad lots all had non-brass primers).

And of course he called RIGHT AFTER I'd just purchased four more boxes of ammo at GT Distributors to be sure I'd have enough for IDPA classifier this weekend Oh well, not like I won't shoot it at some point - but wish I could've waited a bit to put it on my credit card which I've stretched a bit this month with other purchases. As a side note, GT's had to send back thousands of rounds of Federal bulk pack 250-count boxes just like the kind I bought from them last week. Luckily my box, of which I've already shot about HALF , is not in the bad lot number sequence. A bit scary to think I could've pulled one of the other boxes quite easily.

Anyway, I'm satisfied now that all my ammo is OK. But it took a bit of doing - the American Rifleman link and Federal's own PDF link http://www.federalpremium.com/pdf/45_Auto_warning.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; are a bit hard to decipher for ammo boxes with lot numbers not printed in same spot or using same numbering sequence.

As an example, here is a photo showing three separate boxes of Federal .45 ammo with three different types of lot numbers located in three different places (circled in green)

* American Eagle 250-count box AE45A250
* American Eagle 50-count box AE45A
* Federal Champion 50-count box WM5233

Three different Federal .45 ammo boxes

[mgood]

The first couple times I looked at the warning, I decided that I don't have any of that.
It wasn't until I read the above post that I noticed Federal Champion on the list.
I DO have a box of WM5233 (Federal Champion 230 gr FMJ, WM=WalMart). So I just now took a close look at it. My primers are not brass. They're the silver color of most primers. My lot number is not where your picture shows it, on the box flap. Mine is on the back, above the UPC symbol and the velocity chart.
But, after inspection, mine is not within the number range of the recall. Just normal (cheap) WalMart ammo.

My carry ammo for my little Kimber is PD45HS3H (Federal Premium 165 gr Hydra-Shok Personal Defense Low-Recoil), so no concern there.

[RollTide In Texas]

Called Federal four times today. No answer. Left message and sent electronic message via their web site.

About 3:30 this afternoon, received a call back from a guy in Minnesota (who said he'd been on calls non-stop all day). I asked him about the Federal Champion from Wal Mart and he said the lot number is located on the inside flap. I had seen the number but looked right past it because it did not seem like a lot number (didn't follow same numbering sequence, wasn't printed in same big smeared black ink as other lot numbers). But he assured me this is the lot number for those Federal Champion packages and that my two boxes were both OK (he confirmed this by asking me the color of the primers, which were brass like the cases and said the bad ammo had different color primers - not saying that ALL such primers are bad, but the bad lots all had non-brass primers).

And of course he called RIGHT AFTER I'd just purchased four more boxes of ammo at GT Distributors to be sure I'd have enough for IDPA classifier this weekend Oh well, not like I won't shoot it at some point - but wish I could've waited a bit to put it on my credit card which I've stretched a bit this month with other purchases. As a side note, GT's had to send back thousands of rounds of Federal bulk pack 250-count boxes just like the kind I bought from them last week. Luckily my box, of which I've already shot about HALF , is not in the bad lot number sequence. A bit scary to think I could've pulled one of the other boxes quite easily.

Anyway, I'm satisfied now that all my ammo is OK. But it took a bit of doing - the American Rifleman link and Federal's own PDF link http://www.federalpremium.com/pdf/45_Auto_warning.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; are a bit hard to decipher for ammo boxes with lot numbers not printed in same spot or using same numbering sequence.

As an example, here is a photo showing three separate boxes of Federal .45 ammo with three different types of lot numbers located in three different places (circled in green)

* American Eagle 250-count box AE45A250
* American Eagle 50-count box AE45A
* Federal Champion 50-count box WM5233

IMG_0367-web.jpg

Thanks Austinrealtor for the info. I have two boxes of the Federal Champion and couldn't figure out the lot number location. This clarified it for me, and I'm all good!

Also, my primers are all brass colored.

[JDRFL1]

Yesterday, I went to my local wolly world and they had a bunch of Federal .45 for around $16.00 per box. I had forgotten about the recall info that was posted here on the forum and tried to purchase some. The cash register at Wal-Mart would not allow the sell. The clerk had no idea why...... I assume it had something to do with the recall.

[Viffer]

I'm learning that the process to return this ammo is going to be a test of patience and fortitude. Long waits on the phone, leave a message for someone to call back. I'm guessing this is going to take weeks or months.

[gigag04]

Tried to buy a bunch of .45 federal red box at Wally world today. The clerk is the usual guy and we always shoot the breeze - he was telling me about how they just put it back on the shelves because there was a hold on it. I explained the issues and the recall to him. He went to ring me up and the 45 scanned and popped out an alert that the item was not for sale....

Hurry up federal.

[68Charger]

Yeah, same thing happened to me. I had went up there with two boxes of .380 Win white box and 1 box of Federal .45. When she scanned the .45, it gave an error. I didn't think about the recall until another cashier said 'there could be some sort of recall on it'. Then it hit me that I had forgotten about that recall. So I had to make due at the range with the 380 rounds. My S&W 1911 sat there and cried. Poor baby. I did shoot off one round of a JHP though. :)

Federal is awesome ammo and at an awesome price.

[Jbird5363]

No wonder my barrel bushing took a crap I ran a hundred of those things through my gun.

[Viffer]

Just for grins, I sent Remington the following email.

Hello from Texas,

Unfortunately, I bought 3 boxes of that recalled Federal .45 ACP (50 round box). Federal is swamped with calls and frankly is unable to provide me with any customer support. Would Remington consider an exchange for this recalled Federal .45 ammunition? It might serve as the bases for an advertisement or perhaps you may simply want to examine the recalled ammunition. You may contact me by phone at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

If I get anything this might be considered a reply, I'll be sure to post a follow-up.

And so it goes.