Strange factory ammo failure - it could have been bad.

[LTUME1978]

Charles,

I had that happen intermittently with some 45 ACP reloads (my fault back when I started reloading again about 8 years ago). I was using 200 grain SWC and seated them out a little too far. I never noticed it in practice as I shot until the pistol was empty. At the IDPA match, when I went to unload and show clear, I could not get the cartridge out. I had to hold the slide firmly in one hand and then hit the grip repeatedly to get the bullet from separate from the case. That did not happen on every stage but did happen several times over a number of matches. I fixed the issue on the next batch of reloads and have not had anymore problems.

If you were able to rack the slide as you normally would (no extra force) and this happened, there is something wrong with the ammo. Either the bullet diameter is undersized or the case wall is too thin, allowing the bullet to move out of the case mouth and engage the rifling. If you still have the components, you could measure both up to see what where the problem is. It could also be that the chamber is short on this pistol. I have some 9mm reloads that chamber well in my M&P but would not go in a CZ75 (slide would not close as the bullet was to long for that chamber). If I seated that ammo deep enough to go into the CZ, the bullets would tumble when shot out of my M&P.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Here's an update, but no answers.

I examined the bullet with a lighted magnifying glass and there are no rifling marks. I expected this because the slide racked easily. I used a dial caliper to check the crimp on the empty case as well as some of the remaining rounds in the box. I also checked the crimp on factory Federal 90 gr FMJ. I then checked one of my reloading manuals which shows a crimp of .372. The Corbon rounds were .370-372 and the Federals were .373.

There are no obvious answers as everything seems to check out.

Chas.

[Mike S]

Here's an update, but no answers.

I examined the bullet with a lighted magnifying glass and there are no rifling marks.

Chas.

This is perplexing.... Perhaps compare the pulled bullet diameter with others in the box, or with the Federal rounds. It may have been a tad too thick and stuck in the chamber rather than on the rifling...