This round sounded quiet and it had in fact stuck in the barrel approx 3/4". Tapped bullet out and the spongy black piece of "foam?" was behind the bullet. The brass fell into a pile and I don't have it. I was shooting Armscor and Whitebox 230gr LRN and I am not sure which it was. Anyone know what this is?

Attached Images

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Is that bullet on a pool table?

No Sir. No pool table here (I wish). That is the desk protector on my old oak desk.

Back in the day when people light loaded (target loads) using a fast burning powder, such as Bullseye, where only a couple of grains was being used in a handgun case capable of holding much more than that, a filler between bullet and powder was used to keep the powder against the case head for uniform ignition.

Powder Case Position & Fillers

People used (and still do) stuff like corn meal or Cream of Wheat... Skeeter Skelton mentioned using tufts of Dacron/Nylon batting. Even toilet paper... I think Skeeter even mentioned a preference for Charmin in an article... which was probably more tongue and cheek than factual, but you could never be too certain with him.

My guess is that is what it is... a case filler plug/wad.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

That bullet is not from a factory load from Armscor nor Winchester.

Never shoot someone else's reloads.

Agreed. Looks like a Hornady to me.

I reload and I do reload 45acp. I have a lot to learn but I have not and would never shoot anyone elses reloads and I have not ever used a "filler" in mine. I consulted a friend who did not know what the piece was either and I thought I would try this forum. Thank You for the help Gunhacker. CTG/LEBOMM - if I had feelings that would hurt. Thanks for the accusation.

I'd break down another round of whatever ammo you were using and see if it had that foam also. If so, I'd pass on more of it. I agree it seems to be some sort of filler.

Thank You SMSgt. I wish I could look at some more of the box. I suspect I bought the box of ammo at a local pawn shop when I picked up an FFL delivery but I can't be sure (felt guilty buying internet guns and having them delivered there again and again). I will tell them about it so they are aware but I certainly can't (and wouldn't) accuse them of selling reloads.

I have never heard of anyone using a filler in any handgun round. Certainly no commercial reloader or ammunition factory would do it. Fillers are more in the realm of light rifle loads made up by handloaders. Or people fire-forming cases as part of the cartridge case conversion procedure.

Same here - and someone must have really been loading these 'down' to even think a foam filler was needed.

Where did you buy the ammo? If gun show or pawn shop, I would say someone swapped out some ammo on you

Absolutely no accusations at all.

You stated you were shooting Armscor and "Whitebox" (I presume you were referring to Winchester's USA brand which many refer to as WWB or Winchester White Box) 230gr "LRN". Now, the photo of the bullet you posted appears to be a commercially cast or swaged lead type.

Neither Armscor nor Winchester produces a load using such type of bullet, nor would any mainstream ammo maker or commercial reloader place a rubber or plastic "filler" inside the case.

It's certainly not my nor anyone else's fault that you're not knowledgeable or wise enough to know what factory loaded ammo from a major manufacturer like Armscor or Winchester looks like let alone understand why it's foolish to be shooting ammo obtained from, of all places, a pawn shop.

Possibly some ammo was swapped out OR wherever the pawn shop got it from was probably someone's reloads that came with a gun

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

I have seen a lot of 'questionable' ammo in new, factory boxes to include WWB for sale at gun shows and pawn shops. Unless it is new ammo from a retail store, recognized 'remanufactured' ammo from a known source or your own reloads you should not trust anything else.

Are you sure that pellet is inert foam?
It's appearance is very similar to a BP substitute pellet.
Perhaps it's someone's BP load that didn't ignite with the primer
And was pushed out along with the bullet.

Did you shoot the rest of the box? If not I would take the remainder back to them with your receipt if you still have it. It really does appear to be a reload, which if so they have an obligation to tell you that. My opinion only, but they would certainly hear it. Good luck with this.

I think we have a winner here, folks.

To the OP.... glad you caught that squib before you touched off another round. You could have damaged the pistol or yourself. I agree with the other posters who said you may have gotten somebodys reloads from that pawn shop.

I'm not so sure that is a BP substitute pellet. Every pellet I've seen has a hole through the center. They are also round, and without deep twisted grooves on the side. I highly doubt the extremely shallow rifling in a handgun barrel could deform a pellet like that, it would break up first. Additionally, it's a 45 ACP round, not a 45 Colt. BP in a 45 ACP round would be very strange.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

The OP also said it was 'spongy' so I agree that rules it out as a BP pellet. What I think is whoever loaded the ammo laid a section of dense black foam material on the mouth of the case and when he Seated the bullet it cut the plug and created a 'filler' for whatever reason he felt it needed it.

Groo here
BP not so strange.
Such loads were tested in WW2 .
A full case of BP under a standard bullet.
A little slow, a lot smokey , but due to JMB's design
Ran fine,

Definitely foam, but I doubt it was intentionally used as a filler. Polyester fiber fill is commonly used to take up the space, particularly with position dependant powders like the old Dupont PB. Just a wisp is all that is needed. Just because you haven't heard of it does not mean it is not done.

Looks like a piece of 'caulk backer' or 'filler rod' for use in gap fill in;
Just a closed cell foam rope of different diameters and cross sections used to stuff in betw assemblys like in older homes before caulking up cracks and spaces.
Most is smooth surfaced but some is ribbed and other specialty surface contours for certain applications.
Maybe somebody had an idea to use some of the stuff in front of a primer-only load and it would enhance the power by taking up the space and actually propel the bullet out the bbl..

At any rate it shouldn't have been in a commercial box of ammo.,,,someones handload fantasy round that they dumped into a partial box to fill it full. Then traded it in at the PawnPalace,

Just my guess.