A squib with the 64????

[misswired]

Definitely noticed a half(?) charge on a factory reload... saw the projectile strike the swinging target with a louder slap. Immediately inspected the barrel for obstruction....and found this:

What happened?

[Doug M.]

From wha I am reading, you are describing a harder hit on the swinger, which would be consistent with a hotter load. The extra unburned powder left makes me think that way, too. I suppose it could have been a substandard crimp, resulting in incomplete ignition, too.

[H Richard]

Possibly incomplete ignition, causes by a slightly damp powder, or a weak primer as 2 of the potential reasons. Don't see that too often, usually no powder. Just out of curiosity, what brand of primer were they.

[misswired]

It happened again within 10 rounds of the same box

[misswired]

Both were low powered rounds....

NOT overcharged!!!

I think?

[kaaskop49]

Similar happened to me with factory reloads. Bullets keyholing and striking silo target sideways at 3-5 yards. Two bullets lodging in muzzle of 4" bbl Model 64, protruding halfway outside the muzzle. Low or no charges. No more factory reloads for me.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

[andy52]

What I'm seeing there almost looks a foreign substance that may have gotten into the case during the loading process, it could possibly be unburned powder but it doesn't look like it.

[tennexplorer]

Burned up case tumbling media?

[Radny97]

I’ve had this happen on factory new ammo. The yellow is unburnt gunpowder. Gunpowder is usually black or grey in color because it is coated in graphite to help in flow easily through the loading machines. Without graphite it is usually yellow.
When you get partial ignition you get unburnt powder but the graphite has been burnt off by the partial ignition. So it’s yellow. This can be caused by some contamination in the powder or it can be caused by a poor primer ignition. Contrary to internet lore, a light strike can cause a primer to partially ignite and then you get partially burnt powder. Internet lore says that primers either flash or they don’t and that there’s no in between. That’s not true. Experiment enough with the strain screw on your main spring in a S&W revolver and you can actually cause a primer to partially ignite. (Ask me how i know.)
Anyway, here’s a pic of my squib with factory ammo. Looks similar to yours. IMG_1605.jpg




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[9mmsubgun-m11]

Looks like not enough crimp for a complete burn.

[cmj8591]

That is definitely unburnt powder that has changed color due to being exposed to heat. One cause not mentioned here would be the flash hole being plugged by tumbling media. This would cause the flame from the primer to be restricted and not completely ignite the charge. I'm not a big fan of factory reloads. The quality control is iffy at best.

[Doug M.]

Depends on who makes them. I recall seeing some pretty harsh comments here and elsewhere about some companies, and I presume that they are completely justified. I will buy factory reman from Black Hills and use it in complete confidence, just as I do with their new manufacture.

[old bear]

misswired, for those of us who use "factory reloaded" ammo, would you please lets us know who the ammo was from.

Thanks.

[misswired]

I hate to put down anyone or their business, we all make mistakes...so I won't.
I happen to drive by the zero bullet plant located here several days a week. Out of who knows how many rounds, these were the only two and came from the same box. It could be entirely my fault as these rounds were left outside in a damp environment for a couple of days. It's very convenient for me to stop in their office and get a good deal on about any new or reloaded ammo..: they also give me a good discount for returned brass. Both rounds exited the barrel.... I'm thinking the louder slap' was from the tumbling projectile.

[lebomm]

Both of those look like contaminated charge to me. Now that you've said they were left outside under, ahem, suboptimal conditions, I find it pretty easy to lay the cause there. Ammo management really is pretty important - maybe just as much as care of the machinery itself.

Larry

[smithman]

Cream of wheat is normally a black powder thing...

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Originally Posted by H Richard

Possibly incomplete ignition, causes by a slightly damp powder, or a weak primer as 2 of the potential reasons. Don't see that too often, usually no powder. Just out of curiosity, what brand of primer were they.

Also Possibly not enough powder to sustain pressure. Wrong powder, possibly Wd40 or some penetrating lube just prior to shooting.

[Muley Gil]

Back in the '70s, Zero quality control was so-so. A friend had a Python and about 1/2 of a box of Zero .38 special reloads wouldn't chamber. They hadn't be sized small enough.

Now by the 1980s and up until 2001, when I retired, my department used Zero ammo for qualifications and it was fine. However, I haven't used any since 2001.

[rwsmith]

I've heard good marks from some reloaders around the country. A long time ago I wouldn't touch them because I had too many with wild variations from POP to BOOM out of the same box.

I don't know how much reloading outfits consider case thickness length. Length can especially cause variations in crimp.

Anyway, if I was in the market for reloads, there are a few outfits I'd consider, but that's all.