FTF with PMC Bronze .38 Special ammo

[oldbrownhat]

Friend and I were up at the range today. He had a box of PMC Bronze .38 Spec., 132 gn. FMJ and had 8 FTF. He was shooting his Model 10 no dash which has not exhibited any FTF problems with other ammo. Primer strikes look normal.

I brought the offending rounds home to pull them and check for powder, but 25+ whacks with my Frankford Arsenal kinetic bullet puller didn't even budge the bullets and I don't have a collet-type puller.

 

[Valmet]

Interesting. I’ve shot a bunch of PMC Bronze .38 Spl and have never had any issues. Hope this isn’t a sign of PMC QC moving forward…

 

[YouveHadYour6]

If they're fresh I'd recc taking them back to the shop they were purchased from - had this happen with some in 9mm from Cabela's once and it turned out that particular lot had not a recall but a 'return credit' or something option because a bunch in that batch had bad primers, or something to that effect - but it required the return of the ammo/remaining shells. I doubt they actually got sent back anywhere and the requirement was likely more for disposal and liability, but least I basically got my money back. YMMV.

*I THINK it was Cabela's, may have been Academy...it was so long ago I can't recall now for certain. :/

 

[Dave Lively]

Happen to know the lot number of that ammo?

I have never had a problem with PMC ammo. I recently bought a 900 round case of this ammo after having shot a few boxes I purchased earlier with no issues. I normally take a FIFO approach to ammo but am going to pull a box out of one of the "battle packs" that were in that case and give them a try

 

[375hh1973]

I shoot a fair amount of the PMC .44mag 240gr TCSP

Never had an issue.

Hope its not a sign of things to come.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have shot only a modest amount of the PMC bronze but have had zero trouble with it.

 

[oldbrownhat]

I'd never heard of issues with PMC either so this was (hopefully) a "one-off" (or I guess, "eight-off.") No idea what the lot # is as I don't have it here.

I still can't figure out why the bullets are seated so firmly that I can't whack 'em loose with my kinetic bullet puller! I found I do have a Forstner collet pullerr but it's for a smaller caliber so no joy there.

 

[Reloader Fred]

I'd never heard of issues with PMC either so this was (hopefully) a "one-off" (or I guess, "eight-off.") No idea what the lot # is as I don't have it here.

I still can't figure out why the bullets are seated so firmly that I can't whack 'em loose with my kinetic bullet puller! I found I do have a Forstner collet pullerr but it's for a smaller caliber so no joy there.

Put the offending rounds in a .38 Spl. seating die and set the bullets back a few thousands of an inch to break the seal. Then use your kinetic bullet puller to finish the job.

Hope this helps.

Fred