So I figured I would try out some 9mm ammo from Walmart and found a 100rd White Box of Winchester 115 gr. FMJ rounds for $26 and some Federal Aluminum Ammo for $9.97/50 rds. Purchased 100 of both and ran them through my shield with no problems...BUT...


Since I check my rounds before I use them, I saved this particular one in the stash of Winchester. Is this common? Furthermore, is this even usable?

What is your take on this?

Personally I don't plan on buying these Winchester rounds anymore. They were a bit dirty and found my groups were much more erratic than the other rounds I own (Sellier & Bellot 115, Fiocchi 124, Federal Aluminum 115).

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I've seen worse. I always keep the box, and call Winchester. I think they get annoyed with me, but since I have to do their QC ....

The Federal 100 box at WM is a few cents cheaper, and better ammo, in my limited scope of observation. But I usually buy the Remington UMC 100 115g JHP box for 70 cents more. That way a mag can be range or SD without reloading it (I've got arthritis, and loading / unloading a mag is not without pain.

I've never seen that headstamp on Winchester ammo. Usually the WWB that I get has WCC on the headstamp.

Of all the SAAMI Spec ammo out there, I like WWB 100 round 'Value Packs' and MagTech the least (kinda neck and neck for last place).

The last WWB I shot, I had a few FTFeed and FTExtracts, so I gave the remainder of the box a look. I lined up 10 random rounds and could visibly see (no micrometer needed) a visible difference in OAL (no 2 were the same). I figured this is what caused the FTFeed. I also saw that the 'shoulders' of the case rims varied from nicely squared off, to irregularly rounded around the rims. I figured this may have been the cause for the FTEs. That day, I was shooting my G19, XDMc and Shield. I came away with the feeling that WWB Value Packs were the 'Factory Seconds' (Floor Sweepings) of the Winchester line.

OTOH, I've ha NO problems with other Winchester rounds, even WWB 50 round (in rack, as opposed to bulk) ammo.

I may get more Value Packs if there's nothing other available (including Tula), but it's definitely no longer my 'Go To' range ammo.

I believe it's Winchesters Military headstamp and it appears that there is a NATO crosshair stamped at 12 o'clock. Note, that round won't ever fire, not only is the primer missing it's also missing the Flash Hole. It would be interesting to break it down simply to weigh the bullet, because the NATO ammo is supposed to have a 124 grain bullet.

It's sadly a distinct indication in the decline in the quality of Winchester ammunition. Not only did what should be a military cartridge get into Civilian packaging it's also a defective case that should have been in a scrap hopper. As someone who loads their own ammunition I do my best to avoid using Winchester cases because they have too many issues nowadays.

I still suggest you report it to Winchester. Might get a part of the cost of the box for sending it back (they arrange pick up).

WMA is Winchester's new headstamp for their Oxford MS ammo plant.

Just to weigh in a little on this, I have found that some 115 grain "generic box" ammo is just not powerful enough to cycle certain weapons vigorously enough, resulting in malfunctions. I have begun buying 124 grain and up for all practice. WWB needs to be 10% more powerful, in my opinion.

Thanks for that info. I've never had an issue with WWB ammo in any of my 9mm pistols (Ruger P89DC, SD9VE, M&P 9 FS).

No issues with Federal Champion, REM-UMC, W Train & Defend, PMC, Blazer Brass or Federal Aluminum. Guess I've been lucky so far

As others have said, that looks like the 124 grain NATO case that usually has red sealant but this one appears to not even have a primer. I wonder what the bullet weight really is considering it came from a 115 grain value pack.

Is it common? No. BUT it does happen.

I've had factory ammo with sideways/missing/upside down primers, crumpled cases etc. When you make a million of something EVERY day somthing is going to slip past QC. Get over it, it happens

So far I've had good luck with WWB. If we asked everyone to make a ten-letter post of the name of an ammo maker who has delivered a bad round, I can't imagine any ammo maker wouldn't be named. The last bad round I had was a Federal, but I bet I'll have another bad round one day. The best maker seems to be me, and even I once got a primer in backwards, but that's the only bad round I can remember loading.

That's to bad about Winchester going down hill. I used to view them as being higher quality than other manufacturers. The worst I ever experienced was with a 1000 rd case of federal American Eagle I bought in like 2010. In every 50 rd box I had at least 4 rounds with bad primers in it, some had more. I took years to shoot it because it was embarrassing to take to the range , finally finishing it up in 2014. Tried them in sigs and glocks, an UZI and Colt carbine and they wouldn't go bang.

Been fortunate not to come across any like that yet. I used to search for WWB, but lately it always seems to be more expensive than, say, Fiocchi or American Eagle. Fiocchi is definitely not underpowered. Both AE and Fiocchi have been reliable, clean, and accurate for me.

Yea Fiocci is pretty hot stuff I heard.

I have shot a lot of WW white box 115 gr. 9mm and I have never ran into this. I have ran into the Nato brass in the white box with the crimped primers but they just need primer pockets reamed ever so slightly to accept new primers when reloading.

Quality control just ain't what it used to be I guess.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

Unusual no...common no..

When I used to shoot NRA High Power Service Rifle (M1A) we were on two occasions issued Lake City M118 that had the same problem...no flash holes and no primers..... don't remember the year on the headstamp however. Seems like it was LC 84 or maybe LC 87

The Army wanted those back but we kept a few for show and tell....

Randy

We need to remember that the main reason we buy WWB, American Eagle. and other lower tier ammunition for the range is because it's cheap. We never have these sort of posts about the high end defensive ammunition.

Thanks for the tip - I sent a message to Winchester via their website with my info, so lets see what happens. Still have the box too so lets see what they have to say. Will keep you posted.

Good luck . . . they ignored me when I did that. A phone call is hard to ignore, but more work and maybe not worth it in the big scheme of things.

My issue was empty cases in a box of Super X .22LR. There were three empty cases - no bullet, no powder, in one box of 100. I know . . . it's a see through plastic box, but I didn't examine the rounds when I bought them.

It is always worth the effort to bring notice about a bad product. When we are interested enough to photograph and post about it, we should tell the manufacturer at the same time. It is only fair.

They will likely call you sometime in the next week - 10 days to discuss it.

I bought a box of Winchester 9mm Nato 124 grain FMJ (50 rounds) Sunday at Cabela's (on sale). It has the same headstamp ( WMA 15 and NATO cross ) UPC 020892 21221 3

Anybody here remember when we just used to buy ammo and shoot it?

So maybe it's not just me 'limp-wristing' the gun or 'not holding it properly' all the time! Thanks, Shawn.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Other than it's a pain to remove the pocket crimp, I have no problem reloading Win brass. Of course, each one gets my personal inspection, unlike a massive production line that takes small samples of large lots.

I've run at least 500 rounds of the Winchester 115 grain FMJ through my Shield since I picked it up it in mid-March and I haven't seen anything like that. I'm hoping I never do, as I just bought 1,000 rounds of it at the Crossroads gun show in Costa Mesa last month.

Funny you should mention that as the when I took a good look at all the other rounds I did notice that although some were nice and clean, others had quite a bit of red primer sealant. At first I thought it was rust but after a closer look I realized it wasn't.

I'd bet they changed the production line from one load to another, and you got a box that should not have been packed at all. Did you count the rounds to see if by chance the nato rounds were "extra"?

I did count the rounds hoping for that 101 box that some people talk about when they buy Winchester white, but there were 100 as advertised. They all had the same markings anyways - I kept the box (UPC 2089221297)

Winchester is well known for using their NATO stamped brass for their USA brand economy 9mm loads. They've been doing this for decades. If someone is concerned that they have the wrong bullet weight ammo the simple act of weighing the loaded round and comparing it to another known bullet weight cartridge should prove what the unknown bullet weight is; or simply pull the bullet and weigh it.

I have gotten to the point that with any new 9mm pistol, the first ammo fired is +P+. No ammo induced malfunctions. I do this because it is too easy to lose confidence in a new weapon if malfunctions occur. "Making sure it works" is the first order of business. This is best done with high quality ammo.