Shield 40 Mishap

[Rastoff]

Here's the pic

This is not intentional and neither is is a problem. If the round fits in the chamber, it's OK.

Sometimes a thing called "stacking tolerances" gets you. When loading a round, if the brass is sized just a little on the small size, and the bullet is a little on the large size, this can happen. The bullet spreads the brass a little and that ring forms as the bullet is pressed into the case.

As long as it chambers OK, and isn't overloaded with powder, it will fire just fine. The "ring" has nothing to do with how much powder is in the case. You could only tell that by disassembling the cartridge.

These are some casings from rounds I fired:

Looks bad, right? Not at all. The .40S&W generates more pressure than other rounds. So, because these were reloads, the case had already been weakened. Because the chamber takes the force, there was no hazard.

Now, sometimes a cartridge case gets mashed a little as the bullet is inserted. This crinkles the case and makes it so it won't fit in the chamber. These are not dangerous, but could get stuck in the chamber and won't extract easily.

What you pictured shouldn't be an issue.

 

[45doubletap]

That has pretty much been my opinion. The neurotic OCD voices in my head are bothered by carrying ammo for self defense that "appear" defective, or just plain odd. But I've shot them no prob. Only happens with Federal? Thanks for the info! Much appreciated!


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[Wagonmaster]

Here's the pic

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From what I can see in those pictures it looks like some sort of dent in only one side of the cartridge. The crimp I'm concerned with looks kind of like a knurled line completely around the case, which as was stated, may be just to keep to bullet from seating any deeper in the case. And all the cases look the same in both boxes I purchased fresh right out of the box before being loaded into the mag or gun.
Maybe everything is okay with the shells as long as the chamber of the barrel is as it should be. Appreciate all the comments. I wouldn't know who to ask about my firearm questions if it weren't for all the excellent Gun Forums.

Wish I could post a picture but being as far behind in technology as I am I don't have a digital camera to be able to do so. Sorry.

 

[TailRunner]

So, am I understanding the blowup of the 40 Shield was part of a broken casing lodged (reload?) in the barrel, a second round chambered then when fired, the Shield blew up?

 

[ginzo]

Guard Dog

Here are my pics again of the Federal Guard Dog ammo. NONE were like this when loaded into mag. They were not continuously cycled etc. They were put in a mag and noticed issue about 3 weeks later.

 

[sherrill15]

They won't talk to you if you tell them you were shooting reloads.

 

[2001gmc]

Wonder how a person could reach Federal to ask them what the purpose of the indented ring is and what can happen by shooting them? 2001gmc got a hold of them with his problem so maybe he can help us here. Could be they've done this to discourage reloaders from re-using those cases.

If the indention was a little closer to the mouth of the case I'd think maybe it was a crimp to help hold the bullet in place but it looks closer to the base of the bullet to be that purpose.

When I purchased those two boxes the clerk mentioned that the local policemen used that particular round but no idea how he would know that cause surely they buy their ammo through a central purchasing department.

Oh, hope I haven't been hi-jacking 2001gmc's thread but since it involves the same brand of ammo he had trouble with I thought maybe it would help us all out.

They will tell you to send them in to be looked at. Then they will email or call you back and tell you they were reloads.
Federal Premium Ammunition - Contact Us
Contact them with it. I'd like to know there response myself.

 

[Wagonmaster]

Got an e-mail off to Federal. We'll see what they say about the knurled indent or crimp on brand new cases. Will post their response.

 

[ginzo]

They didn't tell me anything, they just sent replacements that did the same exact thing, sorry if I'm repeating this but I still didn't like them, sent them down range, they all fired and I changed to another brand. NEVER to return again!

Got an e-mail off to Federal. We'll see what they say about the knurled indent or crimp on brand new cases. Will post their response.

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

Got an e-mail off to Federal. We'll see what they say about the knurled indent or crimp on brand new cases. Will post their response.

knurled ring like the middle?

It's called a cannelure, it's there by intent. The idea is it prevent setback and it is why you see it on premium SD/duty ammo, that often gets rechambered multiple times.

Cannelures come in various ways, sometimes it's a smooth ring other times it's knurled. Depends on manufacturer.

 

[Wagonmaster]

knurled ring like the middle?

It's called a cannelure, it's there by intent. The idea is it prevent setback and it is why you see it on premium SD/duty ammo, that often gets rechambered multiple times.

Cannelures come in various ways, sometimes it's a smooth ring other times it's knurled. Depends on manufacturer.

That's it. Thanks for taking the time to post the picture. Makes me a little more comfortable using it as one of my CC loads.

 

[ElkyRacer]

Nothing yet...... middle end of Feb.... maybe.. crossing my fingers.

I have nothing to add to this thread other than a question.

C = Cotton?

 

[45doubletap]

Here's another one that I just plucked from my magazine...

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[Wagonmaster]

They will tell you to send them in to be looked at. Then they will email or call you back and tell you they were reloads.
Federal Premium Ammunition - Contact Us
Contact them with it. I'd like to know there response myself.

Response from Federal today:
"The case cannelure (what you are describing) is for aesthetics only and will not affect the strength of the cartridge case. Certainly you should use this ammo and be confident in its performance."

Wonder why they didn't just admit it's purpose, as BlueovalBandit has already explained with his pictures above. I'm sure they'd go to the extra work for aesthetic purposes.

 

[andyems10]

I had the same exact thing happen to new Federal HST when I loaded it into my 40c magazines. I had 12 or so between two magazines that had developed these same indentions. None of the remainders in the box had the dents. I sent a message and pictures to Federal. They told me it was a magazine spring that was too tight, asked if the magazine I loaded them into was new or had been used for a while. Seemed to me they need to make stronger casings. They were very helpful though and I did return the few damaged ones to them for inspection. I got a new box of 50 in return from Federal. None of the new ones have had issues so far.

 

[2001gmc]

Turbo I sent u a PM regarding a phone call from S&W.

 

[turbo38gn]

I'm excited now... been trying to get one local, worked a few angles that hasn't panned out...

 

[ginzo]

Well, are we close? Still no 638 for me yet.........

 

[Maximumbob54]

This is not intentional and neither is is a problem. If the round fits in the chamber, it's OK.

Sometimes a thing called "stacking tolerances" gets you. When loading a round, if the brass is sized just a little on the small size, and the bullet is a little on the large size, this can happen. The bullet spreads the brass a little and that ring forms as the bullet is pressed into the case.

As long as it chambers OK, and isn't overloaded with powder, it will fire just fine. The "ring" has nothing to do with how much powder is in the case. You could only tell that by disassembling the cartridge.

These are some casings from rounds I fired:

Looks bad, right? Not at all. The .40S&W generates more pressure than other rounds. So, because these were reloads, the case had already been weakened. Because the chamber takes the force, there was no hazard.

Now, sometimes a cartridge case gets mashed a little as the bullet is inserted. This crinkles the case and makes it so it won't fit in the chamber. These are not dangerous, but could get stuck in the chamber and won't extract easily.

What you pictured shouldn't be an issue.

THE HELL THAT ISN'T BAD!!!!

That is catastrophic failure. I've run maxed out Longshot loads several times through some cases to see if it wears the cases any in my M&P40c and if I needed to worry about causing a case head bulge. The chamber those were in was either way out of spec, the brass was seriously work hardened, or some other kind of massive fail. Either way that brass looks like it could vent in lots of different directions instead of just forward and it's a miracle if the case still managed to seal in the chamber. I've seen old cruddy milsurp brass split down the side and it still sealed up but those cases look shattered. I would say that lot of brass is either bad or something in your reloading regimen is killing your brass.

 

[turbo38gn]

Ok boyz.... this looks like it!!! I just took care of the bill... looks like we may be seeing a gun ship any day now!!! I want to thank everyone that donated for James, I'd like to post a name list to publicly thank everyone, but a few asked to be anonymous... you all know who you are!!