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

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Nobody guess the problem is the Model 10? Strain screw backed out or did the owner make the trigger pull lighter?

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

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.

So how many rounds were fired of the PMC with the eight (8) duds. How many rounds were fired of the other brand that day?

Another thing is how often does he shoot the Model 10? I’m asking because my old S&W revolvers only come out once or twice a year. My 686 Plus and my Kimber K6xs are shot monthly.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

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.

Another option is shoot them in another revolver. I would bet they would fire.

 

[oldbrownhat]

AFAIK his Model 10 is in excellent condition. He had previously been shooting some ammo frrom a local reloading company and had no problems. I believe the offending rounds were out of a full box of 50.

Just yesterday I managed to pull one of the bullets and found there was still powder in the case, so it seems to be primer failure. Here's a pic of his primer strike:

I put the primed case in my Model 10 and the primer went "bang." Also took another round and it fired OK, this time in my Model 14. I don't think he had tried firing them a second time. We're going to the range again this Friday so I'll give them back to him to re-fire!

Don't know whose bullets PMC is using but they have a very thick jacket. I fired this one into several inches of Duxseal.

 

[Matt_X]

Thanks for the follow up and photos.

 

[gwpercle]

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.

Use your bullet seating die to seat the bullet just a little deeper in the case ... this will break the crimp on the bullet and make pulling with an inertia puller easier ...
Usually 6 whacks on a firm surface (block of wood on concrete floor) will get the job done .
This is how I pull WWII military 30-06 ammo ...
You have to break the crimp and sealant to getter done .
Gary

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

AFAIK his Model 10 is in excellent condition. He had previously been shooting some ammo frrom a local reloading company and had no problems. I believe the offending rounds were out of a full box of 50 …

Is that the only box of PMC he has or did he buy a case? Next range outing bring two revolvers. Eight bad rounds in a box I would think PMC will have to have an Ammunition Recall.

When amateurs did the spring kit to their revolvers they would work for a while. As cops we had to qualify every two months and it was not unusual that the revolver that worked last month had light strikes the next month.

 

[oldbrownhat]

I doubt he bought more than a couple of boxes, possibly to tide him over until the local company is loading .38 Sp. again. Neither of us shoots enough volume to order a case, and I reload. We're going to the range on Friday so we'll just try those rounds again.

Fred & Glen- thanks for the suggestion to push the bullets back to break the seal. Duly noted