Sparks while shooting?

Kizer

Kizer

Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2015
Messages
53
Reaction score
5
When i was shooting my M&P 9, i noticed sparks whenever i would shoot. I havent had that happen before and was wondering if that is normal? I didnt have any trouble hitting anything, just noticed a couple sparks every once in a while. This is a shot in the dark, but could the weather cause it to do that? It was very humid when i was shooting. Actually it was between thunderstorms :D
 
Register to hide this ad
Unburned powder igniting when it gets enough oxygen after leaving the muzzle. Most likely when the cartridge is loaded with slower powders and not to top velocities and pressure. Smokeless powder is progressive burning. That simply means it starts burning slowly and begins to burn faster and more completely as pressures increase.
 
If it's coming out of the front of the gun it's OK. It's called Muzzle Flash. If it's coming from somewhere else you have a problem.
 
Kizer said:
When i was shooting my M&P 9, i noticed sparks whenever i would shoot. I havent had that happen before and was wondering if that is normal? I didnt have any trouble hitting anything, just noticed a couple sparks every once in a while. This is a shot in the dark, but could the weather cause it to do that? It was very humid when i was shooting. Actually it was between thunderstorms :D
Click to expand...

We bought a new Bodyguard 380 last year and on the first range trip we were having several FTFeed/FTE with it. We were using Remington UMC FMJ rounds. We returned to our LGS where we purchased and the owner fired rounds of PMC Bronze, Perfecta (inexpensive Walmart ammo) and some reloads a friend of his supplies him with. After firing some of our Remington rounds, he asked us if we had seen the sparks coming from the ejection port of the pistol. I did notice it when he was firing, but didn't while on our first range outing. He then fired his rounds, and we didn't see the sparks, and the pistol had no failures. Was he able to draw conclusions why the sparks were there, NO, but he said it wasn't a good thing, especially when the pistol was having associated issues when firing that brand of ammo. I can understand muzzle flash, but not sparks coming from the ejection port area of a pistol.

One post asked what ammo were you using and I didn't see a reply. I am curious also. I'm not using Remington UMC rounds anymore. Whatever rounds I have left, I will use up with my Ruger LCP. That badboy will eat anything! Anyway, just my two cents. Good luck and happy shooting! - Rick
 
Rickgus said:
We bought a new Bodyguard 380 last year and on the first range trip we were having several FTFeed/FTE with it. We were using Remington UMC FMJ rounds. We returned to our LGS where we purchased and the owner fired rounds of PMC Bronze, Perfecta (inexpensive Walmart ammo) and some reloads a friend of his supplies him with. After firing some of our Remington rounds, he asked us if we had seen the sparks coming from the ejection port of the pistol. I did notice it when he was firing, but didn't while on our first range outing. He then fired his rounds, and we didn't see the sparks, and the pistol had no failures. Was he able to draw conclusions why the sparks were there, NO, but he said it wasn't a good thing, especially when the pistol was having associated issues when firing that brand of ammo. I can understand muzzle flash, but not sparks coming from the ejection port area of a pistol.

One post asked what ammo were you using and I didn't see a reply. I am curious also. I'm not using Remington UMC rounds anymore. Whatever rounds I have left, I will use up with my Ruger LCP. That badboy will eat anything! Anyway, just my two cents. Good luck and happy shooting! - Rick
Click to expand...

It appeard to be coming out of the ejection slot.

I was using Remington UMC for the first time becasue it was on sale. I havent had this problem before and iv probably put over 600 rounds through it. I usually use PMC and Federal and have never had this problem before.

Should i stop using the Remington then?
 
Tula Ammo has done that with my 45. Looks like a sparkler going off sometimes! Its the powder.

NC
 
Kizer said:
It appeard to be coming out of the ejection slot.

I was using Remington UMC for the first time becasue it was on sale. I havent had this problem before and iv probably put over 600 rounds through it. I usually use PMC and Federal and have never had this problem before.

Should i stop using the Remington then?
Click to expand...

Kizer - I can only speak for my pistol and what I experienced with the Remington UMC ammo. I quit using this ammo due to FTFeeds/FTE's. My LGS raised his eyebrows when asking us if we noticed the sparks coming from the ejection port? If it was worth mentioning in my particular case and the different rounds he introduced us to solved our other issues than I won't be using anymore of the Remington rounds with the Bodyguard. I have had better luck with the PMC Bronze and that is what I will stick with. These small pistols are very picky with the ammo they digest and I don't think one can say what is right or wrong with one pistol of a particular model will speak the same for another! You say you have had good luck with the PMC and Federal. Many others on the forums have also said their Bodyguard do well with these brands. Do what you think is best. If you do decide to stick with the PMC and Federal and not the UMC rounds, I would definitely shoot whatever rounds you have left. I have a box and a half of the UMC's and I will feed those to my Ruger LCP! Again, good luck and Happy Shooting! - Rick
 
As stated above, it's unburned powder particles and not harmful in any way. Don't worry about it.
 
Sparks, like smoke and flash, are merely caused by the selection of powder - I cannot imagine how they would be related to the types of failures you mentioned - that would be a coincidence.
 
No, the gun shouldn't do that. Even if it's unburned powder igniting, this should only happen rarely. It is definitely not normal for "sparks" to come from the ejection port.

None of my guns have ever done that. I'm a lefty so, I'd notice if they did.
 
Last edited:
What Can Spark Besides Powder & Crud?

If I had a firearm that "sparked" I would thoroughly clean with solvent and compressed air. There's nothing that's supposed to be in the gun that will spark except powder and primer. Burned and un-burned powder should be flying everywhere, but not so much out the ejection port. If you had enough debris and oil in there it could occasionally go incandescent as it left the premises, propelled by hot gases. The rest of the stuff, plastic, brass, stainless, miracle coating, etc., just don't spark.
 
Inexpensive ammo (read cheap) can and does do this, i've had it happen many times. Ok for plinking/paper, just don't use it as carry ammo, obviously. Stick with good, reliable ammo for carry or SD purposes. Like anything, you get what you pay for.... Would you carry with reloads? Some inexpensive ammo is even less reliable than that....
 
Last edited:
I use the cheep ammo that gives me this desired result only on the 4th of July!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
M&P 9 fired while inserting magazine
3 4 5
Replies
84
Views
3K
s&wchad
s&wchad
spirit4earth
Haven’t fired in a while
Replies
7
Views
625
stansdds
S
ImDrRich
and while I'm on the subject of the BG 2.0 -
Replies
11
Views
643
Cheyenne WYO
C
S
Bodyguard 2.0 shooting left and low out of box
Replies
5
Views
168
biku324
biku324
D
help/advice/thoughts about left vs right shooting stance
Replies
8
Views
468
Jim Watson
J

Latest posts

Back
Top