9mm brass to avoid at all cost

[fredj338]

Had a catastrophic failure yesterday at a match. I cull & toss these cases but one snuck by me. The headstamp is marked IMT 9mm Luger, BUT there are others. The case has a noticeable step inside. I feared this would cause a weak point & proved my theory yesterday. So avoid them at all cost.

 

[Vortec MAX]

That looks like an Israeli Military Industries (IMI) case. I have also see these with IMT head stamps. I threw quite a few of these away because I could see a definite line on the outside of the case at that stepped point which indicated to me that they were about to separate.

Mike

 

[feelinlucky]

It's pretty obvious that they haven't stretched in the usual manner like rifle cartridges. It appears that they are intentionally made with that weak spot. Maybe that is to discourage anyone from trying to reload them.

 

[Nevada Ed]

You found one................
I posted last year on this ammo. Sorry you missed it.

 

[Arik]

A quick Google search shows this is a problem at least 2 year old. I found info dating back to 2014. A lot were sold by Freedom Munitions.

IMT stands for International Munitions Technology, later renamed Howell Munitions and Technology.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[moxie]

That stuff has been showing up for about 4 years and is "Ammoload."

It has NOTHING to do with IMI. IMI is really good stuff.

It apparently was developed to prevent bullet setback but has been proven to be pure junk, sometimes dangerous junk. If you see brass with that internal step or shelf...toss it.

 

[Rule3]

That looks like an Israeli Military Industries (IMI) case. I have also see these with IMT head stamps. I threw quite a few of these away because I could see a definite line on the outside of the case at that stepped point which indicated to me that they were about to separate.

Mike

IMI brass is excellent stuff. Nothing related to IMT.

I have lots of IMI brass been loaded many many times.


International Ammunition Association {iaaforum.org} - View topic - New Headstamps from Freedom Munitions

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Just found some of these with the "ammoload" headstamp in some range brass I just traded for. I just searched this forum and 1911.com forum last night and found the info I needed. They will be trashed for sure.

 

[Bkreutz]

That stuff has been showing up for about 4 years and is "Ammoload."

It has NOTHING to do with IMI. IMI is really good stuff.

It apparently was developed to prevent bullet setback but has been proven to be pure junk, sometimes dangerous junk. If you see brass with that internal step or shelf...toss it.

I don't know why the step is in there, but I don't think it's for bullet setback. I used to think that but I cut open an Ammoload case to see how far the bullet went in before it hit the ledge. If you look at my pictures below it's pretty obvious that the bullet set to the ledge is wayyyyyy too deep. Hardly any room for powder.

 

[moxie]

I had the same thoughts. But, the bullet didn't have to be seated quite that deep in the original loading, especially if it was a 147 gr. Perhaps the "ledge" was meant as a fallback setback preventer, not an original seating location. Having never seen an original full-up round I'm just guessing.

But, whatever, they are junk.

 

[Duckford]

You found one................
I posted last year on this ammo. Sorry you missed it.

That picture seems awfully familiar...

My father still buys Freedom for his Glock, but I've switched to separate ammunition for my Uzi after that incident. Still like Freedom, but not enough to blow pieces of metal and gas into my face. Only had the problem with my UC9, but that was problem enough.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The step might stop setback on a long 147gr bullet.............

but the ammo is using shorter 124gr bullets, so it is still up in
the air why the step is needed in the companies ammo case ?

 

[rwsmith]

Is is as easy as this??????

Is there any brass with a step in it that is good stuff or throw it all out??? I shoot a lot of range brass, mostly my own, but stuff gets in there.

 

[fredj338]

Is there any brass with a step in it that is good stuff or throw it all out??? I shoot a lot of range brass, mostly my own, but stuff gets in there.

I wouldnt load any.

 

[fredj338]

A quick Google search shows this is a problem at least 2 year old. I found info dating back to 2014. A lot were sold by Freedom Munitions.

IMT stands for International Munitions Technology, later renamed Howell Munitions and Technology.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I have only recently been scrounging 9mm brass, had plenty, so this is pretty new to me. FM is the other headstamp, found one tonight in a run of 300rds. Pure krap, regardless of who or why its made.

 

[smokindog]

Hope I didn't miss anything buried in the discussion but when I saw the reference to Howell Munitions and Freedom Munitions I thought I'd post these links as Howell is the "parent". And now I've got a box of 1000 reprocessed primed 9mm brass I purchased quite some time ago from Xtreme that I need to sort through I got it during the "great drought" and tucked it back in a cabinet for a rainy day! I wonder if all their new brass is this IMT headstamp.....

Howell Munitions & Technology

https://www.freedommunitions.com/careers

A quick Google search shows this is a problem at least 2 year old. I found info dating back to 2014. A lot were sold by Freedom Munitions.

IMT stands for International Munitions Technology, later renamed Howell Munitions and Technology.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[moxie]

Is there any brass with a step in it that is good stuff or throw it all out??? I shoot a lot of range brass, mostly my own, but stuff gets in there.

"When in doubt, throw it out."

The pics in posts #1 and #4 should be all the motivation needed.

Fortunately, I don't think there's a lot of that stuff out there.

 

[Donn]

That stuff has been showing up for about 4 years and is "Ammoload."

It has NOTHING to do with IMI. IMI is really good stuff

Glad you had good luck with IMI, but really good stuff? I had six ammo cans full of IMI 9mm that I got rid of because it was junk. No powder, no primer, no flash hole in the cartridge case, cases that would crack when fired. I can't tell you what a thrill it is to see a flash from the ejector port as bright as muzzle flash. I have to say, when it did shoot, it was good, albeit very dirty. After two squibs in a row one day, I'd had it. Wasn't even dependable as range ammo. I couldn't get rid of it fast enough.

 

[krallstar]

I have had an issue with pmc 9mm Loading cast. Bullets sized to .357. I use a .38 expander on my cases so not to squeeze down the base. When loading this in the pmc brass, i get a bulge on some that won't let them chamber. Brass seems little soft. Probably fine for fmj. This does not happen when i use win brass.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Bulges can happen when loading mixed brass................

I try to sort if possible, all Win., FC, RP, etc but for the small
115gr plated at a long 1.14" OAL bulging does not usually
happen with mixed cases for my target ammo.