BAD Reloads! Why not to buy someone elses!!

[Rule3]

Some time ago I purchased 50 rounds of 30 carbine 110FMJ from someone who believe it or not, has been reloading for over 40 years and has two reloading rooms larger than most folks houses. He is a major dealer in brass, powder bullets etc. He probably has over a million dollars in reloading equipment. I only say this is as I figured he knew what was going on. Which I still think he does. Maybe one of his helpers loaded these or he had a bad day or whatever. I am not going to burn any bridges over 50 rds of ammo.
I bought these before I had my dies and started loading my own which have been flawless(just saying) Anyway I went to the range yesterday and dug these rounds out of the closet as I had forgot about them. First few fired fine, then a jam. I cleared it and then another. Cleared that and then the next round fired and locked up the action. I looked at the fired brass and OH no, they blew the primers. I had to field strip the carbine and whack the charging handle with 2x4 to open it up and yet there was a primer jaming up the action.
Thank God it wasn't worse. Here are a few pics. Notice anything very wrong???

I measured some of the empty brass and still loaded ones. The numbers are all over the place!. The main problem I see is the brass is to short and the OAL is also to short. I am going to break them down to save the bullets and destroy the brass.
A lesson learned by me: I first of should not have bought them and second after I did I should have checked them over.

 

[Rule3]

Some time ago I purchased 50 rounds of 30 carbine 110FMJ from someone who believe it or not, has been reloading for over 40 years and has two reloading rooms larger than most folks houses. He is a major dealer in brass, powder bullets etc. He probably has over a million dollars in reloading equipment. I only say this is as I figured he knew what was going on. Which I still think he does. Maybe one of his helpers loaded these or he had a bad day or whatever. I am not going to burn any bridges over 50 rds of ammo.
I bought these before I had my dies and started loading my own which have been flawless(just saying) Anyway I went to the range yesterday and dug these rounds out of the closet as I had forgot about them. First few fired fine, then a jam. I cleared it and then another. Cleared that and then the next round fired and locked up the action. I looked at the fired brass and OH no, they blew the primers. I had to field strip the carbine and whack the charging handle with 2x4 to open it up and yet there was a primer jaming up the action.
Thank God it wasn't worse. Here are a few pics. Notice anything very wrong???

I measured some of the empty brass and still loaded ones. The numbers are all over the place!. The main problem I see is the brass is to short and the OAL is also to short. I am going to break them down to save the bullets and destroy the brass.
A lesson learned by me: I first of should not have bought them and second after I did I should have checked them over.

 

[Duke426]

Yep. Rule no 1 is I don't fire it if I didn't load it unless of course it is factory ammunition.

I have accepted and/or purchased reloads cheaply in the past but only for the raw components (brass and bullets only). I disassemble the rounds and dump the powder. Fire the empties as I don't know what kind of primers were used. Then I weigh the projectiles so I know what I have.

Glad you weren't hurt or firearms damaged.

 

[Bruce51]

I sure would like to know what those were loaded with. Can you break down a few and ID the powder and charge weight? Those cases sure look like they they were subjected to some really high pressure. Bruce

 

[Bruce51]

My neighbor gave me some .45 ACP reloads I thought were his own. They fired ok until three in a row had no powder charge. I stopped at that point and took the rest home to disassemble. All the rest had powder but it was a charge of two different powders. They were half stick and half flake at about 4 grains. I asked my friend if he loaded them and he said no. Someone had left them at the gun shop. Never assume anything. Bruce

 

[n4zov]

With a couple of exceptions I do not shoot other folks' reloads. Those exceptions are people whom I have know for a very long time and who know what they are doing. Everybody can and does make mistakes reloading, but I want to be sure it isn't something really stupid like substituting Bullseye for 4831!

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by Bruce Lee M:
I sure would like to know what those were loaded with. Can you break down a few and ID the powder and charge weight? Those cases sure look like they they were subjected to some really high pressure. Bruce

I broke them all down today. I can not give the weight of the powder as it was caked in there like hardened cement!. I had to scrape it out with a pointed stick. I just got done igniting it in a fire ball. Guess I should have waited till it was dark out for better effect

I weighed the bullets and they are actually 107 grs, gee I guess that is close to 110

Anyway, I am going to pop the primers next, do a full resize and the measure and pick over the brass. I already crushed the ones that had been fired. Glock bulge on a 30 cal carbine.

You think it was the fact that the powder was hard and stuck together?? It wasn't H110 it looked more like 2400 but just guessing.

 

[Andy Griffith]

OCD1,

I probably would have kept a few and the package and would have taken them back to the gentleman that makes these.

It might save you, and him a lot of trouble.

I'm no expert, but that sounds like "soured" powder if it was caked. Very strange.

So...did it bulge your carbine? I couldn't decipher if it did or not from your post. If it did, I am certain that the individual would pay for it...I'd hope.

 

[MrPhil]

People frequently drop off old ammo at the store for disposal. Factory loads get close inspection and are usually fired. Handloads get disassembled for components.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Rule no 1 is I don't fire it if I didn't load it unless of course it is factory ammunition.

I read things like this and I ask myself, why the disclaimer for factory ammo. Didn't someone else load it?

The fact of the matter is this, ammunition all by itself is dangerous. Did you know it goes BANG when you go to use it? DUH!

You can have some modicum of confidence in factory ammo and none in someone that has loaded for 30 to 50 years?

I say it a little different and think it is much more applicable and sensable.

Don't shoot reloads from someone you don't know.

If Dale53, NKJ nut, Vonfatman, Paul5388, Archangel, Erich, Hoptob, or a whole host of others, were to send me ammo in the mail, you can bet your sweet bippy I'm gonna shoot it!

I won't have one fear while doing so either.

Let's not get "liberal" and apply this thought to the whole of "others" while excusing our own loads.


FWIW

 

[Rule3]

I guess I should retitle my post. I would buy some reloads from a few of "the helpful reloading guys" on this forum.

There was no damage to my carbine as I fired 50 rounds of my ammo after I cleared the jam and all was well.
Now that it was mentioned, I bet these may have been purchased from a gun show and the guy I bought them from just re sold them. As I stated before he is a major supplier of components and major contracts with brass. He buys out folks supplies and equipment etc. I just can not believe he loaded these.

As no damage was done I will just leave it as a lesson learned and figure I bought 100 bullets for $24.

 

[Paul5388]

Skip may have to rethink shooting my reloads. I just ordered a Hornady Lock-N-Load AP!

Now all I need are .45 ACP and 9mm shell plates, which are as hard to find as the press was, and a powder cop. The rest can be added a little at a time.

 

[buck460XVR]

Originally posted by smith crazy:


Don't shoot reloads from someone you don't know.

eh, eh...there's a lotta folks I know quite well, that I don't trust to reload for me. Some folks just don't have it.

I would contact the reloader tho if I was the OP, since he obviously made a profit on the loads. He may be able to tell you what the load was and may use the feedback to correct the problem before someone else has a gun blow up in their face.

Originally posted by smith crazy:
If Dale53, NKJ nut, Vonfatman, Paul5388, Archangel, Erich, Hoptob, or a whole host of others, were to send me ammo in the mail, you can bet your sweet bippy I'm gonna shoot it!

I won't have one fear while doing so either.

altho I respect the knowledge and opinions shared by the folks mentioned, just because I know them from the internet doesn't mean I trust them with my safety and the safety of my guns. Same goes for you, Skip, you obviously have a lot of reloading experience and knowledge, but being a member on Biker forums and having the privilege of meeting members from those sites, I can tell you most folk are a lot different than the persona they portray on the internet. I trust folk after I meet them face to face and break some bread with them. Same reason I don't take load recipes from the net without having a verified reference to back them up.

Factory loaded ammo is loaded with new components, with a lot of research and testing to make sure the loads are safe for all modern firearms. Name brand cartridge manufacturers have a lot to lose if they screw up...not so a indy reloader. Most factory ammo is also loaded by machine/robotically so the human error i.e. "Maybe one of his helpers loaded these or he had a bad day or whatever." is removed.

I do what I feel is safe and reliable for me, and suggest others do what they feel comfortable with. Then if something bad happens we have nobody else to blame but ourselves.

 

[Redhawk1]

I have shot a bunch of my buddies reloads, I am a reloader and I know how anal he is about his reloading.

I reload for a few of my buddies. I am just as meticulous with there ammo as I am with mine.

If it is an unknown scores, I don't shoot them.

 

[Noah Zark]

Last September I had the opportunity at a gunshow to purchase 2300 rds of 45ACP reloaded with cast bullets. The seller was the guy that loaded them, and he couldn't recall details on powder, primer etc. All he said was he used two or three different powders depending on when he reloaded, and since the rounds were loose in four unmarked GI ammo cans I thought discretion to be the better part of valor in the this case. It wasn't even worth the time to pull the bullets, because the way they were seated only an inertia puller would work. A dealer specializing in "NOS" ammo and reloads bought the works.

No thanks.

Noah

 

[rsnyder]

Gotta get in on this. Just got back from the range 10 minutes ago. Took out a 1006 that I went through for a guy, total overhaul, complete tear down cleaning, new spring kit, extractor, ejector. Second round, no boom, only primer went off. Got home removed stuck bullet and decided to pull down remaining ammo. 2 more rounds...no powder. Good reason not to shoot other peoples reloads. I reload and am very meticulous about mine. But other people....can't say the same for.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Skip may have to rethink shooting my reloads. I just ordered a Hornady Lock-N-Load AP! Eeker Eeker

This post makes me want to throw one hand towards Heaven, place the other one on my heart and start yelling: "'Lizebeth, I'm commin' home!"


I want to hear all about this new adventure, Brother!

 

[Skip Sackett]

eh, eh...there's a lotta folks I know quite well, that I don't trust to reload for me. Some folks just don't have it.

Buck, You just need to hang out with better folks!

 

[Paul5388]

OK, here's the story. A young friend, about the age of #1 son, has had me looking for a press for him and I've been at it since last November. Someone on the S&W forum posted that Midsouth advertised having the Hornady LNL AP in stock, so I checked to see if they actually had them.

I used my account information and his credit card number and thought everything was set and I had the next to the last one out of a new shipment. Later that day, Midsouth called and said they couldn't do it that way, since it was my first order with them. So, I said, "How about using my credit card?" and that was OK.

Since I was buying, I included a shell plate for .38/.357 and the total was like $419 with the shell plate, and that included shipping.

It's a good thing I got the shell plate, because they are as rare as the LNL presses are.

I still need to get a powder check die, which is one reason the 5 station LNL is an asset.

Until the other shell plates come available, I'll just use the Lee carbide die set I have and load them on the LNL, while the Lee turret continues with the other calibers.

By doing it this way, I get to choose the 1000 bullets, which will reduce my cost. Then I may rent the use of the press or use some other means to recoup part of my investment.

Another consideration is turning someone, who is less than a novice, loose with a progressive. He doesn't have his act together on components, and they didn't have the shell plates he needs, so he couldn't load anything anyway, especially without a set of scales.

It's just best to go about it this way, even though I could have gotten by just fine the way I was set up.

 

[Rule3]

Hmmmm Seems like some Somali Pirates have pulled off a Hijack.