Magtech ammuniton in HKS speedloaders

[M2MikeGolf]

Recently, I purchased a Model 619. Like many, my plan is to fire both .38 spl and .357 Mag ammo through it. On my first visit to the range, the only choices I had for a day's shooting was (.38) Magtech 158 gr. FMJ and (.357) Fiocchi 158 gr. SJSPs. As I loaded the Magtech into the HKS speedloaders (597 model, same as for all 7 round L frames), I noticed that many, but not all, the rounds bound or would stick. At first I thought it was the speedloader, but as I had seven of them and tried them all, I noticed the same problem. The Fiocchi .357 ammuntion was loose fitting as they should be and dropped right in or out. Later, I purchased some Magtech .357 158 gr. SJSP and some Remington UMC .357 125 gr. SJSP. Once again, the Magtech ammo hung up in the speedloaders; the Remington UMC had no problems. This tells me that Magtech may have a consistency issue with their brass, but I don't want to jump to conclusions, however, since I like using the HKS speedloaders, I'm not going to buy Magtech anymore. Anyone else noticed this issue? HKS has been around longer than Magtech, I'm kind of surprised at this.

 

[Ironhand]

I had issues with Magtech ammunition out of my 28-2 Highway Patrolman. I was getting 1 dud per cylinder, and it took multiple strikes on some of them to fire. Someone had backed the strain screw out in order to lighten up the trigger pull, but the American Eagle ammo all went off without a problem. Magtech's rims also varied in thickness a lot more than the AE, or any other brands/calibers we looked at that day, also.


I would use a different brand of ammo. I've had good results with Blazer aluminum-cased stuff, which is good because I don't reload.

 

[M2MikeGolf]

I have not had the dud problem with magtech in my SIG P228 or my S&W Model 619, however, I have heard/read about this happening with others, so that doesn't surprise me, but certainly makes another point in favor of not using Magtech. I've never heard of ammuntion "sticking" in a HKS speedloader before, I wonder if the other speedloaders such as the safariland exhibit the same issue? And for newly manufactured ammuntion to not fire in a modern firearm is just plain unacceptable.

 

[thndrchiken]

Most likely just slightly thicker rims on the case. As it happens I recently bought a box of 38 sp +p and 357 Magtech Guardian Gold for my GP100 and tried each rd in each of my HKS 586 speedloaders no sticking. Are your speedloaders new? May just need some use if they are.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I shot about 30 rounds of Magtech 158 grain LRN .38 special, standard pressure through an old M37 no dash and noticed that some of them were tighter in the cylinder after firing than others. The gun was clean and it wasn't the same hole every time. I will say they were fairly accurate though.
Peace,
gordon

 

[M2MikeGolf]

I will say that the Magtech shoots decently. So far, any other brand of ammuntion hasn't had this problem in my speedloaders, and not all of the Magtech ammunition sticks. I'm going to try federal ammuniton soon, and am interested to see if it has the same problem. I've tried four different boxes of Magtech in .38 SPL and .357 Magnum, and they all seem to have the same issue. One note; I live in Germany and the Magtech I use is from here, so it's "european" and maybe, that has something to do with it, but I think it's the same as anywhere else. It's bad enough that it basically renders my speedloader useless; some rounds will slide out, some you must physically pull out. Not exactly something you want to have happen in a quick loading environment, even on the range!