Modern Smith revolvers and Hornady ammo

[DonDee]

There are loads of people excoriating Hornady CD ammo for failure for the primers to ignite. Many (including Hornady) say that the problem has been the proliferation of cheaply made small carry weapons that don't have enough of a hammer strike to ignite said primer.

Does anybody feel that there would be any problem running Hornady CD ammo through a modern S&W revolver?

 

[Pete "J"]

Hornady Critical Defense Ammunition

Don,


I have been using the Critical Defense 110 Gr 38 SPCL +P in my M60-7. I tested 6 different types of ammo and found the Hornady to be the most accurate for my revolver. I have had no problems at all with this product in 38; fires every time. I have an LCP that got dunked (along with me in a river) and the Critical Defense 380 ammo from the gun and my extra magazines had some noticably weak ignitions (3 out of 18 rounds). Now I seal the primers and case mouths in my carry ammo.

Regards,

Pete "J"

 

[AveragEd]

I use their 240-grain XTP hunting loads in my 629s without problems. I will say that their brass isn't reloading-friendly. The primer pockets are undersized and you can't seat primers in them without ruining half of the cases or primers.

I use CCI primers for most of my handloading but also have some Federal rifle primers on hand for comparison testing. I've never noticed any problem seating CCI or Federal primers in Federal or any other brand of rifle brass. But their handgun brass, at least in .44 Magnum, has hateful primer pockets. Those same CCI #300s slip right into Remington .44 Magnum brass.

Ed

 

[Old cop]

Question for Pete J: How do you seal the primers and what are case mouths (excuse my ignorance)? I don't use Hornady but I have been reading good things about their SD stuff.

 

[Pete "J"]

Sealing cartridges

Old Cop,

I buy cartridge sealant from Midway, it is similar to nail polish. Just brush on the primers, wipe off excess and it dries in about five minutes. The case mouth is where the bullet is crimped to the case. Same procedure: brush on the sealant, wipe excess and let it dry. You can use a toothpick to apply the sealant if you desire.

Regards,

Pete "J"

 

[jdad]

I bought a box of 357 CD back in January. Fired 6 rounds through a Model 27 and the cases were bulged so bad I had to push the ejector rod up against the bench. I then tried them in a 686+ and after firing round 6 I could not turn the cylinder. When I finally opened it up a primer fell out and I had to force them out again.

I searched the internet and found a discussion back in July 20ll, with the same lot number, and the same problems. Issues with Hornady Critical Defense .357 - New Jersey Gun Forums I called Hornady and asked why they did not issue a recall, on this lot, for a known problem. The CS rep said it was a "random" issue. UPS was at my door within 24 hours, with a call tag.

I received a phone call 5 weeks later, from Hornady CS, and they admitted that the loads were a "little"hot. I guess a "little hot" causes primers to blow out.

I received a replacement box, but will never buy their ammo again.

 

[Bob K.]

I purchased a 340PD and had severe problems with light primer strikes on a variety of ammunition, including .38 and .38 +P and .357 handloads, along with Hornady Critical Defense .38 +P 110gr FTX. S&W sent a UPS tag to pick up the gun for service (and I included photographs of the light strikes). I received the gun back with a new firing pin.

I still experienced light strikes, so I sent it back a second time. This time, S&W replaced the entire frame. While I haven't yet put a LOT of rounds through it, it appears I no longer have the light strike problem.

I'll continue to use Hornady Critical Defense ammo. I get some crimp jump with the .38 +P 110gr FTX, but it's only about .17" by the 5th round and doesn't interfere with operation.

 

[CALREB]

Man for the price of the stuff, it should work great, and clean the guns as its being shot. Its still a pistol bullet, no magic there, I knew there were problems with some of the 380 but not the others.B

 

[jspick]

Hornady has been on a big marketing push for several years now. When a company does this several things happen:
QC goes down because of demand.
Thier advertising makes claims that the facts of the product can't produce.

When people realize this the sales drop off. I have had no problems with Hornady because I don't fall for the hype of thier advertising. I do not use thier advertised items. Therefore I have no problems.

I have the best experiance by educating myself on all manufactures comparible items and go with I have found out to be the best.

John

 

[Bob K.]

My wife has put a few hundreds rounds through the 340PD since Smith replaced the entire frame and haven't had any further problems. They were almost all .38 and .38+P rounds. She also settled on carrying it with the Hornady Critical Defense .38+P round.

A good interaction with Smith customer service on this occasion.