Problem with my new BG 2.0 extracting spent brass.

[Tabby Lynn]

I also prefer to shoot only factory ammo.

I know very little about reloading ammo, but I understand the reasons for reloading. I’ve noticed on the gun forums that there are lots of posts on the topic of reloading and the problems encountered when using them.

I only buy and shoot the best (“best” is subjective) quality ammo for my carry defense pistol.

My experience may be completely unrelated to the extractor issue the OP is having. Regarding the extractor issue…. I clean, inspect, and lubricate my firearms after every use. I’ve noticed that the extractor hook and area next to the firing pin port gets very carboned up with gun powder residue, even after 50 rounds. So far, I have had no extractor issues with my BG2 or my P365s.

Problems associated with reloading are disproportionately blown out of context. I have been reloading since 1973 and have loaded thousands of rounds without issue. Problems occur when someone does not practice safe reloading techniques, is in a hurry, wants to increase velocity beyond what the reloading manual calls for, or is just plain careless. One thing, especially with hangun loads is to check the powder levels in the case before seating a bullets. A case without powder produces a squib load, which can block the barrel which can cause the handgun to explode if another round is fired before clearing the barrel. It is also easy to double load a powder charge which is clearly visible if you check level of the powder in the case. A double load of powder can damage a handgun or cause it to explode. If you were to look at all the complaints about reloading you would find that about 99.5% are caused by human error. It's not a process thing, it's a people thing.

 

[agksimon]

Do a "plunk test" on the barrel with the ammo you're having problems with. It should fall freely into the barrel. Some of the Bodyguard 2.0's are coming through with tight chambers. Mine was OK but a friend had one that we fixed with a 10mm carbide impregnated rubber Dremel bit. Shoot fine now.

 

[GnarlsR2]

Do a "plunk test" on the barrel with the ammo you're having problems with. It should fall freely into the barrel. Some of the Bodyguard 2.0's are coming through with tight chambers. Mine was OK but a friend had one that we fixed with a 10mm carbide impregnated rubber Dremel bit. Shoot fine now.

A plunk test story....

I bought my BG2 in August 2024, immediately after my first range day (about 50 rounds) with my BG2, I went right to the on-site armorer and asked him about the sights being very low/left. He said “I guarantee it’s all you.” I said “I don’t think so, Scooter”. He looked at the positions of the front and rear sights and said “They look OK”… They were visibly off from proper alignment. I asked him about the failure to feed on the 12-round mag with 11-rounds in it after I sling-shotting the slide. He said “It needs some breaking in”. After about 200 rounds I still can’t get either mag loaded fully. I went home and did a plunk test with 8 different ammo, they all failed. The next range day (about another 50 rounds) I asked the armorer about the plunk test failure. He said “There’s no such thing as a plunk test”. Having watched multiple YouTube videos on a plunk test, I was more than a little surprised at his emphatic comment. After the 2nd range day I cleaned, inspected, and lubed the gun and did another plunk test. That time all the ammo passed.

I assume an armorer can be full of Bravo Sierra just like anyone else.

 

[Abnormal]

I also prefer to shoot only factory ammo.

I know very little about reloading ammo, but I understand the reasons for reloading. I’ve noticed on the gun forums that there are lots of posts on the topic of reloading and the problems encountered when using them.

I only buy and shoot the best (“best” is subjective) quality ammo for my carry defense pistol.

My experience may be completely unrelated to the extractor issue the OP is having. Regarding the extractor issue…. I clean, inspect, and lubricate my firearms after every use. I’ve noticed that the extractor hook and area next to the firing pin port gets very carboned up with gun powder residue, even after 50 rounds. So far, I have had no extractor issues with my BG2 or my P365s.

You need to be especially careful with factory ammo. Nobody is paying as much attention to each round assembled as a reloader would. My second squib round from 2 different manufacturers is the main reason I decided to roll my own and do it right. Just my $0.02 worth based on personal experience.

 

[GnarlsR2]

You need to be especially careful with factory ammo. Nobody is paying as much attention to each round assembled as a reloader would. My second squib round from 2 different manufacturers is the main reason I decided to roll my own and do it right. Just my $0.02 worth based on personal experience.

Not to take anything away from any reloaders’ equipment, skills, or knowledge, but I trust the billions of ammunitions being produced by extremely accurate manufacturing processes, equipment, and testing. No doubt there are some expert reloaders out there that can reload with extreme care and accuracy.

During the last 5 years of actively participating in a group of a dozen range buddies (retired military, LE, and high-level security professionals), and witnessing 1000’s of rounds at the several ranges, once or twice a month, I don’t recall any discussions about experiencing bad ammo.

The only ammo related issue I’ve had is with my KelTec P17 (my favorite fun gun -$200 toy pistol) 22LR ammo and an occasional failure to feed with cheaper ammo that I will not buy any more. I don’t see that with CCI Standard Velocity, CCI Singer, Norma TAC-22, or Eley Match ammo.

 

[halfmoonclip]

What surprises me the most is the Beretta 80x has the most felt recoil other than the Makarov. Using my reloads the Beretta and Makarov still give the most felt recoil, but the others are more closely grouped.

Both are blowback designs. Had one of the little Berettas some years ago, impulse buy, looked like a mini 92/M9. Snappy recoil, sent it down the road. Wish I'd snagged one of the .32 versions that were out there recently.

I've been using a standard .380 load, with a 95gr FMJ/PRN at 900'sec in the BG2.0. It also has run just fine in some other .380s, and never been a special issue to reload.
Oddly, the .380 was my introduction to reloading autopistol rounds, to feed a long-ago Walther PPK/s. Never did find a HP load that would run 100 straight in the Walther, but the old ones weren't designed for HPs.
Moon

 

[LVSteve]

Both are blowback designs. Had one of the little Berettas some years ago, impulse buy, looked like a mini 92/M9. Snappy recoil, sent it down the road. Wish I'd snagged one of the .32 versions that were out there recently.

I've been using a standard .380 load, with a 95gr FMJ/PRN at 900'sec in the BG2.0. It also has run just fine in some other .380s, and never been a special issue to reload.
Oddly, the .380 was my introduction to reloading autopistol rounds, to feed a long-ago Walther PPK/s. Never did find a HP load that would run 100 straight in the Walther, but the old ones weren't designed for HPs.
Moon

I read somewhere that the 32 and 380 versions of the Beretta Cheetah use the same recoil spring. Color me surprised. I fired one mag from a buddy's 84 and that was enough for me to know I didn't want one.

As for the OP's issue, he needs to try some Fiocchi 95 gr factory ammo and let us know how the gun operates. If it chokes on that ammo, then it is the gun.

 

[skipperjb777]

I read somewhere that the 32 and 380 versions of the Beretta Cheetah use the same recoil spring. Color me surprised. I fired one mag from a buddy's 84 and that was enough for me to know I didn't want one.

As for the OP's issue, he needs to try some Fiocchi 95 gr factory ammo and let us know how the gun operates. If it chokes on that ammo, then it is the gun.

Of the various manufacturers ammo I have used - and I'm talking new ammo, not reloads - I have had the most issues with Fiocchi. It has been mostly with the primers not going igniting. When that happens I do load the ammo in other guns and probably 75% of the time the round will not fire. Fiocchi is not the only brand I have had issues with, but it has been the most frequent and with the most verity of guns and calibers. Most of my issues have been with 9mm and 38 special. In one case with the 38 sp it was the gun (gun range rental SW 636). It would not fire any of the ammo I had from each manufacturer - Fiocchi, Magtech, Precision, S&B..... I will buy Fiocchi when the price is right (rarely and caliber dependent) or when the need out weighs the cost.