Yellow Box UMC ammo primer blown out

[Tango 106]

I had a new experience this past saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 at the range. I was shooting both my Kimber Dessert Warrior and my sons' Beretta 92 FS. I had purchased some "bargin ammo" from UMC Remington for both pistols. So I had one box of 9mm and one box of 45 auto, 250 rounds per box.
Before I go any further, I want to say that I sent an email to Remington on sunday, the 7th, along with photos. A second email this morning, tuesday the 9th. Nothing but the sound of crickets from remington, so far. I described in detail to them what happened and asked about honoring any "defective materials or workmanship warranty".(I know...Ha Ha)
This ammo is very dirty, but fairly accurate. I can clean dirty powder residue, but unfortunately the ammo left HEAVY lead and Copper fouling in both weapons. I had to do a protracted "chore boy" cleaning after using 3 differnt products that normaly melt away most all of the residue and require standard brush and swag cleanup.
Now to the problem: the 9mm Beretta was being fired and on one round it just poped like a 22 cal and the slide just barely moved-nothing was ejected. The slide was racked back after removing the magazine and out came an"unfired" round.
The primer overall shape was actually square, four corners square, and one side was blow out towards the breach face. The bullet was still seated, and I notice it was about 1/32 of an inch deeper in the brass case. Upon examining some empty brass, they showed excessive deformation that indicated the primer metal was too thin/soft for the round. I don't know if there is a powder charge or not in the case.
I wanted to hear from UMC Remington before sharing this story, and my email told them that, but they apparently do not think that this problem matters to their patrons. So, I will attempt to post the pics with this post. If it doesn't work I will get them posted soon. So, BEWARE of UMC Remington ammo inthe Big Yellow box!

 

[Tango 106]

I have had another shooter tell me, after hearing my story, that he was present when another person had the same thing happen during a range session. The cause in his case was that the was NO primer hole in the case. This day 3 and still no contact from Remington. I post all of this so others can make a more informed decision before buying this inexpensive, but %&**##@ ammunition.

 

[handgunner356]

I've used the UMC quite a bit in 38/357/9/40/45 calibers and haven't had any problems with it. It does appear that there wasn't any flash hole in your 9mm case, do you have a bullet puller to check? Did you fire off the other rounds without any problem? I ran into some Winchester 44 brass one time that had one without a flash hole, it backed the primer out locking up the gun. I'm sure it can happen every now and then with the millions of rounds produced.

 

[Steve C]

I had something similar happen one time and in my case it was a primer that had an exceptionally thin cup, as thin as aluminum foil. It fractured and the flame came out the back of the primer. In my case there was a flash hole in the case.

It is entirely possible that there was no flash hole punched in the case. I had run into a single case like this in a batch of factory new unfired brass for purcgased fir reloading.

Simply a manufacturing defect. Even six sigma level manufacturing says one defect per million (few manufacturers are six sigma in quality) and they manufacture millions of these rounds per year. You just happened to get that 1 in a million.

 

[Gene K]

It happens. Its not unique to any particular brand or cost level. A case without a flash hole got through QC.

 

[Tango 106]

Thanks for the input. I have a bullet puller but have not done anything to it yet. The other rounds fired and functioned "normally", by which I mean that the primers were bulged out as shown in the other fired case in the photo, as well as leading like I have not seen in 35 years of shooting all kinds of ammo. I guess I was that lucky one in a million.
Without the one blown out primer I would still be more than disappointed in this ammo, based on my experience.

 

[srgvaz]

I quit using UMC nine years ago when all my primers were getting the donut shape, and two FTF's. I switched to Winchester ammo but since last year or so they no longer polish the brass as well, and the powder they use is dirty. The prices have either gone up or there is less rounds in the bulk pack, but that's how it is every company's goal is to make more money than they did the previous year. It takes them a few weeks to respond and at that time they'll ask you to send them the evidence, and they'll either mail you a check or coupon for more of there ammo.

 

[ddixie884]

That primer appears to be seated sideways, that is why it appears square. I have done this a time or two. When it was detonated the priming compound went out the open end of the primer.

 

[pharmer]

I had the EXACT, same experience with Federal 9mm. Pulled the trigger and "Pop" like a capgun. Primer was not seated correctly/deformed. One round, out of a batch of 8K. It taught me to visually check each round before loading mags. Joe

 

[JSR III]

My first thought was the same as the others, no flash hole in the case. As previously suggested, I would use a bullet puller and remove the bullet and powder charge. You will then be able to shine a bright light inside of the case and see if there is a flash hole. Take lots of pictures just in case Remington does get back to you.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to deprime the case in the normal way if there is no flash hole. Perhaps you can pry it out of the head of the case using an awl or very small screwdriver. Should make a very interesting conversation piece for the gun room.

You may want to consider buying some lottery tickets as that round is probably 1 in a million.

 

[Gunsnwater]

That primer appears to be seated sideways, that is why it appears square. I have done this a time or two. When it was detonated the priming compound went out the open end of the primer.

You can see how the primer flash only went out the bottom of the turned side ways flattened primer and part or the anvil is there too.

 

[Gunsnwater]

He is a page on reading primers MassReloading -

 

[Boge]

You had a bad factory round. You & the gun survived. Move one. It happens. What do you want Remington to do, send you free ammo for life? Apologize to you on CNN? I had three squibs in two boxes of Win. White Box .357 SIG recently. I merely called them (they have no public e-mail for this) and reported the lot #. They offered nothing & I asked for nothing. Paying peanuts to their workers and working them to death causes this, as well as the law of averages, and my complaining won't change that.

P.S. Besides, nobody takes a Kimber shooter seriously anyway.

 

[Frank46]

I stopped using that brand of 9mm ammunition. My 92FS had to get the firing pin replaced. Had some divots caused by gas cutting the pin. Discovered it by accident when picking up the empty cases and noticed the holes in the fired primers. Since replacing the firing pin and spring and using winchester white box no more problems. Frank

 

[brucev]

First of all, glad your revolver is not damaged and you are not injured.

Second, from time to time there will be problems w/ ammunition. I've been shooting for over 30 years. I've had Winchester Silver Tip and Winchester Q3131 give trouble. The ST had one round out of a box of 20 crack in front of the web. The rest of the box fired fine. The Q3131 had primer problems. Winchester replaced everything and paid to have the rifle checked to make sure it was not damaged.

A church member had some really old Rem. 38 Special 158 gr. LRN ammo. A round stuck in the barrel of his Ruger Security-Six. The next round bulged the barrel. Remington replaced the ammo and revolver. The other day I had a single round of Rem. .38 Special 130 gr. FMJ ammo that would not chamber in my revolver. Close examination showed that the rim of the cartridge was flawed. A bit of fiddling with a file and it worked fine.

I do not at all mean to make light of your own experience. I am simply saying that nothing made by man will ever at all times always be perfect. It is simply not in the realm of possibilities.

One further thought. A e-mail is one way of reaching Remington. The one time when I needed to contact them, I simply picked up the phone and called their number. That was in the incident when the church member had his revolver get messed up. The response of Remington was in every way what one would expect. It might just be of use to you to phone Remington and explain to the experience you had with their ammunition. Doubtless they will want to know. And almost certainly they will respond to you appropriately. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[Bkreutz]

Do all you realize that you're responding to a 2.5 year old thread? I would hope the OP has resolved the issue by now.