Federal ammo .40

[Compact_Shooter]

Does Federal ammunition have problems with their casings sometimes? I have several rounds that have been loaded in my M&P 40c and there are dents in the casings, just below the actual bullet. Happens with both magazines, wondering if it's more likely a brass problem or a problem with the mags.

[cycloneman]

if you suspect anything might be wrong with the ammo stop using it. switch to another brand.

I have had 2 guns blow up on me with factory ammo. Not going to mention names.

try a different brand and see.

some pics would be nice

[Lanrezac]

Compact Shooter, are you talking about dents in unfired rounds or fired brass? In either case, if you could manage a photo or two, it would help people help you. Thanks!

[Compact_Shooter]

This is unfired ammo. Attached a pic to help with the description. It's consistent on all rounds that have sat in the mag. I've heard things about "softer" brass, also that the magazine could be pinched tighter than it should be. Thanks for your input.

[Lanrezac]

Compact Shooter, thanks for putting up the picture. Unfortunately, I have no idea what to make of that. It looks much heavier than normal crimping, but my experience with 40 S&W is very limited. But with the photo, someone should be able to tell you what's what.

[cycloneman]

i have never seen that

dont shoot it!

see what some others say.

[Zane71464]

Looks like a "botched" job of loading!!! But to be from the factory that way, never seen anything like that before?

[Compact_Shooter]

OK, thanks all for the input. I think I'll try returning the ammo first then send the mags back to S&W if I still have problems.

[Zane71464]

...the way those wacked out "crimps" look, your mags with other ammo might be just fine!

[cycloneman]

that cant be a problem with the mags

OK

we need to know exactly what has happened here.

1. when you opened the box of ammo did it look like that?

2. when you load the ammo in the clip and then take the ammo out is that how it comes out? (i cant see what would do that)

3. are you loading the clip and then loading the ammo in the chamber and then the ammo looks like this? (i cant see this either but who knows)

What is happening there takes a heck of alot of force and i just dont see the gun being able to do that if you just racking the slide.

4. ok thought of another one. Is this happening after you shoot a round? Is this the next bullet loaded in the pipe from the recoil of the previous round?

[ignats]

Something is not right here. Did the cartridges come that way from Federal, brand new in the box or are they reloads. My first impression is that what we are seeing is rather exaggerated channellure to prevent the bullet from being pushed back into the case. If they are reloads then I suspect the person reloading them either did this on purpose or used the wrong die somewhere in the process. There's no way the magazine did that. For one thing, the indentations a just too uniform. If the ammo is new from the factory, then I'd say they did that on purpose to prevent bullet set back. I'd like to see the box it came in.

Lastly, I've used and reloaded many Federal and other cartridges for over a 30 plus years. I've found Federals in .45 ACP to be a bit stouter than most others. You can actually feel the resistance when you size them. They always have been quality brass IMO. But, maybe things have changed.

One suggestion, remove the barrel from the pistol and drop a new from the box cartridge into the chamber, see if it fully seats by that I mean, make sure the head of the cartridge (the part with the writing stamped into it) lines up with the end of the chamber. Just a thought but perhaps the chamber is too short or the brass is too long. However, if this were the case, the slide would most likely not come into full battery. Are indentations the same on all of them? That would tell me they were made that way on purpose as previously stated.

[Double D]

No way the gun is causing this. If it is, please show us because this would have to be a first ever. No magazine could do this either. This has to be caused by a loading die or something. I sure wish you would come back and answer some questions on whether this ammo looks this way out of the box or not. It just doesnt make sense.

[RunningOnMT]

Something is very strange here. Clearly the magazine didn't cause this. Why wouldn't someone question this when they came out of the box that way? There's no way you wouldn't see that unless you opened the box and loaded the mags in total darkness.

[graehaven]

Those are reloads of Federal casings. There's no way that came out of the factory.

[todd51]

If the ammo is new from the factory, then I'd say they did that on purpose to prevent bullet set back. I'd like to see the box it came in.

I'm with "ignats" on this one. They are just too uniform for me to think this is an improper adjustment or too long a case or a reloading mistake. I have crumpled cases for just about every reason going, all my fault, and none ever looked this nice and uniform. Please tell us if they once looked normal before you loaded them in your magazine and or pistol or if they came out of the box this way. Did you ever see them looking "normal" before you saw them looking like this?

[cycloneman]

if it is factory then i suspect a mix up with 10mm and 40 brass.

allmost seems like the sizing die was not used

sure would like to know what the length of the cases are? and the overall length?

anybody reloading would know they screwed and immed stop, you would think

[Compact_Shooter]

The rounds are normal coming out of the box. There's nothing on the box to indicate they're reloads. The rounds become dented after sitting in the magazine, small dents beginning to appear after 24 hours. I've never fired a round from this box, these are strictly for home defense. Other rounds that have been fired have fired flawlessly and I haven't noticed any casing deformities on those (not necessarily Federal).

[Compact_Shooter]

Pics below of the box, rounds that have never been loaded and the rack when removed from the box.

[graehaven]

Wow.

And those dents are NOT small.

This is just whacko.

Weak brass walls? Bad batch of brass casings?

Is there any way you can contact Federal online and send them those pix?

Well, here's that info:
http://www.federalpremium.com/genera...ontact_us.aspx

[cycloneman]

OK

crazy

1. take the barrel off the gun. With the bbl in your hand drop a bullet in the bbl and see if it falls in right. Take a pic and post it so we can see how the bullet seats in the bbl.

2. do you have any reloading eq? Need a caliper. If you have one measure the length of the brass and then measure the overall length of the loaded bullet.
Also need the measurement of the diametter of the brass.

see if you can get us this info.

[RunningOnMT]

That is just insane. It must be the magazines then, but I can't see how. Does that crease go all the way around the case?

[Compact_Shooter]

Attached pics...rounds seem to seat in the barrel well. I don't have any reloading equipment, so my next step will probably be to take them back or contact Federal.

[cycloneman]

ok so it happens after the bullet is loaded in the pipe and you eject it by hand and that is what you get?

I dont know man. stumped

[todd51]

I'm at a loss to explain this. Compact Shooter, do us a favor and send that info/pictures to Federal and let us know what feed back you get. A lot of people use the M&P 40 and a lot shoot Federal ammo so all would like to know what the heck is going on.

[Compact_Shooter]

No, it happens after the rounds have been sitting in the magazine. The crease dosen't go all the way around in most cases, but some rounds have been unloaded and reloaded (into the mag), so their position's changed.