Bullet Separated From Casing While In Magazine

[franklyfresh]

3/25/14 - updates on the result of Federal's examination of the ammunition is on page 2.

Loaded up some factory new Federal Champion 9mm into my M&P magazine and popped the mag into the gun. Without chambering a round, I ejected the magazine. When the magazine dropped out, along with it came a copper plated bullet. Further inspection showed the bullet had separated from the top round, with the casing still in the mag.

What happened? Is this common? What would happen if I chambered the round and fired?

['ol shooter]

You need to check all the bullets in that box, then contact Federal with the lot number, and the number of rounds you found bad. They need to hear about this, they may have thousands of rounds out there that were not crimped properly.

[DaleAGribble]

It looks like the brass has been reloaded from the scratches around the outside of the brass. Where did you get the ammo and was it a sealed box?

[Marquand]

Definitely not common, especially with Federal. I've never even heard of this happening with a top shelf manufacturer before.

Seconding the motion that you contact Federal ASAP with your data, your pics, and a polite request for some replacement ammo.

No BS, franklyfresh...thank you for posting this. I've got several boxes of this ammo that I'm going to go check pronto. Appreciate the heads up.

[cpatbay]

Weak neck tension on a new round? Wow!

[JeremyS]

Nice photos. You can clearly tell in the first one that the case mouth is flared. This is a common step in the loading process to make room for inserting the bullet. But, you then follow that up by crimping the brass back down. That brass is flared but wasn't crimped, and your bullet fell out...

I agree w/ the above suggestion of inspecting the the other rounds in the box and any other boxes of it that you have if you bought them at the same time (makes it more likely they're from the same run).

[franklyfresh]

I contacted Federal Premium Ammunition right before I made this post and sent them the photos as well. Will update back when they respond.

It looks like the brass has been reloaded from the scratches around the outside of the brass. Where did you get the ammo and was it a sealed box?

These were purchased from my local Wal-Mart. I watched the sporting goods clerk pull these out of the manufacturer's cardboard at 7:00 AM so I am sure they are factory new ammo.

[Voo]

ehh.. This is pretty suspect.. If the bullet falls out, then gravity helped it.. If so, then why is all the powder 'still' in the shell..

Did the OP really try and collect all the powder only to put it back in and take pictures for us..?

[franklyfresh]

ehh.. This is pretty suspect.. If the bullet falls out, then gravity helped it.. If so, then why is all the powder 'still' in the shell..

Did the OP really try and collect all the powder only to put it back in and take pictures for us..?

What seems suspect to you? That I did not take a photo of all the spilled powder?

The ammo casing is held at a positive upward angle by the magazine. Some powder did spill when I ejected the ammo but most of it remained in the brass. If you look at the first picture closely you can see the trail of powder that fell down the mag. Take this post for what you will, no skin off my back. I am just trying to figure out if this was my fault and if it could be preventable.

[Fishslayer]

It looks like the brass has been reloaded from the scratches around the outside of the brass. Where did you get the ammo and was it a sealed box?

I was thinking the same thing. Look at the reflection on the case. Looks like the mouth of the case still has some flair left to it.

[tamalpias]

ehh.. This is pretty suspect.. If the bullet falls out, then gravity helped it.. If so, then why is all the powder 'still' in the shell..

Did the OP really try and collect all the powder only to put it back in and take pictures for us..?

you really think people on here have the time to make up stories with pictures? what does he have to gain for reporting it? You should give all members here the benefit of the doubt and unless you have glaring proof keep your tinfoil hat to yourself.

['ol shooter]

I'm pretty sure that it is Colonel Mustard in the Library. Now we know whodunnit.

[thospb]

The scratches on the case appear to be the same all around the circumference. Like this was a poor reload or the cartridge has been exposed for some time. If it was never chambered by the OP, where did the scratches come from? Same idea with the scratch on the bullet itself. Makes me think the box was tampered with.

[Mstnpete]

Someone forgot to crimp that bullet!
See the belling on the casing? After bullet is seated normally this should be crimped.
No shiny crimp markings on the brass itself.

That is why the bullet just came out.

[elsolo]

If that round had been chambered, it likely would have had serious bullet setback which could spike pressures to dangerous levels.


For those who think that was a tampered box, the inside of the case appears to be brand spanking new.
I have never seen the inside of a case that nice except for never-fired new brass.