Do you check your ammo before loading?

[stevemac]

My wife and I went to Turner's to buy some ammo since we were running low on 38 specials. We bought a couple hundred rounds and headed to the range. We were shooting in our own lanes when she came up to me saying she had a problem. She had a FTE in her revolver. I used pretty good force on the ejector and told her to call the RSO. He pried it out and it was a 9mm casing!

Not sure if it was the manufacturer or if someone stuck it in there on the shelf. From now on I think I'll be checking the ammo inside the box before buying. Has this happened to anyone before?

[sloppy joe]

She loaded a 9mm round into a 38 special revolver?

[stevemac]

She loaded a 9mm round into a 38 special revolver?

Yeah, but not intentionally. It was in the tray of a brand new box.

[wjc]

I check them before I load mags, or my bolt gun, for any dents or imperfections. I've never had a problem with a different caliber in the box.

[Rogerbutthead]

Is this a joke thread? I cannot imagine any person loading a revolver with 5 38 specials and 1 9mm and not noticing the difference.

[stevemac]

No, it's not a joke thread. Not everyone is an experienced shooter that can easily tell the difference in a dark lane at the pistol range.

[E Michael]

Was the box labeled as 9mm or 38 special?

I recently was at my moms house and was showing her one of my light/laser combos on my pistol. When we were finished since my niece and nephew were over she asked I place the gun in her safe.

I go in her safe to place the gun and notice she had 5 boxes of 380 auto ammo. I ask her why she had that ammo because she does not own a 380 gun. She said she asked the clerk at the store if they had any 38 special and they brought her that. She did not inspect the box because she believed the clerk. Glad I caught it before she went to the range.

So I can definitely see this happening to someone. 9mm would fit into a 38 special revolver fairly easily, though without moon clips I'm not sure how it would stay. Glad everyone is safe. Did the gun sustain any damage? Did you continue to shoot it after the RSO dug out the 9mm casing?

[dwalker]

Generically you cannot open the box in the store to "check" the ammo, I think there are even signs up in most places to not open the boxes. IF I were buying reloads I would probably ask the clerk to let me check them anyway, but since i do not buy reloads...

I have found some dented ammo (especially CCI 22 mag!) but never had mixed ammo. If i did I would simply contact the manufacturer and discuss it with them.

[stevemac]

The box was labeled .38 special, and all but one were 38 special. I hate to think that the manufacturer made this mistake (it was Sig), but it's also possible that a customer added it in there. The 9mm round was also Sig so I'm leaning towards it being a factory error.

Thankfully no damage was done. It's an L frame and shot perfectly after that. I even through 21 357 magnums down the pipe and it shot as straight as she ever did. Doesn't take moon clips so she was dropping them in the cylinder one by one. She recently started shooting this pistol and absolutely loves it, and I recently started getting her her own lane.

I might report it to Sig and see what they say.

[stevemac]

Was the box labeled as 9mm or 38 special?

I recently was at my moms house and was showing her one of my light/laser combos on my pistol. When we were finished since my niece and nephew were over she asked I place the gun in her safe.

I go in her safe to place the gun and notice she had 5 boxes of 380 auto ammo. I ask her why she had that ammo because she does not own a 380 gun. She said she asked the clerk at the store if they had any 38 special and they brought her that. She did not inspect the box because she believed the clerk. Glad I caught it before she went to the range.

So I can definitely see this happening to someone. 9mm would fit into a 38 special revolver fairly easily, though without moon clips I'm not sure how it would stay. Glad everyone is safe. Did the gun sustain any damage? Did you continue to shoot it after the RSO dug out the 9mm casing?

Wow. Glad you caught that! Store clerks aren't always the greatest help.

[golfish]

She loaded a 9mm round into a 38 special revolver?

This was my thought.

[stevemac]

She loaded a 9mm round into a 38 special revolver?

Yep, it happened. She was embarrassed by it, but she's a fairly new shooter. mainly shoots semi auto but just started shooting my 686+ and fell in love with it.

[MGK]

Do you check your ammo before loading?

Well, you live and you learn! Thanks for the post OP. I'm sure this isn't the first time this has happened and certainly not the last. Good thing the gun didn't blow up. No pun intended.


Sent from my iPhone so expect grammatical errors.

[FalconLair]

I check them before I load mags, or my bolt gun, for any dents or imperfections. I've never had a problem with a different caliber in the box.

^THIS^

i spot check everything - im always looking for ammo not flush with the rest of the case, bad seatings, anything out of the ordinary

[myk]

Never checked, never even thought to do so, but after this thread I'll start paying attention...