Hornady Critical Defense Failure

[XxWoodsHunterxX]

What's the likelihood of a failure in factory specialized ammunition. Over the weekend went to do some practice shooting with ccw and had real scary moment wen the round I have had chambered in the gun for about two months Didn't fire. Pulled trigger a second time with nothing but a double struck primer. After later inspection found powder in case but empty primer shell. As if primer was never charged. Needless to say after contacting hornady they said sorry about issue but nothing they could do since to tool bullet apart.


Charles

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[-hanko]

When's the last time...

...you practiced the tap, rack, bang thing?

Otherwise, get a revolver.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

...you practiced the tap, rack, bang thing?

Otherwise, get a revolver.

Exactly correct. Ammunition, like any device, can fail you. Practice those immediate action drills, especially if it's your carry piece.

[XxWoodsHunterxX]

...you practiced the tap, rack, bang thing?

Otherwise, get a revolver.

I guess I should get some snap caps and practice that more often just load one in the middle or so of the mag.


Charles

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[Nick Justice]

Quality control is pretty good at ammo makers. They DO NOT want failures, and the word to get out (like here) that there has been a failure. Pretty unusual to have a bad primer like this. Still happens though.

[Supertac916]

I've never had any failures with high quality defense ammo like the Critical Defense ammo. Like the other guys said, practice tap, rack, bang drills. I don't like the snap caps because if you're loading the mags yourself you know which one is the snap cap. If you have a reloader or know someone who does. Make yourself some ammunition without the primer or with a spent primer and no powder that looks like your regular rounds. I put all of the ammo I take to the range in Ziploc bags and throw in some duds, so I don't know when the gun doesn't go bang. Always, good to practice failure drills.

[Merc1138]

Quality control is pretty good at ammo makers. They DO NOT want failures, and the word to get out (like here) that there has been a failure. Pretty unusual to have a bad primer like this. Still happens though.

It's pretty good, but it's not perfect and it never will be. Because you can't ever guarantee that the cartridge is going to fire, that's why you practice how to deal with malfunctions.

[Untamed1972]

As the saying goes: "The loudest sound you'll ever hear is a gunfight is a CLICK when you were expecting a bang."

Immediate action drill should just be reflex.

[gunhohulk]

How many times have you chambered said round? I have heard of instances where repeated chambering of a round has resulted in jarring enough powder out of the primer over time to the point where the primer would not ignite upon being struck. Food for thought on why you should rotate your carry ammo.

[HighLander51]

How many times have you chambered said round? I have heard of instances where repeated chambering of a round has resulted in jarring enough powder out of the primer over time to the point where the primer would not ignite upon being struck. Food for thought on why you should rotate your carry ammo.

There is no powder in the primer. Only the anvil and lead styphnate misture lining the cup wall. In the OP's case, the primer either did not get the mixture in the cup or there was no anvil in the cup.

[SacTown]

Tap, rack, bang. Carry on.

[XxWoodsHunterxX]

Well after further investigation I found that primer was empty all there was was a shell. I'll try and take some photos tonight


Charles

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[russ69]

...you practiced the tap, rack, bang thing?...

...Practice those immediate action drills, especially if it's your carry piece.

Tap, rack, bang. Carry on.

Great advice...if your life is in danger. Otherwise, it's best to stop and make sure you know what the problem is. Extract the offending round and make sure you can identify the problem. You don't want to do the rapid drill then find out you are following a squib load with a full power load. You guys don't need to see the videos again do you?

[HighLander51]

Well after further investigation I found that primer was empty all there was was a shell. I'll try and take some photos tonight


Charles

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Yea, like I said earlier, no anvil, no bang. That little tiny triangle looking thing that is supposed to be in the primer cup...

[1911su16b870]

...and that is exactly why we train! Get the gun in the fight as fast as possible and win! Folks who have doing it a while are easily identified by how they handle these malfunctions.