Problems with FIOCCHI .38 spl.

[Echidin]

I went to the range today and was more than a little disappointed with the box of FIOCCHI 158 grain FMJ .38 special I had purchased. This was the first box of Fiocchi I've used, and perhaps now the last. Out of the box of 50 that I sent down range there were at least 15 misfires. The firing pin clearly struck the primer, but no bang, bang.

I consider one or two misfires out of a box of 100 to be pushing it, but seriously 15 misfires out of 50? There is absolutely no excuse for this. I sincerely hope that no one ever has to depend on these for their life. If I cannot even count on their ammunition to function properly at the range, how can I ever allow myself to trust them to protect my family or myself? I understand these are range rounds and with some ammunition you get what you pay for in terms of accuracy, but to have that many misfires from one box is undoubtedly beyond alarming...

Here is a picture of nine of the 15 that misfired. The other six were left at the range.
Though not the greatest of pictures, you can clearly see that the primers have been impacted by the firing pin.


In this picture you can see that 2mm of cannelure is visible above the neck of the cartridge on the left and 1 millimeter of the cannelure is visible above the neck of the cartridge on the right.

[joaoalegre]

can't see your pictures

[Echidin]

I see them just fine. I'm using firefox so that maybe why.

Try this:

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=c8b4cc5d5d&view=att&th=11f495bfe354743c&attid=0.1&disp=inline&zw

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=c8b4cc5d5d&view=att&th=11f49696b4faaa0f&attid=0.1&disp=inline&zw

[nick]

They require authentication, and you see them just fine because you're logged in at Google.

[Echidin]

Problem should be fixed.

[nick]

Have you tried any other ammo in that revolver anytime recently? Does the cylinded has any front-back movement in it? Have you tried striking them for the second time?

[ar15barrels]

I suspect this revolver has had a trigger job that includes reducing the mainspring tension.
That's the main reason we see for misfires in revolvers.

[Echidin]

Yes, haven't had any problems with Magtech or Remington. No, there is no cylinder play. I did strike several of them for a second time at the range. A couple fired after the second strike, the rest did not.

[ar15barrels]

Yes, haven't had any problems with Magtech or Remington.

Different primers will take different amounts of force to set-off.
Federal and remington are the softest so they go the easiest.
Winchester is somewhere in the middle.
CCI are the hardest.
Competition shooters running light triggers almost always use federal primers because of their sensitivity.
Good revolver gunsmiths will setup a revolver differently based on what primers the owner intends to use.

If this revolver is a smith, or a smith design with the tension adjustment, simply start tightening that screw until you obtain proper igniton...

[mike100]

fiocchi primers are hard as I recall. the 9mm fiocchi is one of the best calibers from them as they are mil-spec hot. I was trying different mainsprings out in a cz-75b and one of the lighter combos had issues with fiocchi.

[eaglemike]

Looks like light strikes from here. What kind of gun? AS others have noted, the mainspring tension might be too light. Is it a S&W? Sometimes the mainspring screws backs out of the frame after a while. Remove the grips and tighten the screw at lower front of frame. As noted, the Fiocchi primers are pretty hard. Always been pretty decent ammo in my limited experience. It's entirely possible you have a bad batch though.
all the best,
Mike

[maxicon]

I've had good luck with Fiocchi in general, including .38 and .357, but haven't shot any for a few years.

[mattman]

I am convinced Fiocchi is the Italian word for crap. I had nothing but trouble with their .223. Very weak brass. And worst of all its American made (that used to mean something i forget what).

[nick]

I am convinced Fiocchi is the Italian word for crap. I had nothing but trouble with their .223. Very weak brass. And worst of all its American made (that used to mean something i forget what).

I've shot about 200 rounds out of the 500 rounds of Fiocchi .38special I bought a couple of months back, and I had no issues.

I shot some .223 and .2acp made by them, no issues. The list goes on. I think, it's a bit too blanket a statement

[rayra]

have occasionally used Fiochi ammo in both rifles and handguns over the last ~25yrs and never had any trouble like this. My presumption would be the firearm, not the ammo.

The OP and others reading this need to understand proper troubleshooting / logic and learn that one bad experience is not representative. Especially when dealing with a major and long-lived manufacturer.