FMJ bullet missing the lead core

delta tide · January 11, 2014, 04:32 PM

Yesterday morning I was loading up some 45 ACP for an afternoon trip to the range. Upon final instection of the completed cartridges, I noticed 1 that felt lighter than the rest. I decided to cull that cartridge and leave it home.

I pulled the bullet this morning and found the copper jacket without the lead core. I'm dissapointed in myself for going as far as seating/crimping and not catching the defective bullet, but glad I noticed it during final inspection.

What would have been the likely outcome if I would have fired the round? Stuck the jacket in the barrel, or worse, not enough weight in the bullet to cause the case to expand and seal off the chamber?

Bullet was a 230gn FMJ (Precision Delta)

Slamfire · January 11, 2014, 04:40 PM

Quote:

I pulled the bullet this morning and found the copper jacket without the lead core.

Opps!

I don't know, would have been like firing a blank round, probably would not have cycled a semi auto.

delta tide · January 11, 2014, 04:50 PM

Would it cause gun damage at all? Powder charge was 5.6 gn of HP-38.

Nick_C_S · January 11, 2014, 05:06 PM

I'm with Slamfire. I think it would have escaped the barrel, but not likely to have operated the slide. You would have felt next to no recoil and known immediately that something wasn't right.

It's curious that you managed to load a "copper shell" without noticing it. But I've caught some of my loading work after the fact and asked myself "how and the heck did you miss that!?" We use those events as a reminder to ourselves of how important it is to always be focused and observant when loading.

delta tide · January 11, 2014, 05:20 PM

Quote:

It's curious that you managed to load a "copper shell" without noticing it.

I still don't know how I let that happen. I load single stage, so I had to sit the bullet on top of the case. I should have caught it then. My method is to reach into the bulk box of bullets and grab a handful of bullets in my left hand, then take one at a time with my right hand and set the bullet on the case while verifing powder level in the case. I thought I was pretty focused....no distractions. Like you said....I now have another leaning experience to keep in the back of my mind while loading.

Still disgusted with myself for letting it happen.

Nick_C_S · January 11, 2014, 05:36 PM

A few months back, I loaded a batch of 10mm and didn't notice that close to a dozen cases were head-split ("Glocked" brass). I not only loaded them, but shot most of them. They were causing FTE's and didn't sound right. They were also jamming the slide. Made for one seriously crummy day at the range. After I got home, I discovered the problem.

Granted, I was new to 10mm. But to this day, I am still disgusted with myself. I load single stage. How the heck did I miss so many head-splits (even one, for that matter) through all the times I handled them?

We're human.

RC20 · January 11, 2014, 07:58 PM

Pretty much all you can say. Worse to me is when I do notice and ignore a waring or clue (not just shooting but it tends to have more immediate ramifications there)

chris in va · January 11, 2014, 10:49 PM

I imagine that copper cup would have been screaming out that barrel.

Nick_C_S · January 12, 2014, 12:52 AM

Quote:

I imagine that copper cup would have been screaming out that barrel.

Possibly. If it managed to obturate and seal up the gases from escaping past it. More likely, I think, it would have severely deformed and there would have been lots of gas blow-by.

But who knows

chris in va · January 12, 2014, 02:51 AM

Agreed. I'm not about to try it.

January 11, 2014, 04:32 PM	#1
delta tide Member Join Date: June 9, 2012 Posts: 35	FMJ bullet missing the lead core Yesterday morning I was loading up some 45 ACP for an afternoon trip to the range. Upon final instection of the completed cartridges, I noticed 1 that felt lighter than the rest. I decided to cull that cartridge and leave it home. I pulled the bullet this morning and found the copper jacket without the lead core. I'm dissapointed in myself for going as far as seating/crimping and not catching the defective bullet, but glad I noticed it during final inspection. What would have been the likely outcome if I would have fired the round? Stuck the jacket in the barrel, or worse, not enough weight in the bullet to cause the case to expand and seal off the chamber? Bullet was a 230gn FMJ (Precision Delta) __________________ "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." - George Bernard Shaw

January 11, 2014, 04:50 PM	#3
delta tide Member Join Date: June 9, 2012 Posts: 35	Would it cause gun damage at all? Powder charge was 5.6 gn of HP-38. __________________ "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." - George Bernard Shaw

January 11, 2014, 05:06 PM	#4
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,522	I'm with Slamfire. I think it would have escaped the barrel, but not likely to have operated the slide. You would have felt next to no recoil and known immediately that something wasn't right. It's curious that you managed to load a "copper shell" without noticing it. But I've caught some of my loading work after the fact and asked myself "how and the heck did you miss that!?" We use those events as a reminder to ourselves of how important it is to always be focused and observant when loading. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

January 11, 2014, 05:36 PM	#6
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,522	A few months back, I loaded a batch of 10mm and didn't notice that close to a dozen cases were head-split ("Glocked" brass). I not only loaded them, but shot most of them. They were causing FTE's and didn't sound right. They were also jamming the slide. Made for one seriously crummy day at the range. After I got home, I discovered the problem. Granted, I was new to 10mm. But to this day, I am still disgusted with myself. I load single stage. How the heck did I miss so many head-splits (even one, for that matter) through all the times I handled them? We're human. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

January 11, 2014, 07:58 PM	#7
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Pretty much all you can say. Worse to me is when I do notice and ignore a waring or clue (not just shooting but it tends to have more immediate ramifications there)

January 11, 2014, 10:49 PM	#8
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I imagine that copper cup would have been screaming out that barrel.

January 12, 2014, 02:51 AM	#10
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Agreed. I'm not about to try it.