I had a gun wrecked with factory ammo. Apparently a very hot load possibly a double charge on one round in the box. Gun went bang, bang, bang and boom. No squib to plug the barrel. Similar to what you are describing. It can happen so are you going to stop shooting factory loads too? I have shot many thousands of rounds of commercial reloads and stuff I reloaded with out a problem. I will not shoot a reload someone has done in his garage especially my SILs. I have had more screw ups with factory ammo than reloads.

 

The big difference in factory ammo is the company is adequately insured and they issue a recall when the mistake is found. Remanufacturers usually have a poor communication network, so you may never hear about their recall.

 

If you are able to identify the brand, load, lot/batch number I'd certainly contact the mfg and pass back the information. The information should be on the inside flat of the box. See what they say.

 

any ammo has the potential to have problems, whether it be factory, remanufactered, or reloads done personally.

i would do as suggested and contact the manufacterer of the ammo and give them all the information. they may even reimburse you for the damages to the pistol.

 

Jimmy- first, welcome to the forum. When you get a minute, stop by the intro thread and say howdy.

Ref: Remanufactured ammo, and 3 D- I have shot a ton of commercially remanufactured ammo, with no more or less failures than new. 3D was a large player, and has been around for over 25 years. There is a phone listing for them in Doniphan, but can't hookup to their website- they MAY have closed or been bought.

Sounds like a ruptured cartridge case- which could have several possible causes. I WOULD get in touch with them, if you can. And YES- this is why you wear "eyes and ears" when shooting anything. Bear in mind that Winchester and Remington have both had ammo recalls recently- found some rounds had a double powder charge (Whooops!) It can happen to any maker.

I am not uncomfortable shooting commercially re-manned ammo. Amateur handloads? Only my own.

 

To me, the bigger foul is the failure to follow established safety rules. The case failure is why such rules exist. It would appear that your student got a cheap lesson in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) use. The rule needs to be: No Ear & Eye protection, no shooting, no exceptions.
As for the case failure: excrement occurs. Brand new ammo has problems too. Any product is only as good as the quality control of the manufacturer that day, ammo is no exception.

• It could have been a manufacturing defect/impurity or some such issue that survived the first use of the case, but wasn't willing to tolerate a second.
• It could have been originally fired in a pistol without full case support (1st & 2nd gen Glocks being the most egregious. Commonly referred to as "Glocked" brass.) Such brass is not exactly rare & it's possible one slipped past the brass inspection process. It's commonly recommended, pretty much everywhere, that brass in this condition (guppy shaped) not be reloaded. Resizing it to spec overworks it, causing it to become brittle/weak.
• If it was an overcharge, it's probably better that the case failed rather than the pistol - much bigger chunks flying around.

Aside from the sacrificial grip panel, was the pistol actually damaged?

 

To me, the bigger foul is the failure to follow established safety rules. The case failure is why such rules exist. It would appear that your student got a cheap lesson in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) use. The rule needs to be: No Ear & Eye protection, no shooting, no exceptions.
As for the case failure: excrement occurs. Brand new ammo has problems too. Any product is only as good as the quality control of the manufacturer that day, ammo is no exception.

​

• It could have been a manufacturing defect/impurity or some such issue that survived the first use of the case, but wasn't willing to tolerate a second.
• It could have been originally fired in a pistol without full case support (1st & 2nd gen Glocks being the most egregious. Commonly referred to as "Glocked" brass.) Such brass is not exactly rare & it's possible one slipped past the brass inspection process. It's commonly recommended, pretty much everywhere, that brass in this condition (guppy shaped) not be reloaded. Resizing it to spec overworks it, causing it to become brittle/weak.
• If it was an overcharge, it's probably better that the case failed rather than the pistol - much bigger chunks flying around.

Aside from the sacrificial grip panel, was the pistol actually damaged?

I completely agree with this poster. The female was told/warned to use eye PPE and did not. That's the first violation. You should NOT have let her on the range. Second violation, she is a poor listener. I would not work with her or anyone else that do not follow my "Rules of Engagement".

I own my own businesses and before anyone does business with me, they must first agree to, sign and date the Rules of Engagement in working with me. They aren't over-bearing or anything unusual but they are in black and white and everything to expect is spelled out in black and white. I only work with my definition of good people that are willing and able to have a positive, productive working relationship. Nothing fancy or legalese, just common sense which isn't so common. Be picky who you work with and you will find you work with "better" people. FWIW. Sorry for the female and you.

BTW, I noticed the old post after you pointed it out, C3, but some posts have never ending value. I do understand both sides of letting old posts go and not letting them go. That's why you make the big bucks is to make these decisions....... 😊

 

I had some remanufactured ammo, what I did notice was that more than a few had the bullet set back to far in the case something to look for.

 

[*]It could have been originally fired in a pistol without full case support (1st & 2nd gen Glocks being the most likely. Commonly referred to as "Glocked" brass.)

Yet another reason to hate glock.

 

Why did you ALLOW a student to shoot w/o glasses?

 

3-D Ammunition Inc.

Address:
112 W Plum St.
Doniphan, NE 68832

United States
Phone: (402) 845-2285

Fax: (402) 845-6546

http://business.highbeam.com/company-profiles/info/641744/3-d-ammunition-inc

============

Looks like they are sold from this store:

Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore
http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/

============

One of the reviews of the .38 spl ammo was as recent as April 11, 2014. Sold through Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore

4 star ranking star ranking star ranking star ranking star ranking
nothing fancy but cheap shooting
by john from Detroit, MI on April 11, 2014

Kind of dirty and the boxes have a tendency to fall apart in shipping. They shoot fine though. Put a couple hundred rounds through different guns and no problems so far.

However, it does not appear 3D Ammo is still around.

 

When my gun went boom I called the mfg and all I got was a runaround. No one was hurt and the best I could hope for was a replacement gun. I did not even get that. They just pushed it off as a defective gun which it was not. It was just one load out of the box that was bad. It was a new box of 230 grain fmj 45ACP and not +P. It was an aluminum framed 1911 officer sized pistol. I was qualifying for my CCW and had fired (3) 6 round mags and was on the 4th when it went boom. No indications of anything wrong. No parts blew off but it was broke. I was actually surprised it held together and so was the trainer. I finished up with a full size 1911 and different ammo. I have not used any of that loading since. I was not affiliated with any group at the time, I had no clout. If I or some one had been hurt there would have been lawyers involved.

 

I am an IDPA Safety Officer. I do not allow people to observe without eye and ear protection. I would DQ someone for refusing to wear proper safety equipment.

 

So much fail in the OP, and not just about ammo.

 

A certified instructor allowed a student to shoot while lacking eye protection? It's up to you as an instructor to make sure your students are safe when taking a class. Why would anyone allow someone to shoot with no eye protection. Sounds like the shooter was taking chances she shouldnt have. As for the ammo, I agree with what others said. It could unfortunately happen with even factory loads. I'm going to stop typing though because I'm legimately disturbed that a certified instructor allowed a student anywhere NEAR a range with no eye protection.

 

I am an IDPA Safety Officer. I do not allow people to observe without eye and ear protection. I would DQ someone for refusing to wear proper safety equipment.

That's something I don't see at the range here, ear protection yes eye protection no. It does make sense to use eye protection.

 

3-D Manufacturing

The phone number for 3-D is no longer in service and there is no listing for them in NE. I have written to BATF about the incident.

 

I help on the range for a CCW class I have experienced 2 squibs in my 42 years and both were recently neither of which were mine . One of which was on some reload .38 which was supposed to be factory ammo only at this class. The second a rifled slug in a shot gun factory Remington load . Last saturday I had my first squib in my own gun . I did not notice from the shooters position that it didnt go bang . #1 Im half deaf anyway and #2 I had on hearing protection to keep what hearing I have left usable. I did notice that it didnt have alot of recoil and that it did not eject the case . I waited about 10 seconds dropped the mag and peeked into the barrel to see if their was any light . No light . SO I pulled the slide off , took out the barrel and here it is .
It can happen with any ammo ,whether its loaded at home or factory ammo . This just happened to be Hornady factory match grade ammo . I knocked it out and grabbed a different brand of ammo and continued on for another 100 rds . The squibs I have heard on the range from the side I have heard this ppsssssttttt sound from the shooter position of my own squib all I heard was the bang . Before I knocked the round out I wanted to see if the round in the barrel was deep enough that another would have chambered . I put one round in the mag dropped the slide and it came up short , roughly 1/4" from closing . You must always be aware of whats going on , I know its hard when there are other people around you also shooting . Safety gear is a must . Nobody hits the CCW range without hearing and eye protection , If you dont have it on you dont shoot . Its pretty simple

 

That's something I don't see at the range here, ear protection yes eye protection no. It does make sense to use eye protection.

The first command a safety officer is supposed to give is "Range is hot, eyes and ears". Everyone in the area must wear eye and ear protection. I would refuse to start the shooter even if an observer were not wearing proper eye protection. As a safety officer that is my responsibility. As an instructor, that is also the OP's responsibility. There is no excuse for unsafe behavior at a supervised range.

 

I've used tons of 3D ammo when I was an active instructor. Never had a problem.

But I would also disqualify any officer that tried to get away with a safery violation.

One old Sgt told me once that shooting glasses gave him "tunnel vision."

I told him that was his problem, not mine. But the range was mine!

 

The phone number for 3-D is no longer in service and there is no listing for them in NE. I have written to BATF about the incident.

unless i'm missing something, how is this a concern of the BATF?

 

Can't imagine if everyone wrote to the BATF every time they shot a bad round of ammo. Sorry that happened OP, but I'm not sure you're going to get anywhere with it.

 

Can't imagine if everyone wrote to the BATF every time they shot a bad round of ammo. Sorry that happened OP, but I'm not sure you're going to get anywhere with it.

I don't no why you would. I use to buy 3-D 158gr wad cutters years ago for target before I started reloading for .357. Very accurate ammo. Not adhering to correct range protocol is more dangerous.

 

Without looking at the case it's hard to tell what happened. Got a picture?

You are an "Instructor" and you let a student shoot without shooting glasses? Remind me not to send any students your way!

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here and claim BS for the Whole story.

Terminology is not correct, "backfire" is not a term I have heard in a long time and never from an experience shooter.

The brass cartridge, near the base, , Again terminology off, Brass case is correct, a cartridge is the Completed round.

An NRA instructor and former Law Reinforcement officer has never seen a split case before? Not many rounds down his barrel then. It has never happened to me, but I have seen it happen at the range and I prolly don't have near as many hours at the range as an Instructor or an LEO.

No way in hell any "Certified" Instructor would allow a student to shoot without eye protection, taint gunna happen.

New member and his first post is to demonize/complain about an ammunition manufacturer? My guess is he has a hidden agenda with them and made this up to try and discredit this manufacturer, cuz he sure as hell ain't no Instructor.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here and claim BS for the Whole story.

Terminology is not correct, "backfire" is not a term I have heard in a long time and never from an experience shooter.

The brass cartridge, near the base, , Again terminology off, Brass case is correct, a cartridge is the Completed round.

An NRA instructor and former Law Reinforcement officer has never seen a split case before? Not many rounds down his barrel then. It has never happened to me, but I have seen it happen at the range and I prolly don't have near as many hours at the range as an Instructor or an LEO.

No way in hell any "Certified" Instructor would allow a student to shoot without eye protection, taint gunna happen.

New member and his first post is to demonize/complain about an ammunition manufacturer? My guess is he has a hidden agenda with them and made this up to try and discredit this manufacturer, cuz he sure as hell ain't no Instructor.

i too am having some doubts with the information provided as well. maybe he was hoping for some sympathy.