Bullet jammed, pulled case... HELP

[stello1001]

Alright everybody, I'm not exactly sure what's going on. I'm pretty sure I remember chambering a live round. I tried to fire but nothing happened. I tried pulling the bolt out and it was quite difficult. When I did, I brought back a case but no bullet. Some small black stuff came out with it too but it does not seem to be powder.

I think I chambered I live round but the only reason I can't clearly remember is because this is my first time trying 1000 yards and I was getting really excited seeing splash just under, just left, etc. I was really close to hitting and probably running on autopilot. I flash my smart phone flashlight into the chamber and it looks so dark except for a very tiny spot in the very middle of the Bore. That spot shines like copper so I'm guessing there's a bullet.

My question, if I chambered a live round and that's a bullet stuck in there, why didn't powder kernels fall out? I'll post a pic below of the black residue that came out but I do not think it's powder.

Unfortunately, I accidentally threw the case I pulled out with the rest of my pieces of brass. However, I did get to inspect it and it looked perfectly normal. Round primer, no cratering nor flattening, no ejector swipe marks.

This is sparks munition 140 ELDM load for 6.5CM. It's probably best I mention I've had trouble chambering a few rounds from spark. Having trouble as in the bolt was hard to close down but only every now and then, not every single round.

She was shooting great @ 700 and 450 prior to that with no problems. I don't have much experience in the long range game and am hoping someone could help.

Thanks,

Serg

 

[Spblademaker]

Spark squib? Ask me how I know. ?

 

[FishDr]

Did this particular round give you a bang or more of a pop? My guess is either no powder or a squib load.
Push it out, clean it up, weigh all the remaining rounds in that lot to see if there are any “light” ones remaining.

 

[Spblademaker]

Mine made a slight fizzing sound.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Spark squib? Ask me how I know. ?

How do you know?

 

[Spblademaker]

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/spark-munitions.6942465/

 

[Lunchbox27]

Trouble chambering rounds, possible squib... time to switch ammo manufactures.

Get some Hornady or Berger.

 

[x_789]

Yup I agree if you had trouble cambering them and then either a squib or no powder round. Time to find some different ammo. While you could weigh each round and inspect them. I don't know its worth messing with them unless you got a bunch of them.

 

[stello1001]

I'm not a big fan of the hornady factory ammo but I will be using Berger next. Thanks everyone for the info. Now can somebody explain to me the best way to go about with this?

By the way, I do not recall hearing anything. However, I have to admit I was pretty distracted and very exciting as it was my first time ever shooting at 1000 and the previous few rounds were literally just off the plate to the left and some low!

I will contact spark tomorrow morning. I must say though, the accuracy at 100 yards is around MOA or slightly sub MOA, with an occasional flyer. This is out of my barrel and ymmv.

 

[andy52887]

Take a cleaning rod from the muzzle and gently tap the bullet out. More then likely it was no powder and you wouldn’t hear much from the primer. The small black probably was from the primer. Easy fix as far as removing bullet but you need to be careful even if you are excited have to remember fundamentals.

 

[andy52887]

Also if you like the 140 eldm just shoot the hornady match or try some other stuff may find something your rifle like better.

 

[tree man]

Yeap cleaning rod but remove your jag first because it will break the tip off of it, I’ve done that a few times while measuring for the lands

 

[Carlos Danger]

I've had s couple occasional hand loads I've somehow missed the powder charge on. No sound. Trigger click. Bullet never left the case.

 

[stello1001]

I've had s couple occasional hand loads I've somehow missed the powder charge on. No sound. Trigger click. Bullet never left the case.

That's exactly what happened. I kept looking back and forth in complete confusion because I thought I had chambered a live round but how am I pulling only a piece of once fired brass?



Anyhow, thanks to everyone who replied. I was concerned the bullet would be jammed. It turns out it was just barely in there. I pushed it with my cleaning rod and with minimal force, it came out.

To those suggesting I move on to something else, I absolutely will. I had been eyeing factory Berger ammo for a while now. It's a no brainer, buy the damn bergers already and leave the spark. I'll see what spark says, if they send me a new lot to replace my faulty ammo, I suppose I could give them one more try for them attempting to do right.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

I’ve had luck with hornady eld, federal Berger match and prime all good and less than spark

 

[Poorboyr]

Never had an issue with Spark ammunition and that’s all I shoot. Very accurate stuff. I’m sure Spark will take care of you.

By the way, did you end up contacting them and get a resolution?

 

[stello1001]

Never had an issue with Spark ammunition and that’s all I shoot. Very accurate stuff. I’m sure Spark will take care of you.

By the way, did you end up contacting them and get a resolution?

Yes I did, I had a reply back in literally minutes. We are pending on me sending them the lot number. I had forgotten about that so thanks for the reminder...

 

[Poorboyr]

Yeah. Sounds like they are going to take care of you.

 

[SonicBurlap]

Yeap cleaning rod but remove your jag first because it will break the tip off of it, I’ve done that a few times while measuring for the lands

Yup, I actually ruined a cleaning rod that way once tapping with a little too much enthusiasm, so now I've got myself one of the bullet knock-out sets from BoreTech to protect my carbon fiber rods. Don't expect to use it all that often, but when I need it $20 beats having to spring for $50+ for a new rod.

Bullet Removal Tool | Buy Bullet Knock Outs for Shell Casings or Bullets Stuck in Barrel of Your Gun - Bore Tech

Remove lodged bullets from your gun without ruining your cleaning rod with these solid brass bullets. Shop our Bullet Knock-Out Set today!

www.boretech.com

 

[stello1001]

Update on the situation:

Anthony from Spark has been great to work with. He has sent me 200 new rounds from a different lot and suggested I keep whatever I have left or return to him if I don't feel good using that. Being that I do not want the same thing that happened already to happen again, especially not on a buck, I will return to him what I have. He has provided the return label. While the new 200 rounds have already been delivered, I have no way of testing as I am not at that address at the moment but will be some time soon. Sorry i can't get any groups or testing done with the new ammo right now. However, while somewhat frustrating, Spark has righted a wrong no questions asked and I admire that.

I had said that I was not going to look into other ammo if I got my hands on more spark, which I did. I planned on using that and seeing how it would work for me. However, I still had the itch to buy some Berger ammo and that's exactly what I did. I like the ELDM bullets and they have worked well, but may be later I can test one ammo vs the other and compare. Hopefully, I am able to have another opportunity to stretch out and do some LR shooting sooner rather than later.

Thanks to all who advised me and helped me out...

 

[918v]

Can you tell us more about your rifle? Does it have a “match” chamber? Does other factory ammunition work in it?

 

[stello1001]

Can you tell us more about your rifle? Does it have a “match” chamber? Does other factory ammunition work in it?

Howa 1500 with factory barrel so whatever reamer they use, I have no idea.

It's shot very well in the past with other factory loads. I've used AG with great success!

 

[918v]

Did u measure the cartridge overall length vs Hornady factory ammo to compare? I wonder how long the Sparks ammo was.

 

[stello1001]

Did u measure the cartridge overall length vs Hornady factory ammo to compare? I wonder how long the Sparks ammo was.

Didn't measure with any tool. Side to side, they looked the same. They also both fit just perfect in my magpul AICS mag. I can only assume they are loaded to the same length as factory hornady ammo.