Suppressors Can problem or ammo problem?

[Rancid Coolaid]

I am posting this in reloading and in suppressors, because I don't I don't know WTF.


I took my YHM .308 Phantom to the range for the first time today.

Round 1 and 2 down range looked great (shift in POI about 2 MOA.)

When i squeezed off round 3, I got powder from the action (bolt action 40X, tack-driver) and pulled away from the gun to see smoke coming from the action and trigger well. Not good! the sound the round made was "off."

I checked the target and the round hit where I was aiming (therefore projectile was not stuck in bore.) When I tried to run the bolt, there was more resistance than usual turning the bolt handle, but the round extracted fine, but failed to eject - it was stuck to the bolt face.

I pulled the bolt and checked the case and this is what I found. The primer was no longer seated, the brass shows no presure signs, but there is obvious sign of powder burn on the head stamp (haven't seen that before.)

I stopped shooting that gun, pending a break down and pulled the can to inspect for any problems (baffle strike, anything.) No can problems.

I moved the can over to a 6.8 AR upper and kept firing, no issues with that gun, everything worked as it should.

SO, is this a rifle problem, an ammo problem, or a can problem?

The Ammo is Hornady TAP, brand new.

Anyone seen this before?

Notice the flame-kissed head stamp and the burnt edge of the primer. Did Hornady screw up?

 

[slimguns]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

I by no means am an expert on reloading or loading but I'd guess a weak seated primer that with the additional backpressure from the can pushed loose.

A guess, I'm curious to see where this goes from the more experienced though.

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

So far, the reloaders are saying really, really hot load.


I reload but have never pushed anything so far as to cause a failure like this.

 

[Ranb]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

The only time I have seen this was when I over loaded a cartridge. 223 and 22 k-hornet. I do not think the silencer is causing this. Pressure is past its peak and going down by the time the bullet exits the muzzle and reaches the can.

Ranb

 

[KYS]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

ammo problem. I have seen this before. send it back to Hornady.

 

[RayDog]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

I would say it's an ammo issue also.

 

[308Panther]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

Thats from a hot load.
Whats the LOT #?
Curious,because I have 10rds left from a box of TAP.

Getting to the point the only loads I trust now are my own.

308Panther

 

[long-shot]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

I don't know if this will help or not, but I had a blown primer in my match gun when I dropped a round in the snow before I loaded it. It had some snow on the bullet and when fired it blew the primer. The round made it to the target (700 yards) but the primer blew out. I never guessed that a small amount of condensation would raise pressure that much when it flashes to steam, but apparently it did. This was without a suppressor. I would guess that the suppressor had less to do with this problem then the ammo did.

 

[RTH1800]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

Not the can. Ammo. Can not a factor.

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

Here are more pictures of the offending case and the prior expended brass from the same box.

Also, emailed Hornady, nothing yet, I'll let you know how that goes. Till this is resolved, I will not buy another TAP round for anything, and will avoid Hornady in general - till I know they do the right thing by their customers.


You can almost read the head stamp (in reverse) off the bolt face.

Here are the 3 I fired, in chronological order, and the rest of the box.

I am comfortable now saying this is not a suppressor issue. (The can ran great on a 6.8 after these 3 rounds - no problems at all.)

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

I just talked to Doug at Hornady, they want it all back to test.

He says they will replace it with new stuff.


Will update when there is news.

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

Update


I talked with Hornady, they said the head was not soft, and other rounds in the boxes sent (all same lot) were within sepc - so it was a rogue bad round: good to know.

They are sending me 6 boxes of a new lot.

I am pleased with the outcome.

Haven't taken my gun to my smith for a check-out. I emailed him with description and photos and he said the gun is almost defintely fine.

I'll know if a few days, when I take her out to sight in a new scope and try new ammo.


Hornady did right by me, no complaints (other than that one damned round.)

 

[crumpmd]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

And it could happen with any manufacturer. I reckon they all have had hot loads go out.
I purchased some remanufactured loads quite a few years ago for shooting in a SA M1A. It was bone stock and a 1 to 2 moa rifle on a good day with good ammo. I had a hot round that blew powder out on me. Figuring it was an isolated bad round I kept shooting. The next box of 20 had a hot round in it too. I pulled all the bullets in the last 8 boxes and loaded them with varget.
You did the right thing by sending back what you had. I wish I had done that as well. The second hot load scared me a bit.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Re: Can problem or ammo problem?

I'm glad that Hornady is taking care of it for you. They always seem to be pretty good at CS.