The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: W. H. B. on February 08, 2011, 12:58:36 PM
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Last December I bought a 50 round box of PMC, 9MM JHP ammunition for my carry weapon. I carried the rounds in my weapon for self defense. I decided that I would try a few to see how they performed. Imagine my surprise when the very first round fired stopped halfway down the barrel. I had to drive the slug out with a screwdriver. I tryed another, it did clear the barrel but was very weak. The third round just barely cleared the barrel and fell at my feet. Out of a total of 8 rounds fired, one stuck in the barrel, one almost stuck and the other 6 traveled around 50 feet. I have contacted the company and explained to them that if I had been in a critical defensive situation I or my wife may have died. They e-mailed me a complaint form and I retuned it. I have yet to hear back from them. it is my understanding that PMC supplies ammunition to our troops. Isn't that comforting? Needless to say, I will never buy any more PMC ammunition.
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I'm glad to hear it happened at the range and not on the street. I'll try to remember not to buy PMC.
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Wow!!!
Very unusual for that many factory rounds out a box to be bad.
Sounds like powder contamination, possibly somewhere during production, or somewhere during storage, or transportation to vendors. Does the box have an oily residue on it like something soaked into the cardboard or do the unfired rounds feel oily?
After you purchased them, was there any potential for them to have come into contact with any type of penetrating oil like B'Laster, Kroil or something like that? I have known one guy at my old club that had a bad batch of factory cartridges and they did the same type thing you describe. He traced it back to the spillage of a gallon jug of PB B'Laster penetrating oil in his loading/cleaning room.
I'm very glad you discovered the problem before it could have become a bigger problem (like in a SD situation).
Someone on here (Richard E., I think) posted once before that they like to buy SD ammo several boxes at a time so that the lot numbers match. I try to do the same, and usually buy at least four boxes at a time. I also test a number of rounds out of a box before I carry them in a SD gun.
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Not good. I have some that I bought very cheap in .223 for my AR. Shot a mag with no problems. Just have one more magazine left with that ammo and just may head to the range just to burn it up.
As for self defense ammo I always stick with Hornady. :)
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Very glad you caught the squib rd. in the barrel, as a second shot may have been a "kaboom".... I have the PMC Brass .223 ammo, and have never had an issue.
PMC has joined forces with Poongsan Corporation of Korea, continuing a 40 year history of manufacturing ammo. I think they made Starfire ammo also.
From the PMC website:
PMC/Ammunition - 2257 N Loop 336W Suite 140-428 Conroe, TX 77304 • Ph: 281-703-8146 • Fx: 281-727-0280
Taking pride in the large number of types and zero-defect performance of its ammunition, Poongsan uses carefully selected high-quality raw materials and ensures the high performance of sporting ammunitions by carrying out stringent quality inspections and target tests, all the same as those for military ammunition.
Poongsan's commercial ammunition plant has an additional advantage of having an integrated production system that strictly manages the process from raw-material selection to the loading of each cartridge. Poongsan remains focused on the central objective of offering high-quality products at a reasonable price.
The Company operates an independent quality management body separate from the production division. it has a complete quality control system for each processing step and lot, with strict inspections carried out by a government inspection team.
I think I would fwd. this and raise hell.
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Are you saying you carried this ammo for 2 months without trying it in your gun? Have you decided what you will replace it with and when you'll test fire the replacement stuff? I don't mean to take you to task over this but maybe this will wake some folks up to try the ammo before relying on it.
PMC is, usually, good ammo and I'm sure they will stand behind it.
Thanks for the post.
Pecos
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PMC is generally pretty good practice ammo.
+1 with Pecos Bill. I would always shoot a new ammo to make sure it functioned.
Your not alone though. I had a whole department come to our range to change from S&W 5906 to Glock 23's. Only one officer asked to use the range to test fire his weapon out of 48.
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PMC is normally good stuff.
always always test things 1st. the loudest sound you will ever hear will be a click when it should have been a bang.
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I'm another one who has shot a lot of PMC in several calibers with no problems.
You carried it for 2 months without TRYING it ?
You trusted your life to ammo you did not know if it would even function in your pistol ?
No need to post your carelessness in 4 different forums.
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Better suited topic in the Handgun thread.
Since it's already there.
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I'm with Tom on this one. I don't carry anything my 1911 doesn't eat well and often. Costly? For sure! A small price in exchange for your life. I've had my current ammo for over six months. When I finally get my license straightened out, that's the first thing down range and I'll buy fresh stuff.
My 1911 never chokes on anything but that doesn't mean I wouldn't test it first.
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I've had 2 boxes of PMC .45-70 Cowboy loads that were squibs. One box had a round with a visible 1/4 inch bulge in the case below the mouth. there were other rounds that looked fine, but wouldn't chamber in the BFR's cylinder.
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I've shot their stuff for years in various caibers. They and UMC seem to make pretty good ammo. I don't use it my carry gun, its for the range, but I have never had a problem with it. I would look at the box (if you still have it) and note the lot number. It was probably due to an oopsie in the loading process. I woudn't let this scare you off from the brand. That said, I would go with something better for carry. Hydra-Shock, Golden Sabre, Hornady etc. Its pricy, but after fuction testing it you won't be shooting it so the cost really doesn't matter. Thats what the PMC or WWB is for.
FQ13
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I would contact PMC with the lot # and let them know what happened with your box of ammo, They might initiate a recall on that lot. I would be willing to bet they will replace that ammo for you as well.
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Last December I bought a 50 round box of PMC, 9MM JHP ammunition for my carry weapon. I carried the rounds in my weapon for self defense. I decided that I would try a few to see how they performed. Imagine my surprise when the very first round fired stopped halfway down the barrel. I had to drive the slug out with a screwdriver. I tryed another, it did clear the barrel but was very weak. The third round just barely cleared the barrel and fell at my feet. Out of a total of 8 rounds fired, one stuck in the barrel, one almost stuck and the other 6 traveled around 50 feet. I have contacted the company and explained to them that if I had been in a critical defensive situation I or my wife may have died. They e-mailed me a complaint form and I retuned it. I have yet to hear back from them. it is my understanding that PMC supplies ammunition to our troops. Isn't that comforting? Needless to say, I will never buy any more PMC ammunition.
I tried to post this earlier, but I guess it got lost. I have used PMC for years in various calibers with zero problems. PMC, UMC, WWB, American Eagle and Remington green/white box from wally world are my target loads of preference. I really haven't noticed much difference between them. I just buy whatever is cheapest. I've drawn the line at Wolf and Privi Partisan, but I am beginning to wonder whether that was wise or just predjudice. Heck, Classic Arms has a great deal on .556 in stripper clips from the UAE. I am tempted.
My experience (which includes a whole lot of PMC rounds) is that you just got a bad batch. Note the lot number, but don't blow off the brand.
BUT, and I mean BUT!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't use it for SD. Buy something better. Hydrashock or Golden Sabre or Hornanady in a handgun, Hornady or Lake City in an AR etc. Its pricy, but once you've function tested it, you won't be shooting it. That's what the cheap stuff is for. Buy two boxes of $2 a round ammo. Shoot one to make sure your gun likes it and get the point of aim. Load the other and leave it. Repeat annually. Not Ideal, but its the way I work due to budget. The thing is, its worth the forty bucks to load two ten round mags for my Glock 26 to carry. On the range, I use the cheapest reliable noncorrossive ammo I can find. PMC has always fit that bill. YMMV.
FQ13
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It probably didn't get lost FQ, He put the same post in 4 different forums here, I think most of the comments went to the one in the Handguns forum.
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I BOUGHT SUM PMC 9MM @ A YARD SALE ONLAST YR AND IT ENDED UP BEING JUNK IT SOLD FOR $4.00 A BOX I BOUGHT 8 BOXES THIS AMMO WAS OLD DEFECTIVE RELOADS THAT WERE NO GOOD AFTER BETTER INSPECTION OOPS MY MISTAKE I WILL LEARN NEXT TIME NOW I HAVE ALOT OF BRASS LAYING AROUND LOL
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Hi;
I collect brass at several ranges. I have come across rounds that did not go bang and they were from different manufactures. I believe that back when there was a ammo shortage last year, the manufactures really ramped up their output to fill the demand. This may have led to a quality control failure. The primers were struck enough to have created the ignition needed, but no bang.
This includes both pistol and rifle ammo. So, I would take anything made after Feb of 2010 suspect to fail. With the shelves restocked lately, hopefully the quality control is better.
Has any other Brass Collector noticed this ?
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I always test fire any ammo before carrying. I haven't bought any new PMC Starfire ammo since the mid 90s. Then haven't bought much ammo at all in the last decade besides .22LR. I cast and reload when I can but deployments keep me from shooting my guns. PMC is not a supplier to the US military that I'm aware of. Maybe to the Korean government.
CD
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I have the PMC Brass .223 ammo, and have never had an issue.
Same here in thousands of rounds of 9 MM, .45 ACP, and .223. The brass is of high quality and reloads very well also. Bill T.
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PMC, made in S. Korea.
Never go cheap for self defense ammo. A little extra money is worth the peace of mind.
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PMC, made in S. Korea.
Never go cheap for self defense ammo. A little extra money is worth the peace of mind.
Exactly. Target/range ammo is one thing. For a serious post-Katrina, zombie infested civil unrest situation, it won't be PMC. But XM193, SS109, or Winchester frangible.
But I maintain NO issues with PMC .223 ammo at the range.