Be Careful Out There -- Found ammo

[alfsauve]

We talking about picking up range brass over in Reloading, but I think this is applicable to everybody.  

With brass you can sort it, feel it, check it and weed out the undesirable stuff.  BUT with loaded ammo, you don't know.   There's no way to know how much or what kind of powder is inside.  I've made it a habit long ago, never to trust ammo that I don't know where it came from.   Anything loose on the range is suspect.   If someone is shooting out of a box that they purchased over the counter and offers you their left overs, that's one thing, but be very wary of anything you find laying around.

HERE's an example of why:

Some shooters have guns built up that will withstand significant pressure loads. (we're talking .357mag or .44 mag levels).   Nothing wrong here.  BUT, they'll have them chambered in 9mm (as an example).   There are a number of reasons for doing this and again nothing wrong.   These shooters will then custom load 9mm ammo at major power factor (165), which means they're pushing a 125gr 9mm bullet in excess of 1,320 fps.   The pressures will come close to 140% of SAAMI maximums for 9mm.    The reasons for doing this are many, including ammo cost is significantly lower for 9mm than for .40SW or .45ACP.   I know several shooters who do this.  Not my cup of tea, but each to his own.    These shooter are very careful about not leaving any of there shells around.  When they clear their gun, they won't leave the area until they find the live round.  

HERE's the question:   When you pick up a stray 9mm round on the range, how do you know it isn't from one of these shooters?  YOU DON'T.   Found ammo is not a gift.  While it hurts to see it go to waste, dispose of this stuff.  Don't leave it for somebody else.

Be careful out there.   And have a happy thanksgiving.

[MikeBjerum]

Good warning!

The nine major is a tough one to run through the average gun.  That case is so packed with powder that ol will cause issues before you need to worry about the chamber.  However, I shoot a .45 acp open gun.  Doesn't sound like an issue, but the pressures I develop to throw 155 grains at 1,300 feet per second will make your 1911 very unhappy.

All that said, my bigger concern with shooting unknown origin ammunition is if it a reload you want to know the quality of the reloader.  I hate sloppy guys that end up with squibs.  Most modern guns will handle too much powder a time or two, until you realize what is happening, but the round behind a squib can be a once in a lifetime chance.

[Timothy]

Good points....

I pick up brass and police the range every time.  It's required of all the members of my old club and unfired rounds are put in a can for disposal unless they're your own.

A comment to M58's post, we had a guy who loaded his own and when he came to the line, everyone else would leave or give him wide berth.  I think they finally asked him to find another range and refused to renew his membership.  The club prides itself by being small, nearly one hundred years old and never had a firearm related accident.

[twyacht]

Seen many unfired rounds, mixed in the brass. .223 here, 9mm there, hey there's this or that...

I NEVER fire them, separate them to it's own 5g bucket, for the range to dispose of.

Although, I did talk a fellow out of 5 or 6 "picked up",  .223 rounds he wanted to load in his AR...I just asked:

"WHY THE HELL do you think they are on the ground? You really want to risk it?"

[fightingquaker13]

I sure wouldn't fire it. It might just be from some jackass who'd  seen one too many episodes of "Home Improvement" and then went to the reloading bench (more power UH UH UH ). No way in hell. I traded Crusader a bunch of factory stuff. I included a box of my grandad's handloads free, but insisted he use them for components only, not to shoot (ARE YOU LISTENING CRUSADER ). Seriously, I won't shoot anyone's reloads unless I know and trust them. I'm damn sure not picking stuff up off the ground unless I'm empty and someone is shooting back.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[crusader rabbit]

I sure wouldn't fire it. It might just be from some jackass who'd  seen one too many episodes of "Home Improvement" and then went to the reloading bench (more power UH UH UH ). No way in hell. I traded Crusader a bunch of factory stuff. I included a box of my grandad's handloads free, but insisted he use them for components only, not to shoot (ARE YOU LISTENING CRUSADER ). Seriously, I won't shoot anyone's reloads unless I know and trust them. I'm damn sure not picking stuff up off the ground unless I'm empty and someone is shooting back.
FQ13

Fixed it for you, Quaker.

I turned them into shell casings by running them through a Rossi stainless steel carbine lever action detonation device.  Grandad was very specific about what he'd done, i.e. powder, primer, bullet weight and make.  His numbers corresponded nicely to the reloading specs and to my weapon of choice specs.

I will note this FQ:  I came home from the range with a bruise on my shoulder.  Grandad DID put some power in them thar shells.

[fightingquaker13]

Fixed it for you, Quaker.

I turned them into shell casings by running them through a Rossi stainless steel carbine lever action detonation device.  Grandad was very specific about what he'd done, i.e. powder, primer, bullet weight and make.  His numbers corresponded nicely to the reloading specs and to my weapon of choice specs.

I will note this FQ:  I came home from the range with a bruise on my shoulder.  Grandad DID put some power in them thar shells.

So, despite a clear warning, you shot 45 year old hand loads marked "warning Ruger only"? Did it ever occur to you that you went by what was on the box, where as I knew the crazy old bastard? I mean for God's sake Crusader, when a man's own flesh and blood tells you to run, not walk, towards the nearest exit you shoot it anyway? Give Bunny a kiss and I'm glad you're here, but next time I suggest bungee jumping. When I tell you not to trust a member of my family I mean it.
FQ13 I suppose my recent interest in a BFR is a throw back. The man always did like a big bang, and carried a scope scar from a .30 Gibbs to his dying day to prove it.