I was doing standard double-feed malfunction clearances with a Beretta 92F when I noticed something odd about Round #2- a standard 115gr. JHP See pic:
The pressure of the slide slamming home on it compressed the projectile into the casing. It does look like this particular round has been beat up a little- it probably went through the double-feed drill more than once.
Basically the round that pinned the first round in the chamber went in a Parabellum and came out a Kurz.
Question 1, if this hadn’t been noticed and set aside and had been allowed to chamber and fire, what’s the most likely result?
Question 2, after going over a couple of the different double-feed clearances in my head, one way will clear the second round, the other will likely chamber it. Should special caution be made to ensure the Malf rounds don’t get fired or is this such a rare/non-realistic occurrence as to be a non-issue?
Let me second Redhat. Using live on ammo outside of a range for drills is an accident waiting to happen.
With a set back round there is the possibility that you will get increased pressures and then a Kaboom. Which will more than likely stop you from using live ammo in the future.
Another vote for dummy rounds. The risk just isn’t worth it.
That being said, when I clear double feeds both the chambered round, and the round that got shoved behind it get dropped. I lock back the slide, rip out the old mag, rack the slide a few times, insert a new mag, then chamber a round. That drill immediately removes two potentially bad rounds, and a mag that could have potentially been the cause of the malfunction. Some keep the old mag, but I carry a spare in case the mag in the weapon goes bad. Most malfunctions are mag related, so if tap, rack, assess doesn’t work, a new mag is next regardless.
Stonebridge… no offense, but I’ll never understand this line of thinking. As cj5 pointed out, there’s $3 for a snap cap or $500-$1200 for a new gun.
I hear it all the time here where I live. People pinching pennies and brushing dollars aside. One older guy here bought some really shady reloads because he said he couldn’t afford to shoot his new Wilson 1911. You guessed it, he blew it up. Glad that savings of $0.11 per round worked out for him. I liken it to people buying a high end Ferrari and putting Costco tires on it. Eventually, their savings are going to bitch slap them in the face.
One other thing you can do to avoid the cost of snap caps is make your own. Paint or mark rounds(if you’re a reloader) with no primer or powder and practice away. This requires more attention to detail, especially when the paint starts to wear off, but it’s far cheaper than $3/round.
I’ll be honest with you guys, I’m no pro by any measure. I have been to a training or two and this is the first I’ve heard of dummy rounds for double-feed drills. Ball and dummy, yes obviously. Dryfire and FTF, yes.
I’m not saying you’re incorrect by any stretch, just that it’s news to me. I do intentionally use hollow-point rounds for this drill, not Spitzers as the infinitesimal chance of hot Spitzer-on-primer action toys with my calm.
I can remember where I got one of the two methods I know for clearing an FTE and it’s here starting at 2:50.
I’m not defending it based on the brand name of instructor or school, just that it’s where I got the drill and he’s obviously using live ammo. I never thought another thing of it until now. Thanks for the heads up.
I liken it to people buying a high end Ferrari and putting Costco tires on it. Eventually, their savings are going to bitch slap them in the face.