How not to load a 77gr SMK (issue with Federal Premium)...

General Firearms Reloading & Ammunition
1

So I was poking around in my ammo stash today after work and I came across a box of this stuff…

I bought it back in November of last year just after the election with a few other things from Sportsman’s Warehouse, I only got this box as it was the only box in the shelf and I was excited to come across some Gold Metal Match, although it was about $30 for the box of 20 :eek:.

So today I was checking it out, and I noticed a few things. No cannelure which I expected, lacquered primer which I didn’t expect and…WTF?!?!

Yup, that SOB is in there BACKWARDS!!! I have not yet contacted Federal. I am going to first thing tomorrow and see what they have to say. Needless to say I am flabbergasted and aghast. I understand things slip through QA/QC, but something as blatant as this?! Needless to say there is no way in hell I am going to fire this box of ammo, and honestly I am going to have to think twice about Federal ammo in general. I mean, it’s not like this is cheap-o bargain basement ammo, this is Gold Metal Match.

Has anyone else seen something like this in “top tier” ammo?

2

Federal doesn’t use cunnelure SMK bullets . But the dumb dumb load is a BIG WTF:eek: call federal maybe you can get more ammo out of them.Defiantly would not shoot any out of that box.

3

Yes I know, I mentioned that in my post. I wasn’t expecting to see a cannelure.

But the dumb dumb load is a BIG WTF:eek: call federal maybe you can get more ammo out of them.Defiantly would not shoot any out of that box.

Heck no! I’m not looking for a handout from Federal, but I do want them to make this obvious f-up right.

4

I will take the rest of the box!

5

Federal’s premium commercial ammo has always made me nervous. I’ve had more than one round with a dead primer in it.

Oddly enough, the AE line and Wally bulk pack stuff has always been flawless.
:confused:

6

Not only dead primers, but noticably different recoil and muzzle blast from one round to the next.

7

Yikes! OK, no way in hell am I shooting this stuff.

8

I just recently shot a batch of Federal 00 buck Low Recoil 12ga rounds…one of the rounds didn’t have any powder in it.

Pulled the trigger and heard ‘POP’…pointed the muzzle down and the 00 rolled out onto the ground…the wad was stuck in the barrel.

9

Hmmm… do you have the lot number of that box?

Which Sportsman’s around Denver did you get that from? Aurora? Thornton? Littleton?

Regards,
~V

10

Sportsman’s on Wadsworth in Littleton. I don’t have the box with me so I can’t tell you the lot number off hand.

I contacted and got a reply from Federal on this. They want me to ship the box of ammo back to them on my own dollar then they may issue a replacement box. :rolleyes:

I am willing to bet if this was Black Hills who made this boo boo it would be a different story.

11

Push back and tell them they need to issue you a call tag and send UPS to pick it up. This is their mistake and they need to make it right.

12

Good advise, I think I may do just this.

Understand I am not trying to smear Federal around in the mud on this, but I think this is such a heinous error they really should be going out of their way to make it right. Not “Oh gee wiz, why don’t you waste more of your time and money sending it back and if we deem it necessary we’ll get you back…maybe…”

13

Well this is turning into a straight up cluster f.

I go to a UPS store to ship it and as soon as I said “rifle ammunition” the moron lady behind the counter literally took three steps back from the counter, started shaking, and told me that was explosives and she was not allowed to touch it and I needed to get out of the store. :rolleyes:

I then call the UPS customer service line and was told I needed to be a certified haz-mat shipper, and if I wasn’t I needed to bring it to an FFL in order to ship it. Mind you we’re talking about one 20 round box of ammo here, somehow that just doesn’t seem like the correct answer.

WTF??? Are these people serious? Of course the damn UPS haz-mat 'help line" for ups is closed until Tuesday, and Federal is closed for the weekend so that’s no help.

This is getting a little out of control.

14

I don’t think this is correct info. It does need to be labeled “ORM-D Small Arms Ammunition” but none of the standard Hazmat paperwork applies and I don’t think UPS makes you get certified or anything. Google “shipping ammunition” – there are some good websites out there that go through the details.

Fedex is a little bit more stuck up on this so UPS is your best bet. (Just don’t tell the people at the desk what is in it – make up some white lie – or ship it through someone you know who is a UPS shipper on their account.

To be legal write in a small box “ORM-D” on the outside and then really small so the counter people don’t see it “Small Arms Ammunition”

Disclaimer – I have shipped very little ammo but did a bunch of Google research a year or two ago. I am not an expert. Get better advice than from me.

Chad

15

I appreciate the advise Chad. This is turning into a goat rope. I did some research as you suggested and yes the folks I talked to at UPS are 100 and 10 percent wrong. I am just going to wait until Tuesday and get this sorted out.

16

Would that bullet have a CB instead of a BC? I don’t reload, but how would that even get seated?

Wonder if it a Franken bullet with two bases :stuck_out_tongue:

Not like you don’t have other things on your mind.

17

You can not ship ammunition from a “UPS Store.” You need to take it to a “UPS Customer Center.”

18

Yes, I realize that now. I tried searching for the answer on UPS’s website and got no where before I went in to said UPS store. I figured just going in and asking would be OK, but the imbecile behind the counter nearly pissed her pants when I told her it was ammunition. When calling UPS the moron who answered the phone put me on hold for 15 minutes then informed me that her supervisor told her I had to ship it through an FFL. I am less then impressed with UPS at this point.

19

keep it as a paperweight :smiley:

Buy a dillon 550b from egun (I did) :wink:

and roll you own MK242 :cool:

20

Um, no?

MY wife and I are having a baby in a few weeks so no money for a new reloading press. Regardless small rifle primers are impossible to find, so it’s moot anyway.

BTW if you’re referring to the issued ammunition using the 77gr SMK it’s Mk. 262.