Potentially Dangerous .223/5.56 Ammo!

General Firearms Reloading & Ammunition
1

I saw this somewhere else and thought it would be good for wider dissemination.

[b]REQUEST FOR REGIONAL BROADCAST
004
REGIONS A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 AND H1

ATTN: REQUEST FOR NATIONAL BROADCAST - FIREARMS HAZARD INFORMATION
****** CORRECTION TO ORIGINAL BROADCAST SENT 2/25/11 *******
Attention Law Enforcement Agencies, the Vacaville Police Department is seeking any similar incidences with the .223/5.56 style rifles.

On 02/14/11 a Vacaville officer was attending an M4/MP-5 class and during a shooting session, the .223 rifle (Stag Arms) experienced a catastrophic failure resulting in an upper receiver cracking and the bolt being pushed into the bolt assembley.

During a SWAT training day on 02/23/11, three more M4 style rifles experienced a catastrophic failure at the same time. All three rifles experienced the bolts being pushed into the bolt assembly, the upper receivers were cracked and / or broken apart, and the lower receivers were bowed outward. The ammunition we used in all the rifles were Winchester RA223R2 Ranger 64 gr. Power Point.

The Rifles were: 1-Colt, 2- Bushmasters and 1 - Stag Arms
[/b]

2

It would be interesting to find out if any other training facilities have experienced this problem. I googled but didn’t find anything.

What would be the most probable cause of the problem, too much powder, wrong powder, improper loading, or a combination of several things?

3

I don’t have any of that ammo-a lot# would be a very big help to those that do!!:smiley:

4

I’m wondering if it’s the ammo or the maintenance of thier rifles???

5

Does this mean Winchester is buying the PDs a lot of new rifles?

6

Is a smiley missing?

Four guns, one known-good, one pretty good, and two good-as, all experience a similar catastrophic failure. I’m thinking ammo.

What I’m wondering about is why four guns went down total. Unless the second three went down at once, why didn’t someone ask more questions after the second went, pull ammo, etc.

7

Should this be reposted? Where did this come from originally? Is this just spreading scuttlebutt or is there any truth to this?

8

Yeah. They needed more lube. :rolleyes:

9

No, I just posted it for shits and giggles. It was posted on another site that I trust and it came from an LE distribution list.

I posted it because I can almost guarantee that this is not a weapons issue, but an ammo one and there may well be people with this ammo. There wasn’t any lot info posted and I can tell you from experience this is often times overlooked.

10

IG
I agree definately an ammo issue! Sounds like an overpressure to much powder or incorrect powder! :rolleyes:

11

Maintenance issues could not have caused this.
Pat

12

It sounds like this shouldnt be reposted. You dont know or won’t say where this came from, and its scuttlebutt at best.
This is the kind of stuff people repost as fact when they heard it from their sisters husband whos brothers best friend is married to a dispatcher in the next town over.
People repost this stuff and others accept it as fact. Its a problem.

13

Maybe if you considered IG’s professional credentials and reputation you would be slower to toss accusations. Might be a good time for you to be quiet and watch from the sidelines.

Buckaroo

14

The probability of Iraqgunz posting bullshit is about the same as Jane Fonda or Rosie O’Donald joining this forum. Gimme a break.

15

I’m sure that there is someone else out there that has this question, so I’ll ask.

Is there anyway to ID the batch? I have a couple hundred Winchester rounds at the house I planned to shoot through when I got back from AIT.

Thanks for the heads up Gunz

16

This isn’t ARFcom, Bag-o-Douche! :rolleyes:

17

I saw the same warning on another site a month or so ago, it included pictures of the destroyed rifles. I think there where lot number of the bad ammo included. If I can find it I’ll post them up.

18

IG doesn’t post BS…

[i]Olin Corporation, through its Winchester Division, is recalling six (6) lots of its RANGER® 223 Remington 64 Grain Power-Point® (PP) centerfire rifle ammunition (Symbol Number RA223R2).

Lot Numbers (last four characters): DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, and DK51

Through extensive evaluation Winchester has determined the above lots of RANGER® Law Enforcement ammunition may contain incorrect propellant. Incorrect propellant in this ammunition may cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable, and subject the shooter or bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury when fired.

DO NOT USE WINCHESTER® RANGER® 223 REMINGTON 64 GRAIN POWER-POINT® AMMUNITION THAT HAS A LOT NUMBER ENDING IN DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41 or DK51. The ammunition Lot Number is ink stamped inside the right tuck flap of the 20-round carton, as indicated here:

To determine if your ammunition is subject to this notice, review the Lot Number. If the last four characters of the Lot Number are DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41 or DK51 immediately discontinue use and contact Winchester toll-free at 866-423-5224 to arrange for replacement ammunition and free UPS pick-up of the recalled ammunition.

This notice applies only to RANGER® 223 Remington 64 Grain Power-Point® centerfire rifle ammunition with lot numbers ending in DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, and DK51. Other Symbol Numbers or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall. [/i]

http://www.winchester.com/library/news/Pages/News-ProductWarningandRecall.aspx

Same type of situation happened to me a in the fall of 2009. Get the word out is important.

19

Maybe somebody should send you a box of it to try out for yourself.
I don’t doubt IG’s sources, and it was posted in the best interest for everyone here.

20

What is this the 5th grade markm? You’re gonna call me names because you didnt like me raising a question? You’ve got to be kidding me. Cmon, don’ t relegate yourself to being an internet tough guy.