Posted: 9/1/2002 7:13:43 AM EDT
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We have been using Winchester Ranger 180 grain SXT in .40 caliber for about three years with no problems until now. We only fire duty ammo, so we rotate through our carry rounds fairly frequently (every quarter for the slugs who only shoot at qualification, every couple weeks for those of us who take advantage of the Department's free ammo policy). During a recent qualification cycle, we had 5 "squib" loads out of about 20,000 rounds in that particular order. I had number six yesterday. Noticable lack of recoil, noticable diminshed report. The action failed to cycle, leaving a fired casing chambered. There was no apparent problem with the empty case. The slug did exit the bore, but did not make it to the target (and I could not find it). Are there any other agencies that use SXT that have reported similar problems? This stuff is all new manufacture, drop-shipped from the factory. It is usually late because Winchester has so much demand for it that it is on constant back-order. This is particularly distressing for me because this was in the magazine that was in my weapon, about the fifth round or so. It had only been loaded for about three or four weeks, so I do not think that it could have reasonably deteriorated in that time frame. This could have been really bad if I needed it to go bang. I am more worried about one of our guys out shooting and doing a "tap, rack, ready" on a squib load that failed to exit the bore. I am putting together some safety alerts for show-up next week to alert our guys, and will be contacting Winchester on Wednesday. Please post if you have had any similar experiences with this load. |
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Haven't contacted Winchester yet-it is the weekend. First thing tomorrow, I'll give them a call. I don't know which lot it was either. We have already shot all of that lot and taken delivery of two others, one of which we have already shot most of ( all of which have worked fine, so far). Winchester is going to have to tell me the lot #. All of the packaging is gone. I guess the good news is that apparently we are taking our firearms training seriously, because we seem to be going through ammo like it was water. I am thinking about getting everyone sent to the Armory this week and having them turn in their current ammo (which they got at qualification and should be from the suspect lot) and replace it with stuff from the current lots. |