Setback -- I'm convinced

[pwguy26]

I got my Kahr P380 about 2 months ago and dry fire it fairly regularly to try to get used to the trigger. Last night when I tried to reload the round would not chamber. This is what I found. I was aware that setback can happen but this seems pretty extreme. I wonder if the gun and/or myself may have been damaged if I had not noticed this issue.

Yes, I usually just replaced the top round.

[ltxi]

The nose of that set back round has been hammered pretty hard.

[muggsy]

There is no possibility of a catastrophic failure due to bullet set back in a pistol cartridge. It may cause a failure to feed as you have noted. The same is not true of rifle cartridges as the operate at much higher pressures than pistols.

http://dailycaller.com/2013/03/05/ba...etback-matter/

[olympicmotorcars]

judging by the chewed up case rim, it looks like you have re chambered that round a lot.

[hardluk1]

Even the top edge of the hp is all rounded over like your doing a test ! Polish your ramp and top of the chamber and BY some snap caps.

[Jollyrogers]

There is no possibility of a catastrophic failure due to bullet set back in a pistol cartridge. It may cause a failure to feed as you have noted. The same is not true of rifle cartridges as the operate at much higher pressures than pistols.

http://dailycaller.com/2013/03/05/ba...etback-matter/

Interesting.

First, I use those exact rounds for carry, and I do inspect the rounds prior to loading. Interesting that you had one setback like shown, especially since they have a crimp, but I know it can happen in a P380 with that steep ramp, and somewhat forcible chambering of the round, IE; why you can't slowly load a round by riding the slide home.

I have shot reloads that were getting setback somewhat until I realized it was happening. They fired fine BTW. I pulled the bullets, discarded them and used the casings for reloads, just to be on the safe side. My theory is that once they get setback, the bullet is now loose in the casing, and therefore once discharged, the bullet will travel forward easily and then break loose from the case to travel through the barrel. Problems with pistol loads (kabooms!) usually occur with over charging of the case. Regardless, if I see setback happening on a round, it gets set aside for a bullet pulling.

[Ikeo74]

It looks like to me that the 2 bullets in the picture are not the same brand bullet. If you look at the 1 on the left it is formed with a strait line clear up to the tip, the 1 on the right is a round nose hollow point. This leads me to believe the poster is a reloader. If so the taper crimp may be too loose. But even if not, both of those bullets have been chambered many,many times. (too many times) Those cases are really beat up.

[100percent]

Muggs
Testing one gun with one type of ammo doesn't present a definite conclusion about all semi autos and all ammo.

All reloading books caution about making sure that the ammo you make has at least a certain length for the amount of powder used.

I had to cringe when he said that he tapped the chambers closed with a hammer. just asking for an out of battery discharge.

[pwguy26]

It looks like to me that the 2 bullets in the picture are not the same brand bullet...

The only box of .380 hollow point I have ever purchased is the one pictured. I don't reload.

[garyb]

pwguy26,
This is something to keep your eye on. As Itxi says, that round was hammered pretty hard. There is nothing good that can come out of that. Use good common sense and ask yourself, why encounter a bigger problem. Simply set those bullets aside when you see them. JMO. I've used the same rounds in my PM40 for quite a while without "measuring" a single change. The issue you are seeing seems quite extreme to me.

[Ikeo74]

Here is my advice: Until you get used to the trigger and feel comfortable with the gun and trigger pull, DO NOT CARRY ONE IN THE CHAMBER. After you are finished breaking in the gun and everything is smoothed out, you can go back to carry with 1 in the chamber.
Your current practice of dry fire will eventually lead to a accidental discharge when you forget to remove the chambered round before your practice trigger pulling.

Be absolutely sure you have removed the magazine and then checked to see if the chamber is clear before dry firing the gun. In that order, every time.

[berettabone]

[Ikeo74]

Thanks for the reminder, I has a bowl of popcorn left over from last night and I am eatting it now as I type with 1 finger. It's good too.

[muggsy]

Carry an unloaded gun? He must live in one of the better neighborhoods. Gun Safety is a state of mind. If you want to carry with an empty chamber I don't mind.

[hardluk1]

Re-chambering the same bullet a number times is never a good idea.