bullet uniformity - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

**XDAndMe** · 11-12-2006, 02:00 PM

Here's a question for the experienced ammo guys:

I just brought home some Remington UMC 115gr. 9mm target ammo from Dick's Sporting Goods. This is my first time buying UMC, so I don't know if this is normal, but when I examined some of the rounds I immediately noticed an inconsistency with the shape of the bullets. Some are longer & pointier, while others are shorter & flatter. It's not as immediately noticeable in the pictures, but looking at them in person it is.

Here's a shot of some UMC rounds right out of the carton lined up. You can see they all have different heights & shapes to them. Pay attention to the 3rd and 6th (second to last) bullets from the left.

In this next pic, I drew two red lines (they're slim and hard to see, so you have to look close) to show the deviation. One line was drawn at the tip of the shortest bullet in the group, and the other at the tip of the tallest bullet. The other two bullets fall in between.

What do you all think about this? Safe to use?

I'm assuming it's just a negligible manufacturing tolerance from bullet to bullet, considering it's cheap, but I just wanted to make sure because I don't think I've ever seen this with Fiocchi or WWB.

The Knight Of Light · 11-12-2006, 02:42 PM

It happens with the cheaper ammo. It is safe as long as they are not too out of norm. if anything looks that bad off like this....

That is bad.

**XDAndMe** · 11-12-2006, 02:43 PM

^ At least those bullets have a consistent shape, lol

The Knight Of Light · 11-12-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDAndMe

^ At least those bullets have a consistent shape, lol

You will be fine man. Just go shoot the stuff.

Steel1212 · 11-12-2006, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Knight Of Light

It happens with the cheaper ammo. It is safe as long as they are not too out of norm. if anything looks that bad off like this....

That is bad.

Can you say "set back!"

**DanTheEldest** · 11-12-2006, 08:34 PM

I've run a couple boxes of the UMC stuff through mine, and while I didn't look at the rounds that closely (kudos for being thorough, by the way) I did notice a bunch of black snowflakes on my arm when I was done. It went bang consistently, but was dirty for me.

**XDAndMe** · 11-12-2006, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheEldest

I've run a couple boxes of the UMC stuff through mine, and while I didn't look at the rounds that closely (kudos for being thorough, by the way) I did notice a bunch of black snowflakes on my arm when I was done. It went bang consistently, but was dirty for me.

It can't be as bad as WWB, can it? That stuff is God aweful for indoor ranges. I need a gas mask to shoot it or my throat burns for a day.

**DanTheEldest** · 11-12-2006, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDAndMe

It can't be as bad as WWB, can it? That stuff is God aweful for indoor ranges. I need a gas mask to shoot it or my throat burns for a day.

I don't think it was any smokier than WWB, but it left more residue. That was just the couple boxes I shot; others may have had different experiences.

aftershock · 11-12-2006, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDAndMe

It can't be as bad as WWB, can it? That stuff is God aweful for indoor ranges. I need a gas mask to shoot it or my throat burns for a day.

UMC can be bad sometimes i only notice it will a full range

The Knight Of Light · 11-12-2006, 09:15 PM

Magtech has a nice sweet smell(twitch twitch) although that might be the lead base(twitch twitch).

American Eagle 147s are not that bad either and very accurate in my pistol. UMC and WWB are both very dirty in my guns.

I have never thought to break out the calipers though. Can't say the 2-3 thousanths set back(or are the others too long?) will cause anything but an accuracy problem. If they fit in the mag they usually run fine in the gun.

Note: This applies to factory ammo only. Do Not use your magazine as a guide for reloading.

11-12-2006, 02:00 PM	#1
XDAndMe XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PA, USA Posts: 3,402	bullet uniformity Here's a question for the experienced ammo guys: I just brought home some Remington UMC 115gr. 9mm target ammo from Dick's Sporting Goods. This is my first time buying UMC, so I don't know if this is normal, but when I examined some of the rounds I immediately noticed an inconsistency with the shape of the bullets. Some are longer & pointier, while others are shorter & flatter. It's not as immediately noticeable in the pictures, but looking at them in person it is. Here's a shot of some UMC rounds right out of the carton lined up. You can see they all have different heights & shapes to them. Pay attention to the 3rd and 6th (second to last) bullets from the left. In this next pic, I drew two red lines (they're slim and hard to see, so you have to look close) to show the deviation. One line was drawn at the tip of the shortest bullet in the group, and the other at the tip of the tallest bullet. The other two bullets fall in between. What do you all think about this? Safe to use? I'm assuming it's just a negligible manufacturing tolerance from bullet to bullet, considering it's cheap, but I just wanted to make sure because I don't think I've ever seen this with Fiocchi or WWB. Last edited by XDAndMe; 11-12-2006 at 02:03 PM.

11-12-2006, 02:42 PM	#2
The Knight Of Light XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 8,840 Blog Entries: 12	It happens with the cheaper ammo. It is safe as long as they are not too out of norm. if anything looks that bad off like this.... That is bad. __________________ No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. USPSA #L3077 What a great number!!! http://theknightoflight.blogspot.com/ Creator of TOP 'O' THE PAGE!!! Moose Fight

11-12-2006, 08:34 PM	#6
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,374	I've run a couple boxes of the UMC stuff through mine, and while I didn't look at the rounds that closely (kudos for being thorough, by the way) I did notice a bunch of black snowflakes on my arm when I was done. It went bang consistently, but was dirty for me. __________________ To make mass murder palatable to the public, one must first strip the victims of their inherent humanity. First were the native Americans ("savages"), then the black slaves (only "partly human"), then the Jews and gypsies in Hitler's Europe ("parasites on society"), and now America's unborn (also "not fully human"). Save the Americans--end abortion now. Insights and documentation on our nation's Christian heritage: www.WallBuilders.com

11-12-2006, 09:15 PM	#10
The Knight Of Light XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 8,840 Blog Entries: 12	Magtech has a nice sweet smell(twitch twitch) although that might be the lead base(twitch twitch). American Eagle 147s are not that bad either and very accurate in my pistol. UMC and WWB are both very dirty in my guns. I have never thought to break out the calipers though. Can't say the 2-3 thousanths set back(or are the others too long?) will cause anything but an accuracy problem. If they fit in the mag they usually run fine in the gun. Note: This applies to factory ammo only. Do Not use your magazine as a guide for reloading. __________________ No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. USPSA #L3077 What a great number!!! http://theknightoflight.blogspot.com/ Creator of TOP 'O' THE PAGE!!! Moose Fight

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-12-2006, 02:43 PM	#3
XDAndMe XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PA, USA Posts: 3,402	^ At least those bullets have a consistent shape, lol