Issues with Federal 380 ammo?

[joesurfer]

Anyone have any issues with Federal 380 ammo? Was at the range and had some major jams in my Glock 42. I was using the Federal 95 grain ammo with brass cases. Seemed to be working ok, but then as I got to another box they started really jamming to the point I had to stop using them. Tried a different box and same result. I then called Glock to see that maybe the pistol needed some looking-at. I always clean it after firing. The tech support said to try a different ammo first. I thought of that as well but who the hell can buy any ammo? I only have boxes of these federals - damn!

 

[Saltwater60]

What was happening and how was it jamming. New ammo? The factories have been working double time so there is a risk something went wrong. I have some federal and it works great in my LCPII but it’s from a year ago.

 

[joesurfer]

What was happening and how was it jamming. New ammo? The factories have been working double time so there is a risk something went wrong. I have some federal and it works great in my LCPII but it’s from a year ago.

Jamming when trying to eject the case. it does not eject completely and the next cartridge jams against it. happens in both mags too so dont think that was it.

 

[Tisto]

Send it to me and I'll let you know how it runs in my PPK.

 

[Robin]

I don't think its the ammo.
Robin

 

[joesurfer]

I don't think its the ammo.
Robin

Well, I'd like to eliminate that if i could find some other ammo. I see gunbroker has a bunch of ammo but dont feel like buying $300 worth right now.

 

[Steal2B]

Jamming when trying to eject the case. it does not eject completely and the next cartridge jams against it. happens in both mags too so dont think that was it.

I doubt it's the ammo. I learned this with both 9mm and 380 with different gun manufacturers and discussed our issue on multiple forums. I've seen this, after disassembling cleaning mags with alcohol, the problem went away. Service calls to at least two of the three manufacturers we called stated that preservative coatings applied to new magazines can lead to this and they recommend cleaning the preservative off new mags with alcohol. At least one manufacturer suggested a good cleaning of the usually non sensitive feed ramp.

In fact Sig, Walther, and Glock were so confident it was the mags after we mentioned the ammo we used, they offered to send new mags for free with an exchange label if cleaning did not resolve the issue. Sig sent new mags anyway.

 

[Steal2B]

Well, I'd like to eliminate that if i could find some other ammo. I see gunbroker has a bunch of ammo but dont feel like buying $300 worth right now.

Ammosupplywarehouse.com has had various 380 in smaller boxes and shipping is reasonable.

PMC Bronze 380 AUTO 90 gr. FMJ #380A 50 rnd/box [E-PMC380A-50] - $47.99 : Ammo Supply Warehouse

Ammo Supply Warehouse PMC Bronze 380 AUTO 90 gr. FMJ #380A 50 rnd/box [E-PMC380A-50] - PMC 380 AUTO is a great choice for high volume shooters. Manufactured in South Korea by a top defense contractor that also produces NATO rounds for the South Korean military, these rounds undergo extensive...

www.ammosupplywarehouse.com

 

[turbobike]

My Glock 42 had the same problem with extraction of the spent shell. Problem is unfinished machining of breach area, rough machining marks "grab" the expanded case and resist the extraction of the case. I solved mine with some polishing compound and a soft-pad in a Dremmel and polished the breach area. NO more jams. Why different ammo? Some brass cases are harder and allow easy extraction, and some softer (Federal) have extraction issues. Anybody with a revolver can tell you how hard some spent cases are to remove, they have too really hit hard on the extractor rod! If the polishing doesn't sound attractive to you, there are many aftermarket Glock 42 barrels that are an easy drop in.

 

[joesurfer]

My Glock 42 had the same problem with extraction of the spent shell. Problem is unfinished machining of breach area, rough machining marks "grab" the expanded case and resist the extraction of the case. I solved mine with some polishing compound and a soft-pad in a Dremmel and polished the breach area. NO more jams. Why different ammo? Some brass cases are harder and allow easy extraction, and some softer (Federal) have extraction issues. Anybody with a revolver can tell you how hard some spent cases are to remove, they have too really hit hard on the extractor rod! If the polishing doesn't sound attractive to you, there are many aftermarket Glock 42 barrels that are an easy drop in.

thanks much for that info; interesting to see others with the same issue. It's worth a try for sure!

 

[Steal2B]

My Glock 42 had the same problem with extraction of the spent shell. Problem is unfinished machining of breach area, rough machining marks "grab" the expanded case and resist the extraction of the case. I solved mine with some polishing compound and a soft-pad in a Dremmel and polished the breach area. NO more jams. Why different ammo? Some brass cases are harder and allow easy extraction, and some softer (Federal) have extraction issues. Anybody with a revolver can tell you how hard some spent cases are to remove, they have too really hit hard on the extractor rod! If the polishing doesn't sound attractive to you, there are many aftermarket Glock 42 barrels that are an easy drop in.

When we cleaned the mags, we essentially hand polished the feed ramp area at the same time on all three impacted guns when we solved the problem. Since we addressed two things at once, either or both could have been the issue. My guess is the Sigs were mag preservatives, the Walther was the the ramp but its mags were dirty, and who knows on the Glock since the mags were dirty and the ramp was rougher than the others.

 

[Saltwater60]

I agree with cleaning the mags and polishing the feed ramps but seems odd to me that it wouldn’t be ejecting. The case should still eject properly before the feeding jam. Not sure on the preservative on the mag. I have a few pistols and never cleaned the mags prior to use other than removing metal shavings prior to use.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

Keeping an eye on this thread. If the things mentioned above don't resolve the issue I'd like to have you try something.

 

[togmaster]

Limp wristing.