Bullet Setback A thank you to the Texas CHL forum.

[BigGuy]

I want to thank the CHL and it's members. Specifically those responding to the thread "Carrying With One Loaded In Chamber (Question?)
Somebody asked about leaving a round in the chamber. They had heard that it somehow damaged the cartridge.
I had developed the routine of ejecting the magazine every night, racking the slide to eject the chambered cartridge. I'd then hold the muzzle to a lamp so that light shines down the barrel, demonstrating no obstruction. I'd do a quick visual, then reinsert the magazine and release the slide lock, confirming the mechanisms fed properly. I'd then eject the magazine again and reload the cartridge, previously in the chamber, back into the magazine. Basically I was recycling two cartridges back and forth between the chamber and the top of the magazine. After reading that thread I decided to check my gun. Here is what I found:

The cartridge on the right is one of the two I'd been rotating with my nightly routine. The one on the left is fresh from the box.
You guys may have saved me from injury. I spend quite a bit of time on this, and the Pistol Forum in order to learn from knowledgeable people talking about guns. While it's embarrassing to write about my ignorance and ignorant actions, I decided to swallow my pride and fess up in order to thank you guys and let you know that there is real good in the exchanges between you on this board.

[Dadtodabone]

Well done on the check and for posting your experience!

[baldeagle]

Ignorance is a correctable condition. It means unlearned. Everyone is ignorant about many things. Many are also quite learned about some topics. There is no shame in being ignorant. There is only shame in remaining ignorant. By your own admission you are wise. You sought council from others more experience than you, read and understood what they wrote and put it to good use. You are to be congratulated. Many, given the same circumstances, would not have arrived at the place that you are, safe from harm because you put your new found knowledge to use.

Now what you have done is provided knowledge to others and proof that this information is correct.

[RX8er]

You are welcome. I found it funny when trobson asked the questions about setback. I just learned about it several weeks before when talking with a couple guys and an "old timer" was telling us about it. I'm glad that George and I were able to post what setback is and that it helped a forum member.

Out of my 800 some posts, one was finally worth something.

[Jumping Frog]

Bullet setback is a safety issue always worth discussing. There are a lot of new gunowners with the buying binge, and a natural caution leads some people to go through unnecessary load/unload cycles without realizing the danger.

Your setback is one of the more severe cases I've seen.

I would suggest editing your titlle to this thread to add the words "Bullet Setback" so that other people can more easily find it when searching.

For other people reading this thread, if you aren't sure what people are meaning by "bullet setback", it is when a round gets chambered and the bullet is slightly pushed back into the case. After repeated loading/unloading of the same bullet, the movement can be substantial. When the setback becomes significant, the reduced case volume increases the pressure when the round fires. If the pressure is too high, it can cause catastrophic failure of the gun, otherwise known as a "KA-BOOM".

The 4th from the left is set back and so is the one in the middle with the black line on it.



Here is an example of bullet setback with 35 thousandths difference of COAL.




When we hear of gun KA-BOOMS at the range, most of the time we really don't know what caused it. I'm convinced that bullet setback is the culprit more often than people think.

[Jumping Frog]

By the way, why aren't you carrying hollowpoint 9's?

[SC1903A3]

Another option to use when inspecting your fire arm is to press-check. Using you off hand grab the slide from underneath using your thumb and forefinger (keeps your hand from being in front of the mizzle)and press back just enough to confirm a round is in the chamber and then ease it forward until the barrel locks up. I use this method regularly.

[The Annoyed Man]

By the way, why aren't you carrying hollowpoint 9's?

^^ This.......although in fairness to the OP, it might be possible that with current shortages, this is what he could find. Better ball ammo than no ammo.

One other detail: Neither of the OP's cartridges in his photo are crimped. Some "premium" self-defense cartridges are factory crimped, which helps to reduce setback. This picture of some Corbon .45 ACP +P clearly shows the crimp. This ammo is super hot, and crimping is the only responsible thing to do.



I don't know if crimping will totally eliminate setback, but it will almost certainly inhibit it.

One more thing...... Bullet setback is a good reason to occasionally fire and replace your carry ammo.

Nope, that wasn't it. This is the last thing..... Carry a gun that has some kind of loaded chamber indicator which can confirm a loaded chamber by sight and or feel without cycling the action. Examples: Springfield XDm, S&W M&P, Kahr, H&K, etc., etc., and anything with a "wheel goes round."

[BigGuy]

Thanks for your kind responses.

I would suggest editing your title to this thread to add the words "Bullet Setback" so that other people can more easily find it when searching.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll do that.

By the way, why aren't you carrying hollowpoint 9's?

I don't have a good answer for that. I've got Gold Dot Hollow point in my .380 BUG, but just haven't gotten any for my 9. I'll get the next box I come across.

Speaking of my BUG, it's a Ruger LCP. I also did the nightly routine with it, but the cartridges from it didn't show signs of setback. I've stopped cycling it also.
My 9 is a Ruger SR9c. Both it and the LCP have loaded chamber indicators.
A little soul searching leads me to admit that my "routine" was just an excuse to play with my guns. I can't find, and can't afford, the ammo to go to the range the way I'd like. It sounds strange as I type it out, but there is something extremely satisfying about the feel and sound of the slide slamming home.
Anyway, thanks to you guys I know better now and have stopped.

[rwg3]

It also pays to check your ammunition when you buy it, especially the "value pack" stuff. I bought a 250 box of UMC .380 and at least 10% of the rounds had varying degrees of setback from the factory. I asked the retailer about it and was told that the lower price stuff came through the system with lower quality control as part of the lower cost process. It was an expensive lesson but now I check a sample from each box before I pay.

[android]

I just wanted to add that dial calipers like those in the photo are dirt cheap at Harbor Freight. A machinist would sneer at them, but they are fine for checking setback and other dimensions.

[TexasGal]

Ditto on checking the ammo before you load it for any factory defects. I recently had two in a box that I was glad I didn't load up and shoot They had significantly damaged casings at the mouth. Ammo mfgs are running as fast as they can churning out ammo and sometimes quality control just doesn't catch everything.

[BStacks]

I mark the cartridge that has been in the chamber with a Sharpie every time I unload them to go to the range.

We use the magazine/s that have been carried at the range and make sure to use a fresh magazine( they are marked also) when I reload the defensive ammo, placing the marked cartridges in first.

This makes sure the magazines get rotated for spring rest and the same bullet does not get chambered over and over again.

PS. "play with it" with snap caps :)

[rm9792]

Why are you cycling the gun every night to begin with? IMO unecessary gun handling is dangerous especially when racking. I have never heard this practice recommended anywhere. Are you engaging in an activity where your carry peice can get soemthing lodged in the barrel?