.40 Kaboom

[dbltaptm]

Just thought I would pass on that I observed two .40 Kabooms (minor ones) from behind the line several weeks ago. Both were from the same box of reloaded ammunition (40 180FMJ, not mine) and both cases were nickled. I have no idea how many times the case had been loaded.
Kaboom one was a classic one, in which the case gave way at the bottom. The shooter had black powder marks on her hands and they stung.
Kaboom #2 was a full case head separation. The only reason it was discovered was due to the case not being extracted.
The Glock 22, of course, was fine~2
My take on this was that it was more of a brass problem than a load problem.
I have noticed in the 20 plus years of reloading that nickle cases just don't seem to hold up as well or as long as regular brass cases. It seems that nickle gets brittle and cracks first.
Just My .02

[Smizack]

Everytime I hear about a kb, it's reloaded ammo.

[cnarramoore]

Back when I was shooting alot I rolled my own ammo. But after being out of it for a while I dont even think about my reloading dies anymore. Just too risky when factory ammo is so cheap.

[gary newport]

Sounds like case failures, not the dreaded kB! See WalterGA's sticky in the main department for a discussion of the difference. Briefly, a kB! is an overpressure event, normally the result of too much/wrong kind of powder and/or bullet setback.

[dbltaptm]

Originally posted by gary newport
Sounds like case failures, not the dreaded kB! See WalterGA's sticky in the main department for a discussion of the difference. Briefly, a kB! is an overpressure event, normally the result of too much/wrong kind of powder and/or bullet setback.

I concur with your evaluation. The first incident ejected the magazine right out of the gun as well.
A pox on nickle cases??? :)

[Ghetto]

Originally posted by Smizack
Everytime I hear about a kb, it's reloaded ammo.


Yup.

[Uncle Don]

Originally posted by Smizack
Everytime I hear about a kb, it's reloaded ammo.

I've seen it happen with Ultramax and Black Hills (which you could call reloaded if you like), but I have seen it with Federal too. As a result of several of these with earlier boxes of Federal, they began to beef up the web of the case which is what we buy today.

When I called Glock after it happened, they were very accomodating with their first concern being the welfare of the shooter, they then asked for lot numbers. Within an hour, a rep from Federal called me here at the school and asked for the cases for examination. I complied but could easily see it was the classic 6 o'clock blowout. They promptly sent me newer ammo and I havent seen any problems since.

[RMTactical]

Originally posted by gary newport
Sounds like case failures, not the dreaded kB! See WalterGA's sticky in the main department for a discussion of the difference. Briefly, a kB! is an overpressure event, normally the result of too much/wrong kind of powder and/or bullet setback.

Yep!

A KB! is rather catastrophic and usually results in major damage to the firearm, e.g. destroyed barrel, slide...

Originally posted by Smizack
Everytime I hear about a kb, it's reloaded ammo.

yep