Author Topic: Cases sticking with PMC (Read 1020 times)

Old Griz · « **on:** April 03, 2005, 01:03:01 PM »

:cb2: Took my "new" (to me) M-57 to the range but only had two types of ammo. Federal 175-gr HP, and PMC 210-gr TNSP. The PMC actually grouped better, but I had a hard time getting them out. Sometimes I had to take a box of ammo and tap the ejection rod. When I switched back to the Federals, they popped right out, so I know it wasn't dirty cylinders. Is this common with PMC? Soft brass, or just a bad batch?

sawfish · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2005, 01:29:55 PM »

I have not experienced this problem with PMC in .44 Magnum and 38 Special+P, but it sounds like "soft brass". This was a problem with some of the initial Hornady ammunition in .480 Ruger.

unspellable · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2005, 01:28:46 PM »

I have a bunch of 445 SuperMag brass from PMC that sticks badly no matter how light the load. It's been collecting dust around here for some time.

S.B. · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2005, 04:49:29 PM »

Take a small light and look into the chambers. Do they look rough at all? If not could be your particular gun just doesn't like PMC? Or maybe it the particular lot of PMC?

unspellable · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2005, 01:59:30 AM »

I can't speak to Old Griz's case, but in my case I phoned up Dan Wesson and they said they had had the same problem with the PMC brass and that I should switch to Starline. So I made the switch and no more problem. pretty clear case of PMC ran off a lot with incorrect temper or something.

So I run full house loads in the Starline, no problems. The PMC sticks badly no matter how light the load. This is not proof that PMC brass in general is not good, but it proves they made at least one bad batch.

cadjak · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2005, 07:16:38 AM »

I have only had a problem with one brand of loaded ammunition, PMC. To be as fair as possible, it was a few years ago, and maybe they've tighted up their quality control. I had 2 boxes of .44 mag where the brass split in unfired ammo, a box of .45 auto that the bullets could be pushed into the case with a easy push of the thumb, and a box of .270 that the primers fell out after the round was fired. I stopped using PMC. PMC replaced the .44, and had me send them the .45 and .270. I never heard back from them and I stopped trying to reach them after 6 months.
-cadjak

S.B. · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2005, 11:03:48 AM »

Quote from: cadjak

I had 2 boxes of .44 mag where the brass split in unfired ammo, -cadjak

Do you mean that the brass was split when you bought it? Or it split while waiting to be shot?
Also, PMC isn't the only ammo maker that has had that problem. I've bought Remington 9mm brass, new and it blew the head of some of the cases open un the first firing with mild loads?

RGS · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2005, 07:24:15 PM »

I have been experiencing sticky PMC brass in my Taurus Tracker and had a case split full length in the chamber of my Marlin 1894 .41 LTD.

This brass had not been fired before. It is several years old. I just got around to loading some of it and experienced the above troubles.

The Instance with the Marlin was in a top load of H-110 and the 170gr Sierra JHC. I was working up a load and thought maybe I went a little too far. But now I think the PMC brass might be the problem.

The instance with the Taurus was with a target load of 8gr Unique and a 210 gr. copper plated bullet from West Coast Bullets. This one should not have been a high pressure round.

RJM · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2005, 01:37:46 AM »

I was a commercial reloader for almost 10 years. In dealing with police departments they of course use whatever comes in low bid. PMC apparently got a lot of contacts. It got to the point that if upon inital inspection I found any PMC 9mm brass I contacted the PD and told them that they would have to sort it out or pay me to do so. The brass would either crack upon reloading or the primer sealant was so stong that the bottom of the primer just punched through tieing up the machine for 3-5 minutes.
At this point I teach a lot of shooting classes. Much of the ammo that I buy for the students is PMC. 9mm, .38 Super, .40 S&W and .45 Auto. We have had no problems with any of it. I have also reloaded quite a bit of the .45 ACP brass with no problems.
Also just received notice from North American Arms regarding the use of PMC .22 Magnum ammo in their guns...they said not to do so as several of their customers had experienced problems including double fires...in which upon the firing of the round under the hammer another round in the cylinder also goes off. They report no problems with any other brand of ammo. On Rimfire Central many of the Magnum shooters report problems with PMC .22 Magnum ammo....

Bob

RGS · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2005, 05:40:42 PM »

Well I shot up the rest of those light target loads with the PMC brass. This time I had a case stick in my 1894FG. The extractor just pulled off of the rim and the case stayed in the chamber. I had to tap it out with a cleaning rod. When I wiped off the carbon on the side of the case I could see it had a bulge in front of the webbing and a 1/4" crack in the case wall at that point.

I shot the rest off in the Ruger BH and pitched the brass in the recycle bin. That is it for me and PMC!!

Like I said above these cases were bought at least 5 years ago. If people here are having the same troubles with recently manufactured cases, it does not seem they have solved their issues.

Rick