One in the chamber

[Slasher]

Hey all,

I was wondering about carrying one in the chamber and the effect it has on the cartridge. I don't get to go shoot as much as I would like to so I have a box of personal defense ammo that might last me a year before I cycle through my ammo and replace it. I do dry fire practice so I have to remove the cartridge that is in the chamber and put it back in the top of the magazine. I then will rechamber the same round after practicing.

My main concern is would this cause any damage to the cartridge that gets chambered a couple of times before being fired. Is it possible that re-chambering the same cartridge could cause it to seat the bullet deeper in the case than it should be or could this cause any other issues I am unaware of?

Thanks,

Jeff

[GMZ]

Originally Posted by Slasher

Hey all,

I was wondering about carrying one in the chamber and the effect it has on the cartridge. I don't get to go shoot as much as I would like to so I have a box of personal defense ammo that might last me a year before I cycle through my ammo and replace it. I do dry fire practice so I have to remove the cartridge that is in the chamber and put it back in the top of the magazine. I then will rechamber the same round after practicing.

My main concern is would this cause any damage to the cartridge that gets chambered a couple of times before being fired. Is it possible that re-chambering the same cartridge could cause it to seat the bullet deeper in the case than it should be or could this cause any other issues I am unaware of?

Thanks,

Jeff

Yes its possible, Ive gotten into the habit of measuring OAL before I put it back.

[Icculus]

If I chamber a round and then eject it without firing I rotate it to the bottom of the magazine. If/when I do it enough with the same magazine without it being fired, once I've looped through twice, I make a point to shoot that ammo up. Perhaps a bit tedious but should eliminate most of the potential for bullet set back issues by rechambering the same round over and over again.

[b6b]

Not a issue, doing it daily for years with Lake City ammo.

[Skintop911]

Rounds should be replaced when they've been chambered 2-3 times, or when OAL spec is altered, whichever comes first.

This is an approach I recommend:

• Every time you eject a live round for dry fire, put it in a little bag or box you've set aside specifically for that purpose.
• Once you've got an entire magazine's worth of once-chambered rounds, load them up into one of your carry mags and start again.
• Once you've gone through the whole mag a second time, bring the rounds to the range and use them for live fire reliability validation (i.e., shoot them).

Admittedly, if you dry fire every day, this can get expensive. Grab a caliper and start measuring OAL. Figure out what the acceptable range of from-the-factory OAL is for that particular load, and any round that falls below that number should be canned and fired, not recycled any further.

[Erik 1]

OAL = over all length?

[SWATcop556]

Todd gave some good advise. I try not to rechamber more than twice.

At my old department we had an officer KB his G22 after rechambered the same round dozens of times. I've notice out of all of my guns that the 1911 is most prone to bullet setback.

Just be aware of the problem and stay on top of it and it should not be an issue.

[SWATcop556]

Originally Posted by Erik 1

OAL = over all length?

Correct.

[rjacobs]

Originally Posted by b6b

Not a issue, doing it daily for years with Lake City ammo.

Is this in an AR?

I have read of a few instances of 5.56 not firing that has been re chambered multiple times due to the floating firing pin in an AR and that every time you chamber a round you get a very light tap on the primer with the firing pin. Over time with enough taps the primer can be damaged and not go off.

[Slasher]

Originally Posted by rjacobs

Is this in an AR?

I have read of a few instances of 5.56 not firing that has been re chambered multiple times due to the floating firing pin in an AR and that every time you chamber a round you get a very light tap on the primer with the firing pin. Over time with enough taps the primer can be damaged and not go off.

This is actually in a XDm 40. I appreciate all of the replies and advice.

[Shaolin Giraffe]

What is a KB?

[Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Shaolin Giraffe

What is a KB?

Kaboooooooooom!

And when we're measuring OAL is the main issue being too short? Or can too long be another problem?

[whiterabbit05]

^EDIT: beat me to it

[MIKE G]

My 1911 compresses chambered rounds. Sometimes it takes a time or two through the chamber but it does happen. I try to rotate enough that it doesnt happen.

As for the AR I try to never have a round go through the chamber more than twice. There have been multiple incidents of rounds that are repeatedly cycled through AR/M16 family of weapons discharging due to the firing pin tapping the primer during loading. Cycle a round through once or twice and you will see a dimple begin to form. I have never experimented to see how many times it would take to set a round off but I wouldnt want to risk it, especially considering if it happened at work it would mean a plane ticket home even if it did happen rolling out of the gate.

I went looking for the reports I had seen of this and cant find them, if I find them I will post them.

[Shaolin Giraffe]

Originally Posted by Longhorn

Kaboooooooooom!

Well don't I feel like the horses arse!!!! LOL!!!

[wake.joe]

Put the round to be chambered, in the chamber.

Release the slide and let the extractor click over the rim. No bullet setback issues.

[Slasher]

Originally Posted by Longhorn

Kaboooooooooom!

And when we're measuring OAL is the main issue being too short? Or can too long be another problem?

Actually that was my next question. I have a micrometer from A&P school so I can get a precise measurement but am I looking for too long or too short. Would it be both and are the specs for the cartridge a standard size or would I get this from the ammo manufacturer, Speer Gold Dots?

Thanks

[wake.joe]

Ammo too short is the problem you'd be looking for.

I carry gold dots too, but don't know the length. Messure three or four of them that you haven't chambered, and estimate from there. They should be within' a couple thousands.

[ChicagoTex]

Put the round to be chambered, in the chamber.

Release the slide and let the extractor click over the rim. No bullet setback issues.

Great way to break your extractor.

No semi-auto with an extractor is designed to stand up to that kind of abuse, sooner or later, you will break it (often sooner).