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Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Avoiding Ammo Mishaps

Blue Collar Prepping recently published a couple articles on avoiding mishaps using the incorrect ammunition in a firearm:

    Part 1 concerns ammunition which is clearly a different caliber than the chambering of the weapon, but could still load into the chamber and fire. Possibly with catastrophic results. A couple specific examples mentioned in the article is .380 ACP into 9x19mm (probably 9x18mm as well) and .300 Blackout into .223/5.56 NATO. In the latter case, not only do I not take .223/5.56 to the range if I'm going to be shooting .300 Blackout, and vice-versa, but I also use different types of magazines so I can tell by touch the difference between one of my magazines that is loaded with 5.56 and one I've loaded with .300 Blackout--in my case, I use a metal magazine for one and a Magpul for the other. 

    The author also mentions old revolvers that may have been modified from an older (and now obscure) cartridge to one more widely available: he specifically cites .455 Webley revolvers with cylinders modified to accept moonclips in order to shoot .45 ACP, and shooting .38 Special in revolvers chambered for .38 S&W. I will add in the later instance that .38 Special is too long to fit in the majority of .38 S&W revolvers because the cylinders are too short, but there are certain models of revolvers that were made with longer cylinders that can accept .38 Special. I will also note that the British military's .38 S&W load (sometimes designated the .38/200) should not be used in standard .38 S&W revolvers because it uses a much heavier bullet and higher pressures than the standard .38 S&W loading. 

    The second article deals with calibers with identical or almost identical cartridge dimensions as each other, but wildly different loads and/or bullet dimensions that can lead to higher pressures than can be tolerated. Examples cited are the .38 ACP cartridge (yes, .38 ACP and not .380 ACP) which is almost identical in dimensions with .38 Super but loaded to lower pressures; the 7.63 Mauser and 7.62 Tokarev; and the German change around 1900 from an 8×57mm Mauser Patrone 88 to the 7.92×57mm Mauser S Patrone loadings. Despite the number designations, the latter actually used a larger diameter bullet which makes it dangerous to shoot in rifles intended for the former. (Wikipedia indicates that the German military transitioned from the former to the latter in 1904).  

    The author also mentions the possible dangers from older rifles rechambered to a different caliber where either (i) the barrel/chamber aren't intended for the higher pressures of the new chambering, or (ii) the new chambering is not marked or indicated on the barrel which might still show the old chambering. I'll add that some (probably the majority of the capable) rifle instructors will not allow students to use "sporterized" military bolt action rifles in their courses for this very reason. They don't know you and aren't going to take your word that the rifle is safe to use. No, this is not from personal experience, but something I've come across in my reading. 

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