Public Service Announcement. RE: PPU 158gr SWC .38 SPL

[Bassat]

Please, DO NOT use this ammunition in anything even close to a self-defense situation.

On more than one occasion, I have recommended PPU 158gr SWC as backup/speedloader ammunition for defensive J-frame revolver use. Please allow me renounce and retract that recommendation. I have put about 500 rounds of that ammo through 3 different guns: Charter Arms Off Duty, S&W 442, Taurus 856 3". In all that ammo, I've had one failure with it. During firing, the bullet dislodged and moved out of the case far enough to lock-up the cylinder. I wrote it off to one bad apple, and shot several more boxes of this ammo without issue. It happened again today, in my 23 ounce, 6-shot Taurus 856 Defender. In case anyone is wondering, a revolver with a cylinder that will not revolve is a cudgel, not a gun; it is completely worthless for self defense. The first failure was in an 11-ounce CA Off Duty. As I said, it happened this time in 23-ounce 856. This ammo is not suited for self-defense.

Please, DO NOT use this ammunition in anything even close to a self-defense situation.

 

[Bassat]

I took another box of this to the range today. There were two 'bullet pops out of casing far enough to jam up the gun' errors in that box. I have ordered some Hornady XTP as my speed-strip ammo. The PPU 158gr SWC is a disaster waiting to happen, in my book.

 

[snorko]

Email the lot number to the manufacturer. I have shot thousands of rounds of PPU ammo including .38 spl and never had a problem. Clearly there was a problem when that lot was made.

 

[Bassat]

Email the lot number to the manufacturer. I have shot thousands of rounds of PPU ammo including .38 spl and never had a problem. Clearly there was a problem when that lot was made.

I get it. But, to what end? I will not buy any more of their ammo, no matter what the response is. Ditto the MagTech 148g LWCs I bought earlier. Ammo needs to work. Period. If QC is so poor that I get several failures per box I don't want any of that ammo. Even it is free. This PPU was my speed-loader ammo. I have replaced it with Hornady American Gunner 125g XTP. More expensive. Yes. More reliable? Almost certainly.

 

[WebSnyper]

I get it. But, to what end? I will not buy any more of their ammo, no matter what the response is. Ditto the MagTech 148g LWCs I bought earlier. Ammo needs to work. Period. If QC is so poor that I get several failures per box I don't want any of that ammo. Even it is free. This PPU was my speed-loader ammo. I have replaced it with Hornady American Gunner 125g XTP. More expensive. Yes. More reliable? Almost certainly.

To help them know they have a problem, which may end up helping other shooters.

 

[gassprint1]

My guess is that its that particular 38spl ammo. Get ahold of the manufacturer, otherwise the problem won't get fixed. Not 1 issue with the ppu 124gr 9mm shooting 600rounds from a case thus far.

 

[shootersix]

I get it. But, to what end?

Uh so they issue a consumer warning not to shoot that ammo lot…have you seen what happens to a gun with a plugged barrel and someone tries to shoot it???

That might stop someone from losing a hand, an eye…or worse!

 

[snorko]

I get it. But, to what end? I will not buy any more of their ammo, no matter what the response is. Ditto the MagTech 148g LWCs I bought earlier. Ammo needs to work. Period. If QC is so poor that I get several failures per box I don't want any of that ammo. Even it is free. This PPU was my speed-loader ammo. I have replaced it with Hornady American Gunner 125g XTP. More expensive. Yes. More reliable? Almost certainly.

I understand and agree that carry ammo must be as close to 100% as possible. The fact that it was several rounds per box makes me think there was a short term problem with the powder charger. Maybe they caught it, maybe not. But letting them know helps them narrow it down.