rookhawk
AH ambassador
Just reporting TWO different bad ammo scenarios as of recently. I'm pleased to report that both manufacturers are taking the ammo back for testing. Please take heed of this info and monitor this thread for updates. In any case, I will come forward with lot numbers once I'm absolutely certain of the facts.
1.) The Nosler Safari Grade .470 Ammunition. This is the ammo featured on sale rather frequently these days that comes with the monometal solids produced by Nosler. The ammo appears to be loaded by Norma since it says "manufactured in Sweden" in the fine print.
Defect noted: Two cartridges didn't go boom. I'd be dead right now if those cartridges happened to have been the two prior cartridges! The bullets slightly protruded and the primers completely dented. I weighed the failed cartridges and it is roughly 111gr light of other cartridges. The inference is that some of the cartridges were loaded without powder. I own two cases of this stuff that Nosler is going to receive and inspect further.
2.) The Federal Premium Woodleigh Hydrostatic solid in .375 Holland & Holland. Unfortunately, I bought two cases of this ammo and cannot determine which of the two (or both?) lot numbers are for certain problematic. The ammunition failed to pass-through on consecutive shots at Eland, Kudu, and two Zebras at minimum. (when we started paying attention to perfect shots and difficult recoveries.) The solids were not pushed up against the skin on the opposite side of the animals either. Deadly-unsafe dangerous game ammo. Federal is going to test the ammo in their ballistics lab. One of the cases of ammo is about 7 years old. The other case of ammo is about 4-5 years old.
All ammo was kept in hygenic, perfect storage conditions.
What I would do if I was reading this:
A.) It's all just rumor until the ballisticians assign root cause, but maintain caution. I have no axe to grind and no interest in slandering good American businesses. I post this interim update because this is dangerous game ammo that creates life-and-death scenarios. Failures can result in tragedy.
B.) The Nosler ammo appears clean-cut on how to verify good ammo. Give your ammo a shake. If you don't hear your powder rattling you have a problem. Alternatively, weigh all your ammo and make sure its the same weight.
C.) The Federal ammo is a bigger issue. It's either wholly defective, or the Woodleigh Hydrostatic Bullet is unsafe for use in 375HH for whatever reason of how it functions. Not a good soft, and a non-functional solid, in my experience with these ammo lots.
1.) The Nosler Safari Grade .470 Ammunition. This is the ammo featured on sale rather frequently these days that comes with the monometal solids produced by Nosler. The ammo appears to be loaded by Norma since it says "manufactured in Sweden" in the fine print.
Defect noted: Two cartridges didn't go boom. I'd be dead right now if those cartridges happened to have been the two prior cartridges! The bullets slightly protruded and the primers completely dented. I weighed the failed cartridges and it is roughly 111gr light of other cartridges. The inference is that some of the cartridges were loaded without powder. I own two cases of this stuff that Nosler is going to receive and inspect further.
2.) The Federal Premium Woodleigh Hydrostatic solid in .375 Holland & Holland. Unfortunately, I bought two cases of this ammo and cannot determine which of the two (or both?) lot numbers are for certain problematic. The ammunition failed to pass-through on consecutive shots at Eland, Kudu, and two Zebras at minimum. (when we started paying attention to perfect shots and difficult recoveries.) The solids were not pushed up against the skin on the opposite side of the animals either. Deadly-unsafe dangerous game ammo. Federal is going to test the ammo in their ballistics lab. One of the cases of ammo is about 7 years old. The other case of ammo is about 4-5 years old.
All ammo was kept in hygenic, perfect storage conditions.
What I would do if I was reading this:
A.) It's all just rumor until the ballisticians assign root cause, but maintain caution. I have no axe to grind and no interest in slandering good American businesses. I post this interim update because this is dangerous game ammo that creates life-and-death scenarios. Failures can result in tragedy.
B.) The Nosler ammo appears clean-cut on how to verify good ammo. Give your ammo a shake. If you don't hear your powder rattling you have a problem. Alternatively, weigh all your ammo and make sure its the same weight.
C.) The Federal ammo is a bigger issue. It's either wholly defective, or the Woodleigh Hydrostatic Bullet is unsafe for use in 375HH for whatever reason of how it functions. Not a good soft, and a non-functional solid, in my experience with these ammo lots.