Independence Ammo Problems?

[ronaldrwl]

After shooting 75 rounds, my Walther PK380 started failing to eject the spent cartridges. Anybody had any problems with Independence Ammo? Or, think it's anything else? I have about 500 rounds through this gun.

[sniper7]

maybe it is your ejector, or ejector spring. did you clean the gun? did you get any gunk out that might have got in there. that is the first place I would look.

try shooting some other ammo through and see if you have the same issue.

[Batteriesnare]

maybe it is your ejector, or ejector spring. did you clean the gun? did you get any gunk out that might have got in there. that is the first place I would look.

try shooting some other ammo through and see if you have the same issue.

Sound advice. I would scrub out your chamber well, and check the ejector. I've never had any issues with Independence ammo for range use. Good luck, keep us up to date please!

[SA Friday]

So, the gun fired fine for 75 rounds of this ammo and then stopped working? It isn't an ammo problem.

Even after 500 rounds and never cleaning it, I would doubt you have enough carbon build-up to cause the ejector to start malfunctioning either. Stranger stuff has happened, but normally it takes a lot more ammo than that before you see failures from carbon build-up. I would suspect something else may have jammed the ejector or something in the mag.

Disassemble the gun, clean and relube it. Look for foreign objects like brass in the gun. Also look for broken parts. Also clean the mags. Then function test again.

[ronaldrwl]

So, the gun fired fine for 75 rounds of this ammo and then stopped working? It isn't an ammo problem.

Even after 500 rounds and never cleaning it, I would doubt you have enough carbon build-up to cause the ejector to start malfunctioning either. Stranger stuff has happened, but normally it takes a lot more ammo than that before you see failures from carbon build-up. I would suspect something else may have jammed the ejector or something in the mag.

Disassemble the gun, clean and relube it. Look for foreign objects like brass in the gun. Also look for broken parts. Also clean the mags. Then function test again.


I clean after each use. After 75 rounds I was getting a failure once every 10 shots or so. I then tried some PMJ and didn't seem to have any problems. Not scientific at all.

Thanks,

[Bailey Guns]

Hard to diagnose your problem without seeing it. Having said that, yes, I've seen problems with Independence Ammo.

The .45ACP, especially when fired from 1911-style guns, is notorious for suffering from pretty serious bullet set-back. When I started selling it outta my shop a few years ago I started hearing customers talk about how "hot" it seemed.

I shot some in my 1911 and sure enough, it did seem a little snappy. Also not too reliable in the feeding dept. I happened to check a particular round that hung up on the feed ramp. Sure enough the bullet had been pushed noticeably into the case. I manually fed and ejected a few more rounds and it was happening to all of them to varying degrees.

I made a few phone calls to CCI and was told it would be checked as they'd had other complaints. Don't know what happened as a result and haven't sold or shot it since.

Didn't seem to happen in other guns with a more in-line feeding setup like Glocks.

Just my experience.

[Bailey Guns]

Since I don't know your experience level, I'll throw something else out there.

Check your grip on the gun. Some ammo brands are a little more potent than others and will overcome a loose grip.

Make sure you're holding your gun tightly and giving the gun a stable platform from which to operate.

[ronaldrwl]

Since I don't know your experience level, I'll throw something else out there.

Check your grip on the gun. Some ammo brands are a little more potent than others and will overcome a loose grip.

Make sure you're holding your gun tightly and giving the gun a stable platform from which to operate.

I'm new to pistols and will consider it's something I'm was doing, like not cleaning some part or a grip problem...

[Bailey Guns]

Try gripping the pistol very firmly with both hands.

You can practice a proper two-handed grip by taking your unloaded gun to a safe place.

Place your front sight on a target and keep it there during this exercise.

Get a proper two-handed grip on the gun. Your support hand should wrap completely around your shooting hand and avoid the temptation to place your weak-hand index finger on the trigger guard. Your support hand index finger should be firmly touching the underside of the trigger guard.

You can see what I mean by making a loose fist with your shooting hand (like you were holding a gun) and "nesting" your support hand around it. The second bend of your support hand fingers should wrap around the second knuckle (the outside) of your shooting hand.

With your front sight still on your target...push forward with your shooting hand while pulling back with your weak hand. Exaggerate this push/pull motion until the pistol starts to shake. Then, keeping your front sight on the target relax your grip just enough for the shaking to stop. That's about how tight you should be holding the pistol. Practice that until it becomes second nature...until you automatically grip it that way when you shoot. That will solve any loose grip problems.

Any time you grip your gun you should also get the imprints of the grip texture on your shooting hand. Another good indication you're holding the gun tightly enough.