Chambering the same round multiple times?

[ChristianPatriot]

Before I leave the house I chamber a round. When I get home I remove that round and put it back into the top of the magazine (I don't carry +1). I have little ones in the house, yes I keep it safe and out of reach, but my wife feels more comfortable knowing there's no possibility of an accidental discharge. My question is, is it okay to chamber the same round more than once?

 

[rockhopper46038]

It certainly can result in bullet setback, which can lead to both failures to feed and cartridge overpressure. Some cartridges seem more susceptible to setback than others, and setback in some cartridges is more dangerous.

So, can it be a problem? Yes. Is it okay to chamber the same round more than once? Usually, yes. But the chance of setback increases with the number of chamberings. Go measure the OAL of that one cartridge you've been rechambering, and compare it to the second cartridge (or a new cartridge).

 

[Sylvain]

You can get bullet setback which can lead to over pressure of the round if you always chamber the same round.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6PAmKLUcbc

 

[jwh20]

Most factory rounds are crimped and the bullet will not move. But it's easy to check with a caliper. Measure the OAL (overall length) of a "fresh" cartridge and compare that to one you've been chambering. If you see it shorter (or longer for that matter) you should probably stop using it and save it for the next trip to the range.

I've never seen this happen myself with factory ammo. In fact I'm not exactly clear on how chambering causes setback where the bullet is pushed into the case. It seems to me that the force of hitting the end of the chamber when the slide closes would actually cause it to move OUT rather than in.

It wouldn't surprise me if some types of ammo are more susceptible and some models of firearm cause it more though. If in doubt, check it and be sure.

 

[voodoo304]

Or you could just get a revolver and not have to worry about it.

 

[chezuki]

In before Kirk tells you how much more dangerous it is to keep loading and unloading than it would be to leave it loaded and locked up, tells you not to "coonfinger it", and asks if you've heard about his 870 at shootrite...

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Most factory rounds are crimped and the bullet will not move. But it's easy to check with a caliper. Measure the OAL (overall length) of a "fresh" cartridge and compare that to one you've been chambering. If you see it shorter (or longer for that matter) you should probably stop using it and save it for the next trip to the range.

I've never seen this happen myself with factory ammo. In fact I'm not exactly clear on how chambering causes setback where the bullet is pushed into the case. It seems to me that the force of hitting the end of the chamber when the slide closes would actually cause it to move OUT rather than in.

It wouldn't surprise me if some types of ammo are more susceptible and some models of firearm cause it more though. If in doubt, check it and be sure.

That is incorrect. Even with a crimp, a bullet can still set back. I have tested some dummy rounds I made up. It's when the bullet makes contact with the feed ramp that can cause it to set back, not when it's chambers.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I take the chambered round and place it at the bottom of the mag. I'll fire any ammo that has been chamebered at least three times.

 

[Sylvain]

In before Kirk tells you how much more dangerous it is to keep loading and unloading than it would be to leave it loaded and locked up, tells you not to "coonfinger it", and asks if you've heard about his 870 at shootrite...

And tells you to load and unload over a sand barrel.

 

[ROLEXrifleman]

I carry +1 in my duty gun, obviously. When I get home after my shift i drop the mag dump the one in the chamber. In the morning I load the mag, chamber, drop the mag and load the previous nights chambered round. I have been doing this for teh last 4 months, the last time I was at the range, with the same mag. you can see from the ammo the copper on the 1st two round are nice and tarnished with good scuffing on them with some wear on the rim while all the rest in the mag are as new. When I get home tonight I'll get the micrometer out and measure the two rounds that get cycled every other day plus the nest two that never get cycled and see how they measure out. We can find out what the set back is over last 4 months with 2 cycles a day 5 days a week.

 

[VUPDblue]

At least one manufacturer has warned against the practice of cycling the same round over and over. They have found that the repeated cycling can dislodge and render useless the compound in the primer, which would yield a no-bang when you expected a bang.

 

[WebSnyper]

In before Kirk tells you how much more dangerous it is to keep loading and unloading than it would be to leave it loaded and locked up, tells you not to "coonfinger it", and asks if you've heard about his 870 at shootrite...

And tells you to load and unload over a sand barrel.

Both of which I would agree with. I firmly believe you are less likely to have an issue the less you manipulate the gun like this. Gun stays holstered or cased, and I try to limit the amount of round cycling, etc when not on a range or needing to to strip the gun down for some reason.

If there are children around and a concern, a good lock box is a great investment.

 

[jwh20]

That is incorrect. Even with a crimp, a bullet can still set back. I have tested some dummy rounds I made up. It's when the bullet makes contact with the feed ramp that can cause it to set back, not when it's chambers.

I agree that it can happen. I noted that I have never observed it happening. Could also be offsetting effects, push in when the bullet nose hits the feed ramp and out when the round hits the end of the chamber and the inertia of the bullet has its effect.

But I'm sure the design and slope of the feed ramp could also affect this greatly.

 

[ErickB]

I'm guilty of doing this myself with my Walther P99. Using gold dots, I can't actually 'see' any difference between bullet length, but then again I don't re-chamber them on a particularly regular basis, and the differences are sure to be difficult to see. I should bust out the calipers, but I've never actually checked.

Thanks Rolex for the photos. It sounds like you're re-chambering at a pretty extraordinary rate. I'm curious what your results will be.

Or you could just get a revolver and not have to worry about it.

Haha, true!

 

[Gunslinger45]

I've seen this happen in my own guns before, and was a bit worried as well. BUT honestly after shooting the setback rounds (be it unsafe or not, I was shooting through a p220 with no issues) I came to the conclusion of this: Every couple of days, cycle the round the to the bottom of the mag. TYPICALLY setback wont occur after 1-2 chamberings, so you shouldn't run into any issues. At the end of the month remove all the rounds and see if they all line up with each other, as well as a new un-chambered factory load. If everything checks out, rinse and repeat for another month. Or buy new carry ammo. Just my ... is it perfect? Nope. Just a thought!

 

[ROLEXrifleman]

Bullet setback my a$$. I don't care what anyone says, these are the results from my service weapon using my issued ammo with no allterior motive to skew results. My bullets grew!
The pics are in the order they came out of my gun as of Monday morning when I got home off shift.
Pic #1 was in the chamber followed in order as they came outta my mag. I'm gonna get with my firearms instructor so I can get the exact date these rounds went in my mag.

Remember pic one and two get cycled between daily, 3 and 4 haven't been chambered and went straight from a factory box into my mag.

 

[rockhopper46038]

Looks like you may be good to go - but let me assure you, bullet setback does in fact occur. If I get around to it I'll post a picture, but a 24# recoil spring in a .460 Rowland conversion can drive a bullet quite far back into the case if it doesn't feed smoothly.

 

[ROLEXrifleman]

I have no doubt in the world it happens. I was just stressing the point that these are the facts based on my firearm and ammo. Nothing more nothing less, and in this singular case not debatable.

But this is INGO and the interwebz.... I'm sure someone will find a way to argue! lol

 

[lonehand]

Rechamber

would result in set back after awhile . I personaly would not chamber same round over and over

 

[45calibre]

some carry rounds are crimped to prevent it, the federal 9BPLE that i use are.