Author Topic: Don't buy silver bear ammo (Read 448 times)

Suave · « **on:** November 07, 2007, 08:55:29 AM »

I bought 1,000 rnds of 9x18 mak to use in my new smc-918. Took it to the range and about 1 in every 20 rounds would fail to feed and cause a real sticky jam. This bummed me out as I assumed it was gun, but as I drove home I thought about it and that didn't make sense. When I got home I broke down the pistol and tried to drop one of the cartriges that had jammed on me into the chamber. It wouldn't fit, would only go about half way into the chamber. So I opened up a box of fifty rounds and tried each one. Three of the cartridges wouldn't fit into the chamber, they were too fat. Opened another box and again 4 of the 50 wouldn't fit.

I don't reload but I know that cartridge case walls aren't uniformely thick. I know that they taper up to the lip. So what I speculate the problem is, is that the bullet is seated too far down into the brass causing it to bulge too much. Good news is that it's not my new toy that is the problem. Bad news is that I got about 800 rounds left of really crappy ammo.

Bottom line; silver bear ammo is junk. Avoid it.

lazs2 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2007, 09:02:15 AM »

didn't know they were brass.. thought they were steel cased?

I don't like the stuff... for cheap mak stuff I have always used wolf or barnaul. never had a problem with either of em in my makarov

lazs

Suave · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2007, 09:11:11 AM »

Right it's not brass, looks like aluminum but the box says something about zinc.

Suave · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2007, 09:13:05 AM »

BTW how well does 380 shoot through guns chambered for 9mm mak. I know you can do it safely, but are there any drawbacks using 380 for practice ammo?

Makarov9 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2007, 10:05:18 AM »

I have four boxes of that crap in .45. Jammed on every round in two different pistols.

wrag · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2007, 10:41:00 AM »

I bought some cheap reloaded ammo once. Was for a 357. The cases had NOT been resized and about 1/2 of the ammo just didn't fit into the chambers.

Also if the case has been fired more then once and is mixed in with once fired cases when you reload em the twice fired cases will bulge on you and NOT fit in the chamber IF you've set your sizing die to the once fired cases.

Pretty sure Lazs knows what i'm talkin about.

Thinkin the cases in question even if new may not have been trimmed to the same size before assembly?

I've used the Wolf brand and so far had no problems.

Thanks for the info on this brand.

Suave · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2007, 10:49:38 AM »

It's not reloadable ammo. Cases are steel or aluminum and berdan primed. Just super crappy quality control from silver bear.

wrag · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2007, 11:00:15 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Suave
It's not reloadable ammo. Cases are steel or aluminum and berdan primed. Just super crappy quality control from silver bear.

I know that.

Was giving a possible explanation for my statement is all.

I agree bad quality control.

Untrimmed cases of varying lengths tend to do what is described.

Don't matter if the cases are new or not.

lazs2 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 07, 2007, 02:35:08 PM »

I hope you are not trying to shoot 380's in he 9x18 chamber? To shoot 380's you have to have a new 380 barrel installed.. I believe you can use the 9mm magazine.

If you full length resize any case then it will be smaller than the industry standard for chamber size.. in other words.. if you use the die properly you can't have problems.

problems occur when the die does not full length resize or.. the bullet is oversize (rare) or.. the crimp is way to heavy.. the last can happen if some of the brass has "stretched" from many reloads... I check all mine for length. if the case is too long then the crimp will "crush" the case and create a bulge.. if the crimp die is set to low.. the same thing will occur with normal length brass.

lazs

Suave · « **Reply #9 on:** November 07, 2007, 03:56:40 PM »

Thanks that's good to know. You'd be surprised how many people have told me that you can shoot 380 in a makarov. Every gun shop owner that I've spoke with has told me this.

Who knows how they jacked up those rounds so bad that they won't even chamber. Makes me think I shouldn't use any of the ammo at all. I mean if they couldn't even get that right, what else did they get wrong?

BTW if you get a chance you should checkout the FEG smc-918 or smc-380. They're pretty scarce. Very handsome little gun, basically a walther ppk knock off with some improvements. Smaller and lighter than a Makarov so it's not so pleasant to shoot. In fact it's the smallest pistol produced chambered in 9x18.

rpm · « **Reply #10 on:** November 07, 2007, 07:06:03 PM »

Never heard of Silver Bear. I try to stick with name brand stuff like Remington or Winchester. Life is too short to buy cheap ammo or date ugly women.

lazs2 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 08, 2007, 09:05:11 AM »

you can shoot a 380... you just need to rebarrel.

lazs

VOR · « **Reply #12 on:** November 08, 2007, 09:17:48 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by rpm
Never heard of Silver Bear. I try to stick with name brand stuff like Remington or Winchester. Life is too short to buy cheap ammo or date ugly women.

Good luck finding that caliber in a popular US name brand package. It can be done, but sheesh...big bucks for not alot of bang.