Remington UMC 9mm ammo

denis · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:59 am Post subject: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

Last month I purchased a Ruger P95 pistol and since then have fired several hundred rounds of ammunition, including some of my own reloads. No misfeeds, stovepipes, or any other problems with the ammo. Until last weekend.

I had purchased a "Mega Pack" of R-P UMC 9mm 115gr FMJ ammunition and my son and I went out to our range of choice and we shot 100 rounds. The last magazine had multiple misfeeds and failures to eject the spent brass, and I declared an end to shooting for the day.

I remember noticing while I was shooting that the ejected brass seemed to go a significantly shorter distance than I was used to, and the recoil seemed lesser than the Winchester budget ammo I had fired a few days before.

When I clean the pistol, I field strip it per the manual, and go as far as to use a nylon brush to clean the ramp and around the chamber along with the usual cleaning chores. I tend to be pretty minimal about oiling, and all I do with the magazines is wipe the surface down, and clean any gunk on the follower.

A google search turned up one disgruntled customer. Have any of you experienced something like this? It seems almost like a bad batch, but why did six magazines feed just fine, and the seventh go to pieces?

I'm going to try it again in a day or two and compare the UMC with the Winchester ammo for recoil and feeding.

ElyBoy · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

I pretty much shoot only reloads, but over the years, I have found that every pistol has it's achille's heal when it comes to ammunition.

My EAA Witness shoots everything without any problems, just like your pistol.
A couple of years ago, however, I purchased some boxes of Winchester 9mm ammo which was on sale.

My Witness did exactly what your pistol did.
It just HATED those Winchester Target loads.

No big deal, I just didn't use them anymore with that gun.
My P-38 shot them well though.

I wouldn't worry.
Just don't use them in that gun.

Also, I am probably wrong on this, and am very open to being corrected by the more knowledgeable guys around here, but with all of my semi-auto pistols, I oil the snot out of them, and have never had any problems after doing this.

Eric

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

Denis...It wasn't dirty yet. Just a guess, but I bet that particular ammunition was burning dirty. Winchester tends to use a cleaner burning powder. At least that's been my experience. The only Remington ammunition I'll use is their Green Box. Like Elyboy I have weapons that have never seen a factory round...My Kimber UCC II has over 1200 rounds through it and none of them factory (it doesn't like AA #7. That stuff fouls the chamber and causes "failure to go to battery"). And I know you reload. Go shoot those 9mm X 19 UMC in another pistol (I'll bet they go just fine in a sloppy Baretta 92FS[I have one]) then reload your favorite load and I bet all will be O K...

denis · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

ElyBoy wrote:

I pretty much shoot only reloads, but over the years, I have found that every pistol has it's achille's heal when it comes to ammunition.

That makes sense. Nearly all my sources mention that different manufacturers' rounds work differently in each firearm, and there really isn't one magic brand.

ElyBoy wrote:

Also, I am probably wrong on this, and am very open to being corrected by the more knowledgeable guys around here, but with all of my semi-auto pistols, I oil the snot out of them, and have never had any problems after doing this.

In a previous life as a reserve police officer in the late 1970s and early 80s I noticed that heavy oiling tended to be a dirt and lint magnet. And the Sgt did have a tendency to want to examine our revolvers before shift began. So I got into the habit of oiling and wiping thoroughly.

denis · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

Bushmaster wrote:

Denis...It wasn't dirty yet. Just a guess, but I bet that particular ammunition was burning dirty. Winchester tends to use a cleaner burning powder.

I may have to pretend I'm shooting black powder and run a patch every 30 rounds.

You may be on to something here. The feed ramp was black from soot after that shooting session, much more than other target sessions.

Bushmaster wrote:

And I know you reload. Go shoot those 9mm X 19 UMC in another pistol (I'll bet they go just fine in a sloppy Baretta 92FS[I have one]) then reload your favorite load and I bet all will be OK...

Well, that was one reason for getting the mega pack -- a supply of brass. Of course, I always tend to come back from the MDC range with far more brass than I shot because there are a lot of people who ignore the "brass is litter" sign and leave it behind. My reloads are definitely "warmer" than the factory budget ammo, but no pressure problems that I can see. I have enough empty brass that I shouldn't need to buy a whole lot of off-the-shelf ammo.

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

Yeh...And I'm jealous...Living that close to Midway and I'm clear down here in Ava...Probably just as well. You would never get me out of the place if I lived in Columbia...And I'd be broke to boot...

denis · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

Bushmaster wrote:

Yeh...And I'm jealous...Living that close to Midway and I'm clear down here in Ava...Probably just as well. You would never get me out of the place if I lived in Columbia...And I'd be broke to boot...

Yep. It's nice to place an order at 8AM for pick up at Door 5, and go out over lunch, pick up my order, hit a drive through, and be back at my desk in under an hour. But they don't have a a storefront. They definitely can be a money pit, though....

I've lived in Missouri for 23 years and have only been ONCE to Bass Pro in Springfield -- and that's not far from where you are. We have a Bass Pro in Columbia, but it just isn't the same as the Mother Ship.

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

Yup...Bass Pro in Springfield. A really neat place to wonder through, but the prices are high and they don't stock much for reloaders. Some powders, but mostly for shotgunners.

popgun · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:43 am Post subject: Re: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

Some lots of ammo are just plain crap. I wouldn't hurt to contact Remington to see if they will swap out your ammo with another lot. Most ammo makers tend to do that to keep you happy. Worth a try. Very Happy

denis · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:02 am Post subject: Re: Remington UMC 9mm ammo

popgun wrote:

Some lots of ammo are just plain crap. I wouldn't hurt to contact Remington to see if they will swap out your ammo with another lot. Most ammo makers tend to do that to keep you happy. Worth a try. Very Happy

I'll keep that in mind if my memory fades and I buy another 250 round Megapack of Remington UMC ammo....

Another thing I noted about this was the case OAL was about 1/10 inch less than the Winchester ammo I generally use on the range. Same bullet style and weight, same brass length, but obviously seated significantly deeper. My handoads are pretty close to the Winchester in OAL, and have not been a problem either.

I ended up giving the remainder to a friend who has a Glock, and told her of my experience with the ammo. I also told here that her experience may be totally different than mine, and that if it works, great. If not, the worst that happened with me was stovepipe jams and failure of the top round to chamber on the return stroke of the slide. In any event, it's strictly target range ammo and NOT for serious use.