Always always always check !

[Koenig]

Absolutely right. And .17 HMR is the only cartridge I have ever had to do this with. Like many, I sold my HMR for this reason.
Nevertheless, I suspect most handloaders have at some point created this very situation by missing a powder charge. I came very close to making the OP's mistake myself two years ago... with a .308. When the rifle went "click" instead of bang, for some reason I thought I'd simply forgotten to eject the previous round, so I chambered another. Fortunately, something in my subconscious made me pause just long enough before touching the trigger for me to re-engage my brain and check. I'm not telling this story to pat myself on the back, only as a cautionary tale. It was a stupid mistake that could easily have resulted in a serious injury in the field and a wrecked rifle, instead of a short pause while I went back to the 4x4 for a cleaning rod and gave myself a good talking to.
Always, always, always check, indeed!

I’ve had it with .22LR.

 

[Smellydog]

I’ve had it with .22LR.

I said that, got rid and now just got another.

 

[LGMS441]

Had this happen with .17hmr hornady ammo. Fortunately it made some noise but not as normal so we pulled the bolt out to find the bullet head lodged down the barrel.
Was always cautious of it happening again and carried a cleaning rod in the bag!

 

[RichardBest]

Thanks for posting this safety reminder.

It sounds to me like the HMR primer can be enough to throw the bullet into the rifling if the powder fails to ignite.

I know it's a far cry from 17HMR but I just thought I'd share something that I've found when reloading 45-70. I've had misfires which lodged bullets in the rifling. Each time it happened I heard only the click of the falling hammer (Winchester 1886 clone). After waiting a minute, the ejected case was full of powder, sometimes slightly clumped, and the bullet missing. The bullet lodges in the barrel just ahead of the chamber. The primer has fired but the powder failed to ignite. I was surprised I hadn't heard any bang from the primer.. but the primer alone is enough to push the bullet into the rifling in my experience with my rifle.

I found this only when using lighter (300gn) bullets with certain powders at lighter (but published) loads. Changing powders and using heavier bullets solved the problem...

 

[Smellydog]

Thanks for posting this safety reminder.

It sounds to me like the HMR primer can be enough to throw the bullet into the rifling if the powder fails to ignite.

I know it's a far cry from 17HMR but I just thought I'd share something that I've found when reloading 45-70. I've had misfires which lodged bullets in the rifling. Each time it happened I heard only the click of the falling hammer (Winchester 1886 clone). After waiting a minute, the ejected case was full of powder, sometimes slightly clumped, and the bullet missing. The bullet lodges in the barrel just ahead of the chamber. The primer has fired but the powder failed to ignite. I was surprised I hadn't heard any bang from the primer.. but the primer alone is enough to push the bullet into the rifling in my experience with my rifle.

I found this only when using lighter (300gn) bullets with certain powders at lighter (but published) loads. Changing powders and using heavier bullets solved the problem...

Yep, any cartridge with the wrong powder or wrong ratio of case fill or type of bullet can give the same dangerous situation.
HMR needs the case neck tension to make sure the powder does completely ignite. Split necks lose that vital attribute.

 

[12gsnapcaps]

Exact same thing happened infront of me to a friend at my old club with his .17HMR - I also had squib loads getting stuck in the barrel of my .17HMR - ended the days huting as I had to go home and push the bullet out the barrel.

Sold my HMR neqrly 18 months ago. Dangerous calibre, would never touch it again.

 

[Muir]

Thanks for posting this safety reminder.



After waiting a minute, the ejected case was full of powder, sometimes slightly clumped, and the bullet missing. The bullet lodges in the barrel just ahead of the chamber. The primer has fired but the powder failed to ignite.

Changing powders and using heavier bullets solved the problem...

Assuming the loading technique was clean, this 45-70 issue is some bad powder. It has nothing to do with the charge, the bullet weight or the primer. No doubt switching powder cured the problem.

As to the primer being powerful; enough to lodge a bullet. I spent some time in a ballistic lab and we loaded 22 LR cases with primer only and shot them from a revolver. Even with the barrel /cylinder gap in play they came out the end of the barrel with authority. ~Muir

 

[Bowland blades]

HMR ! Wouldn't have another in the cabinet period ! But i sort of realized what i was going to read . If something goes "click" or any thing else unusual in terms of noise or recoil etc
1. wait ! is it a hang fire ? Give it time pointed in a safe direction
2. open the bolt rifle on its side muzzle in safe direction port pointing upwards , carefully open without body parts behind the bolt ( in case the hang fire still occurs on opening ) this can shoot the bolt back out the action and many have been hurt or killed
3. find out what went wrong if you can
You might look a clown if the click was created by the chamber being empty ( as is the usual thing ) but consider the reality of taking a bolt to the head or to someone behind you at high speed

 

[Dave_424]

Just checked 100 rounds of Hornady 17gr. And found one that had a damaged neck.

 

[Smellydog]

Just checked 100 rounds of Hornady 17gr. And found one that had a damaged neck.

Well done, that box now will be all good

 

[Trickyd66]

Never had an issue in my few years of using HMR... with all the doom, gloom and despondency donned my reading glasses and checked 100 rounds of Federal 17gn VMAX. Not an issue with any

 

[Smellydog]

I wonder how many people have had a car crash and sold their car to never buy, use or get in one again

 

[SimonDodsworth]

Evening guys

I have had over 30 years experience and nearly had a major accident this weekend.

I think it is worth posting the details so that even if one person has a similar situation they will think and check

I was out with my .17 HMR. I shot a squirrel - a moment later another appeared so i reloaded and squeezed the trigger - nothing - no fizz / bang - just a click.

Believing i had a mis-fire i left the rifle pointing in a safe direction and after 2 minutes opened the bolt - to discover- an empty case.

I believed this to be the one from the first shot - so ejected this and cycled another

The second squirrel still sat looking so i took aim and again squeezed the trigger.

What followed was the most shock i have ever suffered as the gun made a massive bang and blew out the magazine.

After 5 minutes and the panic has subsided i thought the last round must have had a fault

I recovered this and also scouted on the floor for the magazine and found the previous case. It was still full of powder !

What happened is the head / bullet of the cartridge had come off in the chamber and got pushed down the barrel

I really was lucky and if i had suffered a "misfire" in a shotgun i certainly would have checked the barrel - if i had heard a fizz or small bang i would have checked the barrel - all i would say is if something unexpected is felt/heard/happens - CHECK the barrel before cycling another round or squeezing that trigger !

Please share - and yes i know i should have done but as stated if one person reads this and remembers it if the situation arises i can handle the ridicule because i count myself so lucky to be able to share this with no injuries at all.

Thank you for sharing this with us. Many people would have been too embarassed

 

[jall55]

Thank you for sharing this with us. Many people would have been too embarassed

Not embarrassed at all - just thankful and if my experience can save someone from similar thats great

I shoot probably every day and have fired thousands of rounds and cartridges - been shooting since i was 6 or 7 and always have safety as top priority

If it can happen to me it can happen to anyone

 

[Overlay]

17 HMR has now a history of faults, by now you would have thought the Ammo manufacturers would have solidly sorted this problem with faulty cracked cases that keep cropping up causing dangerous incidents - that hasn’t happened by the looks of things as new reports of the same problem keep surfacing

if I had a 17 HMR it would have been shown the angle grinder long ago, there is no way I would risk getting a bolt in the face particularly due to unfit for purpose ammunition, a 22 WMR. has no such faults and the range is the same why people keep using a dangerous calibre is beyond reasonable thinking, take the hit and change to WMR

 

[Smellydog]

17 HMR has now a history of faults,

Is it not just one fault?

by now you would have thought the Ammo manufacturers would have solidly sorted this problem with faulty cracked cases

I think they pretty much have. It's only in old ammo I really notice this issue. The new ammunition does seem to be improved.

There is still plenty of old trouble ammunition in shops so with a little common sense one simply needs to inspect them before shooting. That removes any risk.

Do remember, there has been issues with centerfire ammunition and pistol ammunition for decades every now and then. Possibly shotgun ammunition has the safest track record but metallic cartridges of any type have been known to every now and then produce a dangerous situation.
With HMR it is what it is. Just a little hurdle to hop over and it's safe to use. If for some that little hurdle is to much for them just jog on but please, if ever you experience a malfunction in one of your centerfires, please don't chop it up. Put the grinder down, bit drastic

 

[Overlay]

chap I know is still as far as I know still fighting with the importers of the ammo and manufacturers over him and his son being injured from a rifle coming apart using 17 ammo

gun was wrecked and so was his cheek bone and debris hit is son close behind him

There’s smart and there is smart, having a loose cannon of a calibre that will inflict an injury to the operator isn’t my idea of reliable ammunition

 

[Liveonce]

17 HMR has now a history of faults, by now you would have thought the Ammo manufacturers would have solidly sorted this problem with faulty cracked cases that keep cropping up causing dangerous incidents

I think you have to conclude it’s not an easy fix due to the way they are manufactured, ie primer mix spun into the case whilst still a .22 case then swaged down to .17 hmr profile, which work hardens the brass.
I moved on to a .17hornet as did not like the lotto of using the hmr.
I convert .22 hornet brass to .17hornet but unlike the process to make hmr brass I can anneal the case as required.

 

[Overlay]

I think you have to conclude it’s not an easy fix due to the way they are manufactured, ie primer mix spun into the case whilst still a .22 case then swaged down to .17 hmr profile, which work hardens the brass.
I moved on to a .17hornet as did not like the lotto of using the hmr.
I convert .22 hornet brass to .17hornet but unlike the process to make hmr brass I can anneal the case as required.

17 hornet is a cracking very long range bunny basher, i had one for a while only changed it for another 22 hornet as I found it a bit dicky on knocking over foxes ( but I think that debate has already been done to death on here).

 

[Liveonce]

17 hornet is a cracking very long range bunny basher, i had one for a while only changed it for another 22 hornet as I found it a bit dicky on knocking over foxes ( but I think that debate has already been done to death on here).

love my .17hornet for the rabbits, have a .223 for the foxes.
Got tired of having to check every hmr round for a split neck prior to using them, I put the split necked ones in a bag.
Finally decision to dump the hmr was despite checking the ammo was a stuck bullet in the barrel late at night and a long walk back to the car.
Did consider a 22 hornet but as I had the .223 decided on the .17hornet which was also by all accounts similar report to that of the hmr.
When the FEO asked me why I wanted another .17 calibre I used the contents of the bag as justification
Then had the task of pulling the heads on the hmr in the bag and used the heads up fire forming 22hornet brass to 17hornet . Sold the hmr a few months after getting the hornet.