I have some old 8mm military bullets, early 1970's vintage. Most of it fires and shoots ok, but I did get a dud. Now what? I usually wait pointing down range a little while, but it always makes me a little unneasy. Is there any reason to worry? What should I do with duds?
Ammo doesn't fire...now what?
- Thread starter Woodsman
- Start date
bury the duds...
Most ranges should have a disposal can...
If they don't take a tall juice can or ammo can (a leaky one is best).. Something strong that you can drop the round into but it won't come out easily and not airtight...
Should the round ignite once it's in transit the case will split... You just need to have the round in some place that it can do this without making a mess...
Ammo is not dangerous.. Now gasoline that's dangerous!
Most ranges should have a disposal can...
If they don't take a tall juice can or ammo can (a leaky one is best).. Something strong that you can drop the round into but it won't come out easily and not airtight...
Should the round ignite once it's in transit the case will split... You just need to have the round in some place that it can do this without making a mess...
Ammo is not dangerous.. Now gasoline that's dangerous!
I will bet you they aren't duds, but rather you have a weak firing pin. Make sure you disassemble the bolt and clean out all the grease. Almost all the Yugo Mausers I have seen from the recent batch needed this, including mine. BTW 1970's is not old by 8mm standards. There are lots of folks shooting 1930's Turkish and German surplus. Now those had some duds.
Thanks for the advice fellas. It is a Chech BRNO Mauser. The firing pin is ok though as it leaves a nice deep dent in the primer. It used to have a problem years ago and I had dismantled the bolt and pin back then only to find what looked like a piece of metal shaving stuck in there. (This gun was bought new in the packing grease 40+ years ago by my dad.) It was very noticable then as the pin hardly made a dent.
As an aside, I was firing into a sand pit and not at a range when this happened. I suppose I could just bury the round if it happens out in the bush.
As an aside, I was firing into a sand pit and not at a range when this happened. I suppose I could just bury the round if it happens out in the bush.
david doyle said:
Do the same thing the "dud-bin" guy has to do. Take it apart and dispose of the components proprerly. A bullet puller doesn't cost much.
Or better yet, start saving the reusable components and reassemble them into handloads. That's the proper gunnutz thing to do.
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Nah, his rifle is probably fine. I've found old stuff that won't go bang as well . Certian powders just seem to degrade after 60 years or so, considering they where designed to have a shelf life of 25-30 tops, they do ok. If you take apart some korean 30-06, sometimes the powder looks oily, it's a double base powder and it's breaking down.......
. Certian powders just seem to degrade after 60 years or so, considering they where designed to have a shelf life of 25-30 tops, they do ok. If you take apart some korean 30-06, sometimes the powder looks oily, it's a double base powder and it's breaking down.......
