Had a bad Underwood round yesterday...

[climb14er]

First of all, I like Underwood ammo... a lot!  Was at range yesterday, putting the G20SF through extended paces with various ammo.

I loaded up a mag of the 165gr Gold Dot JHP... I like this round!  Halfway through the mag, all of a sudden I squeezed the trigger and the sound and recoil went... kind of limp..

It seems as if I had a round that had very few grains of powder to it! I was surprised at the lack of recoil or oomph. There was hardly any at all.

On a good note... I got a direct bullseye with the round on the target! And at least it wasn't a 'doubled powder' round that would have caused the G20 to go Kaboom.

First time ever with this happening with an Underwood.

Anyone else ever have a 'light or heavy' Underwood round in their box?

[The_Shadow]

They are suppose to have powder check stuff in place but that, but things happen! 
The powder charge could be contaminated (didn't fully ignite), short (lacking enough power)...
Have seen other ammo in pull downs that were grossly under charge weights...

I mostly load my own loads on a single stage press and hand weigh all my charges.  I got to know!

[4949shooter]

Yes. I had four light rounds just as you described with UW 165 grain Gold Dot. The lot number I had the issue with was lot #(005).

Amazingly, when I informed Underwood of this they sent replacement ammo from the same bad lot.

If you don't mind, check your lot number to see if it is the same lot as the ammo I had issues with. I am a big fan of Underwood and hope they correct their issue.

[climb14er]

Yes... just verified...Lot 005.  Five boxes.

[climb14er]

Just got off phone  with Kevin. Lot number C2403-005. This problem just came to his attention with the call. He said he stands  by 100% his ammo. Good conversation.

[4949shooter]

It's a shame my emails never got to him. You can read them in the other thread if you're interested..

[Intercooler]

Best approach for Underwood is to ask for Kevin specifically. He isn't that darned busy to not talk with you.

[4949shooter]

Best approach for Underwood is to ask for Kevin specifically. He isn't that darned busy to not talk with you.

Thanks for the tip. Had I known this I would have called from the beginning. However, if the people answering the emails to the company (which Kevin used to answer) are not doing the job then he needs to fire those people.

[Intercooler]

   I feel their growth may have taken them down that path (unfortunate). If I had a burning issue though, Kevin or nothing!

     It seems easier getting Anthony now 

[4949shooter]

Yes this is true. I have dealt with Anthony and he has been helpful.

[climb14er]

Keith and Sande were excellent in their communication and customer service and replaced my 250 approx rounds of the 165 GD JHP with a new batch of nickel plated casing GD's. Keith will check the ammo I returned  to try and ascertain  why one of the original rounds had an extremely low powder  charge.  FWIW... no more 50 round boxes.  Only 20 round boxes. Kudos to Underwood.

[4949shooter]

Good to hear. Please let us know how the new lot works out.

[DAVIDF]

I had the same a couple of years ago. A case was split during the manufacturing process and I didn't catch it as I loaded the round into a magazine at the range. Almost all or all of the powder had fallen out of that split. I called Kevin and he was surprised it happened. But, he also knew why. They had just received new dies for 10mm which weren't up to spec. The company that supplied those replaced the faulty die. But it seems their quality control wasn't up to spec in catching that defective round.

[colt1911fan]

Undercharge sounds way better than overcharge, at least at the range. In the field, I'd want neither, but would still opt for the undercharge and a follow up after racking the slide (if even needed) and firing again at the critter.

[4949shooter]

An undercharged round resulting in a squib load will be horrific if it happens during a gunfight or any other time you need your gun to function in a life or death situation.