Safety Alert Issued On Shotgun Ammunition

Rangers at Shenandoah recently experienced five malfunctions out of 50 shots fired from three different shotguns.  The malfunctions were caused when the brass base of the shell did not extract, which prevented the chambering of another round. 

In clearing the malfunctions it was found that the plastic casing had separated from the brass base when fired.  In four cases, the plastic travelled out of the barrel and down range with the pellets.  In one case the plastic lodged in the barrel just forward of the port.  This barrel was removed and a cleaning rod was used to dislodge the plastic from the barrel.

The rounds in question were ATK Federal BallistiClean 12 gauge buckshot from lot number 14V692.

Based on this incident report, experts at FLETC fired 75 rounds of buckshot from this lot in an effort to duplicate the malfunction.  There were none. However, based on Shenandoah’s reports, contacts were made with Federal Cartridge Company.

If you have ammo with this lot number, you should not use it on the range and should contact Gary Gronfore at Federal Cartridge Company for replacement. His phone number is 800-322-2342 ext. 3705; his email address is Gary.gronfore@atk.com

If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to call either Gary or Jill Kinney, firearms program manager, at 912-261-3762