When it comes to handling your firearms in any capacity or context, nothing is more important than safety. Everyone should know the basic firearms safety rules inside and out before they ever get on a live-fire range. Beyond those fundamentals like keeping your gun pointed in a safe direction and keeping your finger off of the trigger until fully ready to fire, there are plenty of additional facets to consider. Owning good quality equipment and taking proper care of it are also key. One element that tends to get less attention is ammo selection. Particularly these days, with high prices and scarce availability, we tend to take what ammo we can get. Unfortunately, especially with the last year’s proliferation of first-time gun owners who may not know any better, this could cause bad rounds to fall into unsuspecting hands, including some subject to recall.

One of the several packaging types affected by Winchester’s recall looks like this.

Most commonly, bad ammo comes in the form of untrained handloaders’ mistakes, or small-name fly-by-night remanufacturing operations. Though there are plenty of people in these realms who do know what they’re doing and who put out reliable products, unfortunately, some lesser quality rounds can and do fall through the cracks on occasion. This tends to happen much less frequently with bigger names, from brands with major manufacturing operations featuring stringent, professional quality control. However, they’re not immune either. Winchester and Browning Ammunition, both of which source at least some of their branded manufacturing with the same plant belonging to the Olin Corporation in Illinois, just announced recalls for some of their 115-grain 9mm ammo. See below for details, and for the affected lot numbers. Please check your ammo, and always be safe!

If you have Browning FMJ 9mm rounds that came in a box like this, please check your lot number.

The Winchester Ammunition recall announcement is copied for you below:

PRODUCT WARNING AND RECALL NOTICE

WINCHESTER® 9mm Luger 115 grain

Olin Winchester, LLC is recalling the following lots of 9mm Luger 115 grain Full Metal Jacket and 115 grain Jacketed Hollow Point pistol ammunition.

Symbols: Q4172, RED9, USA9JHP, USA9MMVP, USA9W, WW9B

Lot Numbers:
SC03LD44, SC03LD45, SC03LD46, SC03LD47
SC13LD1, SC13LD6, SC13LD18, SC13LD44, SC13LD45, SC13LD46, SC13LD47
SC52LD44, SC52LD45, SC52LD46, SC52LD47
SC62LD44, SC62LD45, SC62LD46, SC62LD47
SC72LD44, SC72LD45, SC72LD46, SC72LD47
SC92LD44, SC92LD45, SC92LD46, SC92LD47
SD10LD1, SD10LD3, SD10LD6, SC10LD12, SD10LD18, SD10LD46, SD10LD47
SD50LD1, SD50LD3, SD50LD6, SD50LD11, SD50LD12, SD50LD18, SD50LD46, SD50LD47
SD60LD1, SD60LD3, SD60LD6, SD60LD11, SD60LD12, SD60LD18
SD70LD1, SD70LD3, SD70LD6, SD70LD11, SD70LD12, SD70LD18
SD80LD1, SD80LD3, SD80LD6, SD80LD11, SD80LD12, SD80LD18

The Symbol designations and locations of the Lot Numbers are depicted in the photographs below.

NOTE: If ammunition of the above Symbols was purchased before March 25, 2021, it is NOT subject to the recall.

Winchester has determined the above lots of 9mm Luger 115 FMJ and JHP ammunition may contain propellant that does not properly ignite and burn when the cartridge is fired. Ammunition containing propellant that does not properly ignite and burn may result in a bullet remaining in the barrel (i.e., a bullet-in-bore obstruction). Firing a subsequent bullet into the bore obstruction could cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable and subjecting the shooter and bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury.

DO NOT USE WINCHESTER® 9MM LUGER 115 FMJ / JHP OF THE ABOVE SYMBOLS THAT HAS ANY OF THE ABOVE LOT NUMBERS. The ammunition Lot Number is stamped on the cartons of the Symbols involved as indicated here:

To determine if your ammunition is subject to this notice, review the Symbol and Lot Number. If it is any of the above Symbols and Lot Numbers, immediately discontinue use and contact Winchester toll-free at 844-653-8358 for free UPS pick-up of the recalled ammunition. Upon receipt of your recalled ammunition, Winchester will ship replacement ammunition directly to you or issue you a reimbursement check.

This notice applies only to the above 9mm Luger 115 FMJ and JHP Symbols with the above Lot Numbers. Other Symbols or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall.

If you have any questions concerning this 9mm Luger 115 FMJ / JHP pistol ammunition recall please call toll-free 844-653-8358, write to Winchester (600 Powder Mill Road, East Alton, IL 62024 Attn: 9mm Luger Recall), or visit our website at www.winchester.com.

We apologize for this inconvenience.

WINCHESTER

June 21, 2021

The Browning Ammunition recall announcement is copied for you below:

PRODUCT WARNING AND RECALL NOTICE

BROWNING® 9mm Luger 115 grain FMJ

Browning Ammunition is recalling the following lots of 9mm Luger 115 grain Full Metal Jacket pistol ammunition.

Symbol: B191800092
Lot Numbers: SC13LD20, SD10LD20

Note: If ammunition was purchased before March 25, 2021, it is NOT subject to the recall.

Browning Ammunition has determined the above lots of 9mm Luger 115 FMJ ammunition may contain propellant that does not properly ignite and burn when the cartridge is fired. Ammunition containing propellant that does not properly ignite and burn may result in a bullet remaining in the barrel (i.e., a bullet-in-bore obstruction). Firing a subsequent bullet into the bore obstruction could cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable and subjecting the shooter and bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury.

DO NOT USE BROWNING  9mm Luger 115 FMJ SYMBOL B191800092 THAT HAS LOT NUMBER SC13LD20 or SD10LD20. The ammunition Lot Number is stamped on the 50-round carton as indicated here:

To determine if your ammunition is subject to this notice, review the Symbol and Lot Number. If it is Symbol B191800092 and Lot Number SC13LD20 or SD10LD20, immediately discontinue use and contact Browning Ammunition toll-free at 844-653-8358 for free UPS pick-up of the recalled ammunition. Upon receipt of your recalled ammunition, Browning Ammunition will ship replacement ammunition directly to you or issue you a reimbursement check.

This notice applies only to Symbol B191800092 with Lot Number SC13LD20 or SD10LD20. Other Symbols or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall.

If you have any questions concerning this 9mm Luger 115 FMJ pistol ammunition recall please call toll-free 844-653-8358, write to Browning Ammunition (600 Powder Mill Road, East Alton, IL 62024 Attn: 9mm Luger Recall), or visit our website at www.browningammo.com.

We apologize for this inconvenience.

BROWNING AMMUNITION

June 21, 2021

Images courtesy of Winchester Ammunition and Browning Ammunition.