FNP 45 and WWB don't mix?

[conchmariner]

I've seen WWB branded as Winchester USA and WWB made in the Czech Republic. I don't have an FNP-45, but some of those Czech made rounds did give me occasional FTFC problems in a Beretta PX4 45.

[whiterabbit05]

How much out of industry specifications are they supposed to design for? I've read of people on other brand forums having problems with the WWB occasionally also, while it does seem to be more of a problem on the FNP-45 it's certainly not isolated to that pistol. I think they did an excellent job packaging 15 rounds of .45ACP into a comfortable grip, making the magazine well larger could have had other effects on the design.

I'm not just talking about FTFs with WWB. Many have problems with hollow points, +P, and non+P defensive ammo, including myself.

[hawkeyehep]

New owner of FNP 45 USG. So far 200 rounds of WWB with 0 FFT and FTE. Going to try some UMC next to see how it does with that. Love the pistol!

[tequila45]

I always thought that you guys were crazy for saying that WWB was garbage. All I have ever shot was WWB.....until Friday......at the range I purchased a box of WWB (its the one on the bottom and sorry for the size of the pics)

decided to load the mags then this happened...
thought it was a dirty mag as you can see from the pic. I came home and proceeded to clean my guns. as i was putting my gun away I noticed the WWB that I already had in my stash was a tad bit smaller as noted in the pic (also note the different model #'s in the lower right hand corner of the box)
Guess what, no problems loading or binding with these (smaller box)



I don't have anything to measure the different rounds, but they do look different. Sorry for the pics, but the bottom of the bullets look different and the ends that are stamped winchester are different. The one that feeds reads "Winchester .45auto." the one that doesn't feed reads "Winchester 45auto"

The bullet that does not feed is on the left for both pics





Its really hard to tell, but the case's are different. I see a size difference starting at the rim between both bullets. Like I said I have never had a problem with WWB, even the JHP. I maybe I just got a bad batch.

thanks, Julio

[lagbolt1138]

I took a friend to the range last week, and he showed up with WWB in the larger box format as pictures a couple posts ago.

Nothing but problems in the FNP. The 1911 and M&P that were also at the range had no problems with the WWB.

I will certainly be avoiding that ammo. Fortunately, the factory reloads I buy at the local gun show (once fired LE training brass) goes through the FNP with no problems. And it's even cheaper than WWB. :^)

[CharlieBlues]

SAAMI spec for length is 1.190-1.275 inches, for the 45acp with round nose bullets, and 1.150-1.255 for 45acp with truncated cone "match" bullets.

That's a huge wide margin for "being ok". Clearly, anything over 1.275 inches is "too long".

I cant see the WWB going over that when they have such a huge margin of acceptance when going under that. A chimpanzee could hold that within' spec and still get his banana.

This may have more to do with the surface finish of parts, and the way a bullet might tilt in the magazine, creating its won wedge out of itself.

[rtaylor]

I had the same problem with WWB. The magazine would not load the rounds. I emailed and talked on the phone to Bob at FN USA about my situation. I could spray a dry teflon lube in mags and they worked for a little while. He informed me that the OAL of WWB was longer than the mags were designed for. BUT FN has redesigned new mags to accommodate the extra length. I mailed my 3 mags and after a month received 3 new improved mags at no charge. I am going to sight in my PBR tomorrow and fire some crap ammo through the FNP mags and will report. All I can say is FN CS is top notch as long as you're not a know-it-all or demanding )*( .

[Buffman]

rtaylor it would be nice if you get a second to disassemble the mags and mesure the ID to see how much bigger/wider new mag is.

[rtaylor]

I will measure the magazines after I get my caliper from work. I was able to fire one magazine full of WWB today. No problems. Most of my time was spent sighting in my new 16" PBR (sweet shooting rifle).

[CharlieBlues]

I just got done double gauging 200 WBB 45acp rounds.

Here's what I got -

134 were between 1.2600 and 1.2695

5 were 1.2595 or less, with the shortest being 1.2505

61 were 1.270 or greater. Of those 4 were at 1.275 (SAAMI max), and 1 single cartridge was 1.276 (which I went back twice with different mic's to re-re-regauge).

I didn't bother sorting the diameters. All the rims were .473 to .476, which also means no head diameters were greater than .476.

SAAMI rim spec is .470-.480 and SAAMI head spec is .470-.476.

This lot was 99.5 percent "in spec". I will agree that they tend to load a little long, but not much, and, in a 1911 type pistol, loading short tends to cause some grief, so they're probably trying to accommodate that.

I had one of my old gun engineer buddies from MIT explain it to me this way, when I was first starting out: All the gun makers say "God forbid someone's ammo doesn't fit our chamber, lets tend to max size it!", while all the ammo makers say "God forbid our ammo doesn't fit someone's chamber, lets run just over minimum!" And so it goes, except for match ammo and guns, and seemingly WWB, which tends a little long, but almost exclusively in spec (for this lot anyway).

All was clean, bright, free of burrs, debris, flaking, or dark inclusions.

I guess it gets down to - its inexpensive, shoot it, if your gun will accept it.