Author Topic: Split casings (Read 599 times)

lonewolf54 · « **on:** August 15, 2003, 10:49:16 AM »

Hello all. I am reloading .280 casings that have only been fired once problem is the brass is splitting at the neck. the first load was with IMR4350 at 49.2 grains, the second was h4831 at 52 grains. Both loads show the splits I have reload 270 223 3006 and have never had this problem any guesses? also the bullet is a 150 grain ballistic tip.

Graycg · « **Reply #1 on:** August 15, 2003, 12:00:59 PM »

Is the brass old? Once fired doesn't mean new... If the brass is very old there is a tendency to split. You may want to anneal the cases before reloading. There are other issues that could cause this, I'd recommend trying some different brass and see if the problem goes away. If not, you should get the chamber inspected to see if there are problems in the neck area of the chamber.

good luck,
Regards,
Graycg

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 15, 2003, 12:19:54 PM »

or get som new unfired brass. Its not that high mailorder.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #3 on:** August 16, 2003, 07:01:06 AM »

Lonewolf, not trying to be cute but have you read the side of the barrel and was the rifle purchased new? I heard a horror story two days ago about a guy at work buying a "7mm mag" at a great price because the former owner couldn't get it to shoot. The rifle is a 7mm mag, a 7mm STW mag not a Remington as the first owner thought. The guy that bought it saw the makings and just bought it and it shoots great.

lonewolf54 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 16, 2003, 03:36:57 PM »

yea Dave I bought the gun new it is a 280 rem for sure.

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** August 16, 2003, 04:16:43 PM »

Was the brass once fired in you gun or some other gun?

You can get some terrific work hardening from one firing.

Lets say the brass was once fired in another gun.

The first guy full length resized new brass, loaded and fired the brass in a chamber with a maximum diameter neck.

You get the brass and you full length resize the brass and then fire it in you gun that also has a near max diameter neck

That brass has in this scenario been severly worked

You can even add another variable into the equation. If the once fired brass sat around for a couple of years it between loading itcan age age harden.

Best thing to do is not use once fired brass from another gun. If you must you should at least anneal the necks before you start.

At least you didn't have the real big problem using brass from another rifle body separations...

John Traveler · « **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2003, 06:19:14 PM »

Ah,, one more thing:

Is the brass HEADSTAMPED .280 Remington or 7mm Express?

It's quite common to resize .30-06 brass to make the .280 Remington, and if not subsequently neck-annealed before loading, you will get those neck splits that you described.

The tension of holding a bullet in the case neck strains the brass, and it can split on the first firing, when the neck expands.

I once loaded several hundreds of 7mm Mauser cartridges from .30-06 cases sized down, and left them loaded for several years. Yep, you guessed it! On firing, many of those case necks split open on the first firing!

HTH
John