22 Rimfire - Split Cases

[jrfrmn]

Has anyone ever had cases on a 22 cal rimfire split and stick in the chamber?
What causes it? Which brand ammo does it more?

[Land_Owner]

I had 270 WIN case necks split lengthwise after too many undocumented firings work hardened the brass.  It is not recommended to continue to shoot and reload without keeping track of the number of times a case has been used.  Heat annealing case necks can lengthen case life, but not extend it indefinitely.  Eventually, the case neck will split on refired cases.

It was not a big deal for me as none of them came off and got stuck in the chamber.  Replace splits with new brass or "pickup" brass from the range or other used supply.  No guarrantee that the used supply won't split soon thereafter.

Getting the stuck case neck out of the chamber is one for a gun smith or other savy poster's idea here on GBO.

[jrfrmn]

Sorry about that. I meant rimfire.


I had 270 WIN case necks split lengthwise after too many undocumented firings work hardened the brass.  It is not recommended to continue to shoot and reload without keeping track of the number of times a case has been used.  Heat annealing case necks can lengthen case life, but not extend it indefinitely.  Eventually, the case neck will split on refired cases.

It was not a big deal for me as none of them came off and got stuck in the chamber.  Replace splits with new brass or "pickup" brass from the range or other used supply.  No guarrantee that the used supply won't split soon thereafter.

Getting the stuck case neck out of the chamber is one for a gun smith or other savy poster's idea here on GBO.

[FourBee]

Sounds to me like the round was too long for the chamber.   Such as a weapon made to shoot only shorts or longs and a longrifle round was forced into the chamber.  Other than that, I haven't experienced such an event.

p.s.  However; the Winchester all brass cased birdshot rounds will hang in some brands of .22's because the crimped brass ends extend beyond the chambering after firing.
4B

[woodchukhntr]

The only time I saw that was when a .22 LR was fired in a .22 mag.  How old is the ammo?

[bobg]

  At one time i had some Squires-Binghim. Probably not spelled right. Ever one of them would split and stick in my rifle. I called the company and was told to send them my rifle and they would check it out. Told me it was the gun not their ammo causing this. I sure didn't do that. This rifle has had more 22 shells fired through it than i can count. It was the only ammo that ever did this.
      bobg

[mcwoodduck]

The only time I saw that was when a .22 LR was fired in a .22 mag. 

Me too.
Did someone re chamber the gun?
See if you can slide a 22 mag or 17HMR in the chamber.  If so some one opened it.
I would look at the range for a used case.

[woodchukhntr]

The fired case will be noticibly bulged if the rifle had been rechambered to .22 mag.  Probably split too.