case ruptured, should I be concerned?

[bluebayou]

This wasn't in a Handi, but I dont' know a better group of people than here.

I put a new scope on Remington 700.  I have a partial box of Remington factory 140 gr loads from before I started handloading.  I figured that now is a good time to turn them into brass. 

Second round fires with louder bang and a jet of stuff from around bolt face.  "uh, oh"

The brass is split with a pin sized hole at the end where the flame evidently came out.

So, should I worry about the rifle?  I don't have the lot number so I can't see any good in contacting Remington.  I don't plan on firing the remainder of the box.  The longitudinal scratches (if you can see them) are from the bolt head riding over with the first round or from the magazine.  Do you think that such light scoring could weaken a case?

[cwlongshot]

 My first thought was not to worry at all. Then I read about the scratches. They look pretty light, but I would check the rails in the mag and be sure there are no major "burrs" or "gouges" that could score the brass.
 In any event, this looks like some bad brass to me, I have had it my self a couple times. The gas venting always channels it away from the shooters face.


Practice safe shooting with proper PPE's (Safety glass's and ear muffs) and you will be fine.

CW

[LaOtto222]

Assuming the chamber is of proper dimensions, I do not think there is any thing to worry about. Here is a link to some people that have had similar experiences.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,88193.0.html

[Tencubed]

I have seen this happen a few times but usually it is with brass that has been loaded several times and often brass that has been full length sized each time.  Don't know that I've ever seen a new piece of brass split like this.

Since you noticed a louder report along with the rupture it may be this was an overloaded round.  Measure the case just ahead the heavy part of the case head to determine how much it has expanded.  It should be no more than .0015 or so above an unfired round.  Also compare it to the round fired which performed normally.

Those scratches would tend to weaken the brass to some extent and, as mentioned, the rifle should be inspected to determine what is causing this damage.

Let us know what you find out, we can all learn from your experience.

Mike

[stimpylu32]

The fact that you have fired others from this box of ammo and this is the first time you have seen this leads me to think if was just a bad case , yes it does happen , on the safe side now that you do reload , I would pull the bullets on the rest and inspect the inside of the cases anyhow .

After that size and reload as normal , I would also make an appointment with your smith to have the rifle inspected just to be sure .

stimpy

[bluebayou]

.471 ruptured case
.471 whole case, same lot
.469 sized in RCBS die
.471 consistent size of my reload Winchester cases

There is a machine mark that projects where the feed ramp transitions to the bolt guide rail.  It hasn't been radiused off.  I see no need for it to be there other than it was another machining step to remove it.  The projection is shiny with brass so it is easy to see.  I was going to cycle my dummy rounds........but I can't find them. 

I am leaning toward it being "just one of those things"/statistical event.  I have fired probably 500 factory  rounds between 7-08 and 308 collection of rifles.  I have had one hangfire and one dud primer from factory ammo.  Maybe it is just bad brass.  Kind of freaked me out when I heard/felt/saw the gas jet. 

[chutesnreloads]

Could this box of ammo have been left inside a hot vehicle?It is summer and I had a bad experience with some .357 ammo left in a hot car.Not only were they difficult to eject but they grouped worse than I can throw rocks.

[Tencubed]

.471 ruptured case
.471 whole case, same lot
.469 sized in RCBS die
.471 consistent size of my reload Winchester cases

There is a machine mark that projects where the feed ramp transitions to the bolt guide rail.  It hasn't been radiused off.  I see no need for it to be there other than it was another machining step to remove it.  The projection is shiny with brass so it is easy to see.  I was going to cycle my dummy rounds........but I can't find them. 

I am leaning toward it being "just one of those things"/statistical event.  I have fired probably 500 factory  rounds between 7-08 and 308 collection of rifles.  I have had one hangfire and one dud primer from factory ammo.  Maybe it is just bad brass.  Kind of freaked me out when I heard/felt/saw the gas jet. 

Your measurements indicate there was no high pressure involved, sounds like a bad piece of brass or that protrusion weakened the case.  Like suggested by Stimpy, having a good gunsmith check the rifle could not hurt.

Mike

[Graybeard]

While it's not common it happens with brand new factory ammo from time to time. It's generally just a defective case that visual inspection would not catch. I had one do it while getting ready for the last PD shoot out in OK. It was brand new factory ammo and failed on firing. None of the rest from that lot did it just the one.

Now if a bunch started doing it I'd be concerned and if only from one batch of ammo or brass I'd dump it but if from multiple lots then I'd suspect the rifle.

[Mike Britton]

Back to chutesnreloads, I had a box of old Remington bronze point .30-06 that had been too hot and half of them split on firing.
Most of the time, I had no indication until I tried to lift the bolt handle. I had a few spit powder at me.
No signs of pressure at all, and headspace on this rifle is tight. Accuracy was the same in the string, sometimes you couldn't tell which round was the " popper " .

[RugerNo3]

It would be wise to check  that chamber closely for a carbon build up at that point. Polish it out if there is. It will forever mark your brass at that point

[Singleshotsam]

I had a M70 winchester in .25 WSSM.  The winchester factory ammo I shot out of that thing split the necks like crazy.  Out of 40 rounds of the factory ammo I shot, Probably 5-6 rounds split the cases.  We inspected the chamber and magazine well, for burrs and such.  Looked ok.  A friend of mine took the gun and worked up some re-loads for it and I never had another split neck after that.  Just goes to show the inconsistant loading and inspection of some factory rounds. 

[Mike Britton]

Thanks for the heads up, RugerNo3. The army taught me to scrub out the chamber (being trained on the M14) every time I clean the weapon. Shooting black powder cartridge gets you in the habit, also.
You are right about the carbon build up as some gas excapes every time a round goes off.