MAJOR SHOTSHELL FAILURE anybody ever see this? "NEW UNFIRED"

[das bear]

Some background first. Going through my late father inlaws gun collection and we find a new in box 28ga sxs shotgun unfired. In a trunk beside the safe is an unopened case (500) of winchester 28ga 2 3/4" 7 1/2 shot ammo with no signs of damage or exsposure from the elements of any kind I mean Prestine condition still glued and stapled shut. So I sell the shotgun and ammo then a week later I get a call from the buyer saying he went to the range with it and was very pleased with the shotgun but there was a problem with the shotshells. Turns out 300 of 500 shotshells had split bases so bad even splits following the rims. Now these are plastic hulls not paper and bright as can be. I'm wondering if there is any way to contact winchester and see if there were any recalls on this lot?
This ammo was with about 25-30 other boxs of mixed 16, 20, 410 and 12ga shotshells of many manufactures and of all ages 1950's thru 2005 but the 28ga dates back to 1985-86  and none of the other ammo shows signs of breakdown. All the ammo was stored in a area of the house that stayed between 60-80 degrees. has anybody else seen this from winchester shotshells?
THESE SHELLS WERE SPLIT IN THE BOXS "UNFIRED" I will ad pics this evening

dasbear

[Graybeard]

I've seen it often in old AA shotshells but never at that frequency. It would routinely happen less than once per box of shells maybe only once per 100 shells. For that matter I've had it happen with most all brands of 28 ga shells at one time or another. I guess I've seen it more in Federal than any other brand. With Federal even 12 ga used to do it.

[mcwoodduck]

My question is are you sure it was a 28 ga and not a 20?
I do not hee how a shell in a new tight side by side would crack the brass.
I have seen a couple guns that were stuck ing the wrong box.  box said X caliber / Ga and the gun in it way Y caliber or Ga.
Are the shells loose in the chambers.  Do they wobble?

[Hairtrigger]

The buyer must not have been too concerned as they kept shooting.

[Graybeard]

It's really no big deal if what you are talking about is what I've experienced. The brass splits so it's reloadable but I see no safety issues in it. Shotshell pressures are quite low and I've never noticed any gas escaping from the splits. It's mostly just an aggravation in that the hull is not reloadable.

[Hairtrigger]

Probobly wanted the empty hulls for reloading

[Graybeard]

I initially misunderstood they were split before firing. On learning that here was my comment via PM to das bear:

I've seen that also but that's far less common than having them split at firing. I still don't think it's a real safety hazard. I've just fired them then tossed the hull afterward. I have even messed up a few times not paying attention and reloaded one that was split and fired it but was careful to toss it afterwards and not load it a second time.

I have no clue why it happens but my best guess is just a defective lot of brass that worked hardened too much in the forming process and thus split at some point in the loading process.

I'm not saying there is no potential danger and each person has to make that decision for themselves. My decision was I didn't feel it any danger to me so have used some. Even in my entire career of firing I'm sure a quarter million or more shotshells I've not seen as many as you say was in that case however. I got a batch of once fired 28 ga Federal hulls to reload that had a large percentage of them split. Dunno if on firing or were split before firing. I tossed them and didn't load them, well OK a few got passed me I seem to recall. Still I doubt that amounted to even 100 total. I'd guess that was at least if not more than half of all I've seen split so.

[Hairtrigger]

I missed the before firing part!
As long as they chambered I would have shot them

[das bear]

Greybeard, I to would have at least tried a few having reloaded an aweful lot of wildcats and such that I would be cautious but not aprehensive. However that being said I sold these shells as a new case so I volunterily offered to refund his money for the bad shells though he believed the sale was AS IS he was happy to except my offer. I have a neighbor that shoots a 28 SxS so I will offer them for free if he likes. I'm still very curious what winchester/Olin would say about this matter? anyone know any higher ups at Olin?

Dasbear