Norinco .223 brass "holes"

Julian S. Hatcher in his "Notebook" covered this type of case failure, identified as either material or forming flaws and / or small case / large chamber.
p.p. 206 to 211, "Some Rerasons For Cartridge Failures".
I'll try posting the pages tomorrow or so.
 
I did a quick google before purchasing unfortunately this thread didn't show up. Anyways I opened up one of my crates lot #32 we will see what happens tomorrow.
would it be of any benefit to clean the rounds prior to use?

only shot 100 of the most oxodized cases in my lot one FTF, brass is fine.
 
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Just got my crate of ammo in from Frontier Firearms.... Crate lot #01 hope I don't see these issue... Will post again once I make it out to the range!
 
Their price is pretty high... But, if you got a low lot# it may be worth it.

Be sure to report back.
 
Interesting thread.

http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/ClassicWorks/Hatchers Notebook.pdf
Here's a copy of Hatcher's notebook that Baribal was talking about. Page 215 in the pdf.

In reference to the picture of the norc brass without the flash hole punched out: a buddy of mine had this happen with a box of premium hornady hunting ammo. Fortunately he didn't find out the ammo was faulty while out hunting.
 
I got rid of my Norinco .223 cartridges. I used one in a bolt gun and it blew up in my face. Made my face sting for about half an hour. When I decided to reload using the brass is when I noticed that every single one of them, had their flash holes off-center. Every one of them were off to one side. I haven't been reloading that long, but isn't the flash hole supposed to be as uniform as possible so that it doesn't cause pressure issues?
 
I would measure the length of that brass, it its too long, it will keep the bolt from closing flush with with chamber, in which case the brass will be un supported (between the bolt and chamber) and flame cutting will occur much more easily. You can tell the initial pierce through the brass is starting where the bullet or casing is sticking out of the chamber on the semis. I doubt this occurs on a bolt action rifle as the brass will be fully inserted into the chamber, thus fully supported. two things will cause this, very poor quality brass, and brass that is too long.

Those marks in the chamber are flame cutting for sure.
 
I have lot number 33.... shot a few boxes last fall and don't recall any problems. Was curious about the possibility of undersized bullets so Mic'd the ones I had taken out of the can.(540 rounds). All appear to have a reasonably agressive crimp at the cannelure, all rounds Mic'd between .221 and .223 at the cannelure.
I pulled 5 bullets from casings with lots of corroded spots, bullets all measured .224, weighed from 54.3 to 55.1 grains. The powder charge measured exactly 26 grains in each of the 5 I pulled. Obviosly not a very good representation of the whole lot but wondered if other had done some measuring of the bullets after hearing that undersized bullets may be an issue as well?
Rodney

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I cut open 3 cases that had corrosion on the outside to see if it could be that the brass was defective in these areas, one loooked like the brass was kind of flaking on the inside, the rest looked fine and you can see the discoloring from annealing in the kneck and shoulder area of the brass from the inside right where it should be.
I know corrosion is normal, most of this barss is corroded to some extent but these 3 were the worst, no indication that the corrosion is related to failures though as it doesnt seem to go very deep.
For some reason picture of inside of cases will not download onto the site. Will try again.

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rodauto said:
Hi dizzy,
Just measured them at 1.757 to 1.760, these were unfired cases that I cut apart with a hacksaw so the measurements may be out a couple thou.
Rodney
Click to expand...

well within normal, I am expecting to see the suspect ammo at 1.76++ or longer
 
Had one today after 400 good rounds..Lot 29 with DDM4 V5
White smoke out of magazine well.
No Chamber damage.



 
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