30-30 Ammo Problem

hermn8r

hermn8r

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Hi, looking for a little insight into an issue I came across recently. I purchased a 30-30 from a guy a while back and he threw in 2 boxes of older Imperial 170 grain ammo. Just recently I had my Winchester 94 30-30 at the range and was using the ammo. It fired just fine. I brought the brass home and last night when moving some stuff around I noticed all of the brass casings from that ammo have cracks in it (see pictures). Is it because it was too old? I still have another box of it here but I don't know whether it's safe to fire or not. Like I said the rounds fired just fine, but the cracks are throwing me off. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

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this is normal for imperial brass as the stuff is only good for scrap metal. I have gone over many thousands of brass over the years and imperial has been the worst out there. if it does not crack on the first shot it will on the second as the brass is too brittle and cannot take the pressure.
 
Have a look into the chamber with a light, since all the brass is split in the same place there could be a defect in there
 
Thanks guys, I figured it was old but wasn't sure whether that was the cause or not. I guess between that and the fact that it's not quality brass to begin with that's probably what caused it. I'll double check my chamber but I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be the issue, the rifle is in excellent shape inside and out.
 
I’d place a fired case beside an unfired and see or measure if they are much different. Could be a chamber problem. Those fired cases look like they have a pretty abrupt shoulder and little taper to the body. Tough to tell from a photo, though.
Also, is the rifle for sure a 30/30 and not a 32 Special?
Experts flame away.
 
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I'll put a newer casing beside the older one and check it out. I'm sure the Winchester is a 30-30, I've got another model 94 in 32 special as well, but was 100% using my 30-30 the day I was firing those rounds.
 
Definitely check the chamber before you go too far down any other road. I had an old sav. 99 in 30/30 that did exactly the same thing as your rifle, but the cartridges worked fine in another gun. Hope you find the problem.....catnip.
 
I had Imperial 303 Brit do this exact same thing, I would say it is probably the brass, especially if you are shooting other ammo fine.
 
Dominion bass on the other had seems nearly indestructible.

I was given some unused 7x57 brass and have reloaded it at least three times with only one split neck.
 
The IVI label says it all Imperial made great ammo and components in it's day under the CIL brand then Trudeau senior and his henchman Jean Marchand bought CIL added the IVI name and the product they turned out was so bad the Canadian military couldn't stop blowing up guns. It was all bad product . The old salts on this board will remember that crap .
 
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I fired about 200 Imperial .308 Winchester last year through my Remington 700 and didn't see this problem at all. I then wet tumbled the brass and examined each case, no culls, all were good.

Is there a possibility that these were reloads but sold as "new cartridges"? Some people will do anything to make a buck or two...
 
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