30-30 Ammo Problem

[hermn8r]

Sorry guys, forgot to post the pictures of the two chambers. First picture is of my pre 64 30-30 (the one that's giving me the cracked casings) and the second picture is of my post 64 32 special. If anyone sees anything odd with either of them please let me know, it might just be the cause of my issues behind the casings cracking.

 

[Gatehouse]

I’ve seen this ex’s t sane thing. It’s old ammo with brittle brass and unlikely anything wrong with your rifle.

 

[hermn8r]

Okay that's good to hear, I was really hoping something wasn't wrong with my ol' 94. Thanks for the input.

 

[Fox]

The same exact thing has happened to me with that old Imperial stuff in 303 Brit, the brass is just not soft enough to flow as it should.

 

[hometownhero]

Likely old brittle brass.

Sorry guys, forgot to post the pictures of the two chambers. First picture is of my pre 64 30-30 (the one that's giving me the cracked casings) and the second picture is of my post 64 32 special. If anyone sees anything odd with either of them please let me know, it might just be the cause of my issues behind the casings cracking.

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These are not pictures of a chamber btw

 

[Redneckwannabe1]

Nothing JB weld and an annealing can't fix

 

[hermn8r]

By the sounds of it the consensus is that it's a brass problem not a chamber problem, which is good news for me. Thanks again for all the help guys!

 

[Svt40 fan]

old ammo does that

 

[leebuilder]

Seen it many times with old ammo. If ammo was stored in an ammonia environment ie a barn the brass will degrade.
Hatchers notes has a neat section on this very subject and mentions horse piss degraded ammo.
I have old imperial ammo with no signs of cracking like you have shown but have seen lots of other brands of old ammo do the same and other shooters have the same results shooting old ammo. I dought your rifle has an issue, but that old ammo should be decommissioned.
Be safe

 

[Cameron SS]

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.

It might not have been the issue to begin with, but some of those splits are pretty big and nothing good will come from venting hot pressurized gases into your chamber.

I would check my chamber both for debris or damage that might have caused the splits, but you might also find some scoring or damage that was caused by the splits.

Looks like an annealing failure.

I think it is probably safe to shoot - but I would not.

I would suspect its safe for the shooter. May or may not be safe for the rifle. Consider the value of a box of free bullets compared to the value of the rifle it self, I wouldn't keep using that ammo until I had at least determined the cause.

 

[Gunoholic]

Time to splurge on a box of power points.

 

[kamlooky]

Is there another 30-30 rifle in the house?
Maybe try a round in it?

 

[Longwalker]

Very old Imperial ammo was good stuff, but they lost their reputation back in the early 1980's. That particular vintage of IVI - Imperial ammo is about the worst ammo I ever used. In several calibers. Quality control was severely lacking, and IVI quit making ammo for the civilian market soon after. I have had IVI brass with extremely thin necks, brass that blew out the primer pocket, rimfire brass that ruptured, splits and bloopers in shotgun shells, etc. etc. I'd certainly suggest that you do not shoot any of the splitting ammo any more. Especially since a lever action has no way to protect your face and eyes from hot debris blowing back past the sides of the bolt.

 

[Fox]

Especially since a lever action has no way to protect your face and eyes from hot debris blowing back past the sides of the bolt.

The rimmed case should have some gas sealing ability for a ruptured case.

 

[xdmer]

Annealing failure, thin brass ... I've had this happen with boxed winchester.

 

[hermn8r]

Almost forgot about this thread. Anyways I've fired the 30-30 a few times since the original post with new ammo and haven't had a problem. I won't be using anymore of that old Imperial stuff that had the issues. Thanks guys

 

[the spank]

Sorry guys, forgot to post the pictures of the two chambers. First picture is of my pre 64 30-30 (the one that's giving me the cracked casings) and the second picture is of my post 64 32 special. If anyone sees anything odd with either of them please let me know, it might just be the cause of my issues behind the casings cracking.

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I think you’re confused on terminology, you posted pictures of the inside of your receivers and the bolts, not the chambers. The chamber is where the bullet is seated within the barrel and I don’t see any pictures posted looking into the chambers?!!