Bullet cracked after crimping - what to do?

762mm

762mm

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Hey all,

Well, for the past couple of days I've finally determined that, after all preparation, I was ready to start reloading pistol rounds (plus I've purchased all the reloading equipment many months ago, so I was due). So far, so good with over 200 rounds loaded to what seems to be perfection - at least visually & based on what the caliper & scale tell me, lol.

I was relaoding some .38 spl today (range reloads brass) and everything went smooth, although one of the cases has cracked after being crimped in the seater die at the very end of the process. The case did not have any imperfections prior to crimping, nor are there any signs of imminent head separation.

My question is: can this round be shot one last time prior to discarding the brass? like I said, the crack is over the crimp... so theoretically it is not under great pressures, but a crack in the brass is still a crack in the brass. I am leaning towards throwing it whole into a sand container at the range, but would like a second opinion, as I'm still a newbie to reloading.

Or maybe is there a way to open it and recycle the powder and the lead semi-wadcutter bullet? (I don't have the green kinetic bullet pulling tool for the moment)

Thanks for your help! :)

Here is a pic:

CrimpCrack.jpg
 
My conscience is telling me, to tell you to toss it aside until you have a bullet puller........although........I'll admit, if it was me, I'd fire it. What kind of bullets are you using ???? They look like they're make up of lead chunks all glued together. If my cast stuff came out looking like that, I'd toss it back in the melting pot.
 
Your right. A crack is still a crack. You range brass is brittle from numerous reloads. The $0.12 bullet isn't worth your handgun, hand or eye. Kinetic is the only way to save the bullet. Even collet style pullers will damage that soft lead. If you not fussy about the lead...pull the bullet with pliers.
 
It will fire no problem, assuming it chambers, which it should.

If you don't want to, you can cut the case in half with a pipe cutter or hacksaw, reclaim the powder and primer and junk the rest.

A poor man bullet puller is to clamp the case in a pair of vise grips so the bullet is pointed down, then swing it down so the vise grips hit a block of wood. The momentum of the bullet will carry it forward. It should pop out in 3-4 hits. The grips will destroy the case, but it's pooched anyway.

Is there a reason you are crimping on the front shoulder of the bullet, rather than in the crimp groove? That's a little unconventional.

Your quote from Hitler is apocryphal.

That is all.
 
This cartridge will shoot, just like any of the others. If the rest are safely loaded and fire OK, so will this one.
It appears to have a lot of crimp, especially for a 38. I am wondering if you may have also belled the mouth a way too much, the reason it cracked so soon. A crack like this is the normal way that cases wear out, but I take it this is only the first reloading of the case.
 
See the tiny scorch mark at the bottom of the crack? That's from the last time it was fired. You missed it during reloading.

I would shoot it then discard it.
 
The bullet looks like ####e. Not smooth and appears to be cracked. Did you cast them or were they commercial cast bulelts? I have no doubt that they're fine to shoot but they are the ugliest cast bullets I've ever seen. As for the cracked case, your initial instinct was right - toss the whole thing. What are you out...a dime?
 
That's not the bullet that's the case.. and it's common that they get cracks up there.. shoot it and then pitch the case when you are done.. the chamber will support that without a problem...
 
Allright guys, thanks for the advice. We seem to be at a 50/50 % agreement - some say shoot, some say toss. I guess I might actually try it... nevertheless, I'll be getting that bullet puller some time soon, as this has shown me that mistakes and unexpected events while reloading can and od happen. Following the book guidelines is obviously not all.

As for the bullets themselves... no, I do not cast my own bullets (yet), although I do have a 2 cavity Lee mold for the 38 spl. These are commercial Remington 158 gr semi-wadcutters that I've bought at a local gunstore. All 2000 of them for $185. The box weights a ton though, lol! I barely made it out of the store and to the truck with it and I ain't a tiny guy (ok, the truck was parked a bit far though).

So maybe it is their weight, being piled up one on top of another, that makes them seem dented... I don't know. They look better in real life than they do in the pictures though. I'll try to take a decent photo and will post it later on. Thanks for all your help once again! :)
 
Seriously, just shoot it and scrap the case after wards. It won't harm your gun in any way. You won't even feel any difference when you fire it.
 
Swaged lead, so they are dead soft and acquire a dent everytime the box is wiggled. Couple that with low angle lighting in the photo to make every dent look HUGE and voila, the worst looking bullets ever.

It still doesn't explain why you are crimping over the shoulder of the bullet.
 
If you've ever been pulled over for speeding or dare to drive and talk on your cell phone at the same time, go ahead and fire it and carry on with life.

If you cower in the corner during thunderstorms and read owners manuals from cover to cover before using something new, don't fire it and carry on with life knowing that you could have fired it with zero consequences....

Either way, no big deal. If you do fire it (DO IT! DO IT!) don't save the case.

Yeah, that bullet looks nasty in that photo.
 
762mm said:
I guess I might actually try it...
Click to expand...
Do. If I've shot .40s with cracks half-way down the length of the case, you can shoot a little .38 with a barely perceptible crack.

Those that tell you otherwise are just afraid of getting sued.

Oh, and I agree with those who think you crimp too much.
 
Normally I would go ahead and fire a case like that and then throw it away. It's finished. However... that bullet looks like it was seated way too deep. If that's a max H110 load, I'd pull the bullet and deprime and start over. If it's a lighter target load, it should be ok for it's last firing.
 
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