I've been loading pistol calibers only for a few years now. Not high volume but I'm probably approaching 10,000 rounds over the past 5 years of 9mm, 45 acp 45 colt 38 special 357 mag and 44 mag. I've never had a case failure until this Wednesday night when I had three 38 special cases split from the case mouth to about halfway to the rim. None of my brass was new when I started reloading so I don't know how many times it's been shot. I used a starting load of Win 231 4.3 grains and a campro 125 bullet. I did use a strong crimp as I was having problems with this powder in 45 acp. I fired about 80 rounds through a S&W 627 and none seemed to make a bigger bang than expected. Is this how brass reaches the end of it's life or should I be concerned about the gun?
Case failure.
- Thread starter skookumchuck
- Start date
Shooting a 44 Mag in Metallic Silhouette using 24 grains of 296 and lead bullets.
Splits were accepted as part of the process and move on.
Splits were not known about until later and unknown if they were hits or misses
The five rounds were unloaded without paying attention to the chamber position.
Rarely would there be any indication during the firing sequence.
The splits sometimes occurred during sizing or belling.
Splits were accepted as part of the process and move on.
Splits were not known about until later and unknown if they were hits or misses
The five rounds were unloaded without paying attention to the chamber position.
Rarely would there be any indication during the firing sequence.
The splits sometimes occurred during sizing or belling.
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
The brass hardens after multiple cycles through the sizer and firing. Just a thing that happens.
If they are from a batch that has been kept together one could toss the batch or anneal them but it's probably not worth it for 38Sp.
If they are from a batch that has been kept together one could toss the batch or anneal them but it's probably not worth it for 38Sp.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
Failures in straight-walled cases are typically a long time coming, but when they do arrive in my experience they are usually in the form of long body splits.
billbmcleod
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Back very close to Bruce County
I have some Dominion (CIL) .38 special brass that has been loaded unknown times. Usually it will split when I seat the bullet and I can feel it. If it splits in the revolver then I chuck it when I see it. I just keep an eye on my ejected brass.
