I was thinking out of battery or bullet setback due to not enough crimp. But the bulge you noted around the bottom 1/8 inch of the case pretty much says "out of battery". I'd check the gun's operation with particular attention to the disconnector function. It should not let the hammer fall even when back as little as 1/16 inch. If it does, which your case is suggesting, then it's time to get it looked at by a smith.
I had a .40 Kaboom
- Thread starter Casper
- Start date
I was thinking out of battery or bullet setback due to not enough crimp. But the bulge you noted around the bottom 1/8 inch of the case pretty much says "out of battery". I'd check the gun's operation with particular attention to the disconnector function. It should not let the hammer fall even when back as little as 1/16 inch. If it does, which your case is suggesting, then it's time to get it looked at by a smith.
It was a double charge or a significant over charge. You have been loading for years and I know it couldn't happen to you but it did.
In 35 years, give or take of reloading I have had two, both in a Norinco 1911 and both were double charges. The gun survived both as did the mags. Both came after about 30 years of reloading. It couldn't happen to me but it did. After each I tried to think back and when or how it could have happened. Both occurred when I was developing a new load or changing loads and was adjusting a powder charge. I changed the way I do both and haven't had another since. The cases sit atop my reloading bench as a reminder.
You can look for imaginative ways to justify what happened or you can learn from what did happen. Your choice.
Take Care
Bob
In 35 years, give or take of reloading I have had two, both in a Norinco 1911 and both were double charges. The gun survived both as did the mags. Both came after about 30 years of reloading. It couldn't happen to me but it did. After each I tried to think back and when or how it could have happened. Both occurred when I was developing a new load or changing loads and was adjusting a powder charge. I changed the way I do both and haven't had another since. The cases sit atop my reloading bench as a reminder.
You can look for imaginative ways to justify what happened or you can learn from what did happen. Your choice.
Take Care
Bob
A guy at my club had his .45 Sig blown apart last weekend and none of us could figure out what exactly caused it. His gun took a bigger hit than most I guess, because I'm pretty sure his frame was damaged beyond repair.
His case looked identical to the one posted and I thought 'out-of-battery' as well because of the location of the blow out. I guess no matter what, that is where the brass will fail on an out-of-battery, or a double charge.
I believe he said he uses a dillon 550.
Is it possible to dump the powder, forget to turn the base, and dump again?
I reload using a dillon square deal(auto indexing) and pick up brass of the range floor all the time. No idea how many times it's been used.
My biggest issue is that my g/f shoots my reloads and I would feel like a real sob if something I've done caused her an injury.
I only load 9mm, and I have a good load and thousands of rounds worth of powder, so I won't be making changes anytime soon.
Yes with the 550, a press I use as well. Not indexing has some advantages but also has some disadvantages and one of them is the possibility of a double charge. The case will almost always let go at the base. The barrels should be solid enough to withstand a double charge but the cases, at the web are not. The cases let go where the case are less supported = six o'clock position on virtually all pistols. The OP's case looks identical to the one on my reloading bench except I didn't lose the primer.
It can happen and does. My advice is to understand it can and will and by so doing, it may never.
Take Care
Bob
It can happen and does. My advice is to understand it can and will and by so doing, it may never.
Take Care
Bob
With a Dillon 550 that is absolutely possible. You have to train yourself to ALWAYS advance the base after you crank the handle. Any distraction or exception has the possibility of a double charge attached to it.
This is my guess as well. Glock bulge the brass and don't intend to reuse the brass. You need special dies to resize brass that has been in a Glock before. You can tell a brass that has been fired from a Glock as the primer is ripped across instead of a dimple. My guess range brass reused.
Since the Gen 3 version of the Glock the barrels support the brass as well as any pistol. A double charge took place get by it. It is easy to do and it happens. I have shot thousands of 40 cal from Glocks of all versions and once the brass is resized there is no more Glock bulge to deal with.
Take Care
Bob
Take Care
Bob
Since the Gen 3 version of the Glock the barrels support the brass as well as any pistol. A double charge took place get by it. It is easy to do and it happens. I have shot thousands of 40 cal from Glocks of all versions and once the brass is resized there is no more Glock bulge to deal with.
Take Care
Bob
This, I've reloaded lots from my glock 22 gen 2, the chamber support isn't that bad, I just recently switched to a lwd and all my brass fits after going through my Dillion, but in the op case I'm guessing the sizing die didn't quite make it full stroke on a bulged case
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
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It's not an out of battery IMHO, as in that case the whole diameter of the case would have been poorly supported and would have blown the head off the brass. I'm guessing an overload that blew out down the feed ramp....and a stout one too. The Jeri is a strong pistol, probably no other issues, but i would review my reloading procedures if i where you. It happens, cheap and easy lesson, no one hurt, no real damage. I've seen this on 1911's and glocks and M&P's. It doesn't always trash the frame.
If you look at your feed ramp you will notice it has a large champher on the bottom edge leading into the chamber. This will cause the brass to bulge very badly in this area and if you are using old brass it will blow out exactly as shown. It looks like it is out of battery but it is not. One of your club shooters experienced the same with his Jerico 40 and he sent it off to Rodger Kotanko and he welded up the feed ramp and it is fine now.
Uh oh...Jerico 40 fail?
Damn, I would 100% agree with 09outlander, if this was a tupperware frame this could have been more serious.
Perry so why did the primer blow out if it just was a case of a failure in the webbing? In my double charge the primer remained intact. It was a .45acp case. What are the odds of the case seating in exactly the same position as it did in the previous pistol the case was shot in. The Glock bulge we used to see was always at the six p'clock position of the case not completely around the case. The latter would almost certainly have to be the situation unless of course you think this case sat in the chamber exactly as it did in the previous gun.
Take care
Bob
Hey Bob
I am not understanding your question. All I am saying is I monitored a jerico that bulged the case exactly as shown in the picture and depending on the condition of the brass it was bad or real bad. After removing the barrel and putting the case in the chamber the bulge matched perfectly with the huge lead in champher on the feed ramp. After welding up and reconturing the feed ramp there has been no bulging at all. All the reloaded ammo that was shot through this gun had its cases fully sized and there was no bulging before being used.
Perry the case has all the signs of a double charge. The Case lets go at the six o'clock position because that is the area of least resistance. The barrel itself didn't which in itself is not unusual. the case is the weakest link. If you look at the pictures posted the primer has been blown out as well as the bottom of the case. Did on my 1911 as well although the primer wasn't blown out like this one was. If you were to double charge a round and fire it in one of your welded up guns then the pressure will find the weakest point in gun and it will let go if it cannot withstand the pressure.
Take Care
Bob
mudgunner49
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Not necessarily. I've kaboomed 2 G22's both with factory ammo and a G21 with handloads (not mine) and Glock checked them over and all the damage was to the mags (destroyed). The brass looked about like the OP's though...
I cannot say it didn't have a double charge, it probably did. The op said it didn't blow out the primer. What I did say is the gun I was refering to showed bulging to the extreme due to a really bad shape at the feed ramp. The brass had flowed right down the ramp. I can say that the person that I know has all reloading done by a commercial reloader that loads for a great many ipsc shooters here and it just makes major power factor. I have never seen such bulging from any gun, this brass could never even be sized again it was so deformed. I am suggesting the op to check his barrel as for the one I saw I could not believe it had left the factory that way.
