Split/cracked cases

misfire

misfire

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Was reloading a batch of .357 Magnum over the weekend when I noticed a case that was cracked/split about 2/3 of the way down from the mouth to the rim after I reloaded it. Lucky I caught it while I was putting it in my MTM box. I usually inspect the cases before I put them in the case feeder but this one somehow got away from me. I know the question may seem naive as most reloaders know to throw out split/cracked cases but what could've happened if this round were chambered and fired? In a revolver (my application for .357), my guess would be that there would be a lot of gases escaping out of the case and out through the cylinder gap which would score/burn the cylinder and maybe only enough force to push to bullet partially through the barrel. In a rifle, I could really see that a split case would be REAL bad because of the amount of powder and pressure involved but I'm sure it would be just as bad in a revolver/handgun. Or would it? :confused:
 
Chances are unless the case was split right to the web you would never know the diff in a revolver! The pressure behind the bullet wouldn't change & I doubt even velocity would be effected.
 
I can only think of Two things that could have possibly happen:

Posiblity 1). It would go bang as normal (hopefully without any problem) if your .357 mag load is not HOT enough in the cylinder. The cylinder would hold on in one piece..... You may call it your lucky day :D

Posiblity 2). Worse case scenario... the cracked 357 magnum round could blow the revolver cylinder and you know what's next..... Is it possible? Hell YES, but let's hope it does NOT happen.:( :(

ALWAYS practice the protocols of safe handloading (no "BUTs or IFs").
 
misfire said:
.....my guess would be that there would be a lot of gases escaping out of the case and out through the cylinder gap which would score/burn the cylinder and maybe only enough force to push to bullet partially through the barrel.
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If it was 1/3 of the way, you probably wouldn't have noticed much of a difference, (but you definitely shouldn't try it). 2/3 is a huge split and you hopefully would have caught it when loading the revolver. (Lucky you got it before that). I'm not convinced though that you would 'score/burn' the cylinder enough to ever notice a problem damage wise. The defining factor on results would be if the last 1/3 of the case expands enough to seal the breach. I'd put money on it splitting the rest of the way, or enough that the remaining 'thick' portion of the case head end wouldn't seal up enough. That would cause gas to escape from the rear as well, that would be a bigger safety problem than gas esaping from the cyl gap. Hopefully this all remains hypothetical.
 
nognog said:
I can only think of Two things that could have possibly happen:

Posiblity 1). It would go bang as normal (hopefully without any problem) if your .357 mag load is not HOT enough in the cylinder. The cylinder would hold on in one piece..... You may call it your lucky day :D

Posiblity 2). Worse case scenario... the cracked 357 magnum round could blow the revolver cylinder and you know what's next..... Is it possible? Hell YES, but let's hope it does NOT happen.:( :(

").
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A bullet case has absolutely nothing to do with gun or in this case cylinder strength!!
The brass case has only two purposes..one: to hold the primer, powder & bullet.
& two: to expand & seal the chamber & keep the expanding gases from going out the breach upon fireing !
 
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Shooting the round remains hypothetical. I check the cases before they go in the case feeder, the finished rounds get checked before they go in the MTM boxes (I think this is important because the case can get damaged from the reloading process) and the last check is when I load my revolver. Just wondering what would happen if I had a brain fart and the round got past the last two checks and actually got fired. Thanks for the responses...
 
You can usually detect cracked cases by taking a handful and working them in your hand. Take a case that is obviously cracked and put it in a handful of good ones and you'll hear the difference. Very elementary, but it works. :p :p
 
If you keep a good record of you reloading - you should know how many times the brass been reloaded. After a pistol brass has been reloaded for over 10 times - it may be it's time to discard all of them.
 
misfire said:
split.jpg


Shooting the round remains hypothetical. I check the cases before they go in the case feeder, the finished rounds get checked before they go in the MTM boxes (I think this is important because the case can get damaged from the reloading process) and the last check is when I load my revolver. Just wondering what would happen if I had a brain fart and the round got past the last two checks and actually got fired. Thanks for the responses...
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Nothing, it would run fine. It used to worry me too, till a fellow I know took a case that was split so bad he practicly had to pinch it to-gether to get it to chamber and shot it. No noticable difference. You won't get gas cutting because the gas will not flow fast enough past the case to mark the chamber, and the path of least resistance is still ahead. Presumably if the whole base of the cartridge seperated it would blow out around the rear of the cylinder, but other then powder burns on your hand, it more then likely wouldn't hurt the firearm. That being said, I wouldn't do it with a .454 cassual or other rifle pressure revolver, they might generate enough gas and pressure to damage something....
 
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