Would you reload this lot of 300wsm brass?

UR2X3M4ME

UR2X3M4ME

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I ran a box of 20 rounds 300wsm Winchester XP3, 150 gr. (factory ammo) through my Sako 85 last weekend. The brass is nickel plated.

I was very surprised (shocked) to notice neck cracks on 6 of the 20 fired rounds. My intention was to reload them but at a 30% failure rate, I think I will scrap them instead. Do you agree or would you reload those not not showing cracks?

Here's shots of the neck cracks, 2 cracks on the 3 right shells.

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So your batch of 20 is down to 14 before you even get started?
Not much point.
Use them for dummies?
Solder 10ga wire in the extractor groove and cut off the neck to make dippers?
Weights for ceiling fan pull-strings?

Edit:
Hometownhero, I had a similar experience with Winchester brass.
Gave them a call, sent some pics, they sent out a voucher for what I'd paid for them.
Got primers with them.
 
I would possibly inquire to winchester about these flaws with the batch number to give them a heads up. I would not reload those
 
I wonder if winchester may be having a bad run, I just recently scooped a box of 1f 300wsm brass left at the range which looked fine, reloaded them and when the box was done about 25% had split necks.
 
I would anneal the remaining cases and use them for light plinking loads. Or make dummy rounds or bullet seating gauges etc.
 
wbaad, zuke & hookedonblactail:

I will definitely report this to Winchester. Not an expert but neck splitting on first use is not a normal and desirable outcome. Too early to conclude but based on the few comments above, it leaves me with a perception of poor quality brass.

With my Sako and XP3, I normally grouped within 1.5 inch at 100 yards. Then I had those occasional flyers 4-5 inches away. I now I think these flyers could be from the split neck shells rather than from too much coffee.
 
I bought winchester .300wsm. With split cases in the box never even fired. One of the rounds neck was torn down to the shoulder when they seated the bullet.
 
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And that's new factory ammo? Don't even think about loading 'em. Chances are the rest of 'em are cracked under the plating.
 
Just inspected all my boxes of spend cartridges:
- SXP300SA (150 gr): 2 boxes (on the left) have 6 cases each exhibiting cracks on neck and/or shoulder;
- SXP300S (180 gr): 2 boxes (on the right) have 1 case each exhibiting cracks on neck.

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With a price tag of +/- $55 per box, one can at least expect good reloading brass... I feel the remaining ones too risky too reload and they will go straight to the scrap bucket. I feel the same for the 180 gr. Not happy about this. :(

Will contact Winchester and see how they explain this and what they are doing about it.
 
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For some reason the nickel platted cases do that. I get that a lot with 9mm and .40cal plated brass. They split after only a couple reloadings
 
Good point. Other than for long time storage (corrosion protection), I see no reason to plate hunting/sport brass. Further more, the process adds to costs, which I can happily do without.

ipscgraz: I did shoot 2 boxes of Winchester unplated brass a while back and with no issues.

Just wrote to Winchester to let them know about a possible bad lot. Let's see if they care to address my report (and wasted brass). Dreaming is cheap: they might thank me with a couple hundred new brass cases...

Too late in the hunting season to switch ammo: POA=POI +/- 1 MOA and I still have a box of 180 gr (plated).
 
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