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  #1  
Old 05-26-2022, 2:56 PM
Socalal Socalal is offline
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Default Case Broke in Half

This case ejected from my Mini-14 in two pieces. The Mini often dents brass in the middle and I wonder if this case was ejecting, then hit something and split? Anyone had this happen to them?
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File Type: jpg SplitCase1.jpg (12.3 KB, 146 views)
File Type: jpg SplitCase2.jpg (10.0 KB, 104 views)

Last edited by Socalal; 05-26-2022 at 3:00 PM.. Reason: Add images
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  #2  
Old 05-26-2022, 3:06 PM
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Did it spit out both pieces?
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  #3  
Old 05-26-2022, 3:35 PM
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The Mini did spit out both pieces and load the next round.
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Old 05-26-2022, 3:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Socalal View Post
The Mini often dents brass in the middle.

Dude, due to this, and the fact that you have a case completely split in half, I’d have that gun looked at by a gunsmith before shooting it again…
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Old 05-26-2022, 3:54 PM
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Reload? If so, maybe sized too small/too many times?
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Old 05-26-2022, 3:57 PM
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I wonder it that case had been reloaded? They usually split (head separation) at the stretch zone just ahead of the rim..

The way that split, I would inspect and thoroughly clean the chamber.
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Old 05-26-2022, 4:33 PM
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It was a reload and I think it was the first time reload. It was not a max load.
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Old 05-26-2022, 4:36 PM
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Do your other cases have rings on them
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Old 05-26-2022, 4:43 PM
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Who reloaded it?
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Old 05-26-2022, 5:19 PM
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Cases fail. Some more then others depending on case thicknesses between brands of brass. I’ve had cases split like that but not completely separate
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Old 05-26-2022, 5:19 PM
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looks thin what is the headstamp/brand?
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Old 05-26-2022, 5:21 PM
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Dropped on the carpet?
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Old 05-26-2022, 8:10 PM
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Could it be that the case was below minimum OAL and stretched ?
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Old 05-26-2022, 9:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Socalal View Post
It was a reload and I think it was the first time reload. It was not a max load.
Wrong burn rate/pressure curve perhaps. Case is not finished expanding when the bolt trying to extract, and the case is still plastered to the chamber wall.
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Last edited by bigbossman; 05-26-2022 at 9:12 PM..
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Old 05-26-2022, 9:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Socalal View Post
This case ejected from my Mini-14 in two pieces. The Mini often dents brass in the middle and I wonder if this case was ejecting, then hit something and split? Anyone had this happen to them?
That brass has been over-sized too many times.
If this is brass that you loaded, you should look into adjusting your sizing die so you are not over-sizing the cases anymore.
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Old 05-26-2022, 9:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoHeavyHitter View Post
I wonder it that case had been reloaded? They usually split (head separation) at the stretch zone just ahead of the rim..
I have never had one split just ahead of the rim in a 223/5.56 but I have had a bunch of them split in the middle just like the OP's did.
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  #17  
Old 05-26-2022, 9:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Socalal View Post
It was a reload and I think it was the first time reload. It was not a max load.
It was not a first time reload.
It was probably a 6th, 7th or 8th.

This is what happens when you pickup unknown cases and use them "just one more time".
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  #18  
Old 05-26-2022, 10:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ar15barrels View Post
I have never had one split just ahead of the rim in a 223/5.56 but I have had a bunch of them split in the middle just like the OP's did.
I've never had any .223/5.56 split, but the ones I've seen have been closer to the case head. I use a paperclip (it just works for me) to check shells before reloading them and I have yet to find the "ring" forming at the middle of the case. "Unusual" splits I've looked at have often been on steel cases - which I'd doubt had ever been reloaded.

That all said, I primarily shoot and reload .308/7.62, so maybe that accounts for the difference I'm seeing..
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Old 05-26-2022, 11:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoHeavyHitter View Post
I primarily shoot and reload .308/7.62, so maybe that accounts for the difference I'm seeing..
It does.
308's don't have as thick of a case forward of the case head as a 223/5.56 so they stretch much closer to the case head than 223/5.56 do.
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Old 05-27-2022, 1:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Socalal View Post
It was a reload and I think it was the first time reload. It was not a max load.
You need to know this 100%. Guessing is not a good thing. It can be hazardous to your health.

Before a good case would get ripped in half by a Mini-14 the extractor would likely shear through the case rim. Notice I said good case, not reloaded umpteen times to save some pennies.

Even a slam fire is unlikely to rip a case into two pieces, there would be other results.

If you're using reloads from an unknown source (both the reloader AND the cases) I'd stop using them as in right now.

You could easily measure the case wall thickness and conclude whether or not the case was defective before it was fired. Start with the easy stuff. Range brass pickups are a no-no unless you know for a fact they were factory new (not factory reloaded) and saw them from box to ground. Even then, unless you were shooting them, who know what the shooter had loaded. For all you know they were 1/100th of a grain from a catastrophic failure and you picked it up and reloaded it. At that point it doesn't matter what your load was.

This happens often with people who shoot shorter cases in chambers spec'd for longer cases like those who shoot 40S&W out of 10mms. They are relying on the case rim instead of the case mouth and it takes very little for that case to seat just a tiny bit deep. That case is stretching upon firing. Reloader take the case and trims it and reloads it. Not very smart aside from many people saying it's ok. Playing with fire.

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Old 05-27-2022, 8:36 PM
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Ive had that happen a few times out of ARs. At least 3 times in the past 2 years.
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Old 05-28-2022, 3:12 PM
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Reload maybe once? We need all the details of who made/bought this round. If it was retail reload I think they only load once fired. If this was gun show reloads, who knows. It's why some people only shoot their own ammo. I warn others when I make my own ammo so they know the risk too.

Getting closer, it is for this reason I try to only pick up rifle brass that I know came out of a brand new box at the range or shot from my friends' guns.

I also don't clean my brass to near perfection so if left at the range people don't mistake it for new brass.
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Old 05-28-2022, 6:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xfer42 View Post
Ive had that happen a few times out of ARs. At least 3 times in the past 2 years.
I used to have a Swedish Ljungman that did this with new PMC ammo. The cases came flying out in two pieces.
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Old 05-29-2022, 4:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigbossman View Post
I used to have a Swedish Ljungman that did this with new PMC ammo. The cases came flying out in two pieces.
Ive noticed cracked cases near the crease from the brass deflector dent after cleaning, resizing, then cleaning again. If its visible, then its audible when rolling the brass around. Those get rejected, obviously. The case splitting in two is ok with me. I hate it when cases look good, but cause other failures (blow out their primer).

Theres been a few times where my 223 brass has been split. Never noticed when firing. It was noticed when picking up, and again when processing (whats this strange 9mm, short 30 carbine round?...oh yeah, its part of a 223 case).

I think the worst 223 failures Ive had were from a suppressed SBR. Blown primer, and cracked rim. The firearm cycled, but case did not extract/eject and tried to feed another one in behind it. So when reloading, if the primer isnt tight, Ill put the case aside for depriming and retirement. I only have real issues with suppressed short gas systems on 223.

For all 308, if that primer aint tight, its set aside for depriming and retirement because it seems to cause problems in all semi autos, including roller delayed.
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