My 1st KaBoom (case head separation)

[cindynles]

I got bit by bad brass today. Scary stuff. Luckily for me it happened on extraction. The case head completely separated at the rim. You can see the case head fly out of the gun in the video. No damage to the gun, or magazine. Not a double charge, and each round passed the case gauge. It seems to have been caused by weakened brass.

This was an STI Edge in 40. The load was 180gr bullet, Win SPP, 4.4gr TiteGroup, 1.18" OAL.

[CSACANNONEER]

I'm guessing Glocked brass?

[cindynles]

That's what I'm thinking. It's once fired brass I buy from 1st class bullets and brass and a large portion of it is Glock brass. I run all of it through a Buldge Buster before I load it (which is probably why I didn't notice any issue).

[J-cat]

What does passing a case gauge have to do with casehead separation?

[cindynles]

Sometimes a bulge is an indicator of a weak spot and a potential failure (at least it is in rifle brass).

[CSACANNONEER]

So, I posted my last comment in this thread and then went to test a few rounds of .380 before loading 1000 rounds. Out of 5 rounds, I had to failure to fires and one squib that barely protruded from the muzzle. I'm blaming this thread. I just pulled the two FTFs and they had powder. Anyway, back to my range to see if the last ten rounds function.

[J-cat]

Sometimes a bulge is an indicator of a weak spot and a potential failure (at least it is in rifle brass).

If you need a gauge for that then you should not be reloading.

[cindynles]

If you need a gauge for that then you should not be reloading.

Thanks for the advice, but considering I've successfully re-loaded and fired 75,000+ pistol rounds (10,000 in this STI alone) without an issue until this one, I believe I know what I'm doing (or maybe I'm just incredibly lucky and I should go buy a lottery ticket).

[J-cat]

Well, if you are mindlessly plunking rounds through a gauge thinking it will save you from a KB, then you are lucky indeed.

[cindynles]

You seem to be inferring from my post that I believe a case gauge's purpose is to prevent a KB. Please re-read my post. I said that I suspect the source of the case head separation is a weak spot in the brass (possibly "Glocked").

An indicator of a a potential case head separation is a bulge in the brass. A case gauge will detect a bulge. I don't case gauge to prevent a KB, I case gauge to ensure feeding of my match ammo.

The case gauge was mentioned because it was the check most likely to have detected the defect in the brass prior to firing.

I didn't mention that I inspect each primer because it is not relevant, this was not caused by a primer issue.

I didn't mention that I verify power weight at the start of each session and 3 per 100 during loading because it is not relevant, this was not caused by an over or under charge.

I didn't mention that I measure OAL at the start of each session and 3 per 100 during loading because it is not relevant, this was not caused by OAL.

You should probably stick to making snarky comments on the threads started by new users and leave the grown ups alone.

[J-cat]

What you also failed to mention that you inspect each case prior to loading it. Is it because you don't?

[repomanNWP]

If you need a gauge for that then you should not be reloading.

Sounds like you need to unplug and find something to do with the rest of your day.

[bsumoba]

I had concerns about bulges myself when I bought my 10mm G20 and Kimber 1911 in 10mm. Never had a kaboom from any of my pistols, but then again I have probably shot only about 5K in my lifetime through my pistols.

I run my 9mm, 38 special, 10mm, and 357 mag through a progressive and do a check every about 5 rounds with a case gauge. Never had an issue doing it this way...I know it is not 100%, but I try to do a visual on the loaded rounds too.

Glad you are alright though.

I see you do competition pistol...do you do a 100% inspection to ensure it chambers? The reason I ask is I do competition long range and with my match ammo, I have some crazy anal checks and balances. I don't "progressively" reload or do multiple steps concurrently like drop powder and seat bullets.

[Bmfdez]

Relax fellas. Mistakes happen, even to the most experienced. Especially on things we've done tens of thousands of times. Although this is not something that we should take lightly, but **** happens.

Mostly importantly, someone may be able to learn something from this. So, here's where you can educate a guy that doesn't own a glock. I know you can tell a glock fired brass from the primer strike. But why are "glocked" brass potentially bad?

[LeadFarmer74]

Mostly importantly, someone may be able to learn something from this. So, here's where you can educate a guy that doesn't own a glock. I know you can tell a glock fired brass from the primer strike. But why are "glocked" brass potentially bad?

I haven't heard this "glocked" term before.