30-06 case separation with M1 Garand

[Ranchogunner]

I have two M1 Garands and have fired maybe up to 1000 reload rounds out of each with no problems. So the last time, I was slamming the bolt closed after loading in the standard 8 round clip, and it immediately (slam?) fired. All I know is I felt the powder hit my face and there was a live round stuck in the breech. I got the live round out, and noticed the bolt was missing the extractor parts, and the firing pin was knocked out of it, and there was a case stuck in the chamber with the head missing.

So whatever happened, I think the case separation was the root cause. If any of you have had any experience like this with a Garand, I sure would like to hear about it.

See the attached picture. That's the case that was stuck in the chamber. My question is -- other than visual inspection, is there any way to detect a potential case separation in live ammo? I still have several hundred live rounds. I do not believe I have loaded any 30-06 cases more than 3 or 4 times.

[tabascoz28]

Show us the other rounds. Did you make them or were they bought?

[sofbak]

I have two M1 Garands and have fired maybe up to 1000 reload rounds out of each with no problems. So the last time, I was slamming the bolt closed after loading in the standard 8 round clip, and it immediately (slam?) fired. All I know is I felt the powder hit my face and there was a live round stuck in the breech. I got the live round out, and noticed the bolt was missing the extractor parts, and the firing pin was knocked out of it, and there was a case stuck in the chamber with the head missing.

So whatever happened, I think the case separation was the root cause. If any of you have had any experience like this with a Garand, I sure would like to hear about it.

See the attached picture. That's the case that was stuck in the chamber. My question is -- other than visual inspection, is there any way to detect a potential case separation in live ammo? I still have several hundred live rounds. I do not believe I have loaded any 30-06 cases more than 3 or 4 times.

From the bolded above, it sounds like your Garand fired out of battery. If the cartridge had been fully chambered, the bolt lugs would have been locked in the receiver grooves, and the gun would have fired "seemingly" normally even though the case head separated. Then the next cartridge would have been found as you described.

I'm wondering how you managed to get your hand out of the way of the op rod "handle" before it struck your hand.

If indeed your Garand fired out of battery, then there was likely something hinky with your bolt/firing pin. Like the firing pin stuck forward in the bolt, allowing the firing pin to strike the primer when you "slammed it closed".

As Tz28 said, a good look at some unfired cartridges from the same lot might give a clue. Otherwise disassemble a couple of rounds from that lot and use the paper clip probe method to detect thinning of the case wall near the head.

[Ranchogunner]

for -- tabascoz28

Here are pictures of the next clips we were going to shoot. And these are all reloads. These cases all started as factory, then I reloaded them. You can see on all of them the marks the sizing dies makes on them close to the bottom, but that is true on all the calibers I reload, whether pistol or rifle.

[croue]

[Ranchogunner]

From the bolded above, it sounds like your Garand fired out of battery. If the cartridge had been fully chambered, the bolt lugs would have been locked in the receiver grooves, and the gun would have fired "seemingly" normally even though the case head separated. Then the next cartridge would have been found as you described.

I'm wondering how you managed to get your hand out of the way of the op rod "handle" before it struck your hand.

If indeed your Garand fired out of battery, then there was likely something hinky with your bolt/firing pin. Like the firing pin stuck forward in the bolt, allowing the firing pin to strike the primer when you "slammed it closed".

As Tz28 said, a good look at some unfired cartridges from the same lot might give a clue. Otherwise disassemble a couple of rounds from that lot and use the paper clip probe method to detect thinning of the case wall near the head.

Yes, it felt like it fired out of battery. Actually my girlfriend was shooting it, and she was struggling with getting the clip in, so I pushed it in, then hit the handle with the heel of my hand to slam down the bolt (like you do with a Garand) and it instantly fired. That was kind of a shock since I was standing right over it, and got sprayed in the face with gunpowder, and she said something hit her in the head, which must have been the ejector, which we could not find. How did I get my hand out of the way? I don't know, I guess I just moved it quickly. And I also suspect something happened to the bolt, and I have already ordered a new one. And like I said, the firing pin was was out of the bolt after this happened. But would an out of battery firing cause the case separation? Or was it a coincidence? I don't know.

Also I did not mention earlier, but when I took it apart that night, I saw cracks in the stock. I don't know if that happened during that incident, or if they were already there. See pictures.

[croue]

[tabascoz28]

I don't really see case head separation but the blown case sure looks like it. I got lucky, my .338LM had a distinct line and they still didn't blow. On mine you can see the die mark too.

[croue]

Wow! That looks like it got close!


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[croue]

OP - on the lower set of cases, does the right hand most case look like the rim is bent? Or is that just an optical delusion. [emoji848]


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[tabascoz28]

Wow you got lucky, hopefully this also drives home that everyone should wear eye protection cause anything could happen.

[jsanch03]

[Ranchogunner]

Here are the fired rounds in the front, and live rounds in the back (obviously). The fired ones look like they have a healthy dent in them. What do you think? I have always used CCI large rifle for 30-06 and 308 and 243 Win. which I load also. And every loaded round, I put through a case gauge and run my finger across to feel for any high or low primers.

[Ranchogunner]

I don't really see case head separation but the blown case sure looks like it. I got lucky, my .338LM had a distinct line and they still didn't blow. On mine you can see the die mark too.

Yeah, THAT is a close one. I am going to reinspect all my 30-06 under a magnifying glass.

[croue]

I actually just read an article on the Garand in Handloader over the break. See if this bit makes sense to you: long cases can also contribute.




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