Cracked case?

[rbahri5206]

I have not been able to find a reasonable answer to this question so please help me.
1. What would happen if a Rifle case cracked down the side while shooting?
2. What would happen if the rim seperated while shooting?
3. What would happen if while sorting your brass you missed a cracked case or seperated rim and loaded the case and shot it?
Don't know if it matters but what are the affects of the above questions on a semi auto and a bolt gun? Thank you in advance

[SmokeWagon]

[johnthomas]

Polish 7.62x25 had many cracks in the necks of the bullets, about a third of the 1240 spam can I bought. The web site said they were good to go, and they were.

[thegiff]

Cracks in the side or neck can erode grooves into the chamber. Cracks in the side close to the base can eject gas through the action.

Cracks and case head separation at the base of the case can range from barely noticed to blowing stuff into your face.

I had one case head separation, I noticed it sounded less powerful and shot low. It also blew some gas and grease/gunk out of the vent hole in the side of the action. Was a rem 700 308, and I figured out that I had picked up a few pieces of someone elses 308 brass.

[koehn,jim]

If the rim seperates from the case the case will possibly stay in the chamber and need a stuck case removal tool to get it out. Split neck may not do much except not hold the bullet tight for initial pressure on firing. Split case in body depends on where it is, most weapons have gas escape ports just in case. If you do get a split you will get a face full of vented gas. I inspect my cases before loading and throw out and with cracks.

[Robert.shaffer07]

So two weekends ago I had a 308 case seperate about 3/4 of an inch from the base and it actually shot normal. But I had to fish out the rest of the case from the chamber with a little pick. This was just one round I had reloaded too many times and I'm pushing the limit on the load recipe as it is. A little worried so I went home and tossed almost all my brass aside. I have seen a case break at the rim and it destroyed the bolt face of my dads 30-378

[Robert.shaffer07]

If there is any doubt in your mind about the integrity of a case and I mean any doubt toss em IMO. A 1 dollar piece of brass is cheap compared to destroying a 4 thousand dollar rifle.

[the86d]

If there is any doubt in your mind about the integrity of a case and I mean any doubt toss em IMO. A 1 dollar piece of brass is cheap compared to destroying a 4 thousand dollar rifle.

Moral: Don't shoot $1 brass in $4000 rifles.

Better moral: If you can afford a $4000 rifle, just buy factory ammo, as you can probably afford to shoot all you want anyway.

[nubrun]

Moral: Don't shoot $1 brass in $4000 rifles.

You wouldn't shoot this: https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...productId/9537 in your $4000 rifle??

[Robert.shaffer07]

Yeah that case will do just fine nub. Good deal thanks for the link

[SWIFT50]

I have not experienced shooting a round that splits the case in the chamber from a semi or a bolt but was told by an experienced reloader that you wouldn't even feel the slightest difference when firing the round. Although the case might jam in the chamber. Might. Load light, meaning load the round slightly under reloading data specs and you should be fine.

[the86d]

You wouldn't shoot this: https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...productId/9537 in your $4000 rifle??

I am saying that I don't HAVE a $4000 rifle
(My AR was only about ~$900 for the specs I wanted before the price-hype. H-BAR 20" 1:8 A2-Gasblock, etc.)

[mark501w]

Any where from not holding the bullet properly to blowing your gun to smithereens. The farther you move down the case the more dangerous it gets . Everyone splits a case mouth. I've split the sides of a case & never noticed it till extraction. I've had a seperation 1/2 way up the case & didn't know it till I had to fish out the front part of the case. But, when the base cuts loose you go to the hospital.

[OldShooter32]

Case separation

Part of the business of reloading, especially for a gas-gun. Biggest risk is gas blow-by (wear shooting glasses!) or a stuck case (annoying, not dangerous.)
Check your brass when you reload. A white line will show when the brass weakens near the head. Scrap it and get new stuff.

Going...going...gone.

(The colored lines are sharpie marks for load and easier brass ID if it gets by the brass-catcher.)

[Divernhunter]

I have had 25-06 brass split necks. Just tossed the rest of it. Do not want to damage(flame cut) the chamber.
I have had 50bmg brass split necks and vertically down the sides. Darn LC 1980-89 brass was bad. Stopped loading them for the same reason of not wanting to damage the chamber.

I have rifles thet are $4000+ and would only shoot reloads in them. That is one reason I could buy them. It helps if you are smarter than the piece of equipment, in this case the rifle, you are working on.