Broken case got stuck in barrel.

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Broken case got stuck in barrel.

Post by Andrew.22 » 09 Nov 2015, 5:57 pm

I was shooting at the range today when a fired .357mag case broke in half causing the broken off front half to get lodged inside the barrel.

Once I got home I poked a .357mag bullet down the barrel with a cleaning rod which dragged the half case out with it.

It was a simple fix but it put a dampener on the days shooting as it happened on only the 12th shot.

I have a heap of this ammo still to fire and now I'm dubious about using it.

Has any one else experienced a case failure like this with this ammo? I'm hoping its a one off.

Broken case.jpg


Geco ammo.jpg
Last edited by Andrew.22 on 09 Nov 2015, 9:27 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Broken case got stuck in barrel.

Post by newsteadvic » 09 Nov 2015, 6:18 pm

For a failure like that in factory loads rather than reloads would a brass failure be most likely rather than headspace problems?
From ABC reloading by Chevallier:
Image

I would agree about not firing that batch number, returning it to the shop. At least you picked it up before loading the next round. I have not used Geco, no opinion about it. I presume this was fired in your 1873? Do the other ejected cases look normal, no cracks in the same place?
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Re: Broken case got stuck in barrel.

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 09 Nov 2015, 6:56 pm

What lever is it? used / new??

The brass looks rather 'expanded' from the taper toward the rim..... if it is a 'new' rifle I'd take it to the dealer
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Re: Broken case got stuck in barrel.

Post by Andrew.22 » 09 Nov 2015, 7:26 pm

newsteadvic wrote:For a failure like that in factory loads rather than reloads would a brass failure be most likely rather than headspace problems?
From ABC reloading by Chevallier:
Image

I would agree about not firing that batch number, returning it to the shop. At least you picked it up before loading the next round. I have not used Geco, no opinion about it. I presume this was fired in your 1873? Do the other ejected cases look normal, no cracks in the same place?


Thanks for the diagram.

I've kept all of the brass I've fired through it so far (100) and on inspection all the fired cases seem fine.
I agree that my case looks more like picture 1 than picture 2. When I inspected the remaining unfired rounds they also, all appeared fine.

I'm putting it down to a 1 off.
1942 Savage No4 Mk1* .303
2013 Savage MkII BV .22
1873 Winchester .357mag/.38spl, 24' octagonal barrel, case hardened.
Rossi Overland 12g Coach Gun
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Re: Broken case got stuck in barrel.

Post by Andrew.22 » 09 Nov 2015, 7:30 pm

<<Genesis93>> wrote:What lever is it? used / new??

The brass looks rather 'expanded' from the taper toward the rim..... if it is a 'new' rifle I'd take it to the dealer


Brand new 1873. I agree about the expansion of the rim but in person it doesn't appear excessive. I think the diagram provided by newsteadvic has put me at ease.

If it happens again with another batch you'll read about it.
1942 Savage No4 Mk1* .303
2013 Savage MkII BV .22
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Rossi Overland 12g Coach Gun
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Re: Broken case got stuck in barrel.

Post by VICHunter » 12 Nov 2015, 10:27 am

Andrew.22 wrote:It was a simple fix but it put a dampener on the days shooting as it happened on only the 12th shot.


Doesn't take much to ruin the day :thumbsdown:

At least it looks like a once off so fingers crossed.
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Re: Broken case got stuck in barrel.

Post by creet » 17 Jan 2017, 2:31 pm

Just did my first one of these. Didn't separate all the way around but there is a hair thin line where the head as separated about 1/4 of the way around the case.
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Re: Broken case got stuck in barrel.

Post by creet » 17 Jan 2017, 2:31 pm

In my .223 this is, not a pistol, but yeah.
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