Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: Cracks in brass

  1. #1
    GunLoad Trainee DeanoBeanCounter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    S. L. C., Utah, USA
    Posts
    27

    Default Cracks in brass

    A guy I work with showed me these two brass for his 45-70. He bought the brass new and these cracked on the first shot. The head stamp is W-W. Has anyone got any idea what happened? Here's the info he gave me.

    Marvin 1895 in gov 45-70
    New brass only shot this once
    CCI 200 primer
    44g IMR 4198 powder
    350g Hornady RN .458 bullet
    38 out of 40 cases OK
    Reload data from www.realguns.com/loads/45-70.htm

    The crack in each case are about identical. Any ideas what happened?
    If I do this right, here's a picture.

  2. #2
    Rainwatcher Jammer Six's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    35

    Default

    What do the primers look like?
    "When I have your wounded."
    -Major Charles L. Kelly, callsign "Dustoff", refusing an order to leave a hot L.Z., July 1, 1964, moments before being killed by a single shot.

  3. #3
    GunLoad Trainee DeanoBeanCounter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    S. L. C., Utah, USA
    Posts
    27

    Default

    Here's the primers.

  4. #4

    Default

    Is it in the same spot in the chamber ? If so check the chamber, if not. Try different brass.....

  5. #5
    Dogs Like Him versifier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    1,854

    Default

    Two thoughts if the brass is to blame, by far a more common problem than the firearm.

    One likely solution is that though the brass had never been previously loaded, it was still not new brass. It hardens over time, and environmental factors present during storage can hasten the process.
    It may also have been over hard from improper annealing after forming: a bad lot of brass that got by QC.
    Switching to another lot of brass by the same or different maker will clear up the problem if either or both of those causes is at the root of it.

    If it's the firearm, it may have a poorly reamed or bulged chamber. Not likely, but it does happen and a chamber cast can confirm or eliminate the possibility.
    "Stand your ground.
    Do not fire unless fired upon.
    But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
    - Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775

  6. #6
    runfiverun runfiverun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    soda springs idaho
    Posts
    657

    Default

    i have heard some reports of some bad brass from winchester in the last year.
    i think they got an improperly alloyed batch of brass..
    not all of the cases in each batch were bad, just some of them were.
    i'd try and call winchester and have the bag handy.
    if you have a bad chamber you'll know it by the bulged mishaped brass.
    the cut brass may have also put a cut in the chamber.

  7. #7
    Rainwatcher Jammer Six's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    35

    Default

    I would have to say those primers look fine. They certainly don't look like over-pressure to me.
    "When I have your wounded."
    -Major Charles L. Kelly, callsign "Dustoff", refusing an order to leave a hot L.Z., July 1, 1964, moments before being killed by a single shot.

  8. #8
    GunLoad Trainee
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Hawaii
    Posts
    3

    Default

    There is minimal flame cutting on the cracks in the brass. Looks like a bad batch of brass, I had a bunch of Remington brass that would split 1 out of every 5 cases with 26.0 2400 and a 405 bullet.

  9. #9
    Wise
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Tucson AZ
    Posts
    168

    Default

    Definitely some bad brass. Looks more like a burn out than a crack. I once had a batch if Federal .38 Spl. ammo that did that. Not even reloads but factory ammo. I'd give Winchester a call and tell them what the problem is. You'll probably have to send it back but odds are they'll replace the brass for you. I'm guessing the case walls arethinner than they should be on that lot of brass. Could even be a recall because of the problem.
    Paul B.
    POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IS AN OXYMORON PROMULGATED BY MORONS.

  10. #10
    GunLoad Trainee
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    1

    Default

    First time I had this was with Winchester brass in 1965 with some 3036 ammo I'd bought. Got a faceful of gas that let me know I had problems. I've seen it and had the problem. I've read and cannot say which is correct that it is due to hard brass of bad annealing. My solution is to discard those and but some new brass. John Hayslio

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check        

Gunloads.com Sponsored Links