.223 case split - need opinions

[HJ857]

Brass is LC 05, inspected prior to loading. H335 25.2 grains. 55 grain JSP at 2.225.

It's a fairly normal load and I've shot a few thousand just like this one.

So if you can see the photo, how serious a failure is this?

The round fired normally, but did not eject, both pieces of the casing were on top of the magazine, with the next round jammed in feed ramp.

I unjammed the rifle, pocketed the two pieces of the case, checked to see if the barrel was obstructed and kept on shooting. No additional problems.

All thoughts welcomed.

 

[LeonCarr]

How many times has the brass been loaded?

If once fired, the brass could have come from a lot that was fired in a SAW M249 Machine Gun, which has a more generous chamber than the AR-15/M-16, which means the brass could have been stretched enough on its first firing to cause the case head separation shown when you reloaded the case and fired it.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[taliv]

HJ, i've experienced the same issue with once-fired RP headstamp commercial brass.

 

[ocabj]

How serious is it? Not very. I've had brass do this after 8-9 reloads and others do this after only 1 reload. All LC.

Here's a picture of one I had in my Compass Lake NM SR practice upper:

The best way to solve this issue is to adjust your full length sizing die so it only sizes the shoulder down .002" from the fired headspace measurement.

I've got a small write-up on this concept here:

http://www.inlandshooters.net/index.php?contentid=99

 

[stubbicatt]

Yep. I've had it happen twice. All on the first firing for that particular piece of brass in my rifle.



Bottom half ejected as per normal, left front half in chamber where it formed a sleeve over the next round and jammed up the rifle but good.

 

[345 DeSoto]

Had it happen twice...in a Southeastern Asian country in 1965. Brass was new, unfired...:banghead:

 

[HJ857]

Thanks all, I appreciate your replies.

I'm not sure how many times the case had been loaded since I used mixed brass. As long as it passes a visual inspection I'll load it up, certainly at least twice loaded and possibly a lot more than that.

Thanks for the tip regarding the sizing die, I'll look in to that.

 

[243winxb]

http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html Read the part titled .223 Remington vs. 5.56x45--Chambering and Throat Considerations. I have case separations happen with military brass that was loaded to maximum pressures and fired to many times. Droping your powder charge down a litte would be a good idea if you want brass to last longer than 3 firings.

 

[rcmodel]

Bend a paper-clip or small wire with a L-bend on the end.

Then retch down inside the cases and feel for stretch rings in the location of the case seperation you had.

If you can feel the ring, the brass is overdue for the recycling dealer.

rcmodel

 

[PowderApe]

any 223 or 30-06 /30M1carbine shooter would be wise to invest in a broken case extractor tool- they are relatively cheap and worth their weight in gold when needed (Check http://www.e-gunparts.com) especially if reloading GI surplus brass / ammo

PS: To 345DeSoto: Semper Fi, buddy!