Split Case, 454 Casull

[ZGunner]

Just bought a Rossi R92 chambered in 454 Casull the other day. I was shooting some Hornady 300 gr XTP when this happened. It was the third round I fired through the rifle.



The back half ejected just fine, no extra force was required to pull the lever down. I was able to pull the front half out with a screw driver, it also came out easily.

Just wondering what would cause this. Should I be worried? (I am a little)

 

[dickydalton]

If that was a reload, what was your case length? How many times reloaded without trimming to proper length? Or maybe the rifle has a headspace problem.

 

[gamestalker]

Need a little more information.

First off, I know you said you just bought this rifle, but was this the first time you've shot it, and if not, has anything unusual ever happened with this rifle before?

Was this a reload that let go, or factory ammunition?

Powder and charge, bullet type and weight, some history regarding the brass, if known. Might seem like a dumb question, but if a reload, did you confirm that it's actually 454 casull brass, and not one of the other 45 cal. chamberings.

Other wise, if the charge and powder were both typical for 454, it's probably just a piece of bad brass, it happens.

GS

 

[243winxb]

The rifles head clearance may be excessive . The brass stretches on firing. I had them in 44 mag. with a Marlin rifle. Or it could be the brass? Try a different brand of ammo. http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Pistol/454%20Casull.pdf

 

[ZGunner]

Sorry. Yes this was the first time shooting it. I was using factory Hornady Custom 454 Casull 300 gr XTP Mag.

The marks inside the brass are screw driver marks from taking it out.



Here is a pic of the chamber. The split occurred right where you see the color change.



I'm a real novice when it comes to lever guns. I guess I'm trying to figure out if this is the rifle, ammo, or combination of both. Or if I might have screwed something up.

EDIT: I was just looking at the ammo and noticed some sort of demarcation line at the same level of the split. I think I'll be emailing Hornady now...

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

If you bought factory ammo and a factory produced rifle and just aimed at a target and pulled the trigger...I don't see how you could've messed anything up.

I'd buy a different brand of factory ammo and if it does it with that then you have a chamber/headspace issue. If it doesn't and it works fine then its an ammo/brass problem.

 

[rcmodel]

First thing you need to do is clean & polish the chamber with a bore brush wrapped in 0000 super-fine steel wool.

Either it was just a defective case??

Or the chamber is too rough & dirty to let it slip back in the chamber against the bolt like it should.

Clean & polish the chamber, then report back if it happens again with different ammo.

rc

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Since there are powder marks in the chamber, and extraction felt normal, I wouldn't blame the chamber. Seems it split on firing. Do the other fired cases look normal? If so, I'd look at the ammo. Might want to contact Hornady.

 

[243winxb]

clean & polish the chamber

Good idea. Some even put light lube on bottle neck cartridges when fire forming brass. Lets the case slide back to the bold face.

 

[Coyote3855]

Good idea. Some even put light lube on bottle neck cartridges when fire forming brass. Lets the case slide back to the bold face.

Except the .454 is not a bottle necked cartridge, he wasn't fire forming brass, and in general I don't think lubrication on cartridges is a good idea as it may not allow the brass to obdurate and seal the chamber when fired. I could be wrong about that last part.

I re-read rcmodel's comments, so I'm sure he's correct, as usual, that the brass does need to slide back against the bolt face. I also agree with his observation that the chamber appears to be rough and in need of polishing.

 

[joem1945]

Check the other fired cases against case specs to see if they stretched after firing. If they stretched over published specs it may be a head space problem.

 

[eldon519]

I don't really see how it can be a headspace problem on a rimmed, straight-wall cartridge. Usually magnum revolver brass gets shorter as its shot and reloaded, not longer. My guess is something was just wrong with that case.