Split Case From Max Load

[slowr1der]

I loaded up some 44 Mag loads for use in my Marlin rifle and ran into a problem I've never had before. I didn't have any problems with the lighter loads, but the max load of H110 listed in the book caused this case to split. However, I didn't see any other pressure signs. The primers looked fine, no flow of the headstamp, etc. Nothing of the signs of excessive pressure that I'm used to seeing were there. I fired a few more and it happened again. Out of 10 I fired, this happened to 3. I didn't have this problem with any of the lighter loads of which I fired about 30 of.

I'd have thought was bad brass except for the fact that it was new never fired Starline brass. So that just seems unlikely.

Can high pressure cause this? Or did I have bad brass, or something else going on?

 

[Walkalong]

Just one? It happens, toss it and carry on. Brand new brass fails occasionally.

That said, any other reason for you to suspect over pressure?

 

[Walkalong]

Somewhere on here @rcmodel posted a pic of brand new 9MM cases where most of a box of 50 did it, brand new ammo.

 

[higgite]

Out of 10 I fired, this happened to 3.

Just one? It happens, toss it and carry on. Brand new brass fails occasionally.

3 out 0f 10. Too many to be coincidental?

 

[Bfh_auto]

3 out 0f 10. Too many to be coincidental?

I agree. Next question is how many substitutions were made?
Different brass, different primer, different bullets.
Each one can cause the max load to either be conservative or over pressure.

 

[Phantom 309]

I'm spitballing here, but maybe the diameter of the new cases was a bit small and the hot loads had enough oomph to cause a split instead of fire forming. Do you have any more new unfired ones from that lot to take a measurement on?

 

[jimboecv]

Pull a bullet and check charges. OAL? Crimp? Is this the first time you used Starline? Can you measure case wall thickness? Can you compare it to a round you fired already? When will I shut up?

 

[durachoke]

Can you tell before handling a split case that it split? Sounds or feels different?

 

[slowr1der]

I'm spitballing here, but maybe the diameter of the new cases was a bit small and the hot loads had enough oomph to cause a split instead of fire forming. Do you have any more new unfired ones from that lot to take a measurement on?

Hmm. I do have a bunch left from the same bag. I'll take some measurements and see what I come up with.

 

[slowr1der]

Can you tell before handling a split case that it split? Sounds or feels different?

I couldn't really tell until I shot it. Upon hard extraction I would know it had split. I haven't shot this gun a to, so I can't rule out a problem there, but the fact that it works with the other 50-75 rounds I've put through it would make me think it's not the gun.

 

[durachoke]

Awesome. Thanks. Hopefully the issue is not with the gun.

 

[BLACKFIN]

I’m new to reloading but that case looks like it was crimped a bit too much.

 

[buba68]

Have you shot factory ammo in the gun and if so did you have any problems with it?

 

[mrawesome22-250]

Lever guns usually have overly large chambers to aid in reliable feeding. It happens sometimes.

 

[Walkalong]

Bad brass, it happens. If it continues at 30%, Starline may replace it for you.

 

[MEHavey]

^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^
Brittle brass. Let Starline know

 

[mstreddy]

Can you tell before handling a split case that it split? Sounds or feels different?

Once they split, yes, you can tell when you have a handful of brass (same caliber) in hand, they will sound dull and not have the same tinkle sound.

 

[Charlie98]

Bad brass, it happens. If it continues at 30%, Starline may replace it for you.

Of all the people out there who love Starline brass... and there are a lot... I'm not one of them. Over the years I have found Starline to become brittle faster than any other brand of brass I've used. I've had Starline .38SPC cases split on the 2nd load, and I had a very hard batch of .357MAG brass start failing after 3 or 4 loads, so much so that I junked the entire 500 case lot and moved on.

MrAwesome is correct, too... sometimes a chamber can be a bit... uh, generous. I have a Winchester Trapper in .45 Colt that blows my cases out like a balloon... but they don't split like that. Your case doesn't really show expansion like I would expect an oversized chamber to show (in my experience.)

 

[Archie]

My first guess is too many uses without annealing. Brass does work harden and does not show (other than splitting). There are many other reasons for cracked or 'distorted' brass; some are firearm problems, some are factory defects. Annealing will not damage anything (unless done very wrong).

 

[Bill M.]

I had that happen the first time I loaded Lil Gun in my .41 Mag. But with cases that had been loaded several times. I thought new brass would cure it. I have also had it happen several times with medium power loads. I do not have a cause determined yet. Just as a question, did you resize the new Starline brass before you loaded it.? Maybe a combination of a small sizing die and a large chamber?

 

[higgite]

My first guess is too many uses without annealing. Brass does work harden and does not show (other than splitting).

OP said it was new, never fired brass.

 

[rfwobbly]

Longitudinal split is classic over-pressure for the brass. So it could be too much H110, poor brass lot, or over-size chamber.

Exactly how old is your load data ?? Load data was completely re-thunk around year 2000. Many "standard H110 loads" from the 60's to the 90's were reduced due to new measurement processes.

 

[slowr1der]

I can't honestly remember if I've shot any factory ammo. I've probably only put 100 rounds through this gun at most since I've had it. I feel like I may have shot a few factory rounds the first time I had it out, but I'm not positive. I did shoot some reloads with plated bullets and PPU brass that had been fired 3x and it all performed fine. They were loaded fairly light since they were plated bullets though. That's what makes me think it's not a gun issue, but I don't know that for sure.

 

[slowr1der]

Longitudinal split is classic over-pressure for the brass. So it could be too much H110, poor brass lot, or over-size chamber.

Exactly how old is your load data ?? Load data was completely re-thunk around year 2000. Many "standard H110 loads" from the 60's to the 90's were reduced due to new measurement processes.

I'm thinking it's got to be over pressure since I didn't have any of the lighter loads split. It's just odd to me that I don't see any other pressure signs.

The load data is from the Hornady 7th edition manual which I probably got 11-12 years ago. So it's not super recent data.

 

[Riomouse911]

I’ll opine with the others it looks like a combo of brittle brass from Starline and a high pressure loading.

I’ve had a few cases split like that one, all were older, oft used nickel plated cases. I haven’t had a brand new one fail like that.

Millions and millions of cases are made by Starline every year, some are bound to be less than perfect. It sounds like you got a bum lot.

Starline is a stand up company. I’d call, explain the issue and they’ll probably ask you to send them back and then replace them.

Good luck with finding a cause for the case splits!

Stay safe.